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Willows of Fate
Know thyself…
All her life, Desdemona has seen things others haven’t. Dragons, knights, dwarves, kids with three eyes. Heeding her mother’s advice, she keeps silent about this and struggles through life, pretending everything is normal.
At her mother’s death, Desdemona returns to a home haunted with memories but she is determined to not be shaken from what little normalcy she has. However, when her brother is murdered and she uncovers a family secret, Desdemona realizes that there is more to what she sees. Perhaps a whole other world, one that’s willing to kill to have her as its own.
All her life, Desdemona has seen things others haven’t. Dragons, knights, dwarves, kids with three eyes. Heeding her mother’s advice, she keeps silent about this and struggles through life, pretending everything is normal.
At her mother’s death, Desdemona returns to a home haunted with memories but she is determined to not be shaken from what little normalcy she has. However, when her brother is murdered and she uncovers a family secret, Desdemona realizes that there is more to what she sees. Perhaps a whole other world, one that’s willing to kill to have her as its own.
- GenresFantasy
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2014
1 person is currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
Suzanna J. Linton
8 books157 followersSuzanna J. Linton grew up in rural Orangeburg County. At age eight, she tried to read The Secret Garden by herself. After following her mother around for a day, asking questions about the Yorkshire accent, she gave up, but that didn't deter her in developing a deep appreciation for books and the worlds to which they open. A few years later, she wrote her first poem, which eventually led her to try writing fiction.
In 2002, she went to the summer program at the SC Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities, where she refined her poetry and wrote her first decent short story (before this, she mostly wrote novels along with her poetry). In 2003, Suzanna began attending Francis Marion University, where she graduated with a Bachelor's in English.
Today, she continues to live in South Carolina with her husband and their menagerie of animals.
In 2002, she went to the summer program at the SC Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities, where she refined her poetry and wrote her first decent short story (before this, she mostly wrote novels along with her poetry). In 2003, Suzanna began attending Francis Marion University, where she graduated with a Bachelor's in English.
Today, she continues to live in South Carolina with her husband and their menagerie of animals.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 13, 2016
Willows of Fate (Lands of Sun and Stone #1) Where to begin?First, lets start with a bit of praise. Willows of Fate is wonderfully imagined, well written and very, very well developed. In this first entry of the Lands of Sun and Stone Series, we encounter Desdemona (Des) who has come home to be with her ailing mother. Des is a troubled, she can see and hear things that no one else can. She is afraid to labelled crazy and who wouldn't be afraid. Especially, when you're the only one seeing knights in golden armor or mythical beasts. She soon finds out she isn't going crazy and there is a world of creatures and a land that outshines any fairy tale that she has read.This story was a really great blend of subject matters. It hit on things like religion (polytheism vs. monotheism), betrayal, hurt, self sacrifice, gender equality and greed. In this installment of the series, the author spent a lot of time with world building and succeeds in creating a very convincing backdrop for her tale. I would have loved to have more interaction with the mythical creatures mentioned in the story as well as more displays of magic from the people of the Sun. The most important part of any story is how the characters work together. Here, both main and secondary characters fulfilled their roles well. The heroine (Desdemona) is a bit naive (in some aspects) and headstrong. She has finally found where she belongs and has found her purpose. The book concluded with an exciting rush to the end where their isn't a true happily ever after but the scent of one gently blows in the breeze. So, there is a sense of "this can't be it" because by the end of the book the author has hooked you. I am honestly looking for to what happens next.~*~ Thank you to StoryCartel for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review ~*~
November 10, 2014
Fantasy and Family Drama Intertwine in this Suspenseful Novel
Desdemona has a lot to be afraid of. Not only has her mother just been taken into hospital suffering advanced lung cancer, but she is also being seemingly pursued by a number of figures, or ‘phantoms’ as she calls them, classical, mythological, often threatening figures that turn up amidst otherwise perfectly normal scenes. What follows in this suspenseful story is Desdemona’s search to make sense of these events, figure out what her mother has been hiding, whether this other-worldly part of her life is actually real, and how all these threads intertwine.
The opening of Willows of Fate is really effective for drawing the reader in and presenting two compelling plot threads. On one hand, Des’ relationship with her mother is obviously loving and we relate to her family story as it unfolds. On the other hand, the visions that come in and out of Desdemona’s life become more and more pressing, unexplained, gradually bringing an exotic presence to the story...
Read the full review on Towerbabel here: http://www.towerbabel.com/library/127...
Desdemona has a lot to be afraid of. Not only has her mother just been taken into hospital suffering advanced lung cancer, but she is also being seemingly pursued by a number of figures, or ‘phantoms’ as she calls them, classical, mythological, often threatening figures that turn up amidst otherwise perfectly normal scenes. What follows in this suspenseful story is Desdemona’s search to make sense of these events, figure out what her mother has been hiding, whether this other-worldly part of her life is actually real, and how all these threads intertwine.
The opening of Willows of Fate is really effective for drawing the reader in and presenting two compelling plot threads. On one hand, Des’ relationship with her mother is obviously loving and we relate to her family story as it unfolds. On the other hand, the visions that come in and out of Desdemona’s life become more and more pressing, unexplained, gradually bringing an exotic presence to the story...
Read the full review on Towerbabel here: http://www.towerbabel.com/library/127...
February 15, 2015
I was drawn to this book first by the book cover, then second by the summary. I really liked this book. It is a nice start and set up to this series. To be honest, I was not really in the "like" moment at the beginning. I was not instantly drawn into the story. The images that Desdemona saw were not really explained that well. It was just like brief dream like moments with no real explanation. The story would than continue on to Des's mother's death along with her brother's murder.
The murder of Des's brother was really the set up for what was happening to Des and not the main focal point of the story. The story began for me when Des discovered what lay beyond the Willows and the Land of Sun. The Land of Sun was a magical place filled with interesting characters. The author did a good job of building this world for the series. The story ended nicely to lead up to book two.
The murder of Des's brother was really the set up for what was happening to Des and not the main focal point of the story. The story began for me when Des discovered what lay beyond the Willows and the Land of Sun. The Land of Sun was a magical place filled with interesting characters. The author did a good job of building this world for the series. The story ended nicely to lead up to book two.
July 21, 2015
I couldn't put the novel down. Suzanna does a fantastic job at captivating her readers. it has a little something for everyone. The cover drew my attention and the story did not disappoint.
for a more detailed review visit http://literarykat.blogspot.com/2015/...
for a more detailed review visit http://literarykat.blogspot.com/2015/...
August 16, 2015
I would like to break this review down into categories because there are parts that I thought shone and parts that I thought needed a lot more work. I will endeavor to avoid spoilers.
Characters: 3 stars - This is a tough category. I really enjoyed some of the characters, as well as some of the dialogue between characters, but I thought there was some inconsistency in a lot of the characters I liked and I would have preferred to know more about how the main character thought. Her actions seemed erratic and often irrational (which would have been fine if I'd understood her thought process, because people often are erratic and irrational, but since I couldn't get an understanding of why she was acting certain ways I found her behavior jarring).
Plot: 2.5 stars - (4 stars for intrigue/page turning, 1.5 stars for ending and wrap up) Again, I'm torn here in various directions. Parts of the story were very compelling. I read the book in a short period of time and felt pulled along nicely the whole time. I often wondered what happened next and found myself happy to pick the book up and keep going. And, I recognize that the book is part of a series, hence there are things that we will get more explanation for later. However, I felt that many things were still insufficiently explained, or explained in ways that didn't make sense. The ending of the book made the whole first half of the book seem completely unnecessary (I don't want to explain that further because it would include spoilers but essentially, the way the ending was explained made me say, "Well then why didn't they just ___?") So, while I enjoyed the intrigue of the plot as it was carrying the book along, I didn't think the explanation at the end was worthy of the rest of the book.
World building: 3 - Bonus points for a fairly creative world, but serious points off for not taking full advantage of the world created. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate that there weren't any giant info dumps explaining the minute details of how the world works, but I felt a large disparity between what we were told about the Land of the Sun and what we saw there. For example, we're told it's a place with a lot of magic and thus the people of the land of the sun look down on the people of the land of the stone, but then... aside from some creatures that are used to light rooms, the occasional centaur, and the very specific magic relating to the willows and the protagonist, we don't actually see any of that magic. I would have enjoyed learning more about how the land of the sun worked and seen more of that magic.
Writing: 4 stars - stylistically, I enjoyed Linton's writing. I realize that's subjective, but I liked most of her idea of how dialogue and description should flow. Again, the plot drew me along nicely. What's impressive is that it did so despite a number of editing flaws. I think that I would truly enjoy reading more works from Linton with more thorough editing.
Editing: 2.5 stars - So, the editing flaws mentioned above... I was thrown out of the story repeatedly (though not so much as to make me give up) by typos, word misplacements, inconsistencies in time, and the occasional incorrect tense. I also think an editor could have helped with some of the overlying plot and character issues.
All in all, I enjoyed the story and will in all likelihood buy the second book when it comes out. If the sequel is just as well written, but even better edited, I will probably call myself a fan of Ms. Linton.
Characters: 3 stars - This is a tough category. I really enjoyed some of the characters, as well as some of the dialogue between characters, but I thought there was some inconsistency in a lot of the characters I liked and I would have preferred to know more about how the main character thought. Her actions seemed erratic and often irrational (which would have been fine if I'd understood her thought process, because people often are erratic and irrational, but since I couldn't get an understanding of why she was acting certain ways I found her behavior jarring).
Plot: 2.5 stars - (4 stars for intrigue/page turning, 1.5 stars for ending and wrap up) Again, I'm torn here in various directions. Parts of the story were very compelling. I read the book in a short period of time and felt pulled along nicely the whole time. I often wondered what happened next and found myself happy to pick the book up and keep going. And, I recognize that the book is part of a series, hence there are things that we will get more explanation for later. However, I felt that many things were still insufficiently explained, or explained in ways that didn't make sense. The ending of the book made the whole first half of the book seem completely unnecessary (I don't want to explain that further because it would include spoilers but essentially, the way the ending was explained made me say, "Well then why didn't they just ___?") So, while I enjoyed the intrigue of the plot as it was carrying the book along, I didn't think the explanation at the end was worthy of the rest of the book.
World building: 3 - Bonus points for a fairly creative world, but serious points off for not taking full advantage of the world created. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate that there weren't any giant info dumps explaining the minute details of how the world works, but I felt a large disparity between what we were told about the Land of the Sun and what we saw there. For example, we're told it's a place with a lot of magic and thus the people of the land of the sun look down on the people of the land of the stone, but then... aside from some creatures that are used to light rooms, the occasional centaur, and the very specific magic relating to the willows and the protagonist, we don't actually see any of that magic. I would have enjoyed learning more about how the land of the sun worked and seen more of that magic.
Writing: 4 stars - stylistically, I enjoyed Linton's writing. I realize that's subjective, but I liked most of her idea of how dialogue and description should flow. Again, the plot drew me along nicely. What's impressive is that it did so despite a number of editing flaws. I think that I would truly enjoy reading more works from Linton with more thorough editing.
Editing: 2.5 stars - So, the editing flaws mentioned above... I was thrown out of the story repeatedly (though not so much as to make me give up) by typos, word misplacements, inconsistencies in time, and the occasional incorrect tense. I also think an editor could have helped with some of the overlying plot and character issues.
All in all, I enjoyed the story and will in all likelihood buy the second book when it comes out. If the sequel is just as well written, but even better edited, I will probably call myself a fan of Ms. Linton.
September 20, 2015
Willows of Fate reads like a fairy tale for the modern age, full of dark turns and complex characters. In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book for free from the author in exchange for a fair and unbiased review on my website. I was drawn to the book immediately by the gorgeous cover art and was not disappointed by the story in the slightest. The beginning is a wild ride as Desdemona faces devastating losses as she tries to come to terms with the fact that the phantoms she has seen all her life and written off as mental illness are actually real and they have a task for her. She is swept away through the Willows, a mystical barrier between the Land of Stone and the Land of Sun, by her own personal knight in shining armor and discovers a world beyond her imagination. However, not all is as it seems and she must make a choice that will either save the two worlds, or destroy them both forever.
Click here for a more in-depth review and an interview with the author.
Click here for a more in-depth review and an interview with the author.
April 9, 2015
I enjoyed reading this book. There was a good amount of adventure and fantasy with just a bit of romance (which I definitely would have wanted more of!) The writing flowed nicely though there were moments that the pacing was too fast. I couldn't give it full stars because I really wanted to get more emotion and feeling from the characters. Some things happened too abruptly that it didn't feel realistic. But other than that, I did like the characters and the plot. I plan to read the next one when it is released. :)
June 15, 2015
This book reads in one sitting and so much like a fairy-tale. The story line is intriguing enough to keep you turning pages till you reach the end and will want more.
I also liked that the setting was a mixture of modern day life with all its bleakness and dark sides of human nature and somewhat medieval parallel world where other values are still in gear.
I also liked that the setting was a mixture of modern day life with all its bleakness and dark sides of human nature and somewhat medieval parallel world where other values are still in gear.
November 15, 2017
A nice change of pace after reading the heartbreaking "A Monster Calls", but it could have really benefited from more story development. The elements of fantasy are very hit and miss, and the characters are fairly 2-dimensional.
October 27, 2016
Received a free copy from Story Cartel in return for an honest review
First, I dislike reading books that are written in first person, unless the author happens to be Erich Maria Remarque or Ernest Hemingway or Joseph Conrad. You get the idea. Second, it's written in present tense. I don't care much for this mode of storytelling. That being said, the first part of the book was a tolerable read, even though choppy sentences such as "My head aches." made it a jarring read. I liked the way the author portrayed the relationship between Desdemona and her brother Nate; their relationship has the right amount of complexity. I lost interest as soon as I started reading the second part of the book. The world-building was all right, but the characters were flat and uninteresting.
First, I dislike reading books that are written in first person, unless the author happens to be Erich Maria Remarque or Ernest Hemingway or Joseph Conrad. You get the idea. Second, it's written in present tense. I don't care much for this mode of storytelling. That being said, the first part of the book was a tolerable read, even though choppy sentences such as "My head aches." made it a jarring read. I liked the way the author portrayed the relationship between Desdemona and her brother Nate; their relationship has the right amount of complexity. I lost interest as soon as I started reading the second part of the book. The world-building was all right, but the characters were flat and uninteresting.
November 21, 2015
Willows of Fate by Suzann J. Linton (see author interview) is the first book in the “Lands of Sun and Stone Series.” It follows the story of Desdemona who has led a rather rough life and is headed to her hometown after many years to see her dying mother. After a series of family losses, Desdemona is left sad, frustrated, and filled with visions of phantoms from her childhood. One night while looking through her mother’s belongings, a man in a gold suit of armor shows up in the kitchen. The man begs Desdemona to come with him to the Willows. After several days, she finally agrees and is swept off to another dimension through the Willows. What follows is an adventure that is filled with romance, betrayal, magical creatures, and a desperate decision that Desdemona must make. This book was selected from Book Club Reading List.
The overall plot was well written, but the pacing of the story was off at times. In the beginning of the story, the setting is modern day South Carolina and the plot moved rather slowly. Desdemona faced family deaths that seemed unending, and I just wanted the pain to end for her sake. I understand after reading the entire novel that those moments were necessary to give the reader a glimpse of Desdemona’s life before she discovers the truth about herself.
Later in the story, Desdemona is running from soldiers, and the group is getting ready to flee on some horses, and the entrance of Martin is so sudden that I had to read it several times over to make sure I was reading it correctly. This transition was too abrupt for me to follow along smoothly.
“I nod, too tired and too stunned by my own decision to be able to do more than watch.
Martin, with soldiers flanking him, enters the barn. “
When it comes to the character of Desdemona, she not only has a beautiful name, but she is also fascinating. Her pain is real for the reader, and as she travels on a passage of self-discovery, we find the following quote which sums up most, if not all, of her journey. “I don’t belong in the life I left behind.” This follows a series of events where she realizes going back to her realm is no longer an option. The simplicity of this statement is not only a realization for the character, but it also hits home with the reader as we try to figure out what path Desdemona will take.
Overall, the story is edited pretty well. I caught a few places where an article was missing or a word was misspelled, but nothing that deterred from the meaning of the story. The dialog is also realistic and not forced.
Suzanna J. Linton receives a four-star rating for Willows of Fate for its fantastical setting in the Land of Sun as well as the outstanding character of Desdemona. This is a wonderful fantasy story for young adults, and I personally am looking forward to the next book in the series to see what happens next in the Land of the Sun.
The overall plot was well written, but the pacing of the story was off at times. In the beginning of the story, the setting is modern day South Carolina and the plot moved rather slowly. Desdemona faced family deaths that seemed unending, and I just wanted the pain to end for her sake. I understand after reading the entire novel that those moments were necessary to give the reader a glimpse of Desdemona’s life before she discovers the truth about herself.
Later in the story, Desdemona is running from soldiers, and the group is getting ready to flee on some horses, and the entrance of Martin is so sudden that I had to read it several times over to make sure I was reading it correctly. This transition was too abrupt for me to follow along smoothly.
“I nod, too tired and too stunned by my own decision to be able to do more than watch.
Martin, with soldiers flanking him, enters the barn. “
When it comes to the character of Desdemona, she not only has a beautiful name, but she is also fascinating. Her pain is real for the reader, and as she travels on a passage of self-discovery, we find the following quote which sums up most, if not all, of her journey. “I don’t belong in the life I left behind.” This follows a series of events where she realizes going back to her realm is no longer an option. The simplicity of this statement is not only a realization for the character, but it also hits home with the reader as we try to figure out what path Desdemona will take.
Overall, the story is edited pretty well. I caught a few places where an article was missing or a word was misspelled, but nothing that deterred from the meaning of the story. The dialog is also realistic and not forced.
Suzanna J. Linton receives a four-star rating for Willows of Fate for its fantastical setting in the Land of Sun as well as the outstanding character of Desdemona. This is a wonderful fantasy story for young adults, and I personally am looking forward to the next book in the series to see what happens next in the Land of the Sun.
October 17, 2016
Desdemona Casey has seen visions since she was young. But they never became truly real till the day her mother died.
This novel is about Desdemona Casey, a girl that is more than she seems, both to herself and others. After going through rocky times (like being an alcoholic and running away from home when she was 16), she has finally settled down and gotten a decent job. However, her mother dies from lung cancer, which was hidden from Desdemona till her mother is dying in the hospital. A train of events lead to the deaths of all of her family members.
Transported to another world with one of her 'visions', there is a problem. The Willows, the barrier between Desdemona's world and the other, are disintegrating, and she is the key to fixing it.
I thought the storyline of this book was amazing and really interesting. Desdemona really changed in the course of the book, as if she grew wiser throughout the journey into the Land of the Sun. The introduction immediately drew me into the story and the build-up was pretty good. There were quite a bit of typos though, sometimes these mistakes could give a wrong meaning (there were some parts I had to read twice to really understand).
I think the writing could have little more life to it in some parts though- for example, the parts where love was involved. I felt like it was a little passive and the reader wasn't able to be standing next to Desdemona in the Willows. The descriptions were vivid, but I felt like sometimes they fell flat (perhaps more variation in sentences?)
I'd give this book a 3 stars for it's good storyline and amazing magical world. The only reasons this book wasn't a 4 star are editing issues and the (to me) slightly flat descriptions. It's a good book to read for leisure, and I can't wait to read the sequel to Willows of Fate when it comes out.
On another note, I received an advanced reader copy of Willows of Fate in exchange for an honest review.
This novel is about Desdemona Casey, a girl that is more than she seems, both to herself and others. After going through rocky times (like being an alcoholic and running away from home when she was 16), she has finally settled down and gotten a decent job. However, her mother dies from lung cancer, which was hidden from Desdemona till her mother is dying in the hospital. A train of events lead to the deaths of all of her family members.
Transported to another world with one of her 'visions', there is a problem. The Willows, the barrier between Desdemona's world and the other, are disintegrating, and she is the key to fixing it.
I thought the storyline of this book was amazing and really interesting. Desdemona really changed in the course of the book, as if she grew wiser throughout the journey into the Land of the Sun. The introduction immediately drew me into the story and the build-up was pretty good. There were quite a bit of typos though, sometimes these mistakes could give a wrong meaning (there were some parts I had to read twice to really understand).
I think the writing could have little more life to it in some parts though- for example, the parts where love was involved. I felt like it was a little passive and the reader wasn't able to be standing next to Desdemona in the Willows. The descriptions were vivid, but I felt like sometimes they fell flat (perhaps more variation in sentences?)
I'd give this book a 3 stars for it's good storyline and amazing magical world. The only reasons this book wasn't a 4 star are editing issues and the (to me) slightly flat descriptions. It's a good book to read for leisure, and I can't wait to read the sequel to Willows of Fate when it comes out.
On another note, I received an advanced reader copy of Willows of Fate in exchange for an honest review.
August 25, 2016
Where to begin?
First, lets start with a bit of praise. Willows of Fate is wonderfully imagined, well written and very, very well developed. In this first entry of the Lands of Sun and Stone Series, we encounter Desdemona (Des) who has come home to be with her ailing mother. Des is a troubled, she can see and hear things that no one else can. She is afraid to labelled crazy and who wouldn't be afraid. Especially, when you're the only one seeing knights in golden armor or mythical beasts. She soon finds out she isn't going crazy and there is a world of creatures and a land that outshines any fairy tale that she has read.
This story was a really great blend of subject matters. It hit on things like religion (polytheism vs. monotheism), betrayal, hurt, self sacrifice, gender equality and greed. In this installment of the series, the author spent a lot of time with world building and succeeds in creating a very convincing backdrop for her tale. I would have loved to have more interaction with the mythical creatures mentioned in the story as well as more displays of magic from the people of the Sun. The most important part of any story is how the characters work together. Here, both main and secondary characters fulfilled their roles well. The heroine (Desdemona) is a bit naive (in some aspects) and headstrong. She has finally found where she belongs and has found her purpose. The book concluded with an exciting rush to the end where their isn't a true happily ever after but the scent of one gently blows in the breeze. So, there is a sense of "this can't be it" because by the end of the book the author has hooked you. I am honestly looking for to what happens next.
First, lets start with a bit of praise. Willows of Fate is wonderfully imagined, well written and very, very well developed. In this first entry of the Lands of Sun and Stone Series, we encounter Desdemona (Des) who has come home to be with her ailing mother. Des is a troubled, she can see and hear things that no one else can. She is afraid to labelled crazy and who wouldn't be afraid. Especially, when you're the only one seeing knights in golden armor or mythical beasts. She soon finds out she isn't going crazy and there is a world of creatures and a land that outshines any fairy tale that she has read.
This story was a really great blend of subject matters. It hit on things like religion (polytheism vs. monotheism), betrayal, hurt, self sacrifice, gender equality and greed. In this installment of the series, the author spent a lot of time with world building and succeeds in creating a very convincing backdrop for her tale. I would have loved to have more interaction with the mythical creatures mentioned in the story as well as more displays of magic from the people of the Sun. The most important part of any story is how the characters work together. Here, both main and secondary characters fulfilled their roles well. The heroine (Desdemona) is a bit naive (in some aspects) and headstrong. She has finally found where she belongs and has found her purpose. The book concluded with an exciting rush to the end where their isn't a true happily ever after but the scent of one gently blows in the breeze. So, there is a sense of "this can't be it" because by the end of the book the author has hooked you. I am honestly looking for to what happens next.
October 18, 2016
This cross between high and modern fantasy takes a young woman from rural South Carolina and puts her in the middle of a medieval fantasy conflict--a fascinating premise that I felt could easily bring in some fun reading and a witty but charming new story. Willows of Fate is book one in Linton's Lands of Sun and Stone series about two worlds--ours and a fantasy world that was forcefully split from ours ages ago.
This book covers the adventures of Desdemona, a recovering alcoholic who has had visions of fantasy creatures since her childhood but who is now trying to move on with her life as a lawyer. After her mother, brother and aunt all die in quick succession, Desdemona discovers a dark family secret that leads her "through the willows" to a fantasy land where she literally holds the key to a growing conflict.
Willows of Fate did have a fun story, with mostly believable characters and a quick draw to it. I read through it pretty quickly and enjoyed a lot of the creative atmosphere, but I'm not sure if I'll go on to the other books in the series. I very much respect and appreciate the cast of personalities, but I didn't really feel drawn to any of them. I also wanted to know more of what was going on with the South Carolina life Desdemona left behind (with a handsome young man and ongoing mystery that was, to be honest, at least as interesting as the fantasy world). There was also a share of mystery that was never fully revealed, like a hooded stranger in the beginning or a centaur who appeared at her mother's funeral.
Rating this book is difficult because I enjoyed it but there was a lot that I felt it didn't fully cover. But I'll go on the high side and say that it's definitely worth the read for anyone looking for a fun, new fantasy world. Four stars!
This book covers the adventures of Desdemona, a recovering alcoholic who has had visions of fantasy creatures since her childhood but who is now trying to move on with her life as a lawyer. After her mother, brother and aunt all die in quick succession, Desdemona discovers a dark family secret that leads her "through the willows" to a fantasy land where she literally holds the key to a growing conflict.
Willows of Fate did have a fun story, with mostly believable characters and a quick draw to it. I read through it pretty quickly and enjoyed a lot of the creative atmosphere, but I'm not sure if I'll go on to the other books in the series. I very much respect and appreciate the cast of personalities, but I didn't really feel drawn to any of them. I also wanted to know more of what was going on with the South Carolina life Desdemona left behind (with a handsome young man and ongoing mystery that was, to be honest, at least as interesting as the fantasy world). There was also a share of mystery that was never fully revealed, like a hooded stranger in the beginning or a centaur who appeared at her mother's funeral.
Rating this book is difficult because I enjoyed it but there was a lot that I felt it didn't fully cover. But I'll go on the high side and say that it's definitely worth the read for anyone looking for a fun, new fantasy world. Four stars!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2016
Just Finished reading this book. This book is by Suzanna J Linton. The main character of this books name is Desdemona who has been through many life tests to finally realize her purpose. The book is mainly told from Des's point of view. When I first started reading the book I didn't know whether I would like it or not, but I found it hard for me to put the book down. It's a real page turner mainly because the reader anticipates the reason behind for the series of unfortunate events that take place. I think the author did a wonderful job!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews