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.”

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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.”

More from Scott

One of the things that makes the fantasy genre so powerful, so important even, is that it often deals with existential questions, especially life versus death and good versus evil. Many other genres shy away from such question, or pretend that evil is, in fact, “relative.” However, sharing the same stakes also means that many fantasy tales may come to resemble one another a little too much. For Chaos Woods, I wanted to do something a little bit different. Given that the main character winds up with a magical mask, it did not take long to realize that the primary stakes of this story would be truth versus lies. This realization made the writing of the story much easier. Conflict and confrontation came easily through the turning of these two poles. This led IndieReader in a 4.8/5-star review to remark, “Scott T. Barnes delivers a richly imagined, character-driven coming-of-age fantasy that balances cozy adventure with thoughtful themes of morality, addiction, and the consequences of one’s choices.” In addition to unique stakes, there is a lot of me in this tale. I grew up in a gold-mining town, surrounded by fields and live oak stands, and the mountains, forests, and small-town vibe enrich Telyn’s adventures. I hope the reader finds the Chaos Woods a place they want to visit again and again.

Interview with the Author

Do you read books in this genre? If so, who do you like to read?

Yes, all the time. I finish a book every other week, at a minimum. In my 20s I decided that I should get inspiration from other genres, so I have a rule that every third book must be in a genre other than science fiction or fantasy. Nonfiction counts.

I hate to say this, but most of my favorite fantasy novels are the older ones, those written between the 1950s and 1990s. I am rereading Memory, Sorrow and Thorn by Tad Williams, which might be considered one of the classics. Another forgotten treasure is The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny.

If a reader were to ask you what author you are like, what would you answer?

Ah, I am rereading Memory, Sorrow and Thorn because I was thinking that Chaos Woods recalled this series. I’ve nearly finished the first volume, and I believe this is correct. Anyone who likes Tad Williams’ series will like the Chronicles of the Ever-Guise. (Note, some of Williams’ other books have gore, which I try to leave off the page.)

What helps you to write? Do you eat snacks, listen to music?

I write in coffee shops. I almost always order a double espresso, which reminds me of the years I lived in France.

If you could travel back in time, what time period would you go to?

Can we pretend that hygiene existed? I would love to travel back to Russia when Peter the Great was pulling that country almost single-handedly out of the Dark Ages.

What is your favorite book and why?

Lord of the Rings because I can reread it seemingly innumerable times and still cry when Gandalf falls into the abyss. I discover something new every time through, and I must have read it twenty times.

What is your favorite hymn and why?

I don’t have one, but Ave Maria always inspires me with its divine beauty.

What is one thing readers would be surprised to learn about you?

My favorite sports are figure skating and rhythmic gymnastics.

What inspired you to write this book?

The setting definitely helped. I love the mountains, the woods, the wilds. When I think of the chaos trees, I picture the redwoods but with the scent of white fir.