Recently, I’ve been reflecting on how trees not only  influence human creativity in terms of art and literature, but play an important part in defining the fantasy landscapes in my books.

I’ve now looked at trees in the context of worldbuilding and landscape in all four of my novels published to date: Thornspell, The Heir of Night (The Wall Of Night Book One),  The Gathering of the Lost (The Wall Of Night Book Two), and most recently Daughter of Blood (The Wall Of Night Book Three).

However, there is one vital location that I have not yet addressed in terms of The Wall of Night worldbuilding, yet where trees play a significant part in defining the landscape. Can you guess what, or where, it is?

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Here’s your first clue:

 “She found herself in a dark forest where the crowns of the trees were so tall they hid the sky, and the moon and stars seemed to be caught in the net of their branches.  Her feet brushed against long grass that was chill with dew and tendrils of white mist swirled around her knees.  She was standing on what appeared to be a small knoll above banks of white fog, with trees stretching away on all sides and a narrow path running down into the whiteness. “

~ from The Heir of Night

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Still not sure? Alright then, here’s clue number two:

“The scent of night earth and rotting leaves filled Malian’s mind, sifting through the green canopy of Maraval wood and tree trunks shifting to hide a vision of Yorindesarinen. The formless thoughts and tiny pulse beats of small night creatures formed a web around her—only to be torn apart, their minute energies fragmented by an explosion of dark power that blasted her into a forest of fog and Emerian oaks …

The trees here were taller, their vast trunks soaring skyward around a narrow glade with a small fire burning at its heart. A woman with stars in her hair sat beside the fire, the hood of her cloak thrown back as she played cat’s cradle with the flames.”

~ from The Gathering Of The Lost

I feel sure readers of The Wall Of Night series must know where we are by now. But for those who remain unsure, here is your third and final clue:

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“…she shifted her gaze to the swallows, chasing each other through the bright air—and her seer’s power coiled around her again, swifter than the snake that the Aeris caravan guard had called war. Only this time, Malian’s inner sight opened into an oak forest … Drifts of mist lay between black trunks, and a russet fox slipped out of the undergrowth, stopping with one paw raised to gaze at her from eyes she knew would be the color of barley ale. Above its head, a knot in an oak trunk twisted into a fox’s mask …”

~ from Daughter Of Blood
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Plus, There’s A Mystery Prize!

If you believe you know the name of the landscape these trees both inhabit and define, then tell me in the comments.

There is a mystery prize to give away to someone who provides the right answer. If more than one commenter gets it right then I’ll put all the names in the Sorting Hat and draw to find a recipient for the mystery prize. I’ll post the winner’s name here on Thursday 14. (So the opportunity to comment will remain open until midnight, Wednesday 13, NZ time.)