Review: Another Fine Fantasy
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 14, 2013
The Hall of the Wood by Scott Marlowe is another fine fantasy novel set in the same world as The Five Elements, which I enjoyed very much.  The Hall of the Wood definitely can be read without The Five Elements, as it is a satisfying stand-alone book.  The Hall of the Wood incorporates Marlowe's intricate world-building, so necessary for a good fantasy story.  One of the elements of Marlowe's writing that I especially enjoy is his strong female characters.  In Hall of the Wood, these include a knight, a bard/herald, plus a half-dryad.  The story is essentially one of self-discovery by several characters while trying to defeat evil in the forms of a wicked witch and the various types of goblin.  The good guys defeat the goblins, but the goblin lord escapes to menace the future.  Other plot lines are left open, so additional novels in this vein are a possibility.  I read the second edition, so many of the problems noted by other reviewers were resolved.  I strongly recommend it to anyone looking for an entertaining fantasy read.