THE LOST FOREST TRILOGY

In this first book of Miles’ planned fantasy trilogy, warriors search for missing royals while facing off against a villainous horde.

Princess Salair of the Kingdom of the Meadow, traveling with her bodyguard, follows directions to an underground forest. Her father, the King, who’s missing along with the Queen, left behind an encrypted note that sent her to Sir Charles “Chuck” McDaniel, a warfare expert. She guesses that the abductor is Dark Prince Drouck, whose diabolical family members once ruled the land. With guidance from Chuck’s old enemy—a humanoid rat who claims that Drouck also kidnapped his daughter—Salair and others make their way to the Dark Forest to find the Dark Prince’s castle. They simply want to rescue the hostages, but several surprises, including the appearance of a long-lost loved one, pull the group apart in unexpected ways. Meanwhile, Drouck leads an army of hostile minions, including the half-tarantula, half-octopus “octospy,” who can kill with a mere bite or scratch. Miles packs this opening installment with backstory and character introductions. A prologue succinctly chronicles centuries of the former king’s tyrannical reign, which quickly gives the novel a chilling tone, as evil still thrives in the Dark Forest. The cast is extensive, with such appealing individuals as Chuck’s samurai friend, Oshiro Kehi; Keewae, a bearlike “fuzzar”; and golden eagle Berra, whom Chuck rescued when she was an eaglet. However, although the author’s scant descriptions adequately render the forested settings, they’re less successful at sketching characters. For example, several figures appear in just a scene or two, identified by name only, and one crucial player exits the narrative with nothing more than a vague explanation of their fate. Still, there’s plenty of intriguing obstacles to challenge the heroes, including the revelation of a shocking family secret and a scramble to find an antidote for poison.

A worthwhile fantasy series-opener, even if its character detail is occasionally lacking.