Helpful Score: 3
HAUNTING BEAUTY is a superb debut. The writing is seamless and written against a backdrop of Ireland in all its lushness and myths. Danni and Sean are passionate and full of vitality and depth. The mystery is well-turned and builds until the final, shocking climax. If you read one book this summer, dont miss this one! Fantastic!
Helpful Score: 2
When Sean Ballagh appears on orphan Danni Jones' doorstep, she instantly knows that something is wrong for she'd seen him in a dream-vision just the night before. He tells her an incredible story about her family and her true home in Ballyfionuir, Ireland. Her mother, Fiona MacGrath and her five year old twins (Rory and Dairinn) disappeared 20 years ago under mysterious circumstances and Sean's father, Niall was accused of the crime. Danni proceeds to have a dream-vision right there in her Arizona kitchen and awakens 20 years in the past in Ireland a few days before that fateful day. What follows is an interesting day-in-the-life, separately of both Sean's family and Danni's and their interaction with their childhood selves as well as their parents. As the events unfold, the whole story is told from each person's perspective. It's a convoluted tale that eventually comes together and makes perfect sense.
Of course, there is a dark element to the story as well...the Book of Fennore. An evil tome that seduces through the promise of untold power though you do sacrifice your soul (or more) by succumbing to the evil. When it's clear that Danni's father, Cathan MacGrath got his hands on the book, the tension is kicked up a notch and the danger even more so.
This is a wonderful start to the Mists of Ireland series and I really cannot wait to read of Rory's story in Haunting Warrior. Rory played an integral part of Danni's story but we weren't gifted with any true insight into him or his talents. His story and his version of events should be rather interesting.
Of course, there is a dark element to the story as well...the Book of Fennore. An evil tome that seduces through the promise of untold power though you do sacrifice your soul (or more) by succumbing to the evil. When it's clear that Danni's father, Cathan MacGrath got his hands on the book, the tension is kicked up a notch and the danger even more so.
This is a wonderful start to the Mists of Ireland series and I really cannot wait to read of Rory's story in Haunting Warrior. Rory played an integral part of Danni's story but we weren't gifted with any true insight into him or his talents. His story and his version of events should be rather interesting.
