About the Book
Book: Chaos Woods, Chronicles of the Ever-Guise, Book I
Author: Scott T. Barnes
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Release Date: November 14, 2025
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.”
Excerpt from the Book:
“You forgot to do your top button.” Telyn soured at this reminder that Cressida got the plum serving job while Telyn was relegated to the kitchen.
“There’s a new couple in the Dating Chart. You’ll never guess.”
“Oh, Aled’s rump, not this again.” The Dating Chart, what a load llama puckies! A load of busybodies tried to figure out who might get hitched—or unhitched—in the coming year and created a chart out of their data. Worse yet, the townsfolk of Harlech bet on the outcomes!
Telyn rubbed her nose vigorously. “See what you’ve done? You’ve gone and made my nose itch.”
“Because you want to know—”
“’Cause the Chart gives me the hives.”
The kitchen door burst open. “Stew ready yet?” A bearded man, his chest hair fighting its way out of his plaid shirt-collar, brushed past the two girls. He grabbed mitts from the mantle.
“Telyn forgot to put in the garlic.” Cressida smiled prettily.
Of course, Cressida would notice that!
“I was just about to. Put in the garlic, I mean.”
The man stared at her for a minute and Telyn anticipated a red-forehead tirade—one of Razenbock’s specialties.
Missed an Excerpt? Go Here:
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Excerpt Three: https://www.fictionbooklover.
Excerpt Four: https://www.guildmaster97.com/
Excerpt Five: https://www.becausefiction.
Excerpt Six: https://www.thebookishledger.
Excerpt Seven: https://thequietbookmark.com/
About the Author
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.”