I think one reason I usually tire quickly of series is that it seems to me that the main characters become static. But in this case, McKenna consistently keeps thing fresh. I count that among the reasons I continue to enjoy the series and to look forward to the next book. ( )

"The Green Man's Gift"

Would I read another book by this author?
Yes!

Would I recommend this book?
Yes!

Who would I recommend it to?
Anyone who enjoys stories of magical experiences rooted in traditional folklore.

Has this book inspired me to do anything?
I am inclined to do a bit of reading-up on Welsh folklore, and also on Snowdonia.

Apart from enjoying the story, there were other aspects of this novel that pleased me. (Here I start to ramble.)

A few years ago, in the dim and distant years of the Pre-COVID era, my wife and I traveled to Birmingham (England) to visit our daughter and her family. We took the ferry to Holyhead in Wales. To get to Birmingham we put our trust in the mysterious power of the SatNav. Some people would think the result was an inefficient and time wasting journey, but to us it was an eye-opener. The SatNav took us through the mountains of Snowdonia and we got to see the amazing landscape and the debris of what was a massive slate quarrying and mining industry. We were on narrow, winding roads through valleys with steep walls barren of vegetation, and covered in slate scree. We passed through tiny villages that date back centuries. It is a dramatic and beautiful place, full of history and mystery.

Why do I describe our drive through Snowdonia? Well, this is the land where Juliet E. McKenna set "The green Man's Gift". Her description of the area brought me right back to our drive through that terrain and it was totally accurate, even down to the getting stuck behind slow moving vehicles; not being able to find a parking space, either because any available spots to stop were already taken by day-trippers visiting the area or there were no spaces to stop; and to being forced to a stop by hill-walkers taking up space on the road as they try to find their path onto the mountains. Her descriptions are perfect and they capture the beauty and the reality of the place.

In the story, some of the characters venture into the old mines of the area. By chance, within the last year, I saw a TV documentary about mining in this area. There were images of the quarries and footage from trips into the mines showing the equipment left behind when the mines closed. Juliet's descriptions of the mines match up perfectly with the images shown on the documentary. This author's research is impeccable.

Another key contributor to my enjoyment of the book was the inclusion of Welsh folklore and myths. This was mostly new to me and I hope to delve a bit more into the myths and legends of Wales. I only have a few sketchy notions of Welsh supernatural tales.

"The Green Man's Gift" is a very enjoyable addition to the series and I look forward to the next adventure for Dan and his friends. ( )