Deepwood: Karavans # 2

Deepwood (2007) is the second fantasy novel in the Karavans series, following Karavans. In the previous volume, the Hecari decimated the farewell camp. They killed one out of ten people and burned a like number of tents. The survivors gathered the dead and prepared them for burial. Then Alisanos expanded within a half mile of the karavan tent town. A massive storm preceded its move, devastating trees and structures as well as killing many people. Rhuan anticipated the change and passed the news to the town leaders to warn the people. In this novel, Rhuan remains within the Deepwood with Audrun and her newborn baby. The demons and other monsters have caught the smell of the newborn and they want her. Rhuan takes on the manner of his father and commands them to leave. They slink off, but some will think more about it and come back. Ilona is dazed from the fall off Jorda's draft horse and has a broken arm. While Jorda is preparing to set the arm, he sends Bethid to make a fire for willow tea. The branches and twigs broken off the trees by the storm are too watersoaked to catch fire. Jorda tells her use the dry rune sticks. Bethid is reluctant to destroy the sticks, but they do need a fire right now. Brodhi has been deserted by Ferize, his demon paramour. When he returns to the farewell camp, he finds battered wagons and trees and scattered tents and livestock. He comes upon Bethid trying to make a fire, but having little luck. Brodhi lets a drop of his own blood fall upon the wood and it bursts into flames. Davyn recovers his senses near his broken wagon. He is alone, so he follows the path that Rhuan had taken with his wife and children. He finds that the Deepwood has grown across the way. In his pain and grief, Davyn blames Rhuan for the loss of his family. Torvic and Megritte come out of the crevice in which they have taken shelter. Then they hear a high-pitched, inhuman scream and clamber back into the crevice. After a while, a woman about the same age of their mother finds them and invites them to come home with her. Ellica awakens to find grass penetrating her clothes and skin. She tears herself away from the sharp blades and painfully rises to her feet. As she walks forward, branches reach out toward her and roots wind themselves around her ankles. Finally, she leaps onto a boulder and finds some temporary safety. Gillan is also struggling through the underbrush when his left leg falls through a hole into boiling liquid. His leg is burning. Gillan jerks his leg out of the liquid and pulls himself forward. He screams and screams and screams. In this story, Audrun encounters a winged demon within Alisanos while Rhuan is away gathering food and water. Rhuan returns to fight the demon and is severely wounded. The demon grabs the newborn girl and flies away with her. At the farewell camp, Jorda and Mikal organize the survivors into groups and have them straighten out the mess. Unlike the old tent ground, the

This series just became one of my favorites!!The book moved and flowed like a movie. I hated to put this book down. I couldn't wait to turn the next page to see what was going to happen next. Rhuan and Ilona deserve each other (and who knew that she was what he was pretending to be???). I would definately recommend this book to family and friends.

I had read all of Jennifer Roberson's previous series, and enjoyed them. This latest world is wonderful. Her writing keeps you inside the world she had created, and her story keeps you wanting more!

Once again Jennifer Roberson has shown why she is among the top fantasy writers in the world! The story plot keeps you glued to the book, and wanting MORE! Can't wait for the next one!!!!!

Once again Jennifer has drawn me into the world of her characters and made them real for me. From the first pages the story grabbed me and kept me glued to find out what happened next. Unlike other books I didn't find myself guessing what was going to happen next and having that happen. She kept me guessing and not already knowing what would be next. My only complaint....Now I have to wait for the next one!