What do you think?
Rate this book
Reach of the Heron
Illness or trauma can open the path to becoming a shaman, and for Arkadia O’Malley, the event is a fatal accident that kills her parents and leaves her seriously injured. While confined to a hospital bed, Arkadia moves between the reality of Ireland of the 1950’s and Elsewhere, a world where she encounters Namra, who teaches her shamanic lore.
In Elsewhere, Arkadia discovers the intricacies of the natural world, the properties of plants and the abilities of animals, but in the hospital, she struggles to achieve a faltering step with crutches. Her sister, Rhiannon, is a minor child who has been placed in a Catholic orphanage. When Arkadia attempts to become Rini’s guardian, she learns that, as an unmarried woman and an invalid, she is opposed by both Church and State.
Helping Arkadia regain her health and independence is Sister Benedict, a nun and a doctor who is often at odds with her religion. Pope John XXIII may be widely celebrated as the kindly new face of the Church, but for Sister Benedict and her assistant, Sister Mel, the Pope’s opposition to birth control is a heavy burden as they strugge to aid the rural poor.
Home at last and able to take up her father’s scholarly pursuit of the ancient Druids, Arkadia makes a discovery that bridges the separation between the conventional world and Elsewhere. Upon learning that Sister Benedict intends to leave the convent, Arkadia offers her home as a shelter. Dr. Bronah Desmond, the former nun, is present when Arkadia is informed that Rini has been moved to a Magdalene home for reasons of “indecent behavior.” The Magdalenes’ notorious reputation for cruelty compels Arkadia to intensify her efforts to find Rini and bring her home, and also to reveal to Bronah the existence of Elsewhere.
In Elsewhere, Arkadia discovers the intricacies of the natural world, the properties of plants and the abilities of animals, but in the hospital, she struggles to achieve a faltering step with crutches. Her sister, Rhiannon, is a minor child who has been placed in a Catholic orphanage. When Arkadia attempts to become Rini’s guardian, she learns that, as an unmarried woman and an invalid, she is opposed by both Church and State.
Helping Arkadia regain her health and independence is Sister Benedict, a nun and a doctor who is often at odds with her religion. Pope John XXIII may be widely celebrated as the kindly new face of the Church, but for Sister Benedict and her assistant, Sister Mel, the Pope’s opposition to birth control is a heavy burden as they strugge to aid the rural poor.
Home at last and able to take up her father’s scholarly pursuit of the ancient Druids, Arkadia makes a discovery that bridges the separation between the conventional world and Elsewhere. Upon learning that Sister Benedict intends to leave the convent, Arkadia offers her home as a shelter. Dr. Bronah Desmond, the former nun, is present when Arkadia is informed that Rini has been moved to a Magdalene home for reasons of “indecent behavior.” The Magdalenes’ notorious reputation for cruelty compels Arkadia to intensify her efforts to find Rini and bring her home, and also to reveal to Bronah the existence of Elsewhere.
Unknown Binding
Published November 1, 2018
2 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
Angela Koenig
6 books7 followers#AffinityRainbowPublications
Angela Koenig has been a waitress and a teacher, a janitor and a proofreader, a house painter and a messenger, and a bookkeeper. Her true calling is voracious reading, and nothing requires more reading than research on a novel.
Raised in Nebraska, she has seen the sun rise over the Acropolis and the moon set over the Pacific. Currently, she and her Australian shepherd, Rory, share a home in the Midwest.
Rebellion in Ulster, Rendezvous in the Himalaya, and Requiem for Vukovar are currently available together in an omnibus collection: Refractions.
Rendezvous in the Himalaya was nominated for a 2015 Goldie Award.
Requiem for Vukovar was nominated for a 2016 Goldie Award.
Angela Koenig has been a waitress and a teacher, a janitor and a proofreader, a house painter and a messenger, and a bookkeeper. Her true calling is voracious reading, and nothing requires more reading than research on a novel.
Raised in Nebraska, she has seen the sun rise over the Acropolis and the moon set over the Pacific. Currently, she and her Australian shepherd, Rory, share a home in the Midwest.
Rebellion in Ulster, Rendezvous in the Himalaya, and Requiem for Vukovar are currently available together in an omnibus collection: Refractions.
Rendezvous in the Himalaya was nominated for a 2015 Goldie Award.
Requiem for Vukovar was nominated for a 2016 Goldie Award.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 6, 2019
I really enjoyed finding out more of the main character that was introduced in the in the Refraction trilogy. I highly recommend Angela Koenig’s Reach of the Heron and the Refraction trilogy.
October 31, 2019
3 stars. Too mystical and weird for me. Disappointing because I thought the lead character would get an amazing book considering how much I loved the book she first appeared it. Maybe its just me, but the mysticism just flew over my head.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews