Lavondyss: Journey to an Unknown Region

You should probably read "Mythago Wood" first, though "Lavondyss" could probably stand on its own. If you're thinking about getting "Lavondyss," let me first warn you that you are going to go deep, deep, deep into woods with this book. And it is a terrifying place... Holdstock went deep into the unconscious with this book. In my opinion he sucked the very marrow from the bones of fantasy. He found the roots of myth and showed you the horror behind its veil like no other author could. When you journey to Lavondyss to discover what's at the heart of Ryhope Wood, you will be forever changed. I cried like a newborn at the sheer horror and all-too-human pain that Holdstock uncovers.

Generally, I consider myself to be more of a science fiction fan than a fastasy fan. Most fantasy novels seem too much the same to me - wizards, knights, fairies, etc. dressed up in flowery language with cutesy names. Too many modern fantasy writers seem to forget that many of the elements of the fantasy genre are based on much older stories, and those stories on others much older than them. Robert Holdstock quite masterfully taps into the essence of myth, legend, and fairy tale, stripping away all of the modern frippery and exposing them for what they really are - deep rooted stories of fear, desperation and tragedy. For those who felt that the story was too violent, I encourage them to do some research into what life was like in the "olden days." It was not a quaint tale of bucolic bliss but short, brutish, and frequently cruel. Although I loved "Mythago Wood," "Lavondyss" is far superior and complex in examining the genesis and evolution of myth. It is an eerie, uneasy, discomforting book and all the more powerful for that. If you're looking for a story that will give you the warm fuzzies, stick to more standard fantasy fare. If you're looking for a book that will challenge your ideas about myth and story and haunt you for many days after, "Lavondyss" is about as good as it gets.

Judging by some of the other reviews, this book is to complex for some people. But if you think you're up to it intellectualy, this is a truly stunning read that will profoundly affect you. I read this first, and having just finished it's predecessor, Mythago Wood, I have to say that Lavondyss is by far the more developed and powerful of the two. The imagery is simply stunning, particularly the first half of the book. It evokes wonderful images of nature, mythology and fantasy. The second half concerns a quest and it is very abrupt jump from the first half, but you get used to it. While not as visually stunning as the first half, it is none the less very powerful and addictive. This book is an emotioanlly wrenching tragedy in the classical sense of the word, and the twists and turns are beautifully and wonderfully convoluted and realised, the sort of book that will take several readings to fully appreciate (if I can bring myself to read it again - it is very emotioanlly draining). If you have a love of mythology, nature, the wildwoods and truly breathtaking fantasy, read this book.

This book is not for the faint of heart, nor for the impatient. It delves far deeper than Mythago Wood and to compare the two is useless. Mythago Wood was short, enjoyable, but fell short, lacking the substance of Lavondyss. Lavondyss is eerie, intricate and dizzying at times, and I feel it requires more than one reading to grasp all the delightful nuances. This is not your regular fare of fantasy, but a far more intelligent read.

From the world of the "Mythago Woods", "Lavondyss" enters as strongly and vibrantly as your first kiss on a summer's day. The intricacy and complexity of the story and characters compel you to delve farther into the woods with the protagonist. Holdstock's poetry binds you to the characters, so that you feel their joy of discovery and pain of rebirth as you journey with them. In the tradition of the first book in the series, World Fantasy Award winner, Mythago Woods, Lavondyss carries the spirit of fantasy to its highest levels. A beautiful book and an enjoyable read