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Storm Child #1
Storm Child
In a Victorian era where the industrial revolution has been replaced by superstition and magic, Britain is a place where wolves roam freely and children with magic are snatched from the streets. This is home for thirteen-year-old witch, Annie and her baby sister, Georgina. When their mother dies, Annie and Georgina find themselves saved from the workhouse by the mysterious Ernesto Black. But Black’s motives are far from pure and soon Annie faces new, even more dangerous threats. What does Ernesto want from Georgina? And can Annie trust the other teenagers living with Ernesto: Polly, who has her eye fixed firmly on inheriting Ernesto’s fortune and will do anything to make sure she gets it, and the charming Isaac, who would do anything to win Polly’s affections – legal or not.
Fearing for Georgina’s safety, Annie is faced with a terrible choice: she can try to guard her sister from the ever-present threat of Ernesto, or she can leave the child out in the wilds of the New Forest in the hope she’ll be found and taken in by a new family, ignorant of her powers. Annie chooses to leave Georgina’s future to chance and steals her away from Ernesto’s house in the dead of night.
But Annie’s troubles are far from over as her actions set in motion a chain of events that will take her and Georgina into danger she could never imagine. This danger drags country girl, Charlotte Harding into the fray and threatens every one of the teenagers, and it leads them right into the heart of the powerful organisation responsible for the assassination of Queen Victoria, an organisation that wants only one thing: Hell on Earth – quite literally…
Fearing for Georgina’s safety, Annie is faced with a terrible choice: she can try to guard her sister from the ever-present threat of Ernesto, or she can leave the child out in the wilds of the New Forest in the hope she’ll be found and taken in by a new family, ignorant of her powers. Annie chooses to leave Georgina’s future to chance and steals her away from Ernesto’s house in the dead of night.
But Annie’s troubles are far from over as her actions set in motion a chain of events that will take her and Georgina into danger she could never imagine. This danger drags country girl, Charlotte Harding into the fray and threatens every one of the teenagers, and it leads them right into the heart of the powerful organisation responsible for the assassination of Queen Victoria, an organisation that wants only one thing: Hell on Earth – quite literally…
- GenresFantasy
203 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 21, 2016
4 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Sant
10 books81 followersSharon Sant was born in Dorset but now lives in Stoke-on-Trent. She graduated from Staffordshire University in 2009 with a degree in English and creative writing. She currently works part time as a freelance editor and continues to write her own stories. An avid reader with eclectic tastes across many genres, when not busy trying in vain to be a domestic goddess, she can often be found lurking in local coffee shops with her head in a book. Sometimes she pretends to be clever but really loves nothing more than watching geeky TV and eating Pringles. She is the author of a string of YA novels including Runners and the Sky Song trilogy.
To find out more you can follow her on twitter: @sharonsant or find her on facebook. You can also go to her website: www.sharonsant.com
Please chat to me, I get lonely!
To find out more you can follow her on twitter: @sharonsant or find her on facebook. You can also go to her website: www.sharonsant.com
Please chat to me, I get lonely!
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 9, 2021
Sharon Sant is an author I have read a few works by and have really enjoyed but for me this is the best of the books I have read so far as the story is so well written, has a great flow to it and is an interesting idea that just works. I got through this book very quickly as I found I was desperate to keep reading it and found myself even reading chapters when I had 15 minute breaks from work.
I hope Sharon Sant will bring the next offerings in this planned trilogy as she has created characters who are likeable and I for one would love to read more about.
I hope Sharon Sant will bring the next offerings in this planned trilogy as she has created characters who are likeable and I for one would love to read more about.
April 21, 2016
In Sharon Sant’s novel Storm Child, thirteen-year-old Annie has a big problem. Her baby sister is a witch in an alternate Victorian society that does not look kindly upon such magical beings. Worse still, Annie lives in the care of Ernesto Black, a contemptuous man instructed by a ruthless power to find and do who knows what with magical children. Annie has no choice, then, but to leave her baby sister somewhere she’ll be safe. And this tearful goodbye is how the book opens.
Annie is not the only one living under the iron rule of Ernesto, however. Polly and Isaac, a pair of former street urchins, are also present. Polly (perhaps the book’s most excellent character) is under strict instruction to wheedle out where Annie took the baby, using a blossoming friendship as cover for doing so. The first half of the book is a masterstroke of shady motives, suspicion and Don’t trust him/her! moments, the perfect set up for learning all we need to know about the characters. The second half sees magic move more into the fray, with a wonderful action-packed climax and lots of juicy revelations.
Sant’s knowledge of the Victorian era is breathtaking. The characters feel so real (thanks in no small part to perfect use of slang in dialogue) and the world building is effortless. The plight of being a young person growing up in such a ruthless and unfair time is beautifully transmitted and the magic on show is subtle and well thought out. In short, a fine Victorian fantasy romp!
Annie is not the only one living under the iron rule of Ernesto, however. Polly and Isaac, a pair of former street urchins, are also present. Polly (perhaps the book’s most excellent character) is under strict instruction to wheedle out where Annie took the baby, using a blossoming friendship as cover for doing so. The first half of the book is a masterstroke of shady motives, suspicion and Don’t trust him/her! moments, the perfect set up for learning all we need to know about the characters. The second half sees magic move more into the fray, with a wonderful action-packed climax and lots of juicy revelations.
Sant’s knowledge of the Victorian era is breathtaking. The characters feel so real (thanks in no small part to perfect use of slang in dialogue) and the world building is effortless. The plight of being a young person growing up in such a ruthless and unfair time is beautifully transmitted and the magic on show is subtle and well thought out. In short, a fine Victorian fantasy romp!
June 2, 2016
It never ceases to amaze me how Sharon Sant can write for such a diverse audience. No two books ever go down the same route or are even aimed at the same market. Storm Child is perhaps written for a slightly younger audience than her previous book (Dead Girl Walking). This doesn't detract from any quality or storytelling however.
The Victorian setting fused with magical elements makes for an exciting read. The bleak, lonely, cold world our cast survive in is harsh and often unrewarding. The orphans do anything they can to get by; performing tricks for coin and tips. And it's a violent semi-rural world too, with wolves roaming free and untrustworthy people on every corner.
The story - one of a mysterious baby found abandoned on the heath - builds steadily; you're never sure where it is going, following the mischievous doings of the enigmatic Polly and hopeless romantic Isaac. But boy does it smack you in the face in the final third with a dangerous cult rearing its ugly head.
Storm Child is intelligently written, with a funny cast of characters who will appeal to a variety of ages. It mixes historical accuracy with a loose sort of fantasy that sparks your mind into thinking it definitely could have happened. Think Pullman's Sally Lockhart series meets Croxall's Tethers trilogy. Storm Child has it all: mystery, magic, humour, adventure, conspiracy, and love - all in abundance. A great read.
The Victorian setting fused with magical elements makes for an exciting read. The bleak, lonely, cold world our cast survive in is harsh and often unrewarding. The orphans do anything they can to get by; performing tricks for coin and tips. And it's a violent semi-rural world too, with wolves roaming free and untrustworthy people on every corner.
The story - one of a mysterious baby found abandoned on the heath - builds steadily; you're never sure where it is going, following the mischievous doings of the enigmatic Polly and hopeless romantic Isaac. But boy does it smack you in the face in the final third with a dangerous cult rearing its ugly head.
Storm Child is intelligently written, with a funny cast of characters who will appeal to a variety of ages. It mixes historical accuracy with a loose sort of fantasy that sparks your mind into thinking it definitely could have happened. Think Pullman's Sally Lockhart series meets Croxall's Tethers trilogy. Storm Child has it all: mystery, magic, humour, adventure, conspiracy, and love - all in abundance. A great read.
March 29, 2018
This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free for a Blog Tour in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Thank you to JB for letting me take part in this tour. I love all things fantasy/paranormal based so when I read the blurb and saw the cover for this book I knew I had to read it.
This book didn’t quite go how I thought it would but I enjoyed it all the same.
After Annie’s mum dies Ernesto Black saves her and Georgina from the workhouse. Little Annie is a thirteen year old witch who is desperately protective of her little sister Georgina. Annie will do anything to protect her even if that means sending her away.
Black has 2 other orphans, Polly and Isaac. Ernesto uses the children to earn him money in street shows but Georgina is something special. These children are clever and extremely brave.
This story has many twists that I didn’t see coming. The story is compelling and addictive. I will definitely be looking to read more of Sharon’s books.
This book didn’t quite go how I thought it would but I enjoyed it all the same.
After Annie’s mum dies Ernesto Black saves her and Georgina from the workhouse. Little Annie is a thirteen year old witch who is desperately protective of her little sister Georgina. Annie will do anything to protect her even if that means sending her away.
Black has 2 other orphans, Polly and Isaac. Ernesto uses the children to earn him money in street shows but Georgina is something special. These children are clever and extremely brave.
This story has many twists that I didn’t see coming. The story is compelling and addictive. I will definitely be looking to read more of Sharon’s books.
June 23, 2016
review to come
November 23, 2016
Different storyline. I'm intrigued and would like to know more about this world.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews