Kristin Ward

This book picks up right where The Girl of Dorcha Wood book one in the series left off! In this book we get to dive deeper into the fantasy world & learn a lot more about Fiadh! The fantasy world that this author has created is beautiful and the vivid descriptions bring it to life right before your eyes! I enjoyed learning more about the main character Fiadh and seeing her character grow but also following along as she also finds out about herself! Overall a good series for fantasy lovers! Happy reading everyone!

Thank you The Write Reads and the author for sharing this wonderful fantasy world with me!
… (mere)

The Future of Earth hangs in the Balance

What I loved so much about Rise of Gaia is Kristen Ward's ability to blend the world of a typical young adult with the very serious topic of the rapid destruction of Earth's resources by unthinking corporations.

Terran and Beth are two teenagers, one who prefers the isolation of nature and one who lives in her mother's new age, hippie circle. They both love 80's music and indulging in occasional junk food fests.

Living in a small town in Oregon, both girls are environmentally conscious and don't fit in with any cliques at school. But they have a blast together.

Terran's journey starts with a birthday present from Beth. Her mother, Celeste, offers to do Terran's Natal Astrological chart. From this point on, Terran's world is drastically changed.

I'm never going to be a spoiler. But I will say this. The rest of the book will blow your mind while challenging you to rethink your everyday choices.

As well, you will question your moral stands on just about everything you do, see any participate in on a daily basis. I fully give this book a 5 star rating and hope to pass it on to many people.… (mere)

3.5

Book source ~ TWR Tour

Fiadh flees from the man who behaved like a dick to her. Good riddance, I say. Anyway, she rides off on her protector Krulan, a giant wolf-like being, a Cu-Sith, who takes her back to where she should have never left, Dorcha Wood and thus to the very heart of it, Erabel. Her birthright. Though she doesn’t know it. Yet. Fiadh is about to have her mind blown. Almost quite literally.

Oh boy, oh boy. There are two evil douchebags heavily plotting in this second book and another couple evillettes plotting in the shadows. And they aren’t just plotting against each other, they are plotting against Fiadh. They all covet her power and in a bad way. That’s a lot of evil plotting against a very small force of good. Poor Fiadh has no idea what is going on. Her whole world has just been turned upside down and now she has to get up to speed fast or lose what she’s only just found. But it’s a fine line she walks. She has to defend all she now holds dear without stooping to the Big Bads’ level. Me? I’d burn them all down and to hell with the consequences. Which probably explains why I’ve never been a Chosen One. Ah, well.

I have a couple of issues with this otherwise fascinating story. The evil is trying too hard to be evil. I mean, it’s so over the top I’m picturing them twirling their dastardly mustaches like in the old silent films. I find Lord Darragh to be pathetic and I’m not sure he’s meant to be. Rygiel is scary though. He is absolutely loony tunes and powerful, too. Yikes. My other problem is POV changes that jump in abruptly during someone else’s POV then leaps back out again. It pulls me out of the story and that’s disorienting. And annoying. Not a fan. However, the plot is advancing at a nice even clip, the past is being revealed, and the time of major conflict is fast approaching. I’m looking forward to finding out how this saga is going to play out. If you love your books filled with Celtic mythology, danger, and power struggles then be sure to pick up this series.… (mere)

Book source ~ Tour

Fiadh lives in Dorcha Wood with her mother, Riona. The nearest village of Felmore is controlled by the hateful Lord Darragh, so Riona keeps Fiadh hidden at all times. When Fiadh stumbles across Gideon fighting three of Darragh’s soldiers she has no idea that helping him will irrevocably change her life.

This is the beginning of an intriguing tale! What if elves were real? And what if man, after timelessly living side-by-side peaceably with them, decided it was time that elves should die simply because they were different? And what if, for a very long time, man thought he had succeeded? Only he didn’t. And now terrible retribution is coming. Somehow Fiadh is tied into it all. Is she part elf? Fully elf? Magical in some way? Whatever else she is, she’s a hunted woman. Because her mom decided to hide things from her, she is not prepared for what is coming. Dammit. I fucking hate secrets for a person’s own good. That’s such bullshit and a huge cop out. I’m annoyed about that. However, it’s a minor annoyance in an otherwise well-written story. I’m looking forward to seeing where Fiadh’s journeys take her and what’s in store for her. Also, Darragh is an asshole. Just sayin’.… (mere)