Rosie’s #Bookreview Team #RBRT BELTANE by @AlysWestYork #UrbanFantasy #FridayReads

Today’s team review is from Cathy, she blogs at http://betweenthelinesbookblog.wordpress.com/

Cathy has been reading Beltane by Alys West

Opening with a terrific prologue which grabbed my interest immediately, Beltane has a lot of factors I love in a book – including a handsome druid, magic and Glastonbury, a place I know well and enjoy visiting, so being able to clearly picture the setting was a bonus. The story is set almost entirely in Glastonbury, encompassing the Abbey ruins, beautiful Chalice Well Gardens and the Tor, all atmospheric and mystical places. The flavour of the area is evident throughout and it’s obvious Alys West knows the locale extremely well.

Druid Finn McCloud makes a deadly enemy of spellworker, Maeve Blackwell when he rescues his sister from her clutches. He pays dearly for his mistake and is trapped by Maeve’s power until Zoe Rose arrives at Anam Cara, Maeve’s healing retreat. Zoe is there at the recommendation of her friend, Anna, trying to find inspiration for her work as an illustrator. Zoe can only feel unease and immediate dislike on meeting Maeve, despite Anna’s enthusiasm and praise for the healer.

The characterisation is so good, Finn and Zoe make great protagonists, very appealing and I liked them immediately. They’re realistic, well-rounded and in Finn’s case, gorgeous. Zoe is intrigued by, and attracted to, a carving of the Green Man on a tree in the garden at Anam Cara although other aspects of the retreat unnerve her. Her reactions to the situation she finds herself in, along with the shocking revelations she finds out about herself and Finn, are convincing and unforced.

Maeve, on the other hand, is completely evil, scheming and ruthless. Her karmic wave healing sessions don’t seem to have the effect expected by her guests. Maeve has an agenda and will do whatever it takes. She an excellent antagonist. Winston is a fascinating character as well, and hopefully he will feature a little more in future books.

Alys West has created a wonderfully visual and gripping, fast paced story, with a strong plot full of mystery, magical forces and tension. I love all the threads of the well written storyline and how they’re woven together. I’m looking forward to the next book, finding out what’s in store and how the characters develop.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Rosie’s #BookReview Team #RBRT BELTANE by @AlysWestYork #UrbanFantasy

Today’s team review is from Shelley, she blogs at http://shelleywilsonauthor.com/

Shelley has been reading Beltane by Alys West

#BookReview – Beltane by Alys West

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I received an ARC of Beltane in exchange for an honest review via Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT

One of my favourite places to visit here in the UK is Glastonbury in Somerset.  This stunning place is full of unique characters, beautiful scenery and mystical stories that greet you at every turn.  When I first saw the blurb for Beltane and read that it was set in my favourite place I had to grab a copy – I wasn’t disappointed.

Beltane begins in the thick of the action when a Druid named Finn falls foul of a spellworker.  The prologue sets you up for a novel that rushes along at a frantic pace.  West does a fabulous job of keeping up the tension as she unfolds her story.

Zoe Rose is an illustrator who is struggling with her creativity.  At her friend’s recommendation, she books into Anam Cara, a healing retreat in Glastonbury, to try and help her clear the blockages in her imagination and complete a commission for a book about King Arthur.

Unfortunately, Zoe isn’t as enamoured with the healing center’s hostess as the other guests and takes an instant dislike to Maeve.  Within the grounds of Anam Cara, Zoe finds an old tree with a carving of The Green Man, unknowingly she releases a spell which unravels a string of events leading to Finn’s return, and the revelation that Zoe isn’t what she seems.

West paints the perfect picture of a healing retreat and clearly knows her stuff when it comes to the finer points of how the establishments are run and the background into alternative therapies.  The setting is magical, and West takes us on a visual trip through the winding streets of Glastonbury, Wells and to the wilds of Dartmoor.  Even if you have never visited these places, you will be able to feel the magic.

Finn and Zoe are likeable characters, and I look forward to their story evolving in future books.  I did like Winston, and I hope he has a rich story just waiting to be unearthed.  West creates a complex antagonist in Maeve, who bends the laws of good to meet her evil needs.

You will be hooked until the very end as the witchcraft and sorcery unfold in this gripping urban fantasy.  A very well told novel; thoroughly enjoyable.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com