Throwing Clay Shadows

by Thea Atkinson

It's 1807 on the Scottish Isle of Eigg. Four-year old Maggie believes she has killed her mother by saying bad things and now she won't say a word. She's worried if she says anything else, she'll kill her da too. The trouble is, the consumption that really took her ma, has marked Maggie too. It forces Da to marry Janet so Maggie can have a woman to look after her. It gets harder for her to stay silent, though, because Janet tries to get Maggie to talk. She's not sure she can hold out when this new ma reveals secrets that make her squirm, that make her feel like Da is doing things he shouldn't be. It seems there's more to worry about than a few words. If she can just understand what Ma's ghost is telling her from the corners, Maggie will be able to face her fears and find her voice and true power. The question is: will that power be enough to bind the family together even against the darkest secrets?

ebook

First published August 17, 2011

About the author

Thea is a NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling Author. She used to have a black lab at her feet when she wrote, warming up the calves. It can be cold in rural Nova Scotia. Now it's just a cuppa tea keeping her warm.

Her urban fantasy pulses with dark themes and action-packed intrigue. Her characters are always deeply wounded creatures struggling for redemption.

Hang out with her on Instagram or Facebook or follow her on Amazon. Grab a free book at her website.

Find her on the web:
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a special shout out to Brenda Levy Tate for the awesome author photo wherein I don't look too dog-lady crazy.

Reviews

[gj indieBRAG · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are proud to announce that this book has been honored with a 2012 B.R.A.G.Medallion - telling you that this book is well worth your time and money!

[Evelyn Dotson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie is four when her mother and baby sister pass away. Her father buries them a little away from their home. Maggie starts seeing her mother while awake and talking to her. Maggie has dreams of times past that contain two boys; one is her~ It is another life in the Egyptian times and they are studying to be priests. Her mother was a seer and the gift has passed to her. She can change the outcome of visions when she does have them. Her father, in his grief, does only what he thinks might be best for Maggie. He marries another who is considered a spinster. She believes that Angus is having relations with Maggie. Maggie has not talked since the death of her ma. Now, with Janet’s help, she has started to talk, do her letters, and more. But she is still gun shy of her father for some reason. Between the bizarre marriage, her visions, and other things, Maggie will do her best to make them a family with her ma’s help! Janet is also troubled by what transpired in her family…which will affect her new one! Someone is trying to kill her husband and she has to save him! These families are fraught with many issues, but can Angus, Maggie and Janet come together to overcome everything? I received this as an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shelby White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally different than what I normally read, but well worth it. This is one of those books where the authors write a story that is filled such depth, emotion and detail you will find yourself completely immersed in the story and the world created. You become so engrossed in the story that you too will share, experience and completely identify with the characters. I was brought back to my childhood with a refreshing and unique complexity that's easy to follow but no less enticingly real.

[Heather Bane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The author did a fantastic job on both the story and the characters. I loved little Maggie and her father and I eventually came around to Janet once you realize her actions are for the best interest of the child. I found the book to be intense at some points and emotional throughout. I highly recommend this book!!!! (I received this book as an arc and am leaving a voluntary honest review)

[JB · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t remember how I came by this book. It might have been a freebie for signings up for an newsletter. Not sure what I was expecting, however, it was well written great story if a bit confusing at times. There is either more to the story or a previous story before, as I feel like I am missing something. The parts that are here and revealed are purposeful, deep and rich in meaning. Enjoy!

[Phthon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very different, primal. I loved reading this story. I enjoyed the dialect, the beliefs, and the parallels to our modern culture. Well-written!

[Ronald Keeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read some short vampire fiction by Atkinson and was not impressed and minimally entertained. When I saw this tagged as Scottish historical fiction, I downloaded the sample (it’s free) and was quite impressed, enough to buy the book. I am not sure about “historical” fiction part. Where is the history? It is not history in by my usual definition, but it is history if I consider the language used. There is so much vocabulary unique to Scotland that this might fit into the category “history.” It is fiction with a terrible theme developed so well through the deft use of language that some of the terror is diluted to almost acceptable discourse.

Maggie lost her mother though childbirth of a baby sister; the sister died also. It was months before Maggie could appreciate death, she really only knew absence. And she accepted responsibility for whatever took Ma and baby sister away. In order to not further cause havoc that would take father away, she stops talking.

Angus is grief stricken to the point of mental illness over the loss of his wife and daughter. Left with only the mute Maggie, and feeling inadequate to bring up a daughter, he seeks a new mother for Maggie. Whoever he chooses will have importance only in the mother role for Maggie; he does not look forward to another marital (sexual) relationship.

Angus is old, ugly, and has no social skills. Not a problem, he has found a mother for Maggie. Not far down the road (important, because it seems everybody walks) is Janet. She is already old, 35, and looking for a way to get out of her house. She is stuck there taking care of her parents and keeping house for them and her brother. Janet has secrets and will accept an old, ugly, socially inept husband to get away from her role as caretaker in a house she feels is not really hers.

Angus has a sister, Emma. She is married to Colin. Emma and Janet had been school friends; Colin and Janet had a relationship. We don’t know the depth of the relationship between Colin and Janet, but we know Janet was not a virgin when she married Angus. Since now Colin is married to the sister of her husband, Janet is an uncomfortable presence at family get-togethers.

Maggie is silent through much of the story. She does not communicate much with anyone, except her mother, who is dead. And there is another being, Shentu, a boy who is also Maggie, just in another time. Ma is trying to train and guide Maggie through vision visits. As the novel comes to a violent end with many conflicts literally crashing into each other on their way to resolution, the need for Maggie’s visions will decrease. The reader will still have questions, but help from Maggie will no longer depend on visions.

A roller coaster ride through traumas belonging to characters of all ages kept me awake so that I read this story in one session.

[Shayay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book isn't really something I generally like to read, but the writing was really great and the story is interesting. If I based the rating on my liking the story, I probably would've rated it a 3, but the writing style definitely pumped the rating up a notch for me. I almost felt like I was waiting the whole time for the real story to begin, but this book is a slower building story with some real situations and it is a period piece, so everything seems simpler. The story takes place in 1807 in Scotland, and is really rather depressing, but the characters kept me reading and wondering where in the heck this story is going. Angus has lost his wife, who he had deep love for, and his unborn child, and after his wife's death, their 4 year old daughter, Maggie, believes it is her fault, so she stops speaking, and Angus worries for her, so he marries a spinster, so his daughter will have a mother figure. The relationship between Angus and his new wife, Janet, is strained, and both are dealing with a lot that has happened in each of their lives, and finding trust and connection between them is difficult. There's also lots of POV's, we get POV's from Maggie, Angus, Janet, and Angus' sister, Emma, who are all dealing with their own issues, and although it seems like a lot of POV's and I normally don't like more than 2 POV's, I think it was done well. This is a standalone, and I think the ending worked for this type of story. I've read other books by Thea Atkinson, and have really enjoyed her writing in each book I've read of hers, she has stories that go to lots of different genres, I for one happen to love Paranormal books, so I tend to favor her books that lean more in that direction, but I'm always willing to give books of hers a try that may not be to my usual liking, and I think that is a credit to her wonderful writing.

[Sammy Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulously written adult story that reminded me of what it's like to be a child. Thea Atkinson is one of the most versitile authors I have had the pleasure of reading. Her work has soul and THROWING CLAY SHADOWS stays true to her style. The images are so vivid it becomes a stage production in the room. The death of her mother brings incredible grief to Maggie. Her fears become personal monsters of childlike proportions. She feels responsible for her mother's death and worries she will kill her father. The story takes place in a perfect setting on the Isle of Eigg in 1807. The author shares an incredibly deep and accurate portrayal of a traumatized child.

[Faith Hignight · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was heartbreaking and wonderful! Just wonderful! What DO little children think about things such as death if they have to make it all up themselves? What do they make of the world around them? How do you deal with a pain you cannot share? All this is explored in the mind of Maggie and her extended family in the 1807 Scottish countryside. The author shares the depth of each character's emotional journey so well that you want to comfort them yourself. You fear for their future yet hope against a dim hope that there IS a future for each of them. Wonderful story! I'll be looking for more from this author.

[Joanne H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A family lost the mother and baby during birth and left a very young girl and her dad. Times were very hard and the dad was looking for a wife to help care for Maggie. This book is truly making the characters come to life as you read. The author has cornered the market on the substance of the story. Good reading, good book.

[victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

This book was great, I couldn't put it down. It was very raw and emotional. I enjoyed it thoroughly. I look forward to reading another book from Thea Atkinson.