Traditional - given the non-traditional setting it is a traditional story. Morality - family, honor, commitment, chastity - this book has it all Suspense - There were no moments of angst where I was worried about the characters, but I was very engaged in the book and was easily motivated to keep reading. Gruesome - Lots of battles, slaying of monsters and the likes that goes along with mythology. But since it is not a current religion I didn't rate it above middle. Religion - In as much as mythology is a religion there is a lot of it. In fact, considering this is a Young Adult novel, I was very pleased that the couple seemed to be saving themselves. It was like on 'The Bachelor' when the couple goes on a trip and you see the door close to the hotel room - end scene. There are comments indicating that it will happen at some point but when it finally does, blink and you'd miss it. Sex - There was only a brief illusion of sex. On a scale of 1 - 5 (5 being a lot of examples/instances): don't know what mom was proposing but, as a mom myself, I'd like to say she should've listened to her mom - sometimes mom's really do know best. And Chapter 31? What the heck was that for?! In the acknowledgements Leake even apologizes to her mom for refusing to change the ending. I can see where Chapter 30 was a nice wrap-up to a couple loose ends but it was more unsettling than finishing. However, in my opinion the novel could've ended with Chapter 29 with the promise of peace. Leif and Ciara might need to be added to encyclopedias of mythology. I gladly sat pool side reading instead of running around to all the water slides.

I read most of this Celtic - Norse mythology historical fantasy book while we were on a three-day vacation to a water park. Leake is a super-talented author who writes extremely engaging stories at a near- Diana Gabaldon -level. Jessica Leake is the niece of one of the ladies in my book club. With evil rising around them, they’ll do what it takes to defend the land they love…even if it means making the greatest sacrifice of all.Click ' here ' to open new page link to Amazon. Leif is mounting an impressive army, and with Ciara’s strength in battle the two might have a chance to save their world. Leif should be Ciara’s enemy, but when Ciara discovers that he, too, shares her prophetic visions, she knows he’s something more. Then the crow leads Ciara to Leif, a young Northman leader.

Although her clansmen dismiss her visions as pagan nonsense, Ciara fears this coming evil will destroy not just Éirinn, but the entire world. But lately, a mysterious crow has been appearing to Ciara, whispering warnings of an even darker threat. The people of Mide have thankfully always been safe because of Ciara’s unearthly ability to control her enemies’ minds and actions. Ciara, Princess of Mide, has never known a time when Éirinn’s kingdoms were not battling for power, or Northmen were not plundering their shores. The ancient land of Éirinn is mired in war.

Beyond a darkened shore