The shamanic attack wakened capabilities neither she nor her mentor had ever suspected. What happens next is unexpected and quite disquieting. She is dispatched on an errand by Kendara Saengo accompanies her. While there, she makes a friend, fellow soldier Saengo. Part of her training has consisted of service in the army. She apprentices herself to Kendara the Shadow, master spy/assassin for the kingdom of Evewyn. Lee’s Shamanborn series.įoundling Sirscha Ashwyn seems destined to spend an unremarkable life as servant to her betters. Readers will be hooked by Forest of Souls’ appealing fantasy narrative, but it’s Sirscha, a girl from nowhere who, against all odds, learns to recognize her power and worth, who’ll win their hearts.2020’s Forest of Souls is the first volume in Lori M. The revelation of Sirscha’s magical power ultimately forces her to question everything she believes about her loyalties and her values, and Lee isn’t afraid to be as honest about how she depicts her characters’ failures as she is in celebrating their moments of triumph.

Lee’s pacing propels the story relentlessly forward as she explores themes of identity, confidence and sisterhood.

The obstacles Sirscha and Saengo must confront there reflect the internal challenges they face: Bloody battles and terrifying spirits go hand-in-hand with fear, prejudice and loss. Thiy, a continent home to creatures both mundane and magical, is as sociopolitically complex as our own world. Lee’s Forest of Souls plunges readers into a fast-paced narrative and captivates with an expansive, lore-filled world that juxtaposes lush fantasy with horror and violence.

Their path leads them into the Dead Wood, a forest possessed by spirits and ruled by the mysterious and ancient Spider King. Together, Sirscha and Saengo are thrown into the midst of a sprawling clash among kingdoms and magical powers. But when a deadly encounter with shamans results in the death of her best friend, Saengo, Sirscha is shocked to discover the incredible power within herself-power that reveals itself by bringing Saengo back to life. Sirscha Ashwyn is convinced that earning a place as the queen’s spy will finally transform her from an orphan with no past into a warrior with a purpose.

Forest of souls lori m lee