Finna’s mother is dead. So why is this woman standing on her stoop claiming to be just that?Catriona arrives bearing a gift—a luminous moonstone that holds the secrets to Finna’s heritage. What heritage? Catriona insists that the two of them must journey to the castle of the Celtic moon goddess, Arianrhod.
The story Catriona weaves is preposterous. A parallel reality, known as the ‘Otherworld’, exists next to this one. “The moonstone will show the way,” Catriona intones cryptically.
Newly pregnant Finna is naturally skeptical, but Catriona is uncannily persuasive, convincing her despite her misgivings.
What a trip through this alternate reality really means, and the secrets Catriona reveals about their family and the baby Finna carries, have Finna questioning everything she has ever known. With her life and that of her unborn child in jeopardy, Finna must find a way to survive.Review:
I love getting lost in the fantastical worlds created by authors, and the mythological Celtic "Otherworld" conceived by Nikki Broadwell is no exception! It is often the realm in which the book takes place that draws the reader into the story, and the mythology surrounding The Moonstone definitely pulled me in from the start; its mixture of fantasy, adventure, and Scottish "surprises" making for a very intriguing all-season read. The characters, mainly Finna and Catriona, were difficult to like or relate to in the beginning, their attitudes immature and aggravating, but as the story progressed, I began to understand each character's background; not everything is always what it seems. I enjoyed the stressed dynamics of Finna's/ Catriona's mother-daughter relationship, the dialogue was well-developed and full of beautiful Gaelic words and phrases. There was an abundance of sorcery and Celtic lore thoroughly able to enchant any reader, especially those looking to get lost in a new world. The only aspects I disliked were grammatical, but that rarely stops me from reading more. I know that the second book is going on my "Need to Read" list, I hear that it takes place some time after the first, and I can't wait to see how Finna has fared. Overall, I really enjoyed The Moonstone and its well-researched plot-line, particularly the vivid imagination needed to create the "Otherworld", and I recommend it to readers 16+ who want a book they can either savor, or read in a single sitting.
Rating: On the Run (4/5)
*** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
No comments:
Post a Comment