Title: A Spell of Rowans
Author: Byrd Nash
Genre: Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Literary Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery
Book Blurb:
Magic comes in threes.
Victoria, whose empathic talent reads hidden feelings. Phillipa, with a glamour that bewitches. Liam, who can touch an object to reveal its past.
All are in danger.
Their narcissistic mother, Rachel Rowan, sniffed out secrets and she used her antique shop, Rosemary Thyme, to torment the residents of Grimsby.
But with her death and the murder of her assistant, Vic must discover the truth before the past destroys what remains of her family.
And that hometown boy she dumped way back? He's in Grimsby and knows the truth about her.
With their magical talents twisted by a traumatic past, the Rowan siblings must face the deadly fallout of blackmail, murder, and magic in this emotional page-turner.
NOTE Trigger warnings for discussion of child abuse and trauma, with one assault scene, and some cursing.
My Review:
With their mother dead, will the Rowan siblings have to atone for their mother’s evil deeds? Fifteen years ago, Victoria Rowan left Grimsby and never regretted it, until her mother, Rachel, dies. Ding, dong, she’s finally dead. No remorse, just anger at all that took place eats away at Vic. Anger turns to fury when the police arrest her brother Liam, who’s on the spectrum, for a murder he didn’t commit. Three magical siblings must join forces in order to rid their souls of an abusive past to bridge the present and future as one family. Vic, Philippa, and Liam need to sort through the murders, suicide, blackmail, and revenge before it's too late.
A Spell of Rowans is a tragic story about one woman’s thirst for power at any cost, including her gifted children. There’s an old saying that a death in the family, particularly the head of the family, opens all the closets full of secrets. In the Rowan family, they’re not mourning their mother’s death but exhaling. The wicked witch is dead and can no longer control them. But the fallout, the abuse, the pain, still needs to be dealt with and Byrd Nash’s writing exemplifies all the emotions perfectly. A Spell of Rowans is so much more than a magical story, it’s a gripping tale of family dynamics, abuse, autism, murder, small-town life, and so much more. Yes, each Rowan sibling has a magical talent but that’s not the crux of the story. I connected with Vic right away and I identified with her personality best. The plot moves at a good pace with a full cast of characters to interact with. There’s plenty of mystery in this story and I felt a bit like I’d jumped into the middle of a play, not knowing what was going on. While some authors do this and I’m forever lost, Byrd Nash takes the reader and slowly builds the backstory. Piece by piece, the story begins to take shape until the reader becomes a part of the story. Brilliant writing, engrossing characters, a mystery to solve, and healing. A Spell of Rowans is a superb story from start to finish. I recommend this book to every reader.
My Rating: 5 stars
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Spotify playlist: https://byrdnash.com/rowans_playlist
Netgalley (free copy) https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/232978
Goodreads (free copy) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58454895-a-spell-of-rowans
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Author Biography:
Spinning tales of subtle magic with unexpected twists, she packages satisfying stories that read like no others. Byrd writes the book you need, not the one you expected.
Described by one reviewer as a "literary glass of bourbon after a long day,” and another: "When I get a Byrd story, I know I'm in good hands."
Whether it is a Doppelgänger who was once a medieval knight now working in college administration, or an updated Red Riding Hood escaping a post-WWI wolf pack, her characters all feel real.
That Celtic goddess at the pet store? She's someone you know. A medieval queen fleeing an abusive marriage? You experience her pain and triumph.
With a B.A. in journalism, she worked as a newspaper reporter, covering news, schools, and lifestyle for both weeklies and dailies. She was the first journalist to serve as director of The Forest Heritage Center in Beavers Bend State Park, Oklahoma.
Her hobbies include reading, nature hikes, and traveling when she has the money. She seldom has the money. Married to a man who reads all her books but with two adult children who never read them. Byrd has cats, which makes her a legit author.
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Reviewed by: Mrs. N