Dreadlands: Wolf Moon
by Jaimie Engle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
In the lands that Leif Erickson explored and the god Odin blesses there lives a blend of man and ferine, and the half-blood in outcast. Far from the city, in the Outlands, Arud has grown up all his life, wondering why they live in the Outlands instead of the city, but never questioning his parents. Things are changing and the ferine are growing bolder, and so his mother, Vinter decides that it is time that he take his little sister Lykke to the city. It's hard journey and will take them close to three weeks, but his mother is determined that they have to leave and quickly. Arud and Lykke trust in their mother, but this journey will change everything they have ever believed in before now. Dreadlands : Wolf Moon is the story of self-discovery and enlightenment in the journey of Arud. Author Jaimie Engle takes a paranormal/supernatural story and weaves coming of age and self discovery into a wonderful tale that you want to continue reading.
Dreadlands: Wolf Moon is reminiscent of a classic werewolf story in that you have the ferine, but they are much more animalistic. The ferine are an animal that comes out on the full moon, and they are hunters. Don't let that analogy fool you though, this is in no way a werewolf tell, that is just the best way to describe the ferine to someone who hasn't read them yet. Author Jaimie Engle puts her own spin on that animal-shifter idea, places the story in the cold northwest, bring in tells of Vikings and Norse and the god Odin. It is so unique and well written that you read the whole book before you realize what you have done. The battle scenes are not graphic and there is no sex or bad language so I recommend this to readers of all ages.
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Wraithsong -
Desirable Creatures Series, Book I
by E.J. Squires
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
It's her senior year in high school, yet Sonia isn't quite looking forward to the end of school like she thought she would. He mother has hinted that they are traveling to Wisconsin, of all places, but she won't tell Sonia anything more. Now she has to spend time working with a gardener at school after classes. Not what see wants to do, but she earned her punishment expect it turns out this gardener is another senior, and a good looking male at that. As Sonia and Anthony find themselves attracted to each other mysteries of another generation and realm come crashing down on them.
Sonia is a Huldra, and she comes into her full powers on her eighteenth birthday. All the sudden her mom has disappeared. Anthony and Sonia share what knowledge they can and work together to find her mom. Maureen, who is Anthony's mom is the one who has Hedda, maybe. It seems that Maureen wants Sonia to think Anthony is the bad guy, and Layla thinks Anthony is the bad guy, and Olaf is acting the bad guy? What is a young girl to do?
This is a touchy and heartfelt story of an innocent and pure relationship between Anthony and Sonia that they were neither looking for, but were afraid of and had been told to avoid. Yet the love that they have sets a beacon and shining light for all in the story and for all who read. It is not a story of physical love, but of a true emotional and caring connection made. It is in such sharp contrast to the ruthless manipulation of Maureen and the world today, that it is shocking at times, hard to understand at others and a clear as black and white still at other times.
The author E.J. Squires has written a few other books. This is third now that I have read by this author. I am always surprised to find that she has put so much thought, meaning and life into each character that you feel they are real people, not just stories in a book. Not only does she create this characters that you like and you want to read about and you connect with, but she does it with her settings too. The realms in this book, although I did note a couple of the same realms coming up in the books, but the places in America too. She describes everything with such an eye for detail that you can feel like you are there, but yet at the same time, she is able to edit enough that you are not overloaded.
At this point in time, I feel more than comfortable in saying that if I walked into a bookstore and saw this author's name on a book, I wouldn't even have to read the covers, I would buy it straight up. I have read enough to know that I will be pleased with what she writes. Anyone who is looking for a good romance, some Norse mythology and fantasy all mixed together, this is your book. Young and old alike, I even feel more than comfortable allowing my teenage daughter to read this book.
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