Review | "Among the Unseen" by Jodi McIsaac

Among The Unseen by Jodi McIsaac
Fantasy/Paranormal published May 20, 2014
47North
Author's website  |  Goodreads  |  Buy the Book on Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads

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.

My Thoughts...

I have really, really enjoyed this series and I am sad to see it come to an end.  I have just really enjoyed the world of  Tír na nÓg.  This book starts off pretty much right where the second one ends.  The story starts and we are introduced to the selkies and find out right away that they are sick and no one knows what's causing it.  As the story continues more and more of the Unseen are plagued with the same sickness.   Cedar is at home dealing with issues with the Druids, but feels called upon to figure out what is causing the problems for all the Unseen.

Meanwhile, Eden is dealing with issues of her own and secrets that she is keeping from her parents.  She is longing to come into her power and having what amounts to an alter ego inside her isn't helping.  The older Eden inside her is pushing her to come out and she is getting herself into a little bit of hot water.   I say all this because even though this trilogy is over I can't help but hope that we see more of Eden in the future.  Grown up Eden has the potential for a wonderful spin of series!

I don't want to say to much for fear of spoiling so I am not going to talk any more about the story!  This is the perfect ending for a wonderful trilogy.  The writing is fantastic, the characters are so well developed and the world itself is so very magical.  There are no pacing problems and the story just flows so well, there is just the right balance of action, romance, magic, etc...  Jodi really is a phenomenal writer and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next.

I can't recommend this series enough.  If you are a fan of fantasy then you need to pick this series up now and read it this summer.  I promise you won't be disappointed.

XOXO, Shelly

*Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for my honest review.*

Fantasy/Paranormal Blog Tour "Into the Fire" by Jodi McIsaac

Title: Into the Fire (Thin Veil #2)

Author: Jodi McIsaac

Released On: November 12, 2013

Publisher: 47North

Buy Link -  AMAZON 

Author's Website:   http://www.jodimcisaac/
Author's Goodreads Profile:  Jodi McIsaac

Synopsis

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 is 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.

MY REVIEW

Ok,  I devoured this book in 2 sittings!  I started it while waiting in the car while my husband had the kids in the toy store and I finished it in just a couple hours after I got off work.  I literally did not want to put it down.  I loved the first book in the series when I read it way back when it was self-published and I happened to run across it on a blogger website back when Jodi was looking for reviewers.  It was a breath of fresh air in a time where I was reading a lot of self published stuff that really wasn't that great.  If you want to read my review of Through the Door, you can find it here.  

Recently I have been reading a lot of books that are the 2nd in the series and quite frankly, I have been having an awful time finding one that lives up to the first book.  SO not the case with this book and I am so happy about that.  This book was everything that a really good sequel should be.  None of the magic of the first book was lost as the story progressed.  The characters were all just as good as I remember them to be even though I didn't have time to re-read the first book.  I didn't need to, the set up was just enough to jog my memory without being a re-hashing of everything that happened previously.

Cedar and her family return to Tír na nÓg to set right the destruction caused by the previous leader.  A surprise awaits them, one that causes them to take stock of just what they are willing to do to help their land.  Cedar is give a quest, if you will, and she must succeed in order to take her rightful place as their new queen.  This story is full of action and really with this one it's pretty non-stop right from the beginning.   The world of Tír na nÓg is captivating and full of wonder.  The descriptions are so vivid as are the action sequences.  And don't even get me started on Felix...I would love a whole story about just him!

Jodi has really outdone herself with this one and I loved that it didn't end on a cliffhanger.  I really loved this book, I loved the setting and the magic.  I loved seeing Cedar transform in this book and I can't wait to see more of who Eden will become.  We got a little glimpse of it in this book and I hope we see more in the next one.   Since Finn and Cedar are already a couple this book stuck more to the fantasy and less romance, but it's clear that it's there.

So, I loved the book and I can't wait for the next one.  If you like Fantasy or Paranormal books you should definitely read this series.  If you enjoyed the first book then you will not be disappointed in this one!

*Disclaimer:  I was provided with a copy of this book courtesy of the author in exchange for my honest review.*

Book Spotlight & GIVEAWAY "Through the Door" by Jodi McIsaac

I originally reviewed this book back in July of 2012.  At that time it was a self-published, first release by Jodi McIsaac.  Well, it's being re-released in Paperback by 47North Publishing so I wanted to do a spotlight post on it!

Through the Door synopsis:

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.

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.

If you would like to read my original review you can do so here.  Here is just a little snippet of it for you.

I was pulled into the story immediately and I couldn't put it down.  It didn't take me long to finish this book and I will be anxiously waiting for the next book in the trilogy to come out.  I am a sucker for any kind of story with Celtic lore in it.  I always have been drawn to it ever since I started reading Nora Roberts Celtic Trilogies over 10 years ago.  The world that Jodi has started to build in the series is a fresh new take, at least for me.  She does such a wonderful job with her descriptions that you are pulled right into the story along with Cedar.

I would be hard-pressed to tell you which character is my favorite.  I think that I would have to say Eden, she really steals the story.  She is such a sweet girl and I can't wait to see how she grows as the trilogy continues.  I don't really think of this as a love story, there are elements of a love story in it, but it's more centered on the "fae" aspect.  They aren't called fae in the series, that's just how I tend to classify them since it's easier to say that Tuatha De Dannan!  

I am anxiously awaiting the next installment in this series.  If you haven't read this book I highly recommend it if you like Celtic Lore, stories of the Fae, etc...

Buy this book on Amazon:  Kindle Edition  |  Paperback 

Jodi McIsaac has graciously offered to send me a copy of the newly re-published book so that I can do a giveaway here on my blog.

So...here are the rules:

• Must be at least 18 to Enter
• You must live in the US for hard copy books.
• You will have 24 hours to contact me once it's confirmed that you are the winner and I have emailed you.
• Failure to contact me in 24 hours will result in my drawing another name as winner. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Review} "Through the Door" by Jodi McIsaac

Title:  Through The Door
Author: Jodi McIsaac
Publisher:  Inkwood Publishing
Publication Date:  June 19, 2012
Genre:  Paranormal Romance
Format:  Kindle 561 KB  |  Paperback 306 pages

Buy this book on Amazon:  Kindle Edition  |  Paperback
Author's Website:   http://www.jodimcisaac/
Author's Goodreads Profile:  Jodi McIsaac

Synopsis from Goodreads: 

Cedar McLeod lives an ordinary but lonely life, raising her six-year-old daughter Eden on her own while trying to balance the demands of her career and the expectations of her mother. Everything seems normal until the day Eden opens her bedroom door and finds herself half a world away – and then goes missing. Suddenly, Cedar realizes her daughter is anything but normal. 

In a desperate search for answers, Cedar tries to track down Eden’s father, who mysteriously disappeared from her life before Eden was born. What she discovers is far beyond anything she could have imagined. As she joins unlikely allies in the hunt for her daughter, Cedar becomes torn between two worlds: the one she thought she knew, and one where ancient myths are real, the stakes are impossibly high, and only the deepest love will survive.

Diving in...