Wind: The TOR’OC TRILOGY

Barry Alexander Brown’s WIND: The Tor’oc Trilogy, Book I is an ambitious, lyrical journey into a richly imagined world that blends myth, legacy, and the search for redemption. As a long-time reader of speculative fiction, I was immediately drawn to the depth and cadence of Brown’s storytelling. It is a narrative that feels both ancient and new, evoking the timelessness of oral history while anchoring itself in the deeply personal journey of its reluctant hero, Aeon the Leaf.

At the heart of the story is Aeon, the last living descendant of the feared war chief Sumon, and heir to a people both feared and forgotten, the Tor’ocs. Once a brutal warrior nation bent on conquest, they have now become tree dwellers, living in harmony with a natural world that once sought to destroy them. Aeon’s life in the trees is peaceful and deeply connected to nature, yet marked by isolation and inner conflict. He is an unusual protagonist, gentle, fearful, and introspective, yet his heritage demands something more of him.

Themes of generational guilt, restorative justice, and ecological symbiosis are intricately woven into the narrative. Aeon’s journey is set in motion by the appearance of Iz, a water spirit or “fee,” who summons him across the river Divul, a boundary between worlds. There, he is called to appear before a global council (the Camarod of Susceptible Nations), not to be punished for his people’s crimes, but to represent a path forward. Brown invites readers to question the weight of inherited history: can one truly redeem the sins of ancestors? And what does it mean to belong to a people feared by the world, when you yourself are kind, curious, and nonviolent?

The storytelling style is poetic and immersive. The prose occasionally slips into dreamlike abstraction, which can be disorienting, but always returns with emotional clarity. The worldbuilding is lush, especially the depiction of the forest city with its “kollokks” and “hanging way” structures shaped from living trees over generations. Brown’s respect for nature as a living, communicative force is evident, echoing Indigenous philosophies of interconnection and memory.

Uthiriul, a fierce and ambitious young woman who covets Aeon’s role, provides a sharp counterpoint to his hesitant nature. Her competitive, almost predatory energy adds necessary tension and reflects another theme: that power and legacy do not always lie in brute strength or entitlement, but in willingness to change.

As the first book of a trilogy, WIND lays substantial groundwork. It does not rush. Instead, it lingers in language, memory, and moral ambiguity. Readers seeking fast-paced adventure may find the beginning slow, but those who appreciate layered storytelling and introspective heroes will find Aeon’s journey resonant and meaningful.

Overall, WIND is a thoughtful, philosophical fantasy that honors both the pain of the past and the courage to walk a new path. It’s a book that asks not only what a person is, but what they might yet become.