Thursday, March 26, 2020

Review Tour + #Giveaway: Caledon by Virginia Crow @DaysDyingGlory @GoddessFish



Caledon
by Virginia Crow
GENRE:  Historical Fantasy


BLURB:

An historical fantasy adventure set in post-Culloden Scotland.

After the destruction of the Jacobite forces at Culloden, Scotland is divided, vulnerable and leaderless. But, as the ageless Caledon awakes, so too does an ancient evil. The small Clan of Caledon face enemies at every turn, discovering that even those closest to them may seek to destroy them.

"Go out and tell all those you meet, Caledon has risen. Caledon will be protected and defended. And to you who would cause her harm, be prepared. A new fight has come."

After the destruction of the Jacobite forces at Culloden, Scotland is divided, vulnerable and leaderless, with survivors from both sides seeking to make sense of the battles they have fought against their fellow Scots.

James Og flees Drumossie, seeking the protection of his uncle's house in Sutherland. It is here James learns that the Northern Highlands hold a secret power only he can wield: Caledon. When Ensign John Mackay begins hunting Og's family, James realises he must harness this power to defeat the enemies of Scotland.

But, as the ageless Caledon awakes, so too does an ancient evil. When it allies with Mackay, the small Clan of Caledon faces enemies at every turn, discovering that even those closest to them may seek to destroy them.

This is the first book in a series, which spans the years 1746-1752.


Excerpt:

It was the quiet of evening when the five of them reached the small bothy which, in the late summer, had been their home. Each of them huddled in, grateful of the protection against the bitter wind which whipped down the valley. Donnie easily carried the chests into the shelter and left the small cart outside. James smiled across at him and he felt obliged to return the gesture.

“You’ve done remarkably well, Oaf,” William said jovially. “I expected you to slip down the hillside so many times, and take the gold with you.”

“One foot in front of the other,” Donald said softly. “Even I can manage that.”

“Where do we go from here, Caledon?” Malcolm asked, trying to turn the conversation.

“Tomorrow, we will visit Annie and ensure she’s well. Then I’ll travel towards the source to try and learn where our course should lead next.”

Robert tilted his head slightly, trying to hear all that was being said, but turned to Donald as the broad man sat down beside him. “Can you endure a night’s sleep, Donnie?”

Donnie just smiled and nodded before he rolled over facing away from the others and trying to gain some sleep.


My Review:

A young woman Mary, her father, her brother Donald and her fiancé James are fleeing their home while being shot at. As the battle rages on Mary’s father is shot. Mary is left alone to take care of her father when the enemy John Mackay finds them.

After being whisked away by Mackay Mary soon fears the worst of her brother and fiancé so agrees to marry Mr. Mackay. Mary sets out to find her brother and fiancé to extract her revenge on a battle weary journey.

Caledon is filled with action and suspense as battle after battle rages on, Mary, Donald and James fight for what they each believe to be the truth. Caledon is filled with fighting, betrayals, magic, truths, lies, suspense, action, heat ache and twists and turns that keep the pages turning.


If this sounds like something you might enjoy then I would like to suggest that you pick up you copy today to begin this journey with some amazing characters. 




AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Virginia grew up in Orkney, using the breath-taking scenery to fuel her imagination and the writing fire within her. Her favourite genres to write are fantasy and historical fiction, sometimes mixing the two together such as her soon-to-be-published book "Caledon". She enjoys swashbuckling stories such as the Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas and is still waiting for a screen adaption that lives up to the book!



When she's not writing, Virginia is usually to be found teaching music, and obtained her MLitt in "History of the Highlands and Islands" last year. She believes wholeheartedly in the power of music, especially as a tool of inspiration. She also helps out with the John o' Groats Book Festival which is celebrating its 3rd year this April.

She now lives in the far-flung corner of Scotland, soaking in inspiration from the rugged cliffs and miles of sandy beaches.

She loves cheese, music and films, but hates mushrooms.

Author Links:

Book Links:


The book is only $0.99.

Giveaway:

$10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC




Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.


4 comments:

Stomper McEwan said...

Thank you so much for writing this review on your super blog. I'm thrilled you liked the characters. It is really exciting for me to read other people's views on them!

Stomper McEwan said...

Thanks again, James! Good luck with the giveaway 😃

Rita Wray said...

Sounds like a great read.

Stomper McEwan said...

Thanks again, Rita. It was great fun to write, too. I'm a bit crazy about research and I love writing fantasy, so this was a great opportunity to put the two things together.

Thanks, Gwendolyn! The cover artist was very patient with me when I kept requesting little changes, but I'm really pleased with the finished product!