The Briarmen: A fairy-tale for adults

Product Information

In general, I enjoy works that have fantastic or otherwise speculative elements, while also being firmly rooted in the historical period during which they take place, and telling stories about the human condition. The Briarmen is a book that balances this well. Bromsbury and its inhabitants felt real, and after a few chapters, I could forget I was reading and think I was there with them. Small details such as the fields, the school and the pubs made this feel like a real place, so it wasn’t hard to suspend disbelief when it came to the magical aspect of the book; the mysterious woods and the peculiar inhabitants. Unfortunately, things don’t stay this way for long, rumours of a German plane coming down in these woods and this threatens the Briarmen’s existance. Penny and Hamish have to figure out how to keep the secret of their new friends while the forest becomes a place of interest by the locals since the plane crash. The Brairmen is a fairytale for those who need magic in their everyday lives. A reminder of the childhood stories of something magical hidden in the deep dark woods. My rating: 4.5 (Exceptional [5], Amazing [4.5], Great [4], Very Good [3.5], Good [3], Okay [2.5], Passable [2], Just short of terrible [1.5], Terrible [1])

The Briarmen | The StoryGraph Reviews - The Briarmen | The StoryGraph

Hamish Beasly is evacuated from London to the countryside in 1939 to live with Mrs. Platts and her daughter. Penny is less than happy to share her home with Hamish, but after they dare each other to go into the forbidden Woods Beyond the Railway, they build an unbreakable bond. The pair make a huge discovery in the woods: bush like creatures called The Briarmen who possess magical powers. To keep The Briarmen safe, they must keep their existence secret from the other villagers but when rumours of a German plane crashing into the woods begin, their friends are at more risk than ever. I liked the development of Penny and Hamish’s characters both separately and as friends. I felt like they grew through the novel in a very natural way, nothing felt contrived, their reactions to the things they saw and learned were real and as such I enjoyed being on this adventure with them even more. Thank you to Crescent Swan Publishing for gifting me a review copy in exchange for an honest review. For those wishing to be a part of the innovative group of writers that Crescent Swan are building from the ground up, you can see here when the publishing house is open for submissions. Guidance for these submissions can also be found by following the link (though casting a wide net, they are not currently accepting submissions for poetry or children’s work).History Makers: Female Writers Dominate the 2023 William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award Shortlist I loved the concept of The Woods Beyond The Railway, an eerie, enchanted place that nobody dares explore (except young evacuee Hamish, in a bid to prove his bravery to his newfound town mates). I related to the protagonists' curiosity and delighted in the giant geese, boy-eating catfish and tiny Briarmen they discover in the Woods. The first few chapters are filled with childhood imagination and wonder, and my inner adventurer was more than satisfied. However I enlisted the help of some trusted freelancers with this project, and probably will do the same for future projects, at least whilst it’s early days. Recommended Reads about Race, Racism, and Demarginalizing History - Necessary Non-fiction You Should Read for Life-changing Insights and Impact I wasn’t sure if I should give it 4 or 5 stars, but there honestly is not a thing I didn’t like about this book.

The Briarmen: A Fairy-Tale for Adults - Goodreads The Briarmen: A Fairy-Tale for Adults - Goodreads

The trees were as old as they were tall, reaching far beyond the mottled sky. Their branches were all but bare and looked like long, crooked fingers, stroking and scratching their surroundings. Hamish couldn’t help but imagine how regal they would look once re-clothed in their autumn finery.” The story, set in wartime Britain, centres around the friendship that blossoms between Hamish, a wartime evacuee, and Penny, who he goes to live with in the sleepy village of Brombury. However, Brombury doesn’t stay sleepy for long as there are rumours of a German plane coming down in the mysterious Woods Beyond The Railway. And that’s not all that’s hiding in the woods, as Penny and Hamish discover the Briarmen. Adventures in the Woods ensue and relationships are forged between the children and the Briarmen. This book is filled with magic and secrets and is a lovely escape from real life. This is definitely one I’ll be reading with my little boy when he gets older, and I’ll be lending to my mum - so a book for all the ages!After being strictly forbidden to go into the woods (what is more appealing than the forbidden) Hamish and penny sneak out and go exploring and meet a whole cast of interesting characters straight out of folklore small stumpy wood like creatures The Briarmen.