Fantasy
FriesenPress
June 25, 2014
200
In sixteenth century Ireland, Alainn McCreary is healer to Chieftain O'Brien, his clan and his kin. Few realize she is also capable of many unusual supernatural abilities. Morag, the old healer, warns her against the use of her magic. But without it, how will she learn the secret surrounding the Glade Witch, or end the malevolent curse on the O'Brien line? Even her powers of perception will not allow her to see how deeply she is connected to both. She faces danger and uncertainty as she catches the chieftain's eye, his priest's suspicion, and his nephew's heart.
I really thought I would like this book. The setting, the description, and the focus on magic were a trifecta of the potential things that I love in stories.
However, it was sadly not to be. I didn’t hate the book, but I only got to 44% before throwing in the towel. The prose was well-written, but the characters truly grated on me. Alainn was interesting as a child, but turned into a caricature of a winsome romance lead once she turned 18. Killian was absolutely angst-ridden and likewise a caricature of the hard-nosed masculine romance lead that will eventually be softened by the womanly wiles of the female lead. Maybe it was just my mood at the time, but I can’t stand the stark black-and-white of romance tropes.
I guess I was just looking for a fantasy novel with a little romance thrown in, rather than a romance novel with a little fantasy thrown in. Apparently there is a huge difference, especially considering the number of 4- and 5-star reviews for this book.