Book Details:
Category: Adult Fiction (18 yrs +), 394 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Indie
Release date: July 10, 2014
Content Rating: PG-13 +M: 1) contains mild profanity, 2) contains occasional non-explicit sex scenes, but Book 4 has a rape scene, hence the rating, 3) contains battle violence but it’s not gory or explicit.
Book Description:
Set in Iron Age Britain and steeped in Welsh legend, the Islands in the Mist series brings to life the magic and mystery of the Arthurian Age.
In Islands in the Mist, we meet the great warrior, Bran, called home from the battlefield to his mother’s deathbed. He honors her final wish by vowing to solve the mystery of what fatally attacked her in the night. Though many have dismissed it as a wolf attack, she insists it was not, and encourages him to seek the counsel of Talhaiarn, druid advisor to their clan.
On his journey, Bran encounters the fiery Lucia, widow to a Roman centurion, and her strangely-gifted stable boy, Gwion–an enigmatic child graced with understanding beyond his years. Lucia possesses “the Sight,” an ability that has plagued her from the time she was a small girl, tormenting her with disturbing visions of events that invariably come to pass. Fate leads her to discover many of her maternal ancestors were masterful women gifted with similar psychic abilities and that some of them have been watching her from the shadows for years.
Upon returning to his village, Bran finds himself at odds with the hot-tempered Aelhaearn, who is determined to become their clan’s next chieftain. To Aelhaearn’s disappointment, Bran’s sister, now priestess in her mother’s place, convinces the clan to choose Bran for the honor instead. In the aftermath of their conflict, Bran discovers something shocking about his rival that causes him to rue his sister’s decision.
As everyone strives to unravel the mystery surrounding their nocturnal enemies, their creator patiently carries out her plan, woven from the exploited weaknesses of her opponents. Slowly, all but one are pulled into the seductive maelstrom of her power.
I received a copy of Islands in the Mist in exchange for an honest review. What follows is my opinion and mine alone. There was no compensation for this review.
I believe every person can look back into their childhood and talk about a time where they fell in love with mythology. Usually, it’s Greek or Norse, but for me, Celtic mythology and the stories of King Arthur enthralled me. I remember reading about castles and how they were made. My dad would watch shows about archeological digs in the U.K. where the Romans left their mark on British soil.
Reading Islands in the Mist not only transported me to Iron Age Britain but to the 1990’s in my kitchen asking my dad what he would put in his moat. Just so you know, he was very candid and it was very disturbing. I personally wanted alligators, but alas.
That said, this book is the first in a historical fantasy series. You won’t find castles or moats of alligators, but you will find Roman villas and communities of clansmen protecting their homes from a dark and disturbing evil plaguing the lands. Bran is a soldier charged with finding out who killed his mother. After speaking with his mentor, he is told that a cauldron where the dead can be brought back to life is being used.
The first book is an easy read and definitely a start to a series I would encourage my son to read. Great for historical fiction fans and fans of fantasy, the story weaves fact and fiction together in a way that I could believe this is how it was. It was easy to get into and a quick read that kept me engaged. I will be reading the rest of the series as well and am excited to continue.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
J.M. Hofer writes stories of adventure steeped in Celtic folklore.
Set in Iron Age Britain, her Islands in the Mist series brings to life the mystery and magic of the Arthurian age. Book 1, Islands in the Mist, was chosen as one of the top five Fantasy novels out of 2,000 entries in the 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest.*
Visit her world at http://www.jmhofer.com
Casia's Corner 