Arrow of the Mist by Christina Mercer
Publication date: March 21st 2013
Genre: YA Fantasy
Genre: YA Fantasy
Synopsis:
Terror strikes the Celtic inspired kingdom of Nemetona when barbed roots breach the veil of a forbidden land and poison woodsmen, including 15-year-old Lia’s beloved father. Lia and three others embark on a quest to the forbidden land of Brume to gather ingredients for the cure. But after her elder kinsman is attacked and poisoned, she and her cousin, Wynn, are forced to finish the quest on their own.
Lia relies on her powerful herbal wisdom and the memorized pages of her late grandmother’s Grimoire for guidance through a land of soul-hungry shades, trickster creatures, and uncovered truths about the origin of Brume and her family’s unexpected ties to it. The deeper they trek into the land, the stronger Lia’s untapped gift as a tree mage unfolds. When she discovers the enchanted root’s maker, it forces her to question everything about who she is and what is her destiny. Ultimately she must make a terrible choice: keep fighting to save her father and the people of the lands or join with the power behind the deadly roots to help nature start anew.
A_TiffyFit's Review
Normally, I would use this box for an excerpt, but I think my review is going to need to be scroll-able. :) As always, I will do my best not to give a single thing away! Ready? <3
Lia, the protagonist in this magical tale, discovers many things about herself at the tender age of 15. She'd always been aware of her unique differences from the other "ninnies" as she calls the other girls of her age in town, but oh how unique! In the modern world she would be a totally liberated, feminist kind, and not just because of her choice in wardrobe: trousers, blouse, and comfy shoes. Lia isn't a tomboy type either. Just like other girls, she also likes the soft, cuddly animals, in fact, just about all of the creatures in the world. A loner socially, she is very close to her family which includes Grandda, Grandma, and a cousin, Wynn, who is so handsome the girls flock around him, a total magnet for the opposite sex. Wynn, despite his flock of ninnies, is not ruled by his ego; he is a kind and deeply loyal young man, devoted to Lia & his family. Then there's Wynn's friend, an orphan who had lost his parents at a very young age, an adopted brother sort who is doted upon by Wynn's mother just as much as she dotes upon Wynn. Kelven also shares in this incredibly handsome look but is wholly unaware of it nor does it matter to him. Kelven's eyes are only for Lia and always have been. He admires Lia's uniqueness and her ability in gardening, not to mention her skills with bow & arrow. Kelven is especially enamored of Lia's long, red, beautiful hair. He is consumed with everything Lia.
Her family obviously adores Lia- she is an only child, too. Grandda is very respected and loved by Lia, he's the other man next to her Da. It is his wife, Grandma Myrna, that Lia shares a great many traits with, which is noticed by everyone. It is from her that Lia gets her "uniqueness." Her strong independent spirit and the otherness comes straight from her grandmother. And Lia has learned many a thing from her: caring for the ill with herbal treatments, the mysteries of the world, knowledge passed down from generation to generation. Although her grandma is gone, Lia feels her in everything around her and misses her physical presence intensely.
As I'm perusing my notes on what I thought, etc., I am coming to realize I'm retelling the whole darn story. And I don't want to do that as I want you to read and enjoy this book as much as I did. It is a magical, extremely well-written tale that will envelop you immediately. I really loved Lia and Wynn's relationship, their sibling like bond, their humility despite heroic actions, etc. Christina Mercer has created a fairy world that is unlike anything else I have ever read. It is different, it is wondrous, it is fantastic! I greatly enjoyed my time in her world of magic, following these young people on their quest. This one is off the charts for me. Magic. Adventure. Fantasy. Suspense. Mystery. Hint of romance. Instant favorite, instant re-readable, absolutely loved it.
Normally, I would use this box for an excerpt, but I think my review is going to need to be scroll-able. :) As always, I will do my best not to give a single thing away! Ready? <3
Lia, the protagonist in this magical tale, discovers many things about herself at the tender age of 15. She'd always been aware of her unique differences from the other "ninnies" as she calls the other girls of her age in town, but oh how unique! In the modern world she would be a totally liberated, feminist kind, and not just because of her choice in wardrobe: trousers, blouse, and comfy shoes. Lia isn't a tomboy type either. Just like other girls, she also likes the soft, cuddly animals, in fact, just about all of the creatures in the world. A loner socially, she is very close to her family which includes Grandda, Grandma, and a cousin, Wynn, who is so handsome the girls flock around him, a total magnet for the opposite sex. Wynn, despite his flock of ninnies, is not ruled by his ego; he is a kind and deeply loyal young man, devoted to Lia & his family. Then there's Wynn's friend, an orphan who had lost his parents at a very young age, an adopted brother sort who is doted upon by Wynn's mother just as much as she dotes upon Wynn. Kelven also shares in this incredibly handsome look but is wholly unaware of it nor does it matter to him. Kelven's eyes are only for Lia and always have been. He admires Lia's uniqueness and her ability in gardening, not to mention her skills with bow & arrow. Kelven is especially enamored of Lia's long, red, beautiful hair. He is consumed with everything Lia.
Her family obviously adores Lia- she is an only child, too. Grandda is very respected and loved by Lia, he's the other man next to her Da. It is his wife, Grandma Myrna, that Lia shares a great many traits with, which is noticed by everyone. It is from her that Lia gets her "uniqueness." Her strong independent spirit and the otherness comes straight from her grandmother. And Lia has learned many a thing from her: caring for the ill with herbal treatments, the mysteries of the world, knowledge passed down from generation to generation. Although her grandma is gone, Lia feels her in everything around her and misses her physical presence intensely.
As I'm perusing my notes on what I thought, etc., I am coming to realize I'm retelling the whole darn story. And I don't want to do that as I want you to read and enjoy this book as much as I did. It is a magical, extremely well-written tale that will envelop you immediately. I really loved Lia and Wynn's relationship, their sibling like bond, their humility despite heroic actions, etc. Christina Mercer has created a fairy world that is unlike anything else I have ever read. It is different, it is wondrous, it is fantastic! I greatly enjoyed my time in her world of magic, following these young people on their quest. This one is off the charts for me. Magic. Adventure. Fantasy. Suspense. Mystery. Hint of romance. Instant favorite, instant re-readable, absolutely loved it.
GIVEAWAY
I can giveaway one e-copy of the book plus a bookmark to one lucky winner! To win, please leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite fantasy novel (or one of them anyway) and I'll use random.org to pick a winner on July 23rd!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for taking the time to connect with me! Happy reading!