Review: beautifuly descriptive supernatural mystery
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 26, 2012
The Evangeline Heresy: A Tale of Shadows and Forest Witchery. Thayer BerlinI was supplied with this book by[...]. This review is, as always, independent of whether I've bought it or received for free. Integrity is important to me, and the views I've given are personal and honestly held.This book is a combination of the paranormal, a mystery, a sort of horror without the fast paced gore and guts so often prevalent,  and an unusual romance. Its beautifully written and very descriptive and it was easy to picture the characters living on the mountainside and the beautiful scenery and plant life surrounding it. I liked the little details such as the coffee and doughnut runs (made fresh each day...) that breathed life into the characters and made me feel part of the scene. Its a gently unfolding story, very unhurried which sets the scene for the pace life is lived on the mountainside. From the start we wonder about just who Ana Lagori, the albino healer who knows so much about plants and healing and who the mountain people revere and yet in some ways fear. We see Dr. Ethan Broughton brought to the mountain by curiosity from an incident in his families past and gradually rather than him seeking answers from Ana he becomes seduced into the hypnotic way of life on the mountain. Slowly it turns from him seeking answers into something else entirely and a mystery starts to unfold. Did he come to seek answers or was he drawn there by other forces?  Is the slightly batty Reverent Fitch to be feared, ignored or listened to?  The mysteries keep piling up slowly and all are wonderfully descriptive and evocative of another time - its easy once lulled in to believe in the unbelievable.Sadly for me its not the sort of romance I like - I'm one of those escapist saps who wants a happy ever after, even if it takes several books to get there and this isn't one :( It is however an incredibly well written story for those who love supernatural mysteries and a bit of "soft" horror.  I don't mean the sort of gory, slashing, sword wielding, limbs flying horror that has you turning away squeamishly but the sort of mystery that gives you shivers thinking it could happen because its set in a scene so believable - I'm actually more frightened by that sort.The book is a good length at 316kb for 2.03 on kindle. Its far as I could see almost error free, far too many self published authors neglect this part and its something that as a reader I find very off-putting.Stars: 4 stars, if it was just my personal taste issue I'd probably put it at three but I can see how well done this novel is even though the romantic plot-line isn't one to appeal to me, and I can see those who love this kind of mystery will enjoy this book. .