Olive's to-do list: Feed the cat. Pay the rent. Save Faythander. Again.
After Olive's last trip through Faythander, she wants nothing more than a nice vacation. But there's never time for relaxation when goblin treachery is afoot. When Geth, a goblin Spellweaver, destroys the Everblossom—a tree containing Faythander's pure magic—the fairy-world utopia begins to die. The bloom of the Everblossom is all that remains of pure magic. Now Olive must travel through Earth and Faythander to find a place where it will flourish.
As a psychiatrist, her skills are top notch. However, her abilities to handle patients with abnormal mental behaviors will be put to the test when she confronts Geth. Nothing has prepared her for what he reveals to her about goblins and elves. As Olive's quest takes her from her home in Houston through the most dangerous places in Faythander, she learns that history is a muddled subject, especially when elves are involved.
Her only comfort comes from Kull, her Viking warrior sidekick—who somehow negates her bad fortune. Yet how long can their relationship last when his past is brought to light? Olive will be tested beyond anything she has endured so far, as the secrets of Faythander's sordid and bloody past are exposed—one that could irrevocably alter the future and destroy the lives of everyone she loves.
After Olive's last trip through Faythander, she wants nothing more than a nice vacation. But there's never time for relaxation when goblin treachery is afoot. When Geth, a goblin Spellweaver, destroys the Everblossom—a tree containing Faythander's pure magic—the fairy-world utopia begins to die. The bloom of the Everblossom is all that remains of pure magic. Now Olive must travel through Earth and Faythander to find a place where it will flourish.
As a psychiatrist, her skills are top notch. However, her abilities to handle patients with abnormal mental behaviors will be put to the test when she confronts Geth. Nothing has prepared her for what he reveals to her about goblins and elves. As Olive's quest takes her from her home in Houston through the most dangerous places in Faythander, she learns that history is a muddled subject, especially when elves are involved.
Her only comfort comes from Kull, her Viking warrior sidekick—who somehow negates her bad fortune. Yet how long can their relationship last when his past is brought to light? Olive will be tested beyond anything she has endured so far, as the secrets of Faythander's sordid and bloody past are exposed—one that could irrevocably alter the future and destroy the lives of everyone she loves.
Sara's Review
Urban Fantasy. I've been a fan of the genre ever since I read the first Dresden Files book. I know I mention that series quite a bit, but it's because one of my favorites. So when I bring it up in this review for Spellweaver by Tamara Grantham, it's because I've grown to like both series quite a bit. The reason is simple: the characters and the world building in both series are great. I've read the first book, Dreamthief, as well, and I'm hooked now. While I don't think it's completely necessary to read book one to get in the flow of the action of book two, I highly recommend reading it first because it goes into the background of Olive Kennedy, Fairy World MD. The events which take place in book two will make more sense as well. As for Olive herself, she's quite an interesting character, and from her introductory scene in Dreamthief, I knew she'd become someone I'd like quite a bit. I was right, and she is.
She's a psychologist, but not your typical psychologist. For one, she's half-elven. Secondly, she helps those who have entered Faythander, (this is the magical world of elves, pixies, dragons, goblins and Wults, who are like Faythander's version of Vikings) but can't remember their time there due to the way magic works. Because of this, she often gets referrals from Dr. Hill, one of the minor characters in the first novel. It was this part of the world building that I really liked, and served to draw me in to the story. Faythander isn't just another realm parallel to our own, but rather, it is its own world, which I thought was a great take on it. Then again, I've always liked those other-worldly realms which most people don't know about except for a few.
The secondary characters in this book (as well as the first) were very well developed. Kull, the son of the Wult's king, was one of the most interesting. There was a relationship which had started to form between him and Olive, and at the end of book two, I was wondering where it was headed. So, if there's a plan for a third book, I know I want to read it, simply because I'm a fan of Olive Kennedy, and want to read more about her. Besides, how can I not like a character who named her cat Han Solo?
My rating is 5/5 platypires.
She's a psychologist, but not your typical psychologist. For one, she's half-elven. Secondly, she helps those who have entered Faythander, (this is the magical world of elves, pixies, dragons, goblins and Wults, who are like Faythander's version of Vikings) but can't remember their time there due to the way magic works. Because of this, she often gets referrals from Dr. Hill, one of the minor characters in the first novel. It was this part of the world building that I really liked, and served to draw me in to the story. Faythander isn't just another realm parallel to our own, but rather, it is its own world, which I thought was a great take on it. Then again, I've always liked those other-worldly realms which most people don't know about except for a few.
The secondary characters in this book (as well as the first) were very well developed. Kull, the son of the Wult's king, was one of the most interesting. There was a relationship which had started to form between him and Olive, and at the end of book two, I was wondering where it was headed. So, if there's a plan for a third book, I know I want to read it, simply because I'm a fan of Olive Kennedy, and want to read more about her. Besides, how can I not like a character who named her cat Han Solo?
My rating is 5/5 platypires.
