| After a thieves’ auction goes wrong, young barmaid Telyn Brower winds up with a shard from a magical mask. Only one problem: In this world, humans are forbidden to use magic. In fact, they’re the only sentient beings without any innate magical powers. That doesn’t stop Telyn and her friends from using the mask to improve life in their isolated mountain town of Harlech. At first, the changes seem small. Helpful. Necessary. But good intentions only carry them so far. Soon, lies begin to surface. Trust erodes. With every spell they cast, the mask tightens its grip. The power is seductive, addictive. The consequences are dangerous. As the subjugation of humans intensifies and enemies draw near, the only way out seems to lie deep in the Chaos Woods—an ancient forest where magic itself bends and frays. To survive, the friends must face the cost of their choices and decide whether they can truly trust one another. Discover the young adult fantasy Chaos Woods, rated 4.8 out of 5 stars by IndieReader, and described as “an ambitious, character-driven fantasy.” |  |
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Release Date: November 14, 2025
Release Date: November 14, 2025
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My Review
Sometimes curiosity can get you in trouble....
What would you do if you could influence the people around you with a mere suggestion? If your circumstances could change as a result? In this first Chronicles Of The Ever-Guise novel, a ragtag group of teens finds out...the hard way.
The title, Chaos Woods, intrigued me right from the start. It is simple, short, but promised a very interesting story behind it. And an interesting story is what I got, but, first I will admit that I was a little intimidated by it. It has to be close to, if not, the longest book that I've read. Over 700 pages of story between the front and back covers.
And it is quite a story. I found it to be imaginative and, though it is more character-driven than action, it was at times quite exciting. Scott T. Barnes has populated his fantasy world with an interesting mixture of races – magical and non-magical – in addition to creatures that are as different as they are dangerous. Toss in a magical artifact with unexpected and unintended consequences, a quest for freedom and another for vengeance, and maybe a spirit or two....
Overall, I would say that Chaos Woods was a good story. It's definitely on the long side but I think it will appeal to middle and older YA readers. As an adult, I still found a fair bit of the story to be intriguing. It is the first book in the Chronicles Of The Ever-Guise series so I wonder where Scott T. Barnes will take his characters next....
Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Chaos Woods by Scott T. Barnes a 3.5 Bark rating.
What would you do if you could influence the people around you with a mere suggestion? If your circumstances could change as a result? In this first Chronicles Of The Ever-Guise novel, a ragtag group of teens finds out...the hard way.
The title, Chaos Woods, intrigued me right from the start. It is simple, short, but promised a very interesting story behind it. And an interesting story is what I got, but, first I will admit that I was a little intimidated by it. It has to be close to, if not, the longest book that I've read. Over 700 pages of story between the front and back covers.
And it is quite a story. I found it to be imaginative and, though it is more character-driven than action, it was at times quite exciting. Scott T. Barnes has populated his fantasy world with an interesting mixture of races – magical and non-magical – in addition to creatures that are as different as they are dangerous. Toss in a magical artifact with unexpected and unintended consequences, a quest for freedom and another for vengeance, and maybe a spirit or two....
Overall, I would say that Chaos Woods was a good story. It's definitely on the long side but I think it will appeal to middle and older YA readers. As an adult, I still found a fair bit of the story to be intriguing. It is the first book in the Chronicles Of The Ever-Guise series so I wonder where Scott T. Barnes will take his characters next....
Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Chaos Woods by Scott T. Barnes a 3.5 Bark rating.
(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
More from Scott
One of the things that makes the fantasy genre so powerful, so important even, is that it often deals with existential questions, especially life versus death and good versus evil. Many other genres shy away from such question, or pretend that evil is, in fact, “relative.”
However, sharing the same stakes also means that many fantasy tales may come to resemble one another a little too much.
For Chaos Woods, I wanted to do something a little bit different. Given that the main character winds up with a magical mask, it did not take long to realize that the primary stakes of this story would be truth versus lies. This realization made the writing of the story much easier. Conflict and confrontation came easily through the turning of these two poles. This led IndieReader in a 4.8/5-star review to remark, “Scott T. Barnes delivers a richly imagined, character-driven coming-of-age fantasy that balances cozy adventure with thoughtful themes of morality, addiction, and the consequences of one’s choices.”
In addition to unique stakes, there is a lot of me in this tale. I grew up in a gold-mining town, surrounded by fields and live oak stands, and the mountains, forests, and small-town vibe enrich Telyn’s adventures. I hope the reader finds the Chaos Woods a place they want to visit again and again.
However, sharing the same stakes also means that many fantasy tales may come to resemble one another a little too much.
For Chaos Woods, I wanted to do something a little bit different. Given that the main character winds up with a magical mask, it did not take long to realize that the primary stakes of this story would be truth versus lies. This realization made the writing of the story much easier. Conflict and confrontation came easily through the turning of these two poles. This led IndieReader in a 4.8/5-star review to remark, “Scott T. Barnes delivers a richly imagined, character-driven coming-of-age fantasy that balances cozy adventure with thoughtful themes of morality, addiction, and the consequences of one’s choices.”
In addition to unique stakes, there is a lot of me in this tale. I grew up in a gold-mining town, surrounded by fields and live oak stands, and the mountains, forests, and small-town vibe enrich Telyn’s adventures. I hope the reader finds the Chaos Woods a place they want to visit again and again.
 Scott T. Barnes | An afficionado of small towns, forests, and mountains, you can find Scott T. Barnes writing in coffee shops all over Southern California. Scott won the Writers of the Future Award for his story “Insect Sculptor.” His contemporary fantasy, Memories of Lucinda Eco, set in Baja California, received a coveted “Editor’s Pick” from BookLife, while his epic fantasy Chaos Woods earned 4.8 out of 5 stars from IndieReader. Kirkus Reviews called it, “An absorbing, character-driven YA tale of camaraderie and redemption.” |
It's Time For A Giveaway!
To celebrate his tour, Scott is giving away the grand prize of
a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!
a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
Blog Stops
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Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 29
Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 30
Fiction Book Lover, May 31 (Author Interview)
The Bookish Ledger, June 1 (Author Interview)
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Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, June 2 (Author Interview)
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A Modern Day Fairy Tale, June 5 (Author Interview)
Books Less Travelled, June 6 (Author Interview)
The Lofty Pages, June 7
History, Hope & Happily Ever After, June 8 (Author Interview)
Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, June 9 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, May 28 (Author Interview)
Guild Master, May 29 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 29
Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 30
Fiction Book Lover, May 31 (Author Interview)
The Bookish Ledger, June 1 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, June 1
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, June 2 (Author Interview)
Blogging With Carol, June 3
Books, Books, & More Books, June 4 (Author Interview)
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, June 5 (Author Interview)
Books Less Travelled, June 6 (Author Interview)
The Lofty Pages, June 7
History, Hope & Happily Ever After, June 8 (Author Interview)
Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, June 9 (Author Interview)
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