Review: From Corporate America to Magical Scotland
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 13, 2014
Far from New York, Kate McKnight settles into Liliath Cottage in the Scotland Highlands, left to her by her Aunt Mattie. Kate's dreams are filled with visions of a female warrior, armored by a cloak with moving symbols, the blood of battle, and a hawk.Mattie's last letter to Kate hints at magic and spirits. Kate scoffs; her aunt had been a fortuneteller and a healer. But in the letter, Mattie hinted at a mystery. Mattie had committed a grave mistake. Her last request is for Kate to right the wrong, starting with Jamie Kirkland.Jamie Kirkland, the Earl of McAndrew and Kate's neighbor, is sick of his life. He wants to work on his computer games and his scripts. Instead, he spends his nights dealing with Eavesdroppers, pesky plant demons determined to drive him mad. Vines writhe around the mansion, threatening to break apart the building. The Hallions harass him, ordering him to take up the Old Art. To add insult to injury, his home reeks of stink weed.To right the wrong, Kate and Jamie must join forces. As they work together, they must navigate a strange and terrifying realm…and a malevolent force determined to divide them forever.Talented Maria Greene demonstrates her versatility as a writer with her fantasy Trials of Hallion, Book 1: Two of Swords. The book pulls the reader at a brisk pace, with believable characters along for the fantastic ride.