Take a bit of The Hobbit, mix in a portion of Alice In Wonderland, add a dash of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and combine all with a heavy helping of originality and you might come close to describing the wonderful fantasy novel that is Deep Into the Heart of a Rose. It's not very often that I read a book that takes me into it's world so deeply and completely (especially as quickly) as this one did. I immediately felt a connection to the characters and was invested in their concerns. As a matter of fact, even with a very strong strong storyline that immerses the reader, and excellent world-building and an establishment of a world mythology of sorts, it's the creation of so many unique, special and compelling characters that steals the show in this novel.

The story itself centers around a unique and powerful love story and the unbreakable bond between true friends. But it is so much more than that; adventure, suspense, touching moments, horror, comedy and some general silliness all play important roles in this sweeping tale. The forces of evil are as evil and diabolical as I've seen anywhere and there is a nice mix of characters on both sides of good and evil that nothing really gets stale or too predictable. From the beginning to the end, I felt a special affection for Mr. Cozzlebottom whom, while being a truly unique character in his own right, I would not be surprised to see sitting outside the green door of Bag End smoking pipeweed and blowing rings with a certain Mr. Baggins.

If you haven't had a chance to read Deep Into the Heart of a Rose yet, I highly recommend giving it a chance soon. I wouldn't want anyone to miss out on this magical novel.

On a personal note, I would like to thank Mr. Denny for sending me this copy of his fine novel to read and review. I truly look forward to seeing what his next book brings! ( )

There is so much to like about this book. The characters, the adventures, the whole fantasy surrounding a love letter. There was the part that reminded me of Alice in Wonderland but I even enjoyed that part. If you like to read fantasy then this is the book for you. I won this from Goodreads. ( )

I received this book for free as a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

Perhaps my expectations were too high, but this book wasn't really what I expected. The story is rich in detail, and it's obvious that the author put an incredible amount of work and heart into it, but it was constructed in a way that was a little odd. At the beginning, the story seemed to be almost disjointed, as if the chapters were stand-alone short stories rather than a cohesive plot line. It took a while for me to realize how events and characters were connected and where the plot was going.

Just as I was really getting into the world of the Vale and its surrounding lands, as well as getting invested in Mr. Cozzlebottom and Mizz Wimbish's journeys, things became suddenly very bizarre. Denny's creative ideas and style of storytelling seemed to be lost as the book became something like an imitation of Alice in Wonderland, with talking animals and silly poems and bickering twin-types and nonsense dialogues. Now, Alice in Wonderland is one of my favorite books, and I really do enjoy nonsense, but it all just seemed so out of place; it was a jarring interruption of Denny's unique story and immersive world.

The last part of the book returned to the style of the first part, with Denny's own voice coming through again. The characters find the Black Lodge, and the story takes on a very dark edge. The plot is resolved a little abruptly and not all my questions were answered, but it leaves room for a sequel, with a strong hint that just such a thing may be possible.

While I did have to struggle through the book at some points, I do very much respect the dedication and imagination that went into this book. If you're a lover of fantasy, I recommend exploring the world of the Vale for yourself.

Full review posted on my blog, PidginPea's Book Nook. ( )

I had a hard time finishing this book because it doesn't make any sense to me and I apologize for being so harsh but I'm being truthful. It was hard for me to get into and even harder for me to follow.I'm sorry to be so negative. I do however love the poems in the book! ( )