The War has Begun... Deep in the North American forests lurks an animal spirit known as the Grishla. The Grishla is so ancient it pre-dates the human race by several million years, and it is so powerful and reclusive only very insightful witches know of its existence. Five hundred years ago, the Dwanake tribe possessed such witches. Drunk on their own power and arrogance, these witches attempted to enslave the Grishla. Enraged, the creature began hunting and killing the Dwanake. Desperate, the tribal elders ordered experiments on the Dwanake children to create the ultimate witch to defend their people. Sixteen-year-old Sean Wolf is that witch. But Sean is so powerful that he cannot control his own magic. Will he be able to defeat the Grishla or will he destroy himself and everyone that he loves?
Roma Gray is the author of a multitude of horror short stories, novellas, and novels.
Please check out my series of anthologies, novels, novellas and shorts in the Trick-or-Treat Thrillers series. From horror to ghosts stories to backyard monsters to tales of science fiction, you can count on a variety of topics, all with a Halloween flair.
4.5/5 I don't believe in giving away any of a books storyline when reviewing so I won't. This book is very well written, the author has a talent to engage the reader and bring them into the world of magic, spirits and terror. I'm not used to reading YA, but due to the other characters, this is not the typical YA book and has a little of everything for everyone.
The concept is definitely unique with the use of tribal Native American spirits, combined with the ancient Druids (that I adore so much), you will no doubt enjoy this fantasy tale. The descriptive writing is executed so well, you become entangled in everything the characters are seeing and doing. What I loved most was the cliff-hanger at the end... it makes you want to read the next one to see what happens. Well done. I just wished for some more blood(sick, I know)..but it's YA.
I would highly recommend this book, especially for YAs.
Take the atmosphere of a Stephen King horror story and the feel of J.K. Rowling's too-famous-to-mention books about that kid wizard, mix in authentic paleontology and fascinating Native American spiritualism and add just a dash of modern physics and Lovecraftian reality and you have Declaration of War, the first installment in Roma Gray's highly involving Hunted Tribe trilogy. Involving characters with quite believable family relationships are at the center of the action, most of which is set on an island in the Pacific Northwest that the narrative very much made me want to actually see. There's a little bit of a Stand by Me feel to this first book (hence the King reference) but not in any sort of obvious sense: it's more the feel, and the young group of mismatched guys wandering around in wilderness and dealing with strangeness and learning/trying to get along that reminds me of that story. Meanwhile there is something lethal and urgent to all of the proceedings, and the author does a great job of gradually bringing its bizarre menace closer and closer. As for the J.K. reference, well, that's because there's magic. And science too. I love it when there's both, because I tend to think one's just a bit more advanced version of the other. Then there's the Grishla: a sort of "tangible when it wants or needs to be only" thing, its a vivid and fearsome baddie because we all read and/or watched Jurassic Park and nobody wants a velociraptor/deinonychus after them...much less one that can appear where it wants and is pretty much impossible to stop (and pretty difficult to avoid, too.) I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for intelligent thrills, a solid and complex story and engaging characters. In short, if you like dinosaurs, magic (Native American shamanism is at the forefront here, and I call it magic with a great deal of respect), King's sentimental horror tales of youth and/or Harry (AFTER he fled Hogwarts and was on the run) I think you'll really enjoy this. And it's the first in a trilogy, so I for one am very much looking forward to its sequel(s).
What a well written roller coaster whirlwind of a ride!!! I had no idea what to expect when I started reading but this book absolutely AMAZED me. As soon as Sean was introduced I was sucked into the story and his character is so real and engaging I felt like I was right alongside him the entire time. There's depth and realism to his character that you rarely find in many fantasy novels yet Gray does an excellent job of transporting you into a world of chaos, magic, secrets, and monsters.
I LOVE Sean's character. He has a sort of screwed up destiny, but I like that he was independent and was real and flawed. Perfect characters are boring. The book could have been entirely from his point of view and I would not have been disappointed. There's a lot of back story in the novel which at times was a bit overwhelming but it was told with such strength that I found myself engaged in the story from start to finish. And I pretty much loved the grandmother Elizabeth too.
For me the story really started to move along and get exciting once Sean started training and met his friends. The legend and "curse" of the Grishla was both unique and fascinating. A great twist on witch covens, druids, and a "chosen one" story line. The last few chapters were so exciting I couldn't put the book down! The ending left me with questions and I can't wait to read what happens next. Highly recommend this for all paranormal/sci-fi fans. 5 stars!
Let me tell you, this was an awesome book!! I honestly didn't know what to expect with this and will admit that the only reason I read it was the dinosaur on the front ;) I didn't read the blurb and went into it blind.
This is about Sean. His mum thinks he is practicing witch craft because his dad nearly died in a fire. While he can do magic (though he doesn't know it yet) it isn't his fault the fire started, in fact, he saved his dad that night. There is a century old battle going on and a vicious animal spirit is on the hunt. The Grishla cursed Seans family and the tribe they are descendant from and has come to collect. After years of searching for a way to rid the tribe of he Grishla, Sean may be it. He might be their only hope, but he is clueless and the ony people who can train him, seem to turning up dead!!
I have to say that my favourite thing about this book is the lore! The Native Americans are fascinating and their mythology and legends are more so. The author put a lot of work into researching this and it showed. I loved reading about the Grishla and finding out all about it. You add in Druids, witches and magic, and you're definitely onto a winner!! This was well written and developed and I adored it.
Character wise, they were, again, well written and developed. Sean was a typical moody teen who pushes the boundaries. But he is essentially a good kid and has no clue about anything. His mother is horrible and his father is next to useless. I loved that he was sent to his grans!! She was awesome!!
In all, a unique, well crafted story. It captivated me from the start and I need to know what is going to happen next.
I enjoyed Terry F. Self's narration. He was clear and easy to listen to, I just found him a little unenthusiastic! I felt like he could have preformed the book a little better and added some oomph to it. A little more inflection would have worked better!!
I was voluntarily provided this audiobook for free from the author, narrator, or publisher. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
I read Gray Shadows Under a Harvest Moon, where the author presented six short, dark stories and allowed readers to vote for the one she would work on a full-length novel. Presumably, this is the winner of that contest, and a worthy one it is.
While I rarely read YA horror, this was enjoyable. The pace was steady and the action peppered with moments of downtime with the characters, allowing me a closer glimpse into them as fully realized contributors to the storyline. Sean is a relatable protagonist, misunderstood by his parents and whose interest in magic has magic has alienated him from others his age. I sympathized--empathized-- with him, denied his culture because of an ancient curse that has been plaguing his people for centuries. As soon as he feels part of a community, the creature resurfaces, threatening that fragile acceptance.
This was a fun romp through the Pacific Northwest. I also admired Gray's ability to incorporate believable plot twists, especially the final one. Polished, clever YA horror.
I really, really loved this book. the characters were great and so is the plot. you can definitely not go wrong in reading this book. it has magic, mystery, mayhem and learning to live one another.
Sean Wolf is a typical teenager in a lot of ways, rebelling against his parents and especially his Mother's religious zealotry. After his father is injured in a fire, which his Mother thinks is caused by Sean's delving into witchcraft, Sean is sent to live with his grandmother.
Maybe his grandmother, Elizabeth, will be able to help him with his disturbing dreams about a strange creature. As the story unfolds, the reader learns that tribal elders ordered experiments on the Dwanake children to create the ultimate witch to defend their people against the Grishla. Is it possible that Sean is that witch?
The Grishla has been terrorizing this tribe for centuries, killing off anyone who gets close to trying to destroy it. The description of this (maybe) dinosaur was great and I need to know more!
Sean soon meets 3 other teenaged boys and this quartet starts to wander the woods in search of treasure and fun. However, will they find more than treasure or will the Grishla find them?
This is an interesting story in a lot of ways. Hints of witchcraft, a creature more like a dinosaur than anything else, interesting group dynamics with the young men, and a Grandmother that most kids would envy all add a lot to this book.
I have read a lot of Roma Gray's short stories and truly enjoy them. This book is well-written, engaging and fast-paced, with great characters and enough action to keep the reader interested. I would recommend it for all ages and it is appropriate for the YA audience. I look forward to continuing this series since Ms. Gray left the reader with a huge twist at the end of the book.
For generations, the Native American Indian Dwanake tribe have been hunted. Hunted by a demonic animal spirit that is determined to wipe every last one of them out because they once tried to control him...and failed. For hundreds of years, they have been running scared, systematically being slaughtered one after another as the ferocious beast tracks them down. But not any more. Now they have hope. Now they finally have a slim chance at fighting back.
Sean is your typical dysfunctional teenager. Sent away to his grandmas for messing in witchcraft and possibly even being responsible for causing a fire that nearly burned down his home, he soon discovers he has a much bigger destiny. For, unbeknownst to him, Sean is an uber-witch - and the only hope his family and ancestors have of fighting the Grishla and finally defeating it once and for all.
If he can only learn how to control his powers first...
The Hunted Tribe: Declaration of war is the first of Roma's books to be released, the first part in a new series, and I have to say, a very impressive debut from Miss Gray. Quite simply, I couldn't put it down.
The hunted tribe starts with a bang - thrusting us right into the heart of the action as we witness one of Sean's ancestors, back in the past, attempting to flee his nemesis and carry his daughter to safety - and from then on, the pace never lets up for a second. Even during some of the quieter, more reflective moments of the novel, the threat of the Grishla continually hangs overhead and Roma never lets you forget its presence for a moment.
I really loved this book and found Roma Gray's style of writing to be both highly engaging and addictive. I never wanted this book to end and in fact, if I had one criticism, it is for me that it all co Es to a close just that little bit too soon. Just as things really start to get going, the story stops, and does so with a shock revelation that will no doubt leave you, like me, hungry for more!
I'm hoping Roma gets the next book out in the series quickly because it is painfully obvious from what we see here that there is a much bigger story to tell, and that everything might not be quite as clear cut as it at first appears...
Roma is a great writer, this is a great book, and I look forward to reading more by her in the future.
Roma was kind enough to give a copy of Hunted in exchange for an honest review, and I had no idea it was a young adult novel. If I had I'm not sure I would have read it, but then again I probably would have because when I was a kid I didn't read books that were age appropriate. As a writer she's got an amazing talent of pulling you into the story and you might even say that she tries too hard to make this a novel that would appeal to a wide range of readers. It's a smart novel that has a Stand By Me feel to it while incorporating witchcraft and a tribe of native Americans being hunted by the Grishla. The thing is that the novel works. The balancing act of creating a story that not only adults will read as well as their parents never crosses into the roll your eyes as Roma tries way too hard too please everyone territory.
This is a solid story that has characters that you can't help but like. Sean has the unfortunate task of saving the Dwanake tribe so he has to be flawed in some way, but no so much that you end up hating him. Roma has given us a story that flows well and keeps your eyes glued to the page. As the beginning of a series it doesn't grow too boring with the back story of how the Grishla came to exist. It's woven into the story in such a way that it doesn't halt the momentum of where the story is going. There are clues that tell you where the story could go next which is important in a story like this. We want a reason to keep reading the series and Roma gives us many.
We want to see Sean succeed and we see him growing into the strong character Roma sees him as. That's important because he's the hero in the book. If we don't like him, the book falls apart. Book 1 of the Declaration Of War series is the kind of novel that you don't just read. You become absorbed in it and hate to see it end, because now there's the long wait for the next one. Roma has talent and The Hunted Tribe is a novel that will no doubt appeal to a wide range of readers.
I really enjoyed reading The Hunted Tribe by Roma Gray to the point that I kept pausing to say to myself, wow, this is great. I actually do that when characters fascinate me, and I find seamless presentation, along with fabulous, professional writing as I did in The Hunted Tribe. The ending knocked me for a loop even though the pieces for it were there all along-- I just didn’t see them. Now, I want the next book--now! I want to go on with these characters. I feel like they were a part of my life, I can’t just leave them like that. Here’s a hint of the basic tale very distilled, because I don’t want to give anything away:
Sean’s grandmother reveals to him that they are members of an ancient tribe who long ago chose to trap and enslave the strong and deadly Grishla in order to steal its power for themselves. The tribe failed. The Grishla was furious and began mercilessly hunting them down, through the centuries. Sean learns he has a significant role to play in fighting the Grishla.
What looked like it was about to be a perfect summer at Grandma’s eating vegetarian foods laced with exotic spices and digging a treasure pit in the woods with a diverse collection of newfound friends quickly becomes a nightmare when Grandma finds a grisly bundle under Sean’s bed. Seriously, read this book-- I’m not going to tell you any more.
Sean is a sixteen year old boy who is having trouble at home. His mother believes he is practising witchcraft after his dad is almost burned alive. Little do they know that while Sean can perform spells, it was actually something else that set the fire. A terrible animal spirit called the Grishla has cursed Sean's entire family and the tribe he is descended from. Sent to live with his grandmother Elizabeth, Sean is surprised when she goes easy on him, but she has secrets of her own, including the fact that Sean may be the Ultra Witch and the only one with a shot of stopping the Grishla. This was a great story. Sean is your typical moody teen, but he's also very smart and struggles to make friends. Definitely a unique story and one that can be enjoyed by adults and young adults. It was well written and the characters were great even if they did have the annoying habit of having full conversations with themselves out loud. I really enjoyed the story and would definitely recommend it.
An implacable terror. An ancient curse. A young teenager is the world's only hope. Sean is an angry teenaged boy with a terrible power locked within him. Elizabeth is a desperate grandmother who wants to ensure the survival of not just her family, but her entire tribe. When they are faced with a monster that has hunted their tribe for centuries, the two must bring together the secrets of witchcraft and modern ingenuity to defeat the unstoppable evil. The Hunted Tribe weaves together Native American and Druidic lore with a deft hand, mixing the two in a tale that will grip you until the very end. Blood sacrifices, creatures of nightmare, and animal spirits--hang onto your hat for a heart-stopping tale of horror that will have you questioning everything you believe to be true.
The witches of the Dwanake Tribe tried to entrap the animal spirit of the Grisla hundreds of years ago. It DID NOT go well. Now the Grisla is out for the blood of all members of the tribe especially Sean, who is the ultimate witch due to experiments done on him as a child. This action packed story has great characters that you can relate to and feel for. There is a great twist at the end of this book that some will definitely not see coming. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves the fantasy/horror genre. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series. Well done Roma Gray.
An ancient beast, native witchcraft, dinosaurs and magic, makes "The Hunted Tribe" a very enjoyable read. Gray's character are well developed, making them pretty much real life feel to them. It takes a while for the story to get good but the war is a powerful memory.
If your a fan of the fantasy witchcraft with a native american ancient background then the "Declaration of War (Book 1)" is for you. I'm not a huge fan of Magic Realism/Young Adult genre but I found Gray's characters and her Grishla creature to be very interesting.
Very good story. The second review copy I have received from Roma and they are both great. Narrated by Terry F Self, a top notch voice actor. Get this book!!
I wish to write my review here too as I know that not everyone will see it on audible.
If I am honest I had no idea what to expect when I downloaded this. I like the authors work and I have read a few of her other pieces. I am not a lover of dinosaurs so I put off buying this book but how wrong was I! This story was not at all what I expected, as a matter of fact, it was fantastic.
I am never one for giving details in a review as I hate those who do and spoil the story for others but what I will say is I highly recommend this to everyone regardless of the format you get it in. Book, Kindle or audio book it doesn't matter, you will love the uniqueness of this story. Roma Gray has a given this creature a unique twist and in doing so took it from the usual 'Jurrasic park' type of story and elevated way beyond that. I loved the character and how they all played off each other. My fave character had to be Bear, he reminded me a little of myself (in his bluntness, not his bulk lol). I can not wait to get my hands on the sequel to this book to find out what happens to the guys and to Sean's grandmother.
The story kept a steady flow, the tension only letting of briefly before gripping you once more. The characters were likable and very relatable and I will admit to snacking most of the way through the book as Ms. Grays descriptions of the food were at times so descriptive that I could almost taste it.
If you haven't read this book already, then I think you better get to it. I promise you will not be disappointed.
This is a great little horror story! I just had to say that right off the bat. Roma Gray has a really deft hand at blending ordinary life in this modern boring age with the magic and fantastic realms of our imagination and the past. The writing and the characters really stand out in The Hunted Tribe and Declaration of War details exactly what happens in this first book of the series. One of the things I like most about this novel are the characters. They are all flawed and so human but they are good people. The kind of people you are surrounded by in the real world. There is no struggle more heartbreaking than humans battling against all hope against the inhuman and in the Grishla we have a worthy opponent indeed.
To be honest, there isn’t anything I don’t like about this story. Roma Gray writes very well. The pace was excellent. Not too fast and not too slow. Sean Wolf, despite being a genius and potentially a very powerful magic wielder is still very much a teenager and a troubled one at that. The good news is that he’s maturing and learning pretty quickly. The question is whether or not he will get where he needs to be before his enemy destroys him and everyone he loves. This is the question that makes waiting for the next book so agonizing. If you love well written YA you will love this book. If you love monsters and horror you will love this book. I’m guessing most readers, in general, will love this book. It’s that good.
This is an excellent book! Beautifully written, with a nice, smooth, very natural narrative, the reader soon forgets the words on the page and is sucked right into the story. Very deep character development, with realism, humor, and emotions fully engaged, the people in this story are exceedingly believable. Suspense buildup is nice, and the conflict in the end is quite satisfying. This book will make you both laugh and cry. There is an exceptional amount of humanity and compassion in this story - a great story for building empathy for others, as well. A nice little additional flair is the amount of detail given to the vegan cuisine in the story, making the reader eager to try unusual dishes after causing us to consider these exotic-seeming, but delicious-sounding foods. The end is something of a cliffhanger and makes the reader fully ready to continue on to the next book in the series. Overall, a fantastic story, and one I highly recommend for any reader!
I had the privilege of being given an Audible audiobook credit to listen to this book in exchange for a review. A prehistoric dinosaur, witchcraft, spells, and teenagers. Okay, that's not going to make a good story, no way!! YES, WAY!!! I'm new to Ms. Gray's books, but I will be catching up very fast!!! The narration of this story was spot on. Mr. Self had me convinced Elizabeth was a grandmother, a snarky one at that. Kudos all around!!! I am so glad this is is a series and there will be more. I see there is a prequel, but Ms. Gray when on when will there be book two? The ending so left me wanting more!!
Content/Trigger Warnings: - Loss of loved one - Mentions if suicide - Alcoholic family - Bullying talked about - Drug addiction talked about - Cancer mentioned - Self harm mentioned - Dementia mentioned - Schizophrenia mentioned
Words that may bother some readers: - 1 time Cutting Damn It Screw - 2 times Bastard God-Awful - 5 times Suicide - 7 times Lord (usually religious) - 18 times God (usually religious)
Superb story, brilliantly written, with well crafted and believable characters. This was a great book that had me hooked from the first few paragraphs. The tale unfolds beautifully and the character development is second to none. I found it reminiscent of some of the better Stephen King work. The Hunted Tribe: Declaration of War, is one of the best books I've read in a long time. I can't wait to read further instalments.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book when i started reading it but i was pleasantly surprised. Sean is a teenage boy dealing with troubles at home and his apparent magical abilities. He is sent to live with his grandmother and from her he learns about a creature that hunts them. The Grishla. i thought the characters were great and I really got caught up in the story. Highly recommended.
While there were slow times when I got bored listening to the audiobook, overall it was very different from what I usually read.
The cliffhanger at the end...AHHHH!!! While there's no way I'd believe that Elizabeth was crazy, I am curious to know what the lady's game is (her English friend, I forgot her name).
Narrator:
While this narrator had a good speaking voice, I don't think he has the right one for narrating stories. As soon as I heard him first speak, I automatically thought of a news anchor type person, someone who reports stories, not necessarily tells them, much less is reading from a book.
EDIT July 2018: After listening to several audiobooks by this narrator, I changed my feelings about him. Perhaps I’ve simply gotten used to his voice and it’s grown on me? IDK. Either way, I’m a fan of him!
Story:
Instead of the creature killing her soon-to-be-powerful grandson, it kills those that could help him with his powers. That made no sense to me.
Octogenarian. It seemed strange or surprising that Shawn referred to an old person by this term given his young age. Yes, he's supposed to be smart but still. I actually had to look up what the word meant.
What was with Shawn's mother referring to Elizabeth as a heathen? It was strange that she referred to Elizabeth in a derogatory way even though her husband is a Native American, too. Even better was the fact that her family was supposedly into witchcraft, black magic, etc. While I understand why she wouldn't want to pass that onto her family, you'd think Shawn's mother would have been a little more tolerant when it came to others especially when it involved her only son, although the same could be said about his father.
Did Shawn's parent not know about the experiments?
Gray is an amazing storyteller above all else. Writing a story and being a fabulous author is a feat, no doubt, but for an author to woo me as if she is actually at my side, telling her tale - incredible! Prepare yourself for a horrific adventure in this action-packed reading experience with a half demon, flesh-eating creature ... and for potential nightmares.