30751211If this book was music, it would be stoner rock- interesting, laid back, various elements…

Sitka’s Quay appears to be like every other coastal tourist town on Highway 101, but lurking below its southern grove of ancient spruce are three sleeping primordial gods. For an eon, their bloodthirsty dreams have radiated into the ground and restore anyone who walks within the Grove. The Keeper, Dayla Fischer, must remain in control of her magical abilities or fall into sickening madness, but lives a relatively quiet life with her husband, Oliver.

That is, until the delusional, but charming Jonah Leifson comes to town with a plan to awaken the Three. Soon, children begin disappearing. With powerful suggestion spells and mind reading abilities, Jonah wins over other sorcerers, meth users, the police, and eventually even her husband. Though no one believes her and she doubts her own sanity, she must stop Jonah, before he wakes the Three and brings about the end of the world.

While the earthy tones and witchery magic are quite interesting to read about, like with stoner rock at times, this book left me restless, wishing for more… more punch sooner, more energy and a quicker rhythm (that’s why I’m more inclined towards metal). In other words- you really need to be into this sort of thing, or in the right mood. I would have liked to have read about the Three sleeping gods more, I would have liked to have read less about that bloody Aston Martin and how everyone just wished they had one and how they admired Jonah because he was wearing [insert brand] jeans or whatever fancy clothes. Yes, in a way that was part of his ‘power’ and intent, but it got old for me real fast. Give me ancient bloodlusty gods over the description of leather seats in Aston Martin. Give me more magic spells in a forest over Oliver making better coffee for the gnomes than the Friendly Bean joint in town. However, this is a well written book, very thorough and does take you right into the sleepy seaside town which thrives on tourism and hides in itself residents with extra abilities. One of the reviewers on Goodreads, who rated the book 5 stars, said: “It’s a claustrophobic read, which is brilliant because it sucks you into the small community of Sitka’s Quay and refuses to let you go.”

So, it happened that the first half of the book I found to be full of petty human thoughts yet I can understand the necessity of this structure to provide basis for the second half of the book. I just did not enjoy that start. For me personally, there was bit too much detailed description to getting to know everyone.

What was really good- how everything came together! It’s a really interesting plot and I definitely enjoyed the magic being tied to the earthy connection.

The second half of the book was more pacy, racy and stuff happened. Like action went down big time and it was for me way more enjoyable to read- even though some really bad stuff happened with the children. Power corrupts- in real life and in books.

There is a good mix of characters in this book- humans, humans with abilities, gnomes, Keeper of The grove and her mentors… A fella who should have been a Keeper but used too much magic and went  crazy and is now found to be walking bollock naked at times in town… oops.

If you’re a fan of urban fantasy, magic and a comfortable sit-back-and-relax kind of reading, this book is for you.

The Grove was published on July 12th and I received a review copy direct from the author. Thank you!

My rating: 3***- I liked it.

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