Praesidium

Shadows in the Wind #1

by McKinley Aspen

Kathryn Bek gets the chance of a lifetime: a job offer right out of college, and in New York City, where adventure lies around every corner. Believing she is recruited for her marketing prowess, she is excited by the prospect of her new job in the intelligence sector; but all is not what it seems. Before long, Kathryn and her new team are thrown into a world of mystery, murder, and magic. As the team rushes around the world, untangling the web of lies, she finds that her past may be the key to protecting her, and the world's, future.

Will she be able to confront her fuzzy past to unlock the secrets within herself? Can her team rise to the challenge and stop the Paolucci Crime Family before they unleash havoc upon the globe?

Who will endure, the Kathryn of the past, or that of the future?

Praesidium can simply be described as "Good people with mad skills working to bring hope to a dark world."

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery, Supernatural, Action, Mystery Thriller

242 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 4, 2022

About the author

McKinley Aspen is a writer who lives in the United States. In addition to the normal family shenanigans, McKinley has a busy schedule as the “Chief Dog Walker” to Otis the puppy dog.

A graduate of both University of Chicago and Elmhurst University, McKinley enjoys exploring the world through family road trips, meals featuring Portillo’s beef with mozz, and St. Louis Cardinals baseball.

Reviews

[Maggie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you McKinley for the book box in exchange for my honest review!
I felt for the main character’s plight and I was invested in her journey. In addition, McKinley has a unique, creative take on the “superhero” realm that I’ve never watched or read before. This book was truly amazing!

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book effortless tells a story of a girl who has gone to college and thought her life was heading in a path based on all she learned only to discover that her destiny has more to do with her destiny. The lies she uncovers along the way allow her to see truths that were hidden and to embark on this new trajectory in her life. I want more please

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do not understand all the 5 star reviews. This book had potential, but it did not reach it.

I provided a mid-book update, but it seems to have disappeared. Not liking the new "improved" Goodreads.

I received this e-book via a Goodreads giveaway. I found the characters (and let's be serious, the plot/premise) not well-fleshed out at all. I totally don't understand the relationship between Kate & Scott. I couldn't even begin to care about a sequel.

[Anjali Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. If you enjoy well-written crime thrillers and you’re looking for something very different from the norm then PRAESIDIUM IS a must-read. It’s a highly original, intelligent story delivered in such a way that it’s hard to forget.

McKinley Aspen has done a masterful job in making her plot, her characters, and the villain of the book totally believable, which I take my hat off to. I can only imagine the amount of work that went into plotting and planning Kathryn’s story. What I do know for sure is that I am excited to read more by McKinley Aspen and my copy of ‘Praesidium’ will be moving to my friends. Recommended.

[John Berthiaume · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s very rare to find a new author who’s book can just grab your attention.

[Nursebookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

TITLE: PRAESIDIUM
AUTHOR: McKinlay Aspen
PUB DATE: 07.05.2022 Now Available
GENRE: Adventure, Fantasy

PRAESIDIUM is a fast paced novel that read like a movie to me. This is the first book in the Shadows in the Wind series, and it’s already looking promising.

The prologue sets up the overall tone of this story wonderfully, by bringing with it tension, mystery, and a sinister feel. Kathryn, a mere five year old then, witnesses the disappearance of her father on her birthday when her estranged aunt came for an unwelcome visit. Fast forward to now - Kathryn has graduated from college with a major in business and marketing, and is being heavily recruited for a company called HGS (Hope and Global Support) the “do gooders in the world” as part of a 4 member special projects team. The offer was too good to resist, with a great starting salary and a move to NYC. Kathryn’s new job is a far cry from marketing, as she realizes each of them has special powers to protect humanity against the Paolucci’s, a crime family notorious for evil deeds.

I found the writing fast paced, mysterious, and quite hard to put down. I enjoyed the element of magic, even some romance, and lots of adventure that takes this team all over the world, makes this for a fun and exciting read.

[Yvette Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can honestly say that Praesidium: Shadows in the Wind by McKinley Aspen was completely unexpected. The storyline was unique and the main characters were likeable…I found myself wanting to know more about them. I am hoping that book 2 in this series will delve deeper into each character’s story as we come to learn more about each of their very unusual gifts. I had no preconceived ideas about this book, and I admit I was quite surprised by the route taken to explain the special gifts and the speculation of where or from whom each originated. I really don’t want to say more as I feel that this element of surprise does lend itself to the mystery that is HGS. Pick up a copy and see for yourself. Intriguing and unexpected.

[Glenn Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting story of a young woman plunged into a role of defending the world against mysterious supernatural forces and an evil organization led by a ruthless figure of unknown power. She grapples with the enormity of her responsibility while realizing and unfurling a strength and level of ability she didn't know she possessed. This coupled with managing her relationship with her significant other, and trying to gel with her team and define her role in the group and her employer, HGS. She's conflicted, inexperienced, flawed, emotional, full of self-doubt, and, perhaps, just what the team needs?
Good flow to the story, doesn't get bogged down, but progresses nicely from one scenario to another. The characters are relatable in their humanity and flawed nature, and the author keeps the reader engaged by feeding us little tidbits of insight into the grand overall scheme of the shadowy villainous organization. This, as opposed to the traditional info dump in stories like this where the villain lays out all there is to know about their plans to the heroes, complete with handouts and a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation. Makes for a better reading experience, and leaves us looking forward to the next installment.
Let's hope its not too long before we see book 2. I, for one, am already chomping at the bit.

[Book Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my usual type of book but a good read all the same. The way our heroine Kathryn with Greg, Michael, and Ashley combat the evil done by that family crime organization is written very well. Kathryn is a badass hardworking and smart lady. You don’t wanna mess with her ever.

The storyline is full of twists and turns, with suspense and trepidation. It is a very good story that reminds us that teamwork is better rather than trying to deal with a problem alone. I really did enjoy this book and I’ll read more books by McKinley Aspen in the future.

[Nora Suntken · Rating 1 out of 5]

This genuinely might be one of the worst, if not THE worst, book I’ve ever read. The writing itself was horrible, but that wasn’t even the worst part. It was a weird supernatural story, turned biblical fiction where the main character randomly got married on the street to her boyfriend who, up until that point, had only been getting into arguments with her. I only read this because the hotel I’m staying at had a free download and a physical copy of the sequel was on my nightstand. Plot? What plot. This was disjointed as hell with a weird moral viewpoint. I think the people who gave this 5 stars are just not meant to read books because this bordered on being literally impossible to get through.

[Cherylle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kathryn has just been hired by an undercover magical agency that is in charge of catching bad villains raising havoc on the earth. She then learns that her family has secrets and she possesses a power that can help save the world. Definitely not what I expected but I quite liked it

[Barbara Reiff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book you can get addicted to. Looking forward to reading the sequel

[Jerry Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a good read.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this as a free giveaway, Thank you for that!
It was a good story but it really should be in the Young Adult genre.
I would recommend this to a teen reader. I guess I like my adventures a little more mature ;-)
Great job for a first book, best of luck with the series!

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the book. Fast read.

[Reader Views · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Praesidium and I think that anyone who likes an adventurous, fast, and exciting story will love it too. The book has a little bit of everything in it… some supernatural elements, some crime fighting, a lot of action, fun characters, and a little romance. I finished it in one sitting and cannot wait for the next installment.

This is the story of Kathryn Bek, or Kate, as she is known. Kate has just graduated from college and meets Raphael, a mysterious man who offers her the perfect job in New York City. While Kate thinks that she is being hired for her degree in marketing, it turns out that Raphael is hiring her for a different reason. Instead of sitting behind a desk, this wonderful character finds out that she has special powers she did not know about and is plunged, along with the rest of the new team, into a world of mystery, magic, and outright mayhem as she discovers these new talents. In addition, Kate’s past comes front and center, since the key to saving herself and the world apparently lies in the secrets of her past and her family.

As this group runs around the world trying to fix wrongs and stop a very large crime family, the team learns so much about themselves and each other and the reader is on the edge of their seat to see if the future can be saved and if Kate, her new husband, and the rest of the team will survive and stop the evil that needs to be stopped.

McKinley Aspen has successfully become one of my favorite authors in these 250 pages. The characters, all very different, are so well-written and they really complement each other in all the best ways…. of course, what more can you expect from a group of people out to save the world? The plot of the story is fast-paced and exciting and keeps you completely riveted from the first page to the last. I think that a huge part of this captivation is the fact that it is different from what is out there now and that alone makes it well worth the time to read it. Finally, there are so many other messages in the story, other than simply defeating the bad guys, like acceptance of others, faith, and learning to believe in yourself.

Did I already mention that I simply love this book? It is completely captivating and I really believe that everyone out there, young and old, will love it as much as I do… at least I hope they will. Thank you McKinley Aspen. I will be waiting as patiently as possible for book two. 5 Stars!!

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the supernatural adventure series called Shadow in the Winds. I really enjoyed it, given that I personally haven’t read anything like this.

The story goes, that one day at a career fair in Kathryn Beck’s college, she comes across a man named Raphael, who offers her to join a team of four to work under HGS company, to make an impact on the world. He claims to know that she possess certain skills and power that makes her a perfect candidate. Kathryn who is unsure and nervous, she attends the orientation and hesitantly accepts the opportunity with an impressive salary.

Only this is not an ordinary job. It consists of a team of four people: Ashley, Michael, Gregory and Kathryn herself. They all possess supernatural powers that is revealed to them when Raphael- their boss- assigns them adventurous projects where they have to intervene in criminal activities and fight against the dark organizations like Paolucci family.

This concept was unique and enticing. The blend of realism of ordinary life and supernatural adventures where Kathryn and her team members end evil businesses of human trafficking, drug dealing and theft, made it a really fun read. The writing style was simple which I always prefer. I liked the progression of the story with Kathryn discovering her supernatural strengths along with her friends, the way they bonded with each other like a family, and her relationship with her boyfriend Scott was bittersweet. It was a fast-paced story, with action thrill, love story (which was just how I like), taking place in real-world based locations in America.

I liked that the story wasn’t complicated to understand with backstories and supernatural energies and powers. There were very few moments in the book when I kind of lost interest (can’t spoil the storyline so I won’t be specific) but I bounced back when the team embarked on newer adventures. I was rooting for strong female characters that were confident and brave, yet were emotionally realistic. It was a pretty good debut novel, given that there will be more installments in the series. I am excited to read on and find out more about Kathryn and her family because it’s mainly focused on her.

Thank you Red Clover Digital for giving me a chance to read this book.

[Jypsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Red Clover Digital for a complimentary copy.
All opinions expressed are my own.

McKinley Aspen's PRAESIDIUM (Shadows In The Wind Book One) (07/2022) is a modern day story rooted in a classic theme: good versus evil. Kathryn Bek, the heroine, is a young woman after my own heart. As a recent college graduate in the field of marketing, Bek is seeking opportunities that offer stability and room for advancement. She fortuitously gets, and accepts, a fantastic offer from Hope And Global Support for a job in New York working as part of a 4 person unit.

This organization has recruited Bek, and the others, for specific reasons beyond their current understanding. Bek soon discovers that she possesses supernatural abilities which, along with the team's abilities, must be utilized to save the world. The enemy, The Paolucci Crime Family, are a dark force bent on destruction, but can they be stopped?

This story has many faces. It is a murder mystery, a science fiction adventure, a fantasy adventure, magical realism, a supernatural thriller, and the list keeps going. As such, there is something here for everyone. It is easy to like a story that is all encompassing, rather than restricted, by genre because the characters roam free, and the storyline can become any unwieldy thing with surprises at every turn. This is what kept me reading-the not knowing.

Bek and her team grow exponentially because of their experiences. Impossible situations lead to close bonds between teammates. The more Bek discovers about herself the more she needs people to rely on who understand. Her journey is a thrilling one that captures the imagination and leaves an impression.

In conclusion, PRAESIDIUM is a solid and powerful offering from author McKinley Aspen. The story might seem out of your comfort zone, but give it a go anyway. I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly entertained by this wholly original tale. You just might feel the same way!

[Deena Scintilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

**GOODREADS WIN**
After the first few chapters, this read like a Christian paranormal "YA" so it probably would be appropriate for younger readers. That being said, it was a fast read but because it's the first of a series, it did leave me hanging at the end. In future books, I'd like more character development of the "supporting cast" since they each bring their own talents to the group.

[Janet | purrfectpages · Rating 2 out of 5]

Recent college graduate, Kathryn Bek can’t believe her luck when she’s recruited for a dream job in the heart of New York City. While the position’s particulars are shrouded in mystery, she’s still excited to begin.

Soon after she starts, however, she realizes this job is a lot more than she bargained for. In her first few days, she’s introduced to the other young new hires, each of which has been recruited for their special abilities and the possibility of harnessing said abilities to fight a greater evil. But a part of Kathryn remains rightfully confused. She isn’t anything special, nor does she possess any powers to speak of…or does she?

Given it’s rather short 240 page length, Praesidium wastes no time getting down to business. And while the fast paced story manages to pull you in and keep you intrigued, I couldn’t help but thinking it would have been a more powerful read had more time been given to flesh out the story.

This book reminded me a bit of the hit science fiction drama, Heroes in its indoctrination of normal people doing extraordinary things. But what sets these stories apart is the richness that lies in origin stories like those who explored in Heroes. With Praesidium, everything is painted with rather broad strokes. Some might argue this is because there will be a future, unnumbered of installments in this series. I’d counter argue many events in this book could have been drawn out to entice the reader to come back for such installments. Instead everything from the characters powers, to their motivations, to the many missions seemed rushed. Even Kathryn’s relationship with her boyfriend went from one extreme to another rather quickly.

Die hard fans of the genre may feel differently, but while I was grateful to Red Clover Digital for a review copy, I’m not sure I’d come back to see what happens next.

[Stefanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

She sat curled up in the corner of a velvet sofa, sipping on a mug of hot coffee. Her comrades sat around the room sipping their own beverages and having quiet conversations amongst each other. Their voices were a soothing backdrop that helped ease the tension in her shoulders. Their next mission was coming up and the evil that permeated this assignment was frightening.

Praesidium is the first book in a new series by McKinley Aspen. Following the main character Kathryn, she is selected to be a part of a special group of people to help stop evil in the world. This unlikely group of four not only learn to work together, but discover new parts of themselves and how to wield a strength they never knew was possible.

A story about good versus evil; a mystery woven with magical elements, this book was an entertaining read. While the writing was amateur at times and I could have done without the romance element, which didn’t fit well within the story, I found the story to be engaging. The exploration of religion and supernatural forces was also intriguing. I think the author has a good base to continue with this series and I’m curious to see where it goes.

If you like magical realism stories with sci-fi elements, a mafia-type evil, and a group of people banding to fight… then you may enjoy this one!

TW: Murder, Death of a Parent, Kidnapping, Human Trafficking, Drug Use/Overdose, Drug Dealing, Gun Violence.

Thank you Red Clover Digital for my copy.

[Srinjini Banerjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a very interesting and well-written crime-cum-mystery story that follows the story of a young lady. The author gives the readers a detailed perspective of what Kathryn goes through once she joins a firm in New York City.
The plot twist- The Paolucci Crime Family is hellbent to unleash havoc upon the globe. Kathryn’s past is the key to protecting her, and the world's, future. How? I won’t go into details, read the story and know yourself!!

The book is a real page-turner and I am sure the readers will not be able to stop themselves, once they start reading. The author has been very meticulous with the details in the book which paints a very clear picture of the scenes in the minds of the readers. All of it feels very much like a movie and I won't be surprised if we soon get a movie adaptation of this. I can't wait to read more books by McKinley.

[Allie Bayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d round this up to a four, now that I’ve finished it! I loved the pace; super fast and high interest. I started it just before dinner and then other than the breaks to cook and get the kids to bed I finished it in one sitting! I was wildly curious to know how it would end. This novel has a little bit of everything going on; some supernatural, some “new adult” coming of age, some Scooby Doo crime fighting college kids vibes, some action, and even some romance. It was decent!! I think the only thing I actively disliked was how confused and out of my element I felt in a couple scenes. (That’s more on me than the author; it was a good balance of all of the elements on her part.) The ending had me physically drop my jaw, and then honestly the funniest part of the entire book was the A+ acknowledgements. Although Aspen is a Cardinals fan, I think I’ll have to pick up Book Two!

(Thank you, Red Clover Digital, for putting this one on my radar!)

[Sarah W · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the premise of this book and the magical realism aspect. It was full of action and didn’t waste time getting to the point of trying to save the world from dark magic, which kept the pace moving. I do wish there was more time spent on the characters' backstories and powers. I like how we got to see Kathryn’s past but I felt like it lacked the development of her powers. It felt like there were large time jumps as it went from mission to mission and not enough time in between getting to know the rest of the team on a personal level. The team met the villain early on and I liked how they used what they learned in future missions. This was a good start to a series and it was a fast read that kept me interested with a couple twists. I liked it, but I was expecting a little more time spent on getting to know the team's powers. I hope the next books dive a little deeper into the team's backstories.

Thank you to Red Clover Digital for the gifted copy.

[Nicole reading_with_nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Praesidium Book 1 of Shadows In The Wind Series - This is an exciting story set in New York around a young woman named Kathryn Bek - ⁣
Kathryn just finished college and has landed her dream job with Hope and Global Support - she will be a part of a four person team, what she does not know is that each of them hold a special power and they will need to work together to stop the Paolucci crime family..⁣
This book is well written, I enjoyed all the characters in this book- The story is fast paced and keeps you wanting more, it is a page turner for sure. I love that this book is for everyone and is a clean fiction book- It has a the right amount of thrill and mystery and a lot of twists and turns- I am very excited for book two in the series.. ⁣
If you are looking for a new ya series to start, give this book a look over- Thank you to Red Clover Digital for the gifted ebook.. ⁣

[Shreya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great thriller!

This book is a very interesting and well-written crime-cum-mystery story that follows the story of a young lady. The author gives the readers a detailed perspective of what Kathryn goes through once she joins a firm in New York City.
The plot twist- The Paolucci Crime Family is hellbent to unleash havoc upon the globe. Kathryn’s past is the key to protecting her, and the world's, future. How? I won’t go into details, read the story and know yourself!!

The book is a real page-turner and I am sure the readers will not be able to stop themselves, once they start reading. The author has been very meticulous with the details in the book which paints a very clear picture of the scenes in the minds of the readers. All of it feels very much like a movie and I won't be surprised if we soon get a movie adaptation of this. I can't wait to read more books by McKinley.

[Joanna Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Praesidium was SUCH a great start to a series! I cannot wait to see what Kate gets into next. Kathryn (Kate) Bek is about to graduate college and join the job hunt when she gets an interesting, mysterious, high paying offer at a company in NYC. Too good to pass up, she takes the job and realizes that instead of doing marketing she will be saving the world with some unique but similar to her coworkers. OH, and they all have secret powers! I loved the character development Kate experienced over the course of the short novel. She hones in on her powers and her new job and learns a lot about her family background in the process. I absolutely loved the drama, energy and action this book came with. I felt lie I was watching a movie and I can't wait for the next book to come out!

[Shining bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

As soon as Kathryn Bek joins her office, she has been struggling to come clean with something new. Luckily she has the support of her new teammates and she’ll stop at nothing to stop a crime family. But in order to save the globe, she’ll have to the Kathryn of the past or the future… I hate giving spoilers in my reviews, so please read the book and know what happens in the end.

The title is perfect for this book. It really does feel as though you are reading about a true-life event that has taken place. Kathryn Bek is the main character in this story as she tries to stop a crime family before they harm the globe. It was interesting reading this. Needless to say, it was part of the magic of storytelling.

[Sidhnath Yadav · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of us are chasing success in our life. We are always trying to improve our lives and get to a place in our lives where we feel satisfied and content. We put in our best efforts in a way that unlocks our potential and give us the finest results. But after getting there, do you think life can throw you into a web of lies, crime, and danger? Read this book and learn about the journey of New York-based Kathryn Bek.

It is an amazing thriller that immediately engages the readers in the plot and holds their attention until the end. The author very skillfully incorporates several elements of mystery, teamwork, and suspense throughout the story, and it seems the plot thickens with every turn of the page. The engaging writing style makes the reader a part of the novel.

[Harshali · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of PRAESIDIUM is told using fine grammar and comprehensible descriptions by McKinley Aspen and it gets revolved around a fictional character named Kathryn, her past, present, thoughts, feelings and input. There were quite a few characters involved in the story – Ashley, Greg, Michael, and the Paolucci Crime Family… they all played an important role in the story.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that the mystery of what happened to Kathryn Bek was very intriguing and I loved that the story kept me guessing until the very end. I would definitely read more of this author’s work in the future.