Avalon Hall

by Ruth Miranda

When Yseult Urquhart's magic finally manifests, she finds herself saving her own life and faced with a choice.Submitting to her family's demands that she returns to Scotland and joins Avalon Hall - a school for witches who come late into their magic - the youngest member of the powerful Urquhart clan enters a place of mysteries and secrets, where nothing is what it seems.Voices from the past, visions of long ago times, even a possible ghost, all materialise before Yseult's eyes and ears, driving her to a spiral of confusion and curiosity that has her delving into what lies behind Avalon Hall.And why does it carry that name?

Genres: Fantasy

446 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 3, 2019

About the author

"As soon as I learned my ABC I was writing stories."

Ruth Miranda is a Portugal born and raised author who feels more comfortable around words than people, especially if those words happen to be in English, a language she once taught for a living - amongst other varied jobs. She started making up stories in her head as a child, to put herself to sleep, but the stories kept growing with her, so eventually, they needed to be put to paper. Her published work includes The Preternatural Series and Blood Trilogy, as well as the romance novel Danseur and the Byanamese Romance series. You can find her being social on Instagram under the handle @ruth__miranda, where she shares snippets of upcoming and published work, and on her Patreon, where she posts thoughts on writing, deleted scenes, and an online novel. Find it here https://www.patreon.com/RuthMiranda

Reviews

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avalon Hall by Ruth Miranda is an excellent start to a new series I will surely be addicted to.

King Arthur. Round Tables. Medieval Fantasy.

My gosh, this book is packed TIGHT with everything I love about Ruth Miranda and her writing. Epic fantasy, a potential romance, drama, "echoes from the past", murder, and an epic tale. Seriously, this series already has me hooked and IT LEFT ON A DARN CLIFFHANGER.

I swear, Ruth Miranda sits away at her computer knowing full well I'm going to be pulling my hair out and screaming while I wait for the next book. It may be a little egotistical, but she's totally doing it to me, on purpose. And I fall for it every time! I can picture her with evil, maniacal laughter filling the room as she typed the final words in Part 1...

But, that's not the meat of this review. Avalon Hall centers around King Arthur being from Scotland, where the wonderful Avalon Hall (a present day academy for witches and fey) sit. 30 years before modern day, a young woman named Stephanie Miller was murdered and 30 years later there's been yet another murder. Fortunately, this time it was just some jerk. That being said, Stephanie's murder brought lots of attention on this hall that only wanted to be seen as a hippie community that studies tarot cards and astrology. Atticus Downe, the new head master, wants to keep it that way. Oh, and he's hiding a vampire named Emrys in the attic.

Along comes Yseult, a beautiful witch, to Avalon Hall 30 years after Stephanie's death. She begins seeing ghosts, these "echoes from the past" and sees some ghosts from her present too (like her abusive ex Gary).

Part one is all about Yseult and Avalon Hall. Seriously, this was the best opening for this story. I was truly hooked in and was totally addicted to the book with this opening. It had a fair bit of drama, with mean girls and crushes, alongside the fantastical elements of the story. Also Emrys and Yseult are totally end game for me. Seriously, I need to know what happens next! I also really liked that Ruth expanded on Nora Bell's character. I was expecting her to be some mean girl, but she's not all she seems to be.

Then we move into part 2, which brings us back to King Arthur's actual birth. There's a lot of back story on his family in this one. The worst part for me was trying to pronounce any of those names. It brought me out of the book a few times because I couldn't decide on how I wanted them pronounced and I didn't like google's pronunciation either. Confusing names are hard, okay? But, I digress, this part of the book was REALLY good. The lore, the back story, and the fast pace of the story. I loved every second of it.

I really hope this series continues and I can get my hand on the next book. Ruth Miranda's writing style is marvelous - it's fast, she has a talent for weaving her words into beautiful sentences and she makes up excellent plots. Plus, she's really good at horror, romance and action.

Overall, this book is a 100% recommended book from me. If you like myths and lore, action and adventure, and a pinch of romance, then this book is for you! I'm definitely going to be continuing the series so you might as well start it with me!

Five out of five stars!

I received this book for free from the author, Ruth Miranda, in exchange for an honest review.

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished! Avalon Hall is an incredibly unique story that takes place in both the Arthurian era as well as modern day. If there is one thing I enjoy just as much as fantasy, it would be the lore of different eras as well as mythology. There are many great areas of this book where it shines through; there are also a few things that could be better improved upon.

For starters, I loved the characters-especially Emrys. His character was complex in his feelings towards Yseult, as well as his past. I find that the most complicated, torn characters seem more human, especially when they come back from hard times they’ve endured.

Something that could have added to the characters as a whole would be secrecy. Now I don’t mean the kind where each of the characters doesn’t trust as single person with anything, but each character would spontaneously jump to the correct conclusions about another character without much thought being put in. Suddenly, everyone knows about Yseult’s past, and Yseult somehow comes to know Emrys’ true identity. Had the characters taken more time to figure each other out, I feel the suspense would’ve increased as well as the drama in the climax.

The story was, as I stated above, incredibly unique and original despite the setting seeming to be like something out of Hogwarts. It was just as complex as the characters themselves, and the ending was undoubtedly a giant cliffhanger. But as with the characters, there were a couple parts I would like to discuss.

The beginning did not hook me in very well. I started reading and was confused by the setting and the accents (it is set in Scotland). The prologue I would understand much better if I read it again, but just diving into the story with no knowledge of how it would actually begin left me lost. If Miranda set up the characters more in the very first few pages and added more clarity for what was actually taking place, it would’ve made more sense to me. Furthermore, I wish Miranda had elaborated on how dire the situation with Emrys and Yseult being trapped in the other time really was. I wanted more story on their side than I did on the past. The perspective changes also threw me off when I started reading. A scene break would have better shifted the reader’s attention over to the next character rather than changing perspective in the middle of a conversation.

Overall, the characters really made it for me. Yseult came from a harsh and terrible background, and I was able to empathize with her greatly. While there is many a thing to be improved upon, the story itself was beautifully written and I hope many will give it a chance.

Final grade: 3.5/5⭐️

[Scarolet Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avalon Hall by Ruth Miranda is a wonderful story that I have read. This is book number one in this wonderful start to a brand new series for me to read. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about witches, fantasy and historical romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[K.M. Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This epic story is split into two parts—both as interesting as each other. The first introduces us to a modern-day Avalon Hall, which is owned by a vampire witch who hides in the shadows and allows his home and expansive grounds to be run as a school for preternatural young adults who come into their powers in their twenties. New to Avalon Hall is Yseult Urquhart. She's a witch who has been hiding her magic all of her life—and for good reason. She can hear and speak to echoes of the past. At Avalon Hall, the rumored lands of the fabled King Arthur, such power can be used to travel into the past. Part two sees that very thing happen and we're taken to Ruth Miranda's version of the Arthurian tale and how those characters relate to the vampire witch who now owns Avalon Hall. It's a creative tale written in a beautiful style, and I can't wait to read the next book to see how this time-traveling, supernatural series plays out.

[Kastie Pavlik · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Short: Fans of modern paranormal fantasy and Arthurian medieval fantasy rejoice, for Avalon Hall celebrates both, weaving them together through magic and Ruth Miranda’s distinctive voice into an engrossing and entertaining tale. It’s an interesting, fresh, and unique concept, and I thoroughly enjoyed the entire journey.

The Long: Avalon Hall is like two books in one in which Ruth Miranda explores Arthurian legend through the past and present by serving up a slice of modern paranormal fantasy in Part One and a slice of medieval fantasy in Part Two. A tidy epilogue bridges them as a platform upon which the reader must eagerly await the next installment.

In Part One, fans of the The Blood Trilogy will recognize a few faces and places as they are swept into majestic Avalon Hall, a modern day academy for witches with its own resident vampire and too many secrets. Surrounded by gates, magical barriers, forest, and a misty lake, Avalon Hall’s setting is perfect for the mystical mysteries the characters either keep or must uncover before they can understand the true powers within themselves, of the school, and of a history enveloped in legend. Be forewarned that the cliffhanger into part two is a sheer drop, so watch your footing. ;)

In Part Two, the reader is whisked into the heart of medieval fantasy and the early origins of King Arthur’s tale. Miranda’s voice shifts here, and appropriately so, to fit nicely amongst nobles and castles and the magical world of Avalon—a world they must carefully curate and maintain through strict tradition and strategy. Themes of personal freedom and gender roles/equality glide along the undercurrents and punch the surface to add ugly truths atop the romanticized legends of the dark ages. Life, death, love, hate, sorrow, joy, betrayal, loyalty —all of these things blend the past with magic to build the foundation for a future that must be protected at all costs.

But what happens when that future comes crashing into its foundation while still in its infancy? Well…this is a trilogy, so stay tuned!

My Thoughts: As with anyone, my reading habits skew my views, but they’re particularly pertinent here because I may read a lot of paranormal fantasy manga, but I don’t read many fantasy novels (I do read some – I read a bit of everything as long as it sounds interesting). As a fan of Ruth Miranda’s Blood Trilogy, I am partial to Part One. If you’ve read it (no spoilers from me), this fills in the gap. I envisioned the twins on the island listening to this story, and, for me, that made it even more interesting. Many of these characters were minor or secondary characters in The Blood Trilogy and you get to revisit them and/or learn more about them, so you not only get this new story with this new trilogy, but you also get a companion tale from within the same universe that encompasses most of Ruth Miranda’s books. Avalon Hall holds true to Miranda’s writing style, but it’s subtly tweaked in ways that match this story and its needs. The modern Part One doesn’t punch as hard and fast as The Blood Trilogy, and it doesn’t need to. It’s a sweeping tale in which Miranda holds nothing back and explores many of the same hard-hitting gritty bits of reality like domestic violence, self-discovery, and self and peer acceptance, while pulling the reader into the lives of these magical characters in a realistic manner. The shift into the past in Part Two is abrupt and I think it’s beneficial to the reader to know that going in. I loved tales of chivalry and knights in my youth, but they’re not usually in my reading piles these days. That said, I enjoyed it and I was sucked in. The flow slows a bit at first, which I think allows the reader to recover from the momentum of the previous section and adjust so they can sink into the lives of characters that were merely glimpsed in the present. Part Two carries a palpable emotional weight that is easy to identify with. These characters feel real despite originating from historical legend and being wrapped in magic. The story is simply crushing at certain points and that speaks volumes of Ruth Miranda’s skill at adapting her voice and writing style to support the setting and era as she deftly weaves her words.

Overall: Avalon Hall is essentially two books in one: a modern paranormal fantasy with the intrigue of legend and a plunge into that legend for a delightful Arthurian/medieval fantasy. Ruth Miranda’s distinctive voice and writing style draws the reader into both parts with skillful shifts in her techniques that match the settings of both present and past. She delivers a thoroughly captivating pair of intertwining tales that are not only fascinating, but also tackle real life issues that you can sympathize with or that make you think. Miranda’s fans are sure to love Avalon Hall, which also serves as a welcoming invitation to new readers to discover her magical writing!

[Nicola Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruth has a poetic and compelling writing style that once again had me gripped within the pages of her story.

Mystery and intrigue in the folklore of Arthurian legend reimagined, running alongside a tale of modern day witches and preturnaturals - awesome!

[Julia Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a lifelong lover of Arthur and anything vaguely related to his legend, I was very keen to read this book as it hinted at containing a new take on the old stories. And what an interesting take it was. Cleverly, the author has drawn upon various existing theories that Arthur was in fact a Scottish ruler, so his court and lands were located much further north than most stories claim. I really enjoyed this twist and the portions of the novel set in the landscape of Arthur and Avalon were made all the richer for the knowledgeable way the author described the people of the time and the way they lived.

With Merlin as the link between the court of Arthur and the modern day setting of Avalon Hall – an institute for those gifted in the paranormal - past and present merged seamlessly in a vivid and interesting plot.

It’s very well-written and the love of the author for her characters is evident in her generous descriptions of their physical and personal attributes. You feel you know these people, that you once met them somewhere or sat next to them on a bus, and this depth of character makes them three-dimensional and very relatable.

It’s a long book, but a reasonably fast-paced read and I never felt it lagged at all. Each word is carefully placed and is a testament to the author’s skill. The story is fresh and original, and although it deals with the world of vampires, witches, fey and can de loupe (werewolves to the uninitiated), it is different enough to other books of that ilk to bring a new perspective to a genre that is dangerously close to being done to death.

All in all, a clever and well-presented book for all lovers of paranormal literature with a twist of something a little different.

[Becky Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avalon Hall by Ruth Miranda - this is Ruth doing what she does best. A story of vampires, witches, fantasy and magic. This is a book of two halves, both as important as the other, coming together just enough at the end, but most certainly leaving you craving more.

Modern-day Scotland. We are introduced to a cast of contemporary characters, all well-crafted and intriguing with their own backstories. Set against the magnificent architecture of Avalon Hall, a modern-day school for adult preternatural, a place to nurture their new magical talents that manifest in their late teens or early twenties. This is no Hogwarts; there is more lurking the rooms and halls than just magic; and beyond the Hall, the vast grounds hold their own secrets. There is one student with her own damaged past that has the talent to step beyond the ‘now’ into the ‘then’. She has a vital role to play, unravelling the past mysteries and miseries of Avalon Hall’s hidden resident.

Just as your heartbeat starts racing, the author halts, whipping you off to the past. A place home to myth and Arthurian legend. But don’t think for one second you are about to receive a run of the mill story of King Arthur. Avalon Hall offers so much more. Instead of the general, the author gives us her own interpretations and thoughts, taking you across the lake at Avalon, delving into the history, the ancestry of who we know to be King Arthur, weaving us a tale that is so in-depth you feel kin to it. This second part of the book is so painstakingly meticulous, a richly woven tapestry of characters, each playing their role in carving the future of who will be known as King Arthur.

I’m now eagerly, and not so patiently, waiting for the second book in this series. Avalon Hall offers so much for those who adore fantasy, those stories abundant with witches and magic, but also those like me, who adore the mysteries that surround Arthurian legend.

[E.H. Alger · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride this novel gave me! There are so many elements combined in this unique story that it really shouldn’t work - but the author has skilfully drawn them all together to create a cohesive and compelling whole. Time-travel, King Arthur, vampires, witches, fey, werewolves, an academy of magic, catty students, an abusive ex, and a smouldering romance - all woven into a fast-paced page-turner.

There are two parts to the novel. The first takes place in modern times in an academy for witches who’ve come late to their powers. I loved the magical setting in this section - the beautiful old hall set in huge grounds, complete with forest and misty, mysterious lake. Emrys and Yseult are both involving and well-drawn characters, with complex back-stories - I found Emrys, the brooding and enigmatic vampire, particularly charismatic.

The second part, set in the time of King Arthur, is equally well realized. I loved the dynamic between the powerful sisters - their plots, jealousies and ambitions and their struggles in a misogynistic world are impressively drawn.

I do think the book needs a little more editing. There are some oddly used words here and there, such as ‘in’ used instead of ‘on’ (or vice versa. Being the pedant I am, I find this jarring, though it didn’t interfere with my enjoyment of the story.

I’d highly recommend Avalon Hall for anyone who fancies an engaging new take on the Arthurian tales and/or some captivating paranormal fantasy!

[Julie Embleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gah, Ruth Miranda! Why do you do this to me?! I don’t know which part to obsess over the most: The relationship between the bruised, fragile witch Yseult and the reclusive, brooding vampire Emrys, the magnificent backdrop of Avalon Hall with its troubled history and grounds steeped in Arthurian legend, or the regeneration of those Arthurian legends with all their intrigue and machinations. Split into two distinctive parts, I was so sucked into Yseult’s arrival to Avalon Hall and her subsequent meeting with the vampire Emrys that the switch to King Arthur’s time was cruel relief.
Miranda writes with elegance, creating a world that oozes with character and depth. Her dialogue is flawless, as is her ability to create characters that feel so real I can’t accept they only exist in the pages of a book. There are no one-dimensional players in this tale. Even Nora Bell who first appears as the familiar bitchy classmate develops way beyond the mean-girl mould to become an unexpected ally.

Avalon Hall took me seamlessly through both modern and ancient times, the author building subtle tension that rose to a superb cliffhanger. With the sequel due mid 2020 I have a long wait ahead of me, but I know it will be worth the wait.

[Caroline Noe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avalon Hall, as the name suggests, is steeped in beloved Arthurian legend, yet is like no other novel I've read on this magical subject.
This is a novel of two distinct halves: ancient and modern. The latter part dwells in the ancient lands steeped in mystical ritual, riven with misogynistic politics and dripping in ominous portent. Whilst magic is the very lifeblood of the famous characters, paradoxically it's the plotting and machinations that speak most loudly.
The first and, to my mind, more satisfying section is the modern element, involving a witch overcoming her abusive past within a school for those discovering their magical gift in adulthood. Whilst there, Yseult meets the hidden owner of the hall: the elusive and enigmatic vampire Emrys. The discovery of her ability to time walk might just be the answer to his centuries old trauma. Their beautifully written and paced relationship is the beating heart of the book and made me root for both.
Written in lyrical prose, yet easy to read, Avalon Hall leaves us on a mighty, revelatory cliffhanger that bodes well for book 2. Recommended.

[Sherry Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruth Miranda has a skill I deeply admire in an author. She can write a tale of romance, passion and pain, all qualities that have “popular” appeal and she does it with literary flair. Daphne Du Maurier had that ability too. Of course she wasn’t writing about witches, vampires and fae, but she certainly created mood and mystery and worked with steamy passions in novels such as Rebecca and The Strand, which has time travel, as does Avalon Hall. And both Emily Bronte and Charlotte were doing just the same thing for their own time, in fact well ahead of their times; with brooding passions, complicated loves, and family secrets, all told with literary skills to-the-nines. So yes, I really enjoyed Avalon Hall.
The first half of the book takes place in modern times, in the Scottish countryside outside of Glasgow, at a well-known academy for witches, a manor house called Avalon Hall. Miranda creates the perfect Scottish manor, with all the mood and atmosphere to set the stage. It is a place where witches send their young adult children, who have come into their witching powers a bit late in life, (not born with it manifesting early on as is more common) to deal with their late-blooming abilities. Early on (after a truly breathtaking and dramatic opening) Yseult, the female protagonist, arrives at Avalon Hall as a new student. Escaping a painful and abusive past has brought her to the academy to heal, to take a break from her family and to take stock of her life. She is an engaging character and you quickly come to like her; bright, vulnerable because of her past, but with a strength underneath that is waiting to emerge. She doesn’t consider herself beautiful and has many self-esteem issues, but she is actually physically beautiful, just not in a dainty cliqued way. As with all good character development, you get to experience her blossom and grow during the first half of the book and I enjoyed watching her powers develop. Yseult also has a love of Arthurian legend, and between her studies on the subject and what she observes at Avalon Hall, she becomes increasingly intrigued with the true history of Avalon Hall.
Then there is the handsome, reclusive, powerful and yet poetic male protagonist, the vampire Emrys. He actually owns Avalon Hall and the surrounding lands, but he lets the witches run the school. That is odd, because usually witches and vampires avoid each other. And that is all a part of the original and creative history that Ms. Miranda has imagined for witches, vampires, fae and werewolves, blending them all together in a brand new way and weaving them into the Arthurian legend. As a vampire, Emrys has lived for centuries, and unraveling who he really is, is part of the mystery and charm of the story. He has his own self-doubts and demons to deal with and a very complicated family and past. When Emrys and Yseult meet, it is only natural that a great romance may unfold. I say may because those very self-doubts and demons keep them dancing toward and away from each other, which only adds to the love story’s tension. A third character that I want to mention here (and there are the several more, including students who have distinct personalities and roles) is the headmaster of the school, Atticus. He knows exactly who Emrys is and their relationship is wonderful. In fact, he is really there to help Emrys in his struggles. He is in some ways like a father to Emrys and his only true friend of many years.
The second half of the book takes us into the past where Avalon thrives not as legend, but as life. How Ms. Miranda brings us into the past and into her totally original vision of the Arthurian tale, I will not give away. But it is fun. She has obviously studied the tale of King Arthur in depth and then has weaved her love of the ancient ones, vampires, fae, witches and a smattering of werewolves into all the characters of the famous legend’s history. The characters come to life and it is a riveting retelling of the Arthurian legend. You feel you are now finally getting the true story of King Arthur, and that it is being accomplished by first getting the legend’s complete prequel; before Arthur is even born. We get to know such famous characters as Merlin and Morganne as children. You can see in their childhood traits and actions all that will make them who they are meant to be. The Arthurian characters are well developed with many strong female roles. How Emrys and Yseult fit into all of this is beginning to unfold by the end of Avalon Hall, which is book one in this new series. All I can say is that I hope Merlin and Morganne will play important roles in book two and of course, King Arthur. I am very much looking forward to book two.
Sherry L Ross
Author of The Return of the Vinetropes and Seeds of the Pomegranate