Val/Orson - Marly Youmans
I honestly wasn’t sure I would enjoy this novella. The intro explained it was inspired by a French medieval tale. I consider myself fairly well-read, but not when it comes to medieval literature.
However, I was quickly sucked into the modern world Youmans created, a world where giant Californian redwood trees would be extinct already were it not for the main character, Val, and his fellow tree sitters. Poor Val is one-half of a set of twins. He was the one who got to stay with Mom, while his twin was abducted literally right after being birthed in the forest.
Val’s life is seemingly uncomplicated, revolving around the redwood forest and its creatures. He slowly begins to suspect his missing twin may be among those creatures and, despite an unfortunate accident, multiple seizures, and falling in love with his first cousin (not by blood), Val searches tirelessly for this half he has named Orson.
I do not know how similar this novella is to its source of inspiration, but I intend to seek out the original to see. Youmans tale ends happily, but not too sentimentally. This is a welcome addition to the library of readers of fantasy, fairy tales, and wildlife conservation stories.
Amy Dodge
