Review: Ishtar Bound (A Book of Sinnis) by Natalie Gibson
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 16, 2012
"Ishtar Bound" is the first book, or as noted by the author, a prequel to the series "Sinnis." Ms. Gibson is a newly published author and this is her first novel.The locale is Texas in the heart of the Bible Belt. The main protagonists are witches. Right away this got my attention. I knew this was going to be fun and it was. The culture religious differences immediately create the tension a good novel needs.Maeve is a matchmaker of the highest standing within her order. She uses the magic she has studied and practiced for so many years to bring people who might not necessarily meet together. Over the years she has been practicing her craft she has enjoyed great success. Proud of her work thus far and happy to have been able to help others find their life mate she finds that while she can ensure the happiness of others, that is not the case for herself.Nathalia is the head of the order, the Abbess. Upon her shoulders the day to day activities, training and governance of the women fall. She is terse, tense and to her dismay has been told she must make a sacrifice for the order than she is unprepared for. As her emotions threaten to overwhelm her abilities, she begins to see that the danger is stalking not only her, but the very people she strives to protect and encourage.Murder has come to the peaceful women of the Abby. It has spied on them and stuck the first of its blows to one of the couples they have matched. As they strive to keep the tranquility they must face the very real possibility that one of them is somehow involved. In danger they must come together stronger than ever before to fight the evil that threatens to engulf them.This paranormal novel has all the elements needed for a good mystery. Plot twists and red herring clues give it a good who-done-it quality. The tension builds well and returns at good intervals to keep the pages turning. The protagonists are complex, endearing, and show growth throughout the novel. The story line holds well keeping the flow even. In all it is a very good first novel. I will read the next in the series and am looking forward to it.On the problem side, there are some spelling, grammar, punctuation and word use errors. Not an unusual thing for a first time novelist. A bit of fine tune editing should easily take care of this problem and I urge the author to do so. It is a shame when a good story may be rejected by readers due to those pesky little errors we all make.This is recommended for the over 18 reader due to adult content.Karen Bryant Doering,Parents' Little Black Book