FINDING THE TREE

In a village ruled by masked elders, a young woman must uncover forbidden knowledge in a hidden library before a sacred ritual seals her fate.

In this novel set in an unnamed, isolated village, nine mysterious elders enforce strict traditions to preserve social order. Life is governed by nature rather than clocks, knowledge is tightly controlled, and women’s roles are predetermined. Sylvie is a free-spirited young woman raised by her grandfather, who secretly taught her to read and question their controlled existences. On his deathbed, he reveals that there’s more to the story she’s been told about her mother’s death and her outsider father’s absence. Sylvie possesses fragments of truth, an inherited ring with an endless knot design, and questions about her origins. Sadly, her search for answers is about to end prematurely. Sylvie has managed to avoid “the ritual”—a compulsory ceremony for all women of a certain age carried out by an elder—longer than most, but the pressure keeps mounting. She’s given the choice to have her bodily autonomy stripped in front of the entire village or inside her home by an unwanted new husband. Determined to uncover the truth, Sylvie explores the forbidden library, a repository of hidden knowledge (“It was the only building still standing from a bygone era and the only place where I might find answers”). What she uncovers inside propels her on a journey through time and space, sometimes guided by a raven, leading her to a legendary tree. Finding this tree is part of her destiny and a larger cycle that must be completed. Broadwell’s captivating novel excels in building atmosphere and tension, using the insular, timeless village as both a physical and psychological cage. The author vividly renders Sylvie’s internal struggle—her desire for knowledge, autonomy, and truth—and makes her both relatable and inspiring as a protagonist. Broadwell also skillfully weaves together eco-fiction, feminist dystopia, and mythic fantasy, exploring how environmental devastation, patriarchal control, and the suppression of knowledge are deeply interconnected. But the pacing falters at times, with extended exposition and detailed descriptions slowing the momentum. And, while Sylvie is a compelling hero, secondary characters receive less attention, which can make parts of the village and its inhabitants feel underexplored.

A gripping but uneven dystopian tale with fantastical elements.