Romantic Fantasy published by St. Martin’s Press 22 Nov 22
Breen has literally fallen through the looking glass (or welcoming tree) to enter a fantasy land, only to find that she belongs here and slowly but surely her memories of her time here have returned. But for all the new friends and relatives, there’s the bad guy, a demigod and her grandfather to boot, who is gunning for her. He’s constantly battering against her defenses and sending his minions to attack and harass her. Will Breen be able to turn the tables on him and end him for all time?
This trilogy comes with an interesting and varied cast of characters. Most beloved of which are Breen’s gay best friend Marco, who leaves behind all that is familiar to follow Breen to Ireland and through the Welcoming Tree to embrace a new world and a new love of his life with nary a hiccup. All that baking and cooking kept a few more than just the regular reader juices simmering.
The worst part of traveling, which is my passion besides reading, is sometimes long and tiring airplane journeys. What would I give for a portal or two to whisk me to my destination in the blink of an eye. No more worrying about missed flights and lost luggage. Seriously though, Breen works hard training every single day for her shot at confronting the baddie and hopefully destroying or diminishing him to nothing. This is a romance, so of course there’s a love interest and passion both for Breen and for Marco.
When it comes down to it, Breen will make choices that might not be popular with all who love her, and she will face devastating loss, but she will persevere in her endeavors. I did think the end, while satisfying, was a bit abrupt and it might have been nice to celebrate some happy moments, particularly Brian and Marco’s marriage and another visit with the delightful Sally.
Grade: A
Summary:
Talamh is a land of green hills, high mountains, deep forests, and seas, where magicks thrive. But portals allow for passage in and out—and ultimately, each must choose their place, and choose between good and evil, war and peace, life and death…
Breen Siobhan Kelly grew up in the world of Man and was once unaware of her true nature. Now she is in Talamh, trying to heal after a terrible battle and heartbreaking losses. Her grandfather, the dark god Odran, has been defeated in his attempt to rule over Talamh, and over Breen—for now.
With the enemy cast out and the portal sealed, this is a time to rest and to prepare. Breen spreads her wings and realizes a power she’s never experienced before. It’s also a time for celebrations—of her first Christmas in both Talamh and Ireland, of solstice and weddings and births—and daring to find joy again in the wake of sorrow. She rededicates herself to writing her stories, and when his duties as taoiseach permit, she is together with Keegan, who has trained her as a warrior and whom she has grown to love.
It’s Keegan who’s at her side when the enemy’s witches, traitorous and power-mad, appear to her in her sleep, practicing black magick, sacrificing the innocent, and plotting a brutal destruction for Breen. And soon, united with him and with all of Talamh, she will seek out those in desperate need of rescue, and confront the darkness with every weapon she has: her sword, her magicks—and her courage…
No excerpt available.
Other books in this series:
