Leaves of Fall is a dystopian novella by Patricia Lynne, and I may have received a copy for its launch last year.  The author has rebranded and is now writing as Patricia Josephine, and but the book is still on Goodreads under her original name.  Tell me, Patricia, and I’ll make any necessary edits!

Apart from the launch post, I also linked the book to a great piece of Facts About Trees, which Patricia did as a guest post for the promo, but I used as part of my #30DaysWild that year. They are great facts!

Leaves of Fall

Leaves of Fallby Patricia Lynne

Armory was born into a post-apocalyptic world torn apart by a war between man and nature. She lives with her mother and other humans in the rubble of New York City. When she’s kidnapped by nomads and taken far from her home, a tree nymph is the one who comes to her rescue.

Birch claims he can get Armory back to her family. Not all trees wanted a war. If Armory wants to see her mother again, she has no choice but to trust Birch.

As they travel across the wasteland of America, they meet humans and trees who want the fighting to stop. But the hatred between the two may be too deep to heal. Is Armory’s friendship with Birch enough to convince the human race to take a chance on peace? Birch has a plan. He’s just not sure he’ll survive it.[goodreads]

My Review

I don’t reach much post-apocalypse works these days, but to me, the premise of Leaves of Fall is exciting and original. The trees have fought back. I have to say, I think it’s an excellent idea, although they don’t seem to make much distinction between their friends and enemies among the humans. But it turns out to be more complex than that. Complexity of personal values and beliefs is one of the major strengths of this book.

The world-building in Leaves of Fall is excellent. Armory’s parents remember things that you and I may have experienced, things that are just fantasy ideas to Armory’s generation. The mindset of people who have grown up in a utilitarian world is exceptionally well presented. Gang culture is alive and well, unfortunately, and this too is believable, although early on I thought we might be going into a Tarnsman of Gor scenario in reverse. (That ages me!)

The trees… Ah! the trees. Wonderful. Wondrous. Slightly too human in their psyche perhaps, but they have lived alongside humans for so long maybe we’ve influenced them. Birch was particularly good as a human-hugger, to turn a phrase around. He was entirely believable, from his leaves down to his roots. The anti-people ones were a lot like some rightwing politicians of your choice. But maybe that’s absolutely right. Those politicians certainly don’t seem human at times.

add to goodreads buttonIt’s a fantastic, enjoyable, and fairly quick read; worth enjoying at leisure. Also perfect for snatched intervals when you’re exhausted and need a good book. There’s going to be tough decisions to make (again) in my Book of the Year this year!

Birch, a human-hugger, was entirely believable, from his leaves down to his roots. LEAVES OF FALL by Patricia Lynne Click To Tweet

Book Review | Leaves of Fall by Patricia Lynne
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3 thoughts on “Book Review | Leaves of Fall by Patricia Lynne

  • 14 April, 2020 at 2:54 pm
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    Love the review. I will add this to tbr after we get out of this crazy phase.

  • 15 April, 2020 at 3:46 am
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    Another one for my TBR list 🙂 Like you, I’m not too inclined to reach for the dystopian books right now, though. In fact, mostly I’m reaching for children’s classics.

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