Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Bury the Living
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.jodimcisaac.com/blog
CITY: Calgary
STATE: AB
COUNTRY: Canada
NATIONALITY: Canadian
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married; children: two daughters.
EDUCATION:Crandall University, B.A., 1999; Providence University College, M.A., 2003.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Tyndale University College, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, director of communications, 2001-03; Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, British Columbia Division, Burnaby, manager of communications, 2003-04; Food for the Hungry Canada, Abbotsford, British Columbia, assistant director of development and communications, 2007-08; Inkwood Communications, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, principal, 2008–. Inn from the Cold, volunteer team leader, 2014–. Worked as a waitress in Belfast, Northern Ireland, c. 1999.
Running.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Jodi McIsaac was born and raised in eastern Canada. She worked her way westward to British Columbia and Alberta, where she lives today. McIsaac is self-employed as the owner of Inkwood Communications, which she describes as a boutique copywriting agency. She writes the occasional contemporary novel but spends much of her spare time immersed in the rich world of Celtic myth and legend.
"The Thin Veil" Series
Through the Door is the first volume of a trilogy about the ancient Irish otherworld known as Tír na nÓg, home to the gods of legend known as the Tuatha Dé Danann. Cedar McLeod knows nothing of the mythical land of eternal youth and happiness. She is a struggling single mom in Halifax, Nova Scotia, whose lover abruptly vanished from her life before she could even announce her pregnancy with their daughter. Six-year-old Eden is both the love of her life and an ever-present reminder of Finn, the lover who broke her heart.
One day Eden opens her bedroom door to find it magically transformed into a door to anywhere. Alarmed, Cedar instructs her daughter never to open the door again without Mom nearby, but Eden is six. She opens the door again–and disappears. Cedar begins a frantic search for her daughter and along the way uncovers shocking revelations about Finn’s heritage–and her own ancestry. Finn, it turns out, is connected to Eden’s supernatural ability to turn an ordinary doorway into a magic portal. Cedar’s mother Maeve knows a lot more than she is willing to share, not even for the sake of little Eden. Maeve’s secrecy, according to a reviewer at So, I Read This Book Today, “will cost lives, and lead Cedar and Eden on a trip across seas, and across time and space.” According to that reviewer, “war and death, psychopathy and greed, power and politics play a strong role, for even the gods themselves are not perfect.”
In the sequel, Into the Fire, readers learn that both Finn and Cedar are descendants of the Tuatha Dé Danann, and Cedar is in fact the last surviving heir to the throne. Cedar is not interested in the job until she learns that the evil Nuala, who kidnapped Eden in Halifax, has resurfaced in Tír na nÓg to claim the throne for herself. Both the otherworld and the human world are in great danger. Cedar must find the missing Stone of Destiny to take the throne and protect everything and everyone she holds dear.
In the final volume of the trilogy, Among the Unseen, Cedar, now queen of the Tuatha Dé Danann, is homesick for Earth. She launches an initiative to seize and permanently neutralize the evildoers who would destroy Tír na nÓg and her family, but ancient curses die hard. A mysterious plague emerges, a sickness that is killing the magical inhabitants of heaven and earth alike. Cedar must battle time and space once more in order to save both worlds.
Not all critics were equally intrigued with the author’s rendition of character, dialogue, and plot, but many were impressed by her grasp of Gaelic mythology. Zan-Mari Vosges commented at In the Kan: “The world Jodi created feels so real that you start believing that the Unseen really does exist.” A reviewer of Through the Door at the Fantastical Reads Web site reported: “This book takes Celtic lore and brings a freshness to it that is invigorating.”
Furthermore, observed a reviewer of the volume at Feed Your Addiction, “McIsaac did an excellent job of weaving the Celtic mythology into her story without making it confusing (which can be hard to do).” Calling Among the Unseen “a beautifully crafted book,” a reviewer at So, I Read This Book Today explained that “McIsaac weaves modern life through a story filled with light and darkness, pain and love in equal measure.” A companion volume, Beyond the Pale: A Thin Veil Novella, offers significant background on the origins of the saga, but reviewers emphasized that it should not be read out of chronological order.
"The Revolutionary" Series
Nora O’Reilly’s rebellious spirit has overruled her common sense more than once. Bury the Living reveals that she fought with the Irish Republican Army as a teenager in the 1990s. Her motivation was to avenge the death of her brother in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, a three-decade period of violent conflict. Now, at age thirty, she has found a less militant calling as an aid worker in impoverished, war-torn nations around the world. The past still haunts her, though, especially in her dreams. There a mysterious stranger called Thomas Heany exhorts her to return to Ireland: her homeland is in grave danger, and only she can help.
Nora follows the stranger’s instructions to County Kildare, where she meets one of the Sisters of St. Brigid, a patron saint of Ireland who lived in the late 450s. The nun hands her a relic that takes Nora back in time to 1923, where she meets the man from her dreams. At the height of the bloody Irish Civil War, which culminated in the creation of the Irish Free State as a short-lived dominion of the British Empire, Nora may actually have the power to change the future and save her brother.
Critics continued to raise issues of character development and plot, while praising the integrity of McIsaac’s research. A reviewer at For the Love of Words reported that the historical detail made it “quite clear that the author did a lot of research for this book.” A Publishers Weekly contributor mentioned that it “offers insight into one of the most fascinating times in Ireland’s history.”
“Summon the Queen is more of a combo of paranormal, mystical, with the historical and a touch of romance,” Claudia Blanton posted at Within the Page of the Book. In this volume of the series, time traveler Nora O’Reilly ventures all the way back to the late 1500s. Queen Elizabeth I (daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn) has sent soldiers and settlers to Ireland to forcibly ensure British Protestant hegemony over land coveted by the Roman Catholic king of Spain.
Nora, still armed with the relic of St. Brigid, joins forces with the legendary warrior Fionn mac Cumhaill and the actual pirate Grace O’Malley to end the tyranny being imposed by the British queen. Finding O’Malley is no easy task, especially when Nora’s concentration is diverted by her growing love for Fionn and her determination to free him from an ancient curse. At Mountains on the Horizon Book Reviews, Michelle Meador suggested: “This is great for people who enjoy reading about Elizabeth the First’s reign, from another angle.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Publishers Weekly, April 11, 2016, review of Bury the Living, p. 41.
ONLINE
Andi’s Book Reviews, http://andisbookreviews.blogspot.com/ (June 3, 2014), Andrea Coventry, review of Through the Door.
Errant Dreams, http://www.errantdreams.com/ (January 1, 2016), review of A Cure for Madness.
Fantastical Reads, https://fantasticalreads.wordpress.com/ (July 16, 2013), review of Through the Door.
Feed Your Fiction Addiction, https://feedyourfictionaddiction.com/ (November 13, 2013), review of Through the Door.
For the Love of Words, http://www.fortheloveofwords.net/ (August 13, 2016), review of Bury the Living.
Here’s to Happy Endings, http://www.herestohappyendings.com/ (October 17, 2016), author interview.
In the Kan, http://inthekan.net/ (May 21, 2014), Zan-Mari Vosges, review of Among the Unseen.
Jodi McIsaac Home Page, http://www.jodimcisaac.com (March 13, 2017).
Mama Bear Musings, https://mauldinfamily1.wordpress.com/ (May 20, 2014), review of Beyond the Pale: A Thin Veil Novella; (January 28, 2016), review of A Cure for Madness.
Mary Robinette Kowal, http://maryrobinettekowal.com/ (May 29, 2014), author interview.
Meghan Rose Allen, http://www.reluctantm.com/ (January 22, 2016), review of A Cure for Madness.
Mountains on the Horizon Book Reviews, http://www.michelle-meador.com/ (January 18, 2017), Michelle Meador, review of Summon the Queen.
Pop Culture Beast, http://www.popculturebeast.com/ (March 13, 2017), Robin Lynn, review of Bury the Living.
Reviews by Debra, http://www.reviewsbydebra.com/ (March 13, 2017), Debra Gaynor, review of Into the Fire.
So, I Read This Book Today, https://soireadthisbooktoday.com/ (June 24, 2014), review of Through the Door; (September 13, 2014), review of Among the Unseen.
Tara Sharp, http://www.tarasharp.com.au/ (July 2, 2016), Krista McKeeth, review of A Cure for Madness.
Within the Pages of a Book, http://withinthepagesofabook.com/ (January 19, 2017), Claudia Blanton, review of Summon the Queen.
BIO
I grew up in beautiful New Brunswick, on Canada's east coast. I was a short track speed skater for years (and still have the thighs to prove it). Once I gave up on my Olympic dreams, I earned a B.A. in Communication Studies, during which time I also cut my teeth in the communications industry as a speechwriter for the premier (ask me about the time I almost broke up Canada).
After university I spent an unforgettable summer working with refugees from Kosovo and then headed to Belfast, Northern Ireland, where I was schooled in the fine arts of drinking and swearing.
I earned a graduate degree in global studies then spent a few years in the real world as a fundraising and marketing executive with non-profit organizations in Toronto and Vancouver. That morphed into my own copywriting business (which I still run on the side).
Finally, I got around to doing the only thing I've ever really wanted to do: write novels. I currently do that in Calgary with my two feisty daughters and our cat, Chaucer.
Experience
Principal
Company Name Inkwood Communications, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Dates Employed Oct 2008 – Present Employment Duration 8 yrs 5 mos
Our services include copywriting and editing services for websites, online content, ads, video scripts, direct mail packages, fundraising letters, newsletters, cases for support, grant proposals, annual reports and more.
Vice President, Development and Communications
Company Name Canadian Food for the Hungry International
Dates Employed Jan 2007 – Oct 2008 Employment Duration 1 yr 10 mos
Assistant Director, Development and Communications
Company Name Canadian Food for the Hungry International
Dates Employed Apr 2005 – Jan 2007 Employment Duration 1 yr 10 mos
Manager of Communications
Company Name Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada (BC Division)
Dates Employed 2003 – 2004 Employment Duration 1 yr
Director of Communications
Company Name Tyndale University College
Dates Employed 2001 – 2003 Employment Duration 2 yrs
Education
Providence University College
Degree Name Master of Arts (M.A.)
Dates attended or expected graduation 2000 – 2003
Crandall University
Degree Name Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Dates attended or expected graduation 1995 – 1999
Volunteering Experience & Causes
Inn from the Cold
Volunteer Team Leader
Dates volunteered Jun 2014 – Present
MAY '14
29
My Favorite Bit: Jodi McIsaac talks about AMONG THE UNSEEN
My Favorite Bit iconJodi McIsaac is joining us today with her novel Among the Unseen. Here’s the publisher’s description.
Life just keeps getting more complicated for Cedar McLeod. As the recently crowned queen of Tír na nÓg, she’s trying to understand her magical new kingdom, even as she misses her life back on Earth. It doesn’t help that a dear friend has just betrayed her—a betrayal that almost cost Cedar and her family their lives. And things aren’t easy at home, either, as Cedar’s seven-year-old daughter, Eden, lost and lonely in Tír na nÓg despite her special powers, has become painfully distant.
Cedar vows to do whatever it takes to protect her family once and for all, and starts rounding up those who plotted against her. But then a new disaster breaks out: a mysterious sickness is plaguing the Unseen, Ireland’s magical creatures, including those Cedar knows and loves. With enemies still on the loose and not knowing whom she can trust, Cedar must race against time to reverse an ancient curse, in a journey that will take her from Tír na nÓg to Earth…and beyond.
Brimming with page-turning adventure, Among the Unseen—the exciting conclusion to Jodi McIsaac’s Thin Veil trilogy—weaves an enchanting, captivating spell.
What’s Jodi’s favorite bit?
McIsaac_AmongtheUnseen_FrntCvr_Final
JODI MCISAAC
My favourite bit about any book I write always turns out to be the obscure piece of research that I find completely fascinating, so much so that I feel compelled to tell everyone about it, even if they just stare at me blankly.
Among the Unseenwas no different. In fact, I think this bit of obscure knowledge is my personal favourite.
Did you know that Dracula was an Irishman?
Most of us associate Bram Stoker’s Dracula with Vlad the Impaler of Transylvania. But new research has emerged that points to another possible source of inspiration for Stoker’s iconic vampire: a blood-drinking dwarf called Abhartach, whose story is the first recorded mention of a vampire in Western Europe.
The tale of Abhartach is an old Irish legend, which tells of a cruel dwarf chieftain who drank the blood of his people. So the villagers hired a great warrior to come and slay Abhartach and rid them of his tyranny. The warrior slew Abhartach, but the next day the chieftain was back, demanding more sacrifices of blood. This happened three times, and then the people consulted a druid, who told them that the dwarf must be killed with a sword of yew and buried upside down (Gaelic chieftains were traditionally buried standing up and facing their enemies), with a circle of thorns around the grave and a dolmen (standing stones) on top. Once the people killed Abhartach in this way, he stayed dead. If you’re so inclinded, you can still visit Abhartach’s grave in a place called the Slaghtaverty Dolmen, or Leacht Abhartach (Abhartach’s Sepulchre), in Derry. He might even acknowledge your presence. According to Irish historian Bob Curran, “In 1997, attempts were made to clear the land and if local tradition is to be believed workmen who attempted to cut down the tree found that their brand-new chain-saw stopped without reason on three occasions. When attempting to lift the great stone, a steel chain suddenly snapped, cutting the hand of one of the labourers and, significantly, allowing blood to soak into the ground.”
Creepy, no?
So given that Bram Stoker was an Irishman, there’s a fair chance he was familiar with the tale of Abhartach and other stories of the undead in Irish folklore. But wait, there’s more. Stoker was also good friends with the writer Oscar Wilde, and Wilde’s parents, William and Jane. Both William and Jane were noted folklorists and archeologists, fascinated with Ireland’s ancient past. The Wilde family was from County Kerry, where there were stories about blood-drinking fairies living in a mountain range called the Magillycuddy Reeks. The name of the fortress of these blood-drinking fairies was Dún Dreach-Fhoula (pronounced—wait for it—droc’ola), which translates as “The Castle of the Blood Visage” or “The Fort of Evil Blood.”Seeing as Stoker would have likely heard about this tale from the Wildes of Kerry, and his own sister-in-law was a Magillycuddy, one can’t help but wonder if old Abhartach and the blood-drinking fairies of Dún Dreach-Fhoula inspired his famous creation.
It’s an intriguing theory, to be sure, but what does all of this have to do with Among the Unseen? It just so happens that our favourite vampire dwarf Abhartach plays a role in the latest novel in the Thin Veil series. In the previous book, our protagonist Cedar raised Abhartach from his upside-down grave to help her search for the Stone of Destiny. In Among the Unseen, she needs his help again to locate seven magic stones, which were stolen from the cover of the Book of Kells in the 12th century. But in order to find him, Cedar and her friends have to track down the elusive Dún Dreach-Fhoula somewhere in the Magillycuddy Reeks. They find him hiding here with his fellow blood-drinkers, but also discover that he—along with all the other magical creatures of Ireland—are suffering from a mysterious illness that is killing them off one by one.
So there you have it. My favorite bit is an obscure piece of folklore that may have influenced one of the most popular fictional characters of all time—and played a wee role in saving Ireland’s magical beings from a terrible fate.
LINKS:
Jodi’s books (Amazon)
www.jodimcisaac.com
www.facebook.com/jodimcisaac
www.twitter.com/jodimcisaac
Jodi on Goodreads
Jodi on Google+
BIO:
Jodi McIsaac is the author of the Thin Veil contemporary fantasy series, as well as the sci-fi short story A CURE FOR MADNESS. The third and final book in the Thin Veil series, AMONG THE UNSEEN, was just released on May 20. Jodi grew up in New Brunswick, Canada. After stints as a short track speed skater, a speechwriter, and fundraising and marketing executive in the nonprofit sector, she started a boutique copywriting agency and began writing novels in the wee hours of the morning. She currently lives with her husband and two feisty daughters in Calgary.
17
OCT
2016
Blog Tour: Bury the Living by Jodi McIsaac – Q&A and Giveaway!
Posted in Author Spotlight, Blog Tour, Giveaways |
bury-the-livingBury the Living
Author: Jodi McIsaac
Series: The Revolutionary, #1
Publication Date: September 6th, 2016
Publisher: 47North
Synopsis: Rebellion has always been in the O’Reilly family’s blood. So when faced with the tragic death of her brother during Northern Ireland’s infamous Troubles, a teenage Nora joined the IRA to fight for her country’s freedom. Now, more than a decade later, Nora is haunted by both her past and vivid dreams of a man she has never met.
When she is given a relic belonging to Brigid of Kildare, patron saint of Ireland, the mystical artifact transports her back eighty years—to the height of Ireland’s brutal civil war. Here she meets the alluring stranger from her dreams, who has his own secrets—and agenda. Taken out of her own time, Nora has the chance to alter the fortunes of Ireland and maybe even save the ones she loves. In this captivating and adventurous novel from Jodi McIsaac, history belongs to those with the courage to change it.
About the Author and Q&A
jodimcisaacJodi McIsaac is the author of the Irish contemporary fantasy series The Thin Veil (47North) the thriller A Cure for Madness (Thomas & Mercer) and the forthcoming historical Revolutionary series, starting with Bury the Living (47North).
She grew up in New Brunswick, on Canada’s east coast. After abandoning her Olympic speed skating dream, she wrote speeches for a politician, volunteered in a refugee camp, waited tables in Belfast, earned a couple of university degrees, and started a boutique copywriting agency. She loves geek culture, running, and whisk(e)y.
Q&A
What inspired you to write Bury the Living?
My first series, The Thin Veil, is based on Irish mythology. While researching those books I couldn’t help but learn more about Irish history, and I was completely drawn in. The more I read, the more I wanted to write about it, but I couldn’t nail down a particular time period. And so I decided to write a time travel series so that I wouldn’t be limited to just one era. At first I planned to start the series with the Easter Rising of 1916, but then I saw the heartbreaking film The Wind that Shakes the Barley and was so moved that I decided to focus on the Irish Civil War instead. The more I dug into it, the deeper I wanted to go. I wanted to tell the stories of these people and make them come alive. Besides, the Civil War is a perfect launching pad for a time travel series because it has its roots in the centuries-old conquest of Ireland by England, but also reaches into the future as the instigation behind the modern-day Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Nora’s background growing up in Belfast during the Troubles was inspired by my own experiences living in Belfast just after the Omagh bombing. I was in my early twenties at the time and so naïve about the political context around me, so I wanted to do more research on the Troubles and how it might have impacted those who were children and teenagers during the violence. Nora’s story of getting picked up by the Provos and being accused of selling drugs actually happened to a friend of mine (although my friend was innocent and Nora … well, I’ll let you read it!).
What is your favorite part of the writing process?
I love researching and I love editing. Researching is magical; it leads me down so many paths I wouldn’t have discovered on my own. And I love the fine-tuning of editing; taking the lump of clay I’ve slapped down as a first draft and shaping it into something beautiful.
What types of things do you like to have while you write (candy, tea, music, etc.)?
Silence is essential—even instrumental music throws me off. Although if my kids are home I put on my white noise app! I usually drink coffee in the mornings and then tea in the afternoons. And sometimes when I’m having a hard time getting my word count in I’ll bribe myself with candy—one M&M for every 200 words!
Which character in Bury the Living is your favorite?
I adored writing Pidge Gillies, Nora’s newfound friend in 1923. Pidge is young, spunky, gritty, and full of revolutionary zeal. She’s a composite of so many amazing women I read about during the course of my research—women who refused to stay home and let the men do the fighting, but instead fought passionately for the cause they believed in.
What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
Don’t give up! The publishing industry can be unpredictable and sometimes heartbreaking. Keep writing. Keep making art. Don’t give up.
Bury the Living
Publishers Weekly. 263.15 (Apr. 11, 2016): p41.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
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Full Text:
Bury the Living
Jodi McIsaac. Amazon/47North, $14.95 trade paper (337p) ISBN 978-1-5039-3551-8
McIsaac (the Thin Veil series) puts plenty of history and a little fantasy and romance into this entertaining time travel tale. As a teenager in 1990, Nora O'Reilly helped the Irish Republican Army and was shaken by her brother Eamon's death. In 2004, she is an aid worker traveling to Afghanistan, Haiti, and Sudan. When she begins dreaming about a man who tells her he needs her help, she heads home to Ireland and begins digging into the past, eventually coming across a relic of St. Brigid that sends her back to 1923. Nora soon sees this as a chance to alter the course of events that led to her brother's death, while also changing the history of her beloved country. McIsaac has an undeniable talent for immersing the reader in the plight of the Irish in the 1920s, at the height of the Irish Civil War. Comparisons to Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series are inevitable, and Gabaldon is more deft with romantic subplots, but Nora's story is still a diverting read that [[offers insight into one of the most fascinating times in Ireland's history]], along with a likable, smart heroine worth rooting for. (Sept.) [12 words of 193]
Early Review – Bury the Living (The Revolutionary Series #1) by Jodi McIsaac
August 13, 2016 Bonnie Adult, Book Reviews, Early Review, Read in 2016 0 Comments
I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Early Review – Bury the Living (The Revolutionary Series #1) by Jodi McIsaacBury the Living by Jodi McIsaac
Series: The Revolutionary Series #1
Published by 47North on September 6th 2016
Pages: 302
Genres: Time Travel
Format: eARC
Source: Netgalley
Amazon|B&N|Book Depository
Goodreads
one-half-stars
Rebellion has always been in the O’Reilly family’s blood. So when faced with the tragic death of her brother during Northern Ireland’s infamous Troubles, a teenage Nora joined the IRA to fight for her country’s freedom. Now, more than a decade later, Nora is haunted by both her past and vivid dreams of a man she has never met.
When she is given a relic belonging to Brigid of Kildare, patron saint of Ireland, the mystical artifact transports her back eighty years—to the height of Ireland’s brutal civil war. There she meets the alluring stranger from her dreams, who has his own secrets—and agenda. Taken out of her own time, Nora has the chance to alter the fortunes of Ireland and maybe even save the ones she loves. In this captivating and adventurous novel from Jodi McIsaac, history belongs to those with the courage to change it.
style-3 (1) review
*spoilers are hidden in spoiler tags*
In 1990, Nora O’Reilly is fifteen years old with an unruly temper that gets her into far more trouble than would be otherwise necessary. Being angry at the poor situation her family finds itself in, a murdered father, a mother that can’t put down the bottle, and a brother that is the sole breadwinner, Nora takes it upon herself to start selling pills in order to make some side cash. Cash that will hopefully one day get her family out of Ireland and away from the ongoing war for freedom. The only thing it does it get her into more trouble than her temper ever did and before long, she’s signed up to be a member of the Irish Republican Army, and won’t manage to leave Ireland for another 10 years. Flash forward to the year 2004, Nora is now thirty years old and has been spending the last several years of her life as a relief worker in various foreign countries. She’s been having strange dreams for many months which feature the same man who never actually says anything to her yet leaves her with a sense of urgency that has her puzzled. When she dreams of him one night and he actually speaks, asking her to go to a town in Ireland because he needs her help, she brushes it off as nothing but a dream but she can’t completely shake off the pull to follow through on his request. When she does as the man in her dream requested, she ends up on an adventure through time itself, ending up in the year 1923.
Bury the Living was initially tempting to me because it’s a time travel adventure and marketed to fans of Outlander. It’s an understandable similarity, yet, Living falls undeniably short of living up to the comparison. The writing was enjoyable and kept me reading till the end but the characters themselves really blurred together after a point, except for the main character who seemed to have never grown out of her teenage temper. There’s an extensive focus on the historical detailing of the time as well as a romance, but the confusing aspects of the time travel itself, the inclusion of some puzzling fantasy aspects, and the lack of a logical plot made any positive aspects of this story fall by the wayside.
The historical detailing: This was the best part of the story. This is all information I had to take at face value because I knew little to nothing about the history of Ireland and the wars and strife they went through for decades. It was terrible yet fascinating but [[quite clear that the author did a lot of research for this book.]]
The romance: There isn’t a Claire and Jamie type of love, although, they’re truly incomparable. The building blocks were established for the romance in this first installment of the planned series, but I can’t say I felt any sort of chemistry between our two supposed love birds. I expect that will come later.
The time travel: After Nora’s dreams send her to a church in Kildare to find ‘Brigid’, a nun there is prepped and ready because she also had been having dreams warning her of Nora’s impending arrival. With the help of an ancient relic View Spoiler » from Saint Brigid herself, Nora is sent back to the year 1923. I don’t know, it was all just a little too methodical for my liking.
The fantasy aspects/Plot: The majority of this is quite spoilery so I’ll just include these bits in spoiler tags. View Spoiler »
Bury the Living is an informative time travel adventure through the arduous 1920s of Ireland. It’s evident this is the first installment of a planned series and the ending definitely leaves you hanging whether Nora will ever manage to accomplish her goal of changing the future. Unfortunately, I doubt I’ll be picking up the next book to find out.
bonnie
Book Review: Bury the Living by Jodi McIsaac
Robin Lynn09.2016Book Review, Books
burythelivingBury the Living is the latest work by Jodi McIsaac, and the first book in her new Revolutionary series. It’s a bit of a hodge-podge genre-wise, but it all fits together, and creates a cohesive tale.
Nora O’Reilly is a rebel, born and bred. From her family fighting in the Irish Civil war, to Nora’s working with the IRA, rebellion is in her blood. After losing her father and older brother during the “Troubles” in Northern Ireland in the 1990’s, Nora joined with the IRA to help in the fight. That desire to fight carried her through to the present day, with Nora working in refugee camps in war torn countries.
Then Nora begins having strange dreams. Of a young man with grey hair, calling for her to help him. Telling her that she’s the only one who can. Nora goes back to Northern Ireland, not for the express purpose of helping the man, Thomas Heany, but to help him nonetheless.
Transported back in time to 1923, by the mysterious Sisters who follow St. Brigid, Nora finds herself in the middle of the Irish civil war. She also finds Thomas, and a whole mess of trouble as well.
Nora may have the key to saving her precious Northern Ireland, but she’s got to convince Thomas to go along with her plan. And he has one of his own, that he’s not revealing to Nora just yet.
Will Nora and Thomas prevail in their mutual want to save Ireland, and alter the course of history? Will Nora be able to return to her life in the modern day? Will Thomas be able to find his path? These are some of the questions left unanswered by McIsaac at the end of Bury the Living, and it makes a good cliffhanger in anticipation of the next book in the series.
Bury the Living was a good read. There was brilliant research done for it, from the IRA gangs in the mid 1990’s, all the way back to the Civil War in the 1920’s. Places were described, and people fleshed out so that the past seemed to be the present. Nora had to use the history she remembered from her lessons in order to not stick out like a sore thumb, and she succeed fairly well. It’s quite obvious that McIsaac has some great love of Northern Ireland, and attention to detail. It’s very well portrayed, and convincingly presented. And all the different themes, from Nora’s teen struggles, Thomas’s revelations, the war, Brigid, time travel, all were woven together in a believable manner, which I was a bit surprised by. Very pleasantly surprised. It’s a book that I’ve mentioned to several other history fans, and those who enjoyed the Outlander series, and it’s got some similar themes.
7/10
BOOK REVIEW: SUMMON THE QUEEN BY JODI MCISAAC
BY: CLAUDIA BLANTON ON: JANUARY 19, 2017 IN: FANTASY, UNCATEGORIZED TAGGED: ADULT FICTION, BOOK SERIES, BOOKS, FANTASY NOVEL, HISTORICAL FICTION, JANUARY BOOK RELEASE, NEW BOOK, NEW RELEASE, NOVEL, READ MORE, READ MORE BOOKS, READING, ROMANCE, SERIES, WOMEN'S FICTION WITH: 0 COMMENTS
Book Review: Summon The Queen by Jodi McIsaac
fantasy novel, new release, book seriesI received an ARC copy of this book in return for an honest review
I am usually not a fan of fiction that has historical backgrounds and is rooted in actual events, but this one was the odd novel out. [[Summon The Queen is more a combo of paranormal, mystical, with the historical and a touch of romance]]. While it can be read as a stand-alone book, this novel would be better read in sequence with its other series companions. It took me a while to get into the story, but once I did, I really did not want to leave. Until the end that was where I had to scratch my head and wonder if this could not have ended on a much nicer note if the Author would have decided to finish the series there. It seemed a little forced, more based on the want to make another book, than what was best for the reader.
I did, however, find both main characters very charming – as well as the many side characters (how cool is a female pirate queen!) their actions and connections believable, with a balance of true tension, and irresistible connection. They were meant to be companions, no matter what time they were from, or what curse they had to burden.
A fun historical fantasy fiction - Summon The Queen #amreading #books CLICK TO TWEET
Summon The Queen is a well-written, entertaining ride. Now, I have to read the rest of the series, because it surely left me wanting more.
Book Rating
3.5 out of 5 Stars
Book Details:
Title: Summon The Queen
Author: Jodi McIsaac
Series: The Revolutionary Series Book # 2
Publisher: 47North
Publication Date: January 17th, 2017
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, General Fiction (Adult)
Warning: This book is not clean!
Book Summary:
It may be impossible to alter the past, but Irish revolutionary Nora O’Reilly is determined to try. Armed with a relic given to her by the goddess Brigid and joined by immortal Irish warrior Fionn mac Cumhaill, Nora is hurled back through time to the sixteenth century. There Nora and Fionn seek the infamous pirate queen Granuaile—Grace O’Malley—the one woman who may be fierce enough to stop Queen Elizabeth I’s tyranny over the Irish people.
But finding Granuaile is no easy feat, and securing her help is tougher still. Nora and Fionn face enemies at every turn, risking capture, separation, and even death in their quest to save Ireland and finally put an end to the centuries-long curse that torments Fionn. But as Nora’s connection to Fionn grows stronger, her loyalties are tested: she may not be able to save both her country and the man she’s grown to love.
In Jodi McIsaac’s thrilling and heartbreaking sequel to Bury the Living, Nora will once again battle time, history, and her own intense desires in an attempt to rewrite the past—and to change the fate of all she holds dear.
Question: Do you like historical fiction? If so which book would you recommend for me to read? Leave your comments in the comment section below!
Happy Reading!
Claudia
Summon The Queen
1/18/2017 0 Comments
It may be impossible to alter the past, but Irish revolutionary Nora O’Reilly is determined to try. Armed with a relic given to her by the goddess Brigid and joined by immortal Irish warrior Fionn mac Cumhaill, Nora is hurled back through time to the sixteenth century. There Nora and Fionn seek the infamous pirate queen Granuaile—Grace O’Malley—the one woman who may be fierce enough to stop Queen Elizabeth I’s tyranny over the Irish people.
But finding Granuaile is no easy feat, and securing her help is tougher still. Nora and Fionn face enemies at every turn, risking capture, separation, and even death in their quest to save Ireland and finally put an end to the centuries-long curse that torments Fionn. But as Nora’s connection to Fionn grows stronger, her loyalties are tested: she may not be able to save both her country and the man she’s grown to love.~Goodreads Blurb
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I really have a hard time reading books out of order and if I find part of a series that looks good, I will usually go back to the beginning and read forward rather than jump around. Even with my particular need for order, you could easily start here with “Summon The Queen” and then go back and read “Bury The Living.” Even if you start out of order, the author Jodi McIsaac, has written in just enough about the previous book that new readers will feel caught up, and readers who have just finished the previous book won’t feel as if they are simply rehashing the past.
Writing about Irish-English relations during this time can get tricky for writers, especially since many times Queen Elizabeth is written as a good and just queen. By putting her on such a pedestal it can be difficult for writers to pull her off in order to show her flaws and shortcomings. The tendency is to show her as a strong woman who doesn’t need a man, instead of showing that she was definitely her father’s daughter in her temper, and her paranoia, which lead to the deaths of many she believed plotted against her. McIsaac has not only managed to bring light to some of the other strong women living in Elizabeth’s time, such as Grace O’Malley, but also has personalized the Irish who were struggling against Tudor rule at the time. There is also the clear distinction made, one that I felt the first book lacked, that it’s not as simple as “The English are evil” and “The Irish are good.”
[[This is great for people who enjoy reading about Elizabeth the First’s reign, from another angle.]] Historical fiction and even a bit of fantasy time travel through in rounds out this part of the series, though if I am to believe the cliffhanger, this won’t be the last I see of Jodi McIsaac’s work.
*This eBook was provided by NetGalley and 47North in exchange for honest feedback*
Notes about the Author: Jodi McIsaac is the author of the Irish contemporary fantasy series The Thin Veil (47North) the thriller A Cure for Madness (Thomas & Mercer) and the forthcoming historical Revolutionary series, starting with Bury the Living (47North).
She grew up in New Brunswick, on Canada's east coast. After abandoning her Olympic speed skating dream, she wrote speeches for a politician, volunteered in a refugee camp, waited tables in Belfast, earned a couple of university degrees, and started a boutique copywriting agency. She loves geek culture, running, and whisk(e)y.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
The Thin Veil Series by Jodi McIsaac
THE THIN VEIL SERIES
by Jodi McIsaac
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THROUGH THE DOOR (Book #1)
It’s been seven years since the love of Cedar McLeod’s life left with no forwarding address. All she has left of him are heart-wrenching memories of happier times and a beautiful six-year-old daughter, Eden. Then, one day, Eden opens her bedroom door and unwittingly creates a portal that leads to anywhere she imagines.
But they’re not the only ones who know of Eden’s gift, and soon the child mysteriously vanishes.
Desperate for answers, Cedar digs into the past and finds herself thrust into a magical world of Celtic myths, fantastical creatures, and bloody rivalries. Teaming up with the unlikeliest of allies, Cedar must bridge the gap between two worlds and hold tight to the love in her heart…or lose everything to an ancient evil.
The first in the Thin Veil series, Through the Door is a pulse-pounding adventure that takes readers across the globe and deep into the hidden realms of Celtic lore.
Read an excerpt:
“Shh, it’s okay,” Cedar said, rubbing Eden’s back. Tears were pricking at her own eyes, but she tried to hold them back. “Your father was a really good person.”
“But why isn’t he here?” Eden sniffed.
Cedar took a deep breath to steady her voice. “I don’t know, to be honest. I wish I did. He went away before he knew I was pregnant. He didn’t leave because of you, Eden. That’s really important for you to understand. When you came along, I tried to find him. But I couldn’t. I’m sorry.”
Eden pulled away, her face twisted. “It’s not fair!” Cedar tried to hug her again, but Eden yanked herself free and stormed down the hall. Cedar stood and watched her disappear around the corner. She’d give her a few minutes of alone time, and then go talk to her again. She listened for the inevitable slamming of Eden’s door. It didn’t come. Instead, Eden’s screams died off as suddenly as if she had run out of air. The apartment fell silent, a sharp contrast to the storm of six-year-old anger that had been raging only moments before.
“Eden?” Cedar called out. Nothing. “Eden?” she tried again, starting to walk down the hall.
“Mummy? Mummy!” came Eden’s voice.
Cedar quickly rounded the corner and saw Eden standing in the hallway outside her bedroom, staring open-mouthed through the gaping doorway. There was some sort of light reflecting on her face. It glimmered and shifted and created strange shapes and lines on her skin, casting her in an otherworldly glow. A slight breeze was lifting the edges of her sundress, brushing it against her legs. A small trail of fine sand crept through the doorway and was starting to collect around her feet.
“What is it, Eden?” Cedar asked as she moved to stand beside her daughter. Then her jaw dropped. “What the…?”
The two of them stood in shocked silence, looking into the room. The air in the open doorway was sparkling with a thousand points of light, like the surface of a pond catching the mid-afternoon sun. They could still see what was on the other side, but through a film. In this case, the film glittered and moved. Even more remarkable than the way the air had changed in the doorway was what was on the other side.
Available on Amazon
http://amzn.to/1wYbVPq
INTO THE FIRE (Book #2)
Cedar McLeod would like nothing more than to return to Tír na nÓg, help rebuild the mythical kingdom, and start a new life for herself and her daughter, Eden. But peace isn’t what Cedar finds after being reunited with her little girl.
Nuala—who kidnapped and terrorized Eden in her previous bid for power—has returned and is making a persuasive claim for the vacant throne. The devastation such a ruler would bring upon both the kingdom and the human world is unthinkable. With no one else to stake a convincing counter-claim, Cedar steps forward...but first she must prove her worth beyond a doubt.
Her opportunity comes when she is charged with finding an ancient treasure, the Stone of Destiny, and returning it to its rightful home. It is a quest that will lead her to question her beliefs, and push her loyalties to their limits. If she succeeds, Cedar could grant her new world and her new family a chance to flourish again. If not...destruction may be the only path ahead.
Into the Fire, the second book in the Thin Veil series, is a captivating blend of Celtic myth, mystery, and adventure that delves deeper into the ancient world first explored in Through the Door.
Available on Amazon
http://amzn.to/1wYbVPq
AMONG THE UNSEEN (Book #3)
Life just keeps getting more complicated for Cedar McLeod. As the recently crowned queen of Tír na nÓg, she’s trying to understand her magical new kingdom, even as she misses her life back on Earth. It doesn’t help that a dear friend has just betrayed her—a betrayal that almost cost Cedar and her family their lives. And things aren’t easy at home, either, as Cedar’s seven-year-old daughter, Eden, lost and lonely in Tír na nÓg despite her special powers, has become painfully distant.
Cedar vows to do whatever it takes to protect her family once and for all, and starts rounding up those who plotted against her. But then a new disaster breaks out: a mysterious sickness is plaguing the Unseen, Ireland’s magical creatures, including those Cedar knows and loves. With enemies still on the loose and not knowing whom she can trust, Cedar must race against time to reverse an ancient curse, in a journey that will take her from Tír na nÓg to Earth…and beyond.
Brimming with page-turning adventure, Among the Unseen—the exciting conclusion to Jodi McIsaac’s Thin Veil trilogy—weaves an enchanting, captivating spell.
Book Review: Among the Unseen
By Zan-Mari Vosges on May 21, 2014 inBlogsOne Book to Rule Them All
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There is always this sense of nostalgia that fills you when you know you are reading the last book in a series. A part of you wants to savor each chapter and in the process prolong your time with the characters you have come to love. But that other rebellious part of you wants to gulp down the book in one sentence. You want… no, you need to know that there will be a happily ever after in the end.
All these feelings were raging inside me once I started reading Jodi McIsaac’s final installment of The Thin Veil series. Among the Unseen gives the true Fiannas (Jodi’s groupies – You will find out how to become one at the end of the review) that last adventure they have been craving since they finished reading Through the door and Into the fire.
If you have read the other two books and the novella (Beyond the Pale) by now you would know everything there is to know about the Tuatha Dé Danann. But bear with me while I explain this to the normal people who do not believe in Celtic gods… yet.
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Plot
Cedar has lived her whole life oblivious to the fact that she was not quite normal… or not even human, to be honest. She had a normal job like anyone else, her heart got broken by the man of her dreams like everyone else, and she was raising her daughter on her own like every single mom out there. So when her 6 year old daughter started doing some abnormal things, Cedar soon realized they were not normal after all. They were in fact Celtic gods. To complicate things further Cedar was reunited with her long lost love who just happened to be a Celtic god himself. She discovered she was the last living descendant of the Tuatha Dé Danann’s king. And they had to save their kidnapped daughter, Eden, who was the only one who could create a sidhe (a portal for the lack of a better word) by simply opening a door.
Despite defeating many evil villains to rule Tír na nÓg in the previous two books, nothing could prepare Cedar, Finn and the rest of her friends for what was about to happen. The Unseen (that includes every magical and mythical creature on Ériu, or commonly known as earth) was dying. And no one knew why. Queen Cedar felt it was her duty to save these creatures even though the Danann refused to help those who did not come to their aid during the last battle fought on earth against the humans.
Bottom line
Just like the previous adventures you get pulled into the story from page one. [[The world Jodi created feels so real that you start believing that the Unseen really does exist]]. It is sometimes impossible to remember that this is all made up in Jodi’s incredible mind. She did a lot of research and tried to keep it as authentic to Celtic myths and legends as she could. She did, however, decide to throw in another realm of gods in the plot and trust me – you will be astounded when you realize who makes a guest appearance.
Jodi’s easy-reading style transcends through the whole series and you will soon notice that you are flying through the pages faster than you intend to. But you cannot help it. And do not even think about putting the book down in a futile attempt to prolong the experience. You will be consumed by the book and become obsessed by it. This book is cursed just like a lot of people in this story. I feel I have to warn you. It is hazardous to your health. If you suffer from high blood pressure you will need to remember your medication. At one time I was getting so excited and anxious while reading, I had to stop and get my emotions under control out of fear that I would pass out or hyperventilate. This story is just too compelling. There are many unpredictable plot twists – even if you are a fortune-teller.
The only problem I have is that if you are not from Ireland you will probably struggle with the pronunciations of most of the names. Can you say Toirdhealbhach and keep a straight face? I just skipped the names entirely when my inner narrator’s tongue got twisted and tied in knots. Jodi herself confessed that the person who recorded her audio books must have cursed her and her forefathers for all those weird names. But like she said – you can pronounce them any way you like.
Another thing that felt a bit eerie is the fact that Jodi gave in to peer pressure by John Greene, Veronica Roth and George R. R. Martin (The fault in our stars, Divergent and Game of Thrones respectively) and killed some of her characters. Yes she will burn in fandom hell along with the rest of the murders, but I will testify as a character witness since she still stuck faithfully to the good ol’ fashioned “And they all lived happily ever after.”
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And when you get to the end you feel a bit heart broken. Like a good friend had passed away. But fear not – Jodi likes to tease her fans with the notion of continuing the Tír na nÓg tales from Eden’s point of view when she gets a bit older. So we still have a lot of time to practice to say Toirdhealbhach without sounding like we want to order Chinese food with peanut butter stuck between our tongue and teeth.
If you want to become a Fianna and be part of the secret club follow the link – http://www.jodimcisaac.com/#!fianna/c1xss
You can purchase all of Jodi’s books on Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Jodi-McIsaac/e/B0082T2DO2
Join her on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/jodimcisaac or on Twitter – https://twitter.com/jodimcisaac
Into the Fire (The Thin Veil)
By: Jodi McIsaac
Into the Fire is a delightful fantasy novel filled with mystery, magic, and good vs evil. This is the second book in the series. I do recommend reading these in the order they were written. I have not read book 1 and felt as if I had been dropped into the middle of the plot more than once.
Cedar McLeod and her daughter are ready for a new beginning. But old enemies return and are very convincing. Nuata wants the power of the vacant throne. Cedar places a counter claim on the throne. She is given the challenge of finding an ancient treasure, the Stone of Destiny. It must be found and returned to where it belongs. The challenge will test her in her beliefs as well as her loyalties. To succeed will mean the opportunity for her family to flourish again. But if she fails it could mean the destruction not only of her world but of the human world.
Author, Jodi McIsaac is a talented author; she transports readers back to the time of the Celtic folklores and traditions. The characters, even the secondary ones are complex and multifaceted. The descriptions are so real that you feel as if you can see the action taking place on a stage before you; even better you feel as if you are part of the action. If you enjoy fantasy you will enjoy Into The Fire
Review: ‘Through the Door’ by Jodi McIsaac
JULY 16, 2013
tags: 5 star, book reviews, books, Cedar, Celtic lore, doors, Eden, fairytale, fantasy, Jodi McIsaac, McLeod, modern, rating, review, Through the Door
1 Vote
Through the Door coverSummary: Cedar McLeod believes she lives an ordinary and uneventful life. She works hard to balance her family and work life and meet the demands of her job while raising her six-year-old daughter, Eden. As a single mother, Cedar struggles more than she would like to, and relies on her mother, Maeve, for help. Eden’s father, Finn, disappeared from her life before Eden was born and cedar has been unable to find him ever since.
But Cedar’s uneventful world is about to be turned on its ear. One day, Eden suddenly opens the door to her bedroom only to find her bedroom is now a desert–she opened her door to another place entirely. Eden wants to walk through the doors and find out where else she can go. Afraid and confused, Cedar forbids Eden to open any doors without her present.
Except Eden disappears a few days later. Knowing what Eden can do with the doors, Cedar realizes that her daughter could be anywhere in the world. Even more scared and beginning to panic when Eden doesn’t come home, Cedar begins a journey to track down Finn and get some answers. On the hunt for Eden, Cedar discovers far more than she could ever have imagined, and plunges herself into more danger than she might be able to survive.
My Thoughts: What a fantastic read! I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this book when I first picked it up, but I ended up being really enthralled by it. The characters are well-rounded and their growth is steady through the novel. The plot is interesting and engrossing. The pacing is excellent, I never felt bored or like I wanted to stop reading.
Cedar McLeod is the main character and the mother of Eden, a very special young girl. Eden’s father left suddenly one day and Cedar has been unable to find him or move on since then. Cedar does her best to work and support herself and Eden as a graphic designer, with some babysitting help from her mother, Maeve. Cedar is a strong character who is probably best defined as a fierce mother. She would do anything for Eden, and fights to protect her from harm. However, that very quality is also her greatest flaw, as her desire to protect and save Eden ends up causing some havoc and unfortunate incidents in the long run. She can end up being stubborn and pig-headed when it comes to protecting Eden, to the point of not listening to anyone else. This is something she attempts to overcome throughout the book, but she struggles with her desire to protect Eden at all costs.
There are a number of characters who really pull those sympathetic heart-strings later on, most notably Finn and Maeve. Maeve has a mysterious past and backstory that isn’t fully appreciated until the end. Finn’s secret is huge, and sadly I can’t say too much about it or him here without giving something away. At first, Finn doesn’t seem like a very likeable character, but he becomes more interesting later on. Maeve is the one I feel the most sorry for in all the machinations of the families. She had so much happen to her, and lost so much, but she chose to (largely) rise above it and turn her situation into a positive rather than a negative. But when I found out her true background, I was flabbergasted. I didn’t guess that that’s what happened to her, and it worked so well for the characters and the plot.
There are three rather huge twists in the plot, with the biggest one coming at the end. The end was extremely satisfying and even though it left me feeling as if the book had reached a valid and satisfying end, I still wanted more to follow. So I was relieved to find that there is a second book planned for release this year! The twist at the end was not one I had guessed at or even saw coming, so as twists go, it was brilliant.
Other characters include Finn’s family and Cedar’s best friend, Jane. Jane was funny and provided a bit of comic relief at points, though mostly in the beginning. Finn’s family is a large and diverse cast of characters. I don’t want to say too much about them as I have to avoid mentioned their origins in order to avoid any spoilers. I will say that they are unusual. And their weirdness explains Eden’s sudden and initially inexplicable ability to create doors that can open to other places. They do behave very poorly toward Cedar for a long time, and this makes them very unlikable. They claim to have reasons for their mistreatment of Cedar and for withholding information from her, but these reasons don’t become clear until much later–which makes the family, and even Cedar’s mother (who knows more than she says), come off as jerks. While this makes them unlikable to begin with, the reasons later on make sense and, while it may not have been the wisest or the best decision to keep Cedar in the dark for so long, their reasons had logic behind them.
All in all, I have nothing negative to say about this book. OK, one or two typos, but even good books can have a few typos here and there. I have nothing negative to say about the plot, the characters, the pacing, or the ideas. It’s well written and contains maybe two typos in the entire thing and nothing else wrong in the typo/grammar department. [[This book takes Celtic lore and brings a freshness to it that is invigorating.]] I will definitely read this book again and I will absolutely be checking out the sequel.
5/5 stars
Review – Through the Door by Jodi McIsaac
November 13, 2013 Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction Reviews 0 ★★★★
Title: Through the Door
Series: Into the Veil #1
Author: Jodi McIsaac
Release Date: April 23, 2013
Publisher: 47North
Pages: 282, Paperback
Goodreads Rating: 3.68 stars
My Rating: 4/5 stars
My Content Rating: PG-13 (Nothing more than kissing, some violence)
Summary from Goodreads: It’s been seven years since the love of Cedar McLeod’s life left with no forwarding address. All she has left of him are heart-wrenching memories of happier times and a beautiful six-year-old daughter, Eden. Then, one day, Eden opens her bedroom door and unwittingly creates a portal that leads to anywhere she imagines.
But they’re not the only ones who know of Eden’s gift, and soon the child mysteriously vanishes.
Desperate for answers, Cedar digs into the past and finds herself thrust into a magical world of Celtic myths, fantastical creatures, and bloody rivalries. Teaming up with the unlikeliest of allies, Cedar must bridge the gap between two worlds and hold tight to the love in her heart…or lose everything to an ancient evil.
The first in the Thin Veil series, Through the Door is a pulse-pounding adventure that takes readers across the globe and deep into the hidden realms of Celtic lore.
Through the Door was the third (or fourth?) book I’ve read this year that was based on Celtic lore. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I was going to love yet another book based on the Tuatha Dé Danann, so I had kind of put off reading this one, but I was pleasantly surprised. This book ended up feeling really unique. This book centered around a little girl who was kidnapped after manifesting inhuman powers and her human mother who was desperate to find her – definitely a different take on the Celtic myths than anything I had read before!
The negatives:
Secrets. The biggest negative about this book actually started out as a positive for me. There were so many mysteries in this book and I was really intrigued to learn about them all! The problem, for me, was that once Cedar met the people who could tell her the truth, they just wouldn’t. Even after Eden had disappeared, none of the Tuatha Dé Danann would give Cedar the information that she needed to truly be able to help her daughter. Even her own mother withheld crucial information that would have made all the difference to Cedar. Because of this, the middle of the book dragged a bit for me, as we were forced to learn about what was happening to Eden in tiny bits and pieces. What started out as a really interesting mystery ended up feeling a bit like a plot device and made me dislike most of the secondary characters (the Tuatha Dé Danann and Cedar’s mother). Luckily, I was already invested in Cedar herself and in Eden, so that saved the book for me!
What I Loved:
Eden. I absolutely adored Eden! I mean, how could I resist a sweet little six-year-old girl? The entire beginning of the book where Eden discovers her power was just magical for me and I really enjoyed it. Every scene with Eden was a good one and I hope we get to see much more of her in the next book!
Cedar. I really felt for Cedar – her sense of pain and loss when Finn left her was palpable and I thought that it was incredibly realistic that her pain filtered into her relationship with her daughter on some level (which isn’t to say that her relationship with Eden wasn’t good, but there was always a slight sense of loss for Cedar that she couldn’t overcome). I felt her sadness and desperation even more keenly when her daughter was taken for her and I loved that she put her daughter first – always! Cedar wasn’t always strong, but she was when it came to her daughter and her ultimate desire was always to do what was best for her (even though she didn’t always know what the best answers were!).
Finn. I was definitely a fan of Finn and was rooting for Finn and Cedar to reconcile. He seemed to be the only Tuatha De Danaan who actually had Cedar and Eden’s best interests at heart. From the very first scene, I was in love with Finn!
Celtic lore. [[McIsaac did an excellent job of weaving the Celtic mythology into her story without making it confusing (which can be hard to do).]] While she relied on the lore, she didn’t use too many foreign terms or rely so heavily on the mythology that it would need to be explained in detail, confusing the story. I thought that this was a great balance!
Through the Door is an enjoyable paranormal novel that led us on an adventure in the land of Tír na nÓg! I definitely recommend it to fans of paranormal romance and mythology! I’m eager to read the next installment in the series to find out what will happen next! 4/5 stars.
Beyond The Pale: A Thin Veil Novella – Book Review
Book Beyond the Pale
Beyond the Pale: A Thin Veil Novella (The Thin Veil) by Jodi McIsaac
AMAZON SUMMARY
Kier believes she has the perfect life—and the perfect love—in the Irish otherworld of Tír na nÓg. But when she is unwillingly wed to the High King in an arranged marriage, her lover takes matters into his own hands in an unexpected and horrifying way. Now, she must do whatever it takes to protect her husband and her kingdom from the man she loves— even if it means losing everything.
Includes a preview of the highly anticipated final novel in the Thin Veil series, Among the Unseen!
Book Review
Beyond the Pale is a well written novella by Jodi McIsaac. In this novella, the author takes us back in time to before the birth of Cedar. The characters in Beyond the Pale are ambitious, brave, and strong. The plot contains many twists and turns based on betrayal, honor, and love.
The reader gains a greater understanding of the history of Tir na nog and the Tuatha De Danann. The reader also gains a greater understanding of how the troubles of the Tuatha De Danann started, how Maeve came into the scene, and why Lorcan was such an evil king. The answers to these questions, and much more, are contained in this novella.
I loved Beyond the Pale and recommend it to all who have read, Jodi McIsaac’s, Through the Door and Into the Fire.
Review: Through The Door by Jodi McIsaac – Highly Recommended
In Flanders fields the poppies grow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place, and in the sky,
The larks, still bravely singing, fly,
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
~John McCrae
What connects two thousand years of genocide? Too much power in too few hands. – Simon Wiesenthal
…the Tuatha De Danann or Sidhe, the ‘Gentry’, the ‘Good People’, and the ‘People of Peace’ are described as a race of invisible divine beings eternally young and unfading. They inhabit fairy palaces, enjoy rare feasts and love-making, and have their own music and minstrelsy. They are essentially majestic in their nature…Mythologically they are gods of light and good, able to control natural phenomena so as to make harvests come forth abundantly or not at all. — W. Y. Evans-Wentz; The Faerie Faith in Celtic Countries, 1911 (quoted by Michael Tsarion)
throughthedoor
Click to purchase the book, and to learn more about Jodi McIsaac. Highly Recommended!
Millennia. Millennia beyond counting, the Tuatha De Danann graced the lands of Tír na nÓg. Tír na nÓg, where fields of flowers . . . caress those who walked past, waterfalls of crystal nectar, trees that sang and danced and hung heavy with fruit. . . And yet, though they despise the humans that drove them from Ériu and back to the lands of Tuatha De Danann, the lands of plenty and peace.
Click this link to visit the beautiful land of Ériu
And yet, even the Tuatha De Danann are not immune to war. And war there is, a war of hatred and greed, a war led by a psychopath. For sometimes, living forever is dangerous in the extreme. Long years of thought, of jealousy and avarice, and bitter blackness of the heart. Those who are undying can be killed – and the slaughter is beyond comprehension.
Many years later, we meet Cedar McLeod as she enjoys a busker fair with her beloved Finn, her boyfriend of two years, and the love of her life. Having a wonderful time with Finn, she is also excited for another reason – for she has a secret, of the baby sort, and she is trying to find the right moment to tell him during this wonderful day. Just as she begins to impart her news, however, Finn suddenly tenses up, then rushes Cedar to her apartment and leaves. The next morning, Cedar walks into Finn’s apartment only to discover it empty and he is gone without a trace . . .
Forward seven years, and though Cedar is an exhausted, overworked single mother, she has her own mother for support and a deep and abiding love for her daughter, Eden. Oh, yes, it is hard to look upon her sweet face at times, for Eden is the spitting image of her father. But her great love for her child lays all those pains aside, to be pulled out only in the dark of the night, alone in her bed. Life isn’t wonderful, but with Eden’s presence, life is good.
But things are about to change. For Eden is more than she seems. So very, very much more. A single open door will send Eden and Cedar on a terrifying slide into horror and despair, as the teachings of Cedar’s mother, to not ever tell Eden of her father, push a child to make a devastating error – an error which [[will cost lives, and lead Cedar and Eden on a trip across seas, and across time and space]], in a desperate bid to return Eden home.
Through the Door is a modern day urban fantasy of the very best kind. Filled with fantasy creatures, of course, this isn’t just a fantasy. It has deeply embedded strands of thriller and suspense, mystery and terror that step this up from just fantasy to something so much more. [[War and death, psychopathy and greed, power and politics play a strong role, for even the gods themselves are not perfect]]. Add to that the fact that Jodi McIsaac has done a stunning job of research into the world of Tír na nÓg and the Tuatha De Danann, and the writing itself is beautifully done, and this is a highly recommended read. And don’t forget – the final book of the trilogy is out! That means that you can sit down and read all three straight through – how awesome is THAT?
Into The Fire (The Thin Veil Book 2)
Beyond the Pale: A Thin Veil Novella (The Thin Veil 2.5)
Among The Unseen (The Thin Veil Book 3)
Review: Among The Unseen by Jodi McIsaac
…the Tuatha De Danann or Sidhe, the ‘Gentry’, the ‘Good People’, and the ‘People of Peace’ are described as a race of invisible divine beings eternally young and unfading. They inhabit fairy palaces, enjoy rare feasts and love-making, and have their own music and minstrelsy. They are essentially majestic in their nature…Mythologically they are gods of light and good, able to control natural phenomena so as to make harvests come forth abundantly or not at all. — W. Y. Evans-Wentz; The Faerie Faith in Celtic Countries, 1911 (quoted by Michael Tsarion)
Faeries, come take me out of this dull world,
For I would ride with you upon the wind,
Run on the top of the dishevelled tide,
And dance upon the mountains like a flame. ― W.B. Yeats, The Land of Heart’s Desire
15852288Tír na nÓg. Ancestral home to the Sidhe, a land of tremendous beauty, bounty and growth. At least, until one monstrous member of the Gentry goes mad for power, destroying the lands and it’s people, annihilating the very thing he means to possess. In the words of R.A. Salvatore, “A king is a man strong of character and conviction who leads by example and truly cares for the suffering of his people, not a brute who rules simply because he is the strongest.”
Among the Unseen is the third and final volume in Jodi McIsaac’s “The Thin Veil” Series. The series is billed as ‘contemporary fantasy’ and McIsaac does a marvelous job of blending not only fantasy, but also concepts and ideals that are reflected in today’s modern world. War and the destruction of beauty. Whole countries laid to waste, ravished, and left destitute and uncultivated, unable to support life.
Through the first two books in the series, Cedar McLeod, her daughter Eden, and a small group of Sidhe have fought to regain the lands of Tír na nÓg. The lands are finally regained, with all in their proper place. But things are far from safe, as Cedar is betrayed by one she considered family. Now in her proper place as queen, Cedar must help restore her new country, while still missing her family, friends and life back on Earth. And the problems don’t stop coming, as disease spreads, and Eden is less safe than Cedar had thought.
Among the Unseen is [[a beautifully crafted book]], as were the others in the series. Filled with well-crafted and well-researched fantasy lore, [[McIsaac weaves modern life through a story filled with light and darkness, pain and love in equal measure.]]
This series is highly recommended for any lover of contemporary fantasy – especially if you are a purist who is educated in mythology. I loved the whole series.
Review: “A Cure for Madness,” Jodi McIsaac
Posted on January 1, 2016 by Heather — No Comments ↓
Pros: Good toward the end
Cons: Little plot holes and tropes scattered about
Rating: 3 out of 5
In Jodi McIsaac’s A Cure for Madness, a town goes crazy. Clare, who had hoped she’d left her hometown for good, comes back when she finds out that her parents were killed. She’s now the one who has to take care of her brother, Wes, who has paranoid schizophrenia. Meanwhile, some sort of contagion seems to be making people act crazy.
There are quite a number of details, particularly early on, that I couldn’t quite buy into. People failing to notice obvious things; unbelievable chains of events. For example, “erratic behavior” has gotten so bad that psych ward intake has gone up 57% in one week, and yet they’re still assuming that whatever the illness is, it isn’t contagious. Seriously?! This sort of lack of forethought is common to the book. A nurse gives Clare a security code to one of the doors with a simple admonition not to let any patients out; no matter how busy they were, I’m not buying it. When she finally does go to the hospital for a blood test, I fail to understand how she could get a room to herself to pace in, under the circumstances. It felt like the background characters in A Cure for Madness lacked normal common sense, and highly unlikely things happened just because it was necessary to the plot, not because they made sense.
I have a problem with where the story takes Wes’s illness. He ends up with the whole he has a “special brain” thing, the trope of mental illness as magic. They came close to using it well, but it still grated at me.
The late parts of the book helped to make up for the former parts. I can’t really explain since I don’t want to give the events away, but I did come out of the end of the book liking it rather more than I did the beginning and middle parts.
NOTE: Book provided free for review
Expected publication date: January 19, 2016
Book Review: A Cure For Madness
A Cure for Madness
A Cure for Madness
Author, Jodi McIsaac
Book Synopsis
Clare Campbell has worked hard to create distance between herself and her troubled family. But when she receives news of her parents’ murder, she’s forced to return to the quiet town of Clarkeston, Maine, to arrange their funeral and take legal guardianship of her unpredictable and mentally ill brother, Wes.
While Clare struggles to come to grips with the death of her parents, a terrifying pathogen outbreak overtakes the town. She is all too familiar with the resulting symptoms, which resemble those of her brother’s schizophrenia: hallucinations, paranoia, and bizarre, even violent, behavior. Before long, the government steps in—and one agent takes a special interest in Wes. Clare must make a horrifying decision: save her brother or save the world.
Book Review
Author, Jodi McIsaac has presented us with a great medical thriller in her latest book, ‘A Cure for Madness’. This book held my attention from start to finish. It is full of fast-paced action guaranteed to keep the reader on the edge of their seat.
The book is well written, with characters that are true to life. The setting makes the plot of this medical thriller plausible.
I loved this book and recommend it to all thriller readers.
5 Stars *****
Review: A Cure For Madness By Jodi McIsaac
July 2, 2016 | Book Reviews | 0 Comments
Reviewed by Krista McKeeth
Clare Campbell has worked hard to create distance between herself and her troubled family. But when she receives news of her parents’ murder, she’s forced to return to the quiet town of Clarkeston, Maine, to arrange their funeral and take legal guardianship of her unpredictable and mentally ill brother, Wes.
While Clare struggles to come to grips with the death of her parents, a terrifying pathogen outbreak overtakes the town. She is all too familiar with the resulting symptoms, which resemble those of her brother’s schizophrenia: hallucinations, paranoia, and bizarre, even violent, behavior. Before long, the government steps in—and one agent takes a special interest in Wes. Clare must make a horrifying decision: save her brother or save the world.
Paperback, 299 pages
Published January 19th 2016 by Thomas & Mercer
Clare moved across the country as soon as she was old enough, to get physically and mentally away from her family. Her brother Wes suffered from schizophrenia and it had always taken up most of her parents time. Running away frees her from the burden of family and the pain of her past. So when she gets the news that her parents have been murdered and her brother is being released from the hospital, she hopes the trip home will be a short stint to tie up loose ends.
The trip home is anything but quick. A rash of people in the town are exhibiting psychotic behaviour and Clare’s trip to the hospital for her brother turns out to be a nightmare. After the funeral, Wes lays a guilt trip on her, begging her to move back home. The pressure only builds when the hospital staff come looking for Wes, insisting he was never supposed to be released. But Wes will do anything not to go back there.
Clare goes on the run with Wes, which turns out to be more difficult than she imagined, since the town has just been quarantined. The story turns into a cat and mouse chase. During their travels, Clare and Wes must also face their past and Claire has to deal with the hard realisation, that she can’t hide from her past.
Claire and Wes don’t spend much time sitting still and the during the times they do, there is always commotion happening around them. The death of their parents kind of falls to the wayside as this story focuses more on the outbreak of psychoses and the thrill of the chase. Hiding in town brings its own terror, as all of the town people are going crazy and anybody they come across could kill them. They travel mostly through farmland and even in underground tunnels.
I’m always drawn to a good psychiatric hospital story. The psychoses outbreak brings in an apocalyptic feel to this story that really adds to the suspense and thrill. Clare also goes through a journey of self discovery when Wes forces her to deal with her past and figure out what she wants for her future. I enjoyed this story and felt it was unique in the way it presented the outbreak and the cure.
Review of A Cure for Madness by Jodi McIsaac
meghan rose
January 22, 2016 Post navigation
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Do you ever sometimes feel you totally get an author's thought process?
What if ... schizophrenia were contagious! And what if ... the only one who could stop the spread was someone who had schizophrenia before all this happened! Except ... he's spiraling off his meds and is unwilling to help!
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that they aren't after you (Joseph Heller -- Catch-22).
A Cure for Madness by Jodi McIsaac is a fairly typical thriller-zombie-pathogen type novel. All the standard plot points: strange disease starts to infect a small town, initial panic escalates to full blown pandemonium, military-enforced quarantine, protagonist chased.
Because I wrote pandemonium up there, I feel like thinking about pandas for a bit.
Okay. Done.
For a thriller, A Cure for Madness is well written. The characters aren't flat puppets bouncing around on popsicle sticks and the pacing is well done; the amping up of the spread of the disease and the way the town starts to fall apart completely believable. The story takes place in a small college town in Maine, so I can imagine the whole story here, in my small university town in New Brunswick (province bordering Maine for the geographically-challenged), especially since McIsaac is also from New Brunswick. Granted, I don't think we have a mental hospital. The last chapter is heartbreaking, when you realize what this has meant for Clare, our protagonist, who spends the later two-thirds of novel trying to protect her brother with his mental illness.
So it's a good, solid, easy-to-read thriller novel that I have nothing to complain about, except for the fact that I generally prefer literary fiction to thrillers. But for those days when you just want to read something a little mindless and entertaining, A Cure for Madness works fine.
A Cure for Madness by Jodi McIsaac went on sale January 19, 2016.
I received a copy free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.