In fourth century Scotland, a powerful inbred society with superhuman power and hereditary madness, known as `The Family', has been trying for centuries to breed a child with the ability to control time itself.
The blood is all that matters; the unfit are slaughtered to achieve their twisted goal. When Rendail takes over leadership of the Family from his father, he seems doomed to perpetuate his father's mistakes...until a chance encounter with an enigmatic stranger opens his eyes.
What makes Jo Reed’s writing stand out is the compelling believability of her characters. Both the consequences of Rendail’s deeply troubled childhood and factors that allow him to change and grow are grounded in reality. You believe in these people and you identify with them, and this allows the fantasy elements of the story to take wings and fly.
This is the first of a project series, and I can’t wait for the next volumes to be published.
Suggested by
Kat-WWJ,
Buckinghamshire
Tagged with: compelling enthralling gripping read
Comments
This book surprised me. It's sinister, it's contemporary, it's frighteningly real. Most of all, it's believable. Was it just me, or is there a sense of the tragic, in the classical sense? Don't you get the feeling that these characters are destined for their fates? So absorbing in detail of scene and character, I found my mind wandering back there the following day, when I should have been doing something else. A fascinating, intelligent read, and I hope there's much more to come.
Manda-Lin
I loved this book! The characters are strong and scarey, yet real and poignant at times. The plot is gripping and well-paced. And the dialogue is effortless. In a time where vampires and werewolves are in-vogue and selling millions, this book should definitely go places. I, too, look forward to the next installment. Well done, Ms Reed.
GillH