Life isn’t easy at the bottom of the ladder among the Idallik Knights. Mathaiik is well past the age when he should’ve manifested his weapon and joined the rest of his comrades in the never-ending fight against monstrous little creatures that refuse to stay dead. Mathaiik also has a secret that, if it got out among the knights, would mean his death. Mathaiik has a little too much in common with the beasties he’s been taught are abominations. Green and Deadly Things, by Jenn Lyons, is a highly original fantasy about long-dead secrets, betrayals, and hope.
Green and Deadly Things opens with Mathaiik once again in trouble with the commander. His latest punishment places Matthaiik in what everyone always believed was an unsolvable labyrinth. One wrong move will kill any idiot foolish enough to try it. We won’t know exactly why Mathaiik is in disgrace until much later, but we do learn an awful lot about our young protagonist. First, when he’s hurt or sick, he sprouts vines and leaves. Second, he’s incredibly stubborn. And, lastly, he has a mind for puzzles. After three days with absolutely nothing else to do or think about, Mathaiik thinks he might’ve finally cracked the code to the maze and the impossible discovery that waits inside it.
Before he can test his theory, Mathaiik is summoned from his punishment to accompany a group of knights to investigate an attack that no one—except Matthaiik—has seen or survived. Of all things, trees are now moving and slaughtering anyone they come across. These trees are more powerful than anything the knights have taken on since the days of the necromancer lords of old. And, unlike the other monsters the knights have dealt with, the trees follow them home to continue the fight.
The plot of Green and Deadly Things is absolutely breathless. There are near-constant fights and chases throughout the book. On top of just trying to stay alive, Mathaiik also has to deal with former friends betraying him almost as often and a supposed enemy risen from the dead who might turn out to be everyone’s savior. It was refreshing to read a fantasy that didn’t plod but galloped along, especially one that tosses a lot of old genre tropes straight out the window. There are no ancient prophecies to fulfill or completely black or white characters chewing up the scenery. Fans of fantasy looking for something different should pick this one up.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, for review consideration.