By
Robert Holdstock
Robert Holdstock created a new fantasy series with his "Mythago" cycle books. The first book, Mythago Wood, won the World Fantasy Award. He has added new books to the cycle every few years. His latest book in the series is Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn. This book tells the story of Christian Huxley and his adventures into the mysterious Ryhope Wood where he finds love and redemption.Ryhope is a section of old, primeval forest in England. It is small on the outside, but boundless inside. Strange things happen in the wood: time is different, beings and creatures from myth are alive and magic exists. The wood somehow connects with the unconscious part of people's minds to create "mythagos."
On the outskirts of the wood lives the Huxley family. The book starts with Christian as a young boy encountering Mythagos and dealing with an obsessive father and his mother's tragic death. Christain comes home after the war to find strange things going on at the house. His father travels into and out of the wood constantly. He finds the body of a woman. A warrior leader of a band of primitive fighters marks him. All fo these events spur Christian into venturing into the wood to solve these mysteries. His journey takes him on an enlightening trip into battle, honor and death.
This book is an excellent additon to the series. It has sympathetic three-dimensional characters, many adventures and a great climax. I recommend this book for anyone who likes fantasy driven by mythology. Also, I recommend the other books in the series.
by Debbie Ledesma