Escape from Witchwood Hollow by Jordan Elizabeth

Genre: Fantasy, young adult, historical
Rating: ★★★★☆

After losing their parents to the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers, fifteen year old Honoria and her brother escape New York City to a small farming town of Arnn with their aunt and uncle.
It seems like a typical farming community but the locals know the legend and steer clear of the forest named Witchwood Hollow.
Lured there by two new friends, Honoria finds hope in the forest where others had found nothing more than loss.

I was given this eBook in exchange for an honest review.

It seems to me that Honoria was one of the only people who was able to enter Witchwood Hollow and return to every day life. In her adventure into the thicket, she awakened the witch and the souls that were trapped there. The story then becomes a three part story involving the witch herself, a young woman named Albertine and of course Honoria’s story as well.

I think I read this book in as little as two days, as I was especially drawn to the witch and Albertine’s stories. Although there was little back story on the witch, Lady Clifford other than she was chased into the forest by her brother-in-law and another man. I would have loved to have a little more about Lady Clifford herself. Find out who she was before, how she came to America, and so on.
My only issue really was that I didn’t connect to Honoria. I felt, in some manner, her story was a little out of place in the story itself. However, her story did connect in the end with a relation that tied her to Albertine and Lady Clifford.

I especially enjoyed the twist of Albertine/Allison. But it was sad to see that the story was quickly ended and I would have loved to have seen Albertine’s story progress from her deal with Lady Clifford.

I would definitely love to read further into Witchwood Hollow if more novels were written featuring the forest and it’s witch. I would definitely read more from Jordan Elizabeth!

Review will be cross posted at GoodReads.
Review was cross posted at Shh I Am Reading Tumblr 

Jordan Elizabeth website

Where to Buy
Amazon

Publisher
Curiosity Quills

Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier

Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier

 

Genre: Young adult; fantasy; romance
Rating:  ★★★★★

After being horribly betrayed by her own father and left alone, sixteen year old Neryn sets out on a long journey towards the rumored Shadowfell. A place where a rebel cause has started to grow in opposition of the oppressive King Keldec who demands any with magical abilities be brought before him.

Neryn, desperate to hide her own magical skills, finds friendship in a group of fae-like Good Folk who tell her that she must past a series of tests to develop her canny abilities and find her full potential as their Caller.

Neryn must not only learn to trust herself, but her allies and those at Shadowfell in order to not only save herself but all of Alban.

“Every man or woman who makes a stand helps keep the flame of freedom burning.”
― Juliet Marillier, Shadowfell

To say that this novel is a favourite would be kind of an understatement. Naturally, when I found Shadowfell and the following novels for decent money, I could not resist.

Juliet Marillier is a phenomenal painter with her words. She places you
right into the world of Alban; it’s lush landscape, the good people and the not so good people, the Good Folk and the magic of the story to be told. You feel like you’re walking along side Neryn on her journey to Shadowfell. And I do warn you, there is quite a walking journey in this. 

Neryn, herself, is young and struggles to open up or to trust especially her own abilities despite the help that she is receiving from the Good Folk. She is a little frustrating at points in her helplessness and naivety, especially for someone who has been on the road for a long time with her father. But that is also her age, as she is facing great personal changes. So don’t let that deter you from finishing the book.
Then along comes a mysterious savior by the name of Flint, who seems to be only a few years older than Neryn herself. Flint is seemingly strong but he is also extremely mysterious which makes him tough to trust. But as time goes on, Neryn learns to trust him. Even face some blossoming feelings for the dark and mysterious Flint.

“Because if I see you defeated, then I think I will see Alban defeated, and if that happens, none of us can go on. To guard you is to guard the heart of this land of ours.” – Flint

I give Ms. Marillier props for her in depth character development, as each had a personality and a role to play, which they did very well.

It was entirely worth it to revisit Neryn on her adventure to
reach Shadowfell again. I hope to finish my journey with the follow up novels of Raven Flight and The Caller, but also hope to read more from Ms. Marillier in the future.

Review will be cross posted at Good Reads.
Review cross posted at Shh I Am Reading

Juliet Marillier website

Where to Buy:

Amazon
Shadowfell

US Book Outlet
Shadowfell

Canada Book Outlet
Shadowfell

Kobo
Shadowfell