Title: Ancient
Ways
Series: Hayle
Coven, #15
Author: Patti
Larsen
Publisher: Self-published
Publication Date: March
31, 2013
Genres: YA,
Paranormal
Reviewed by: Ellen
Fritz
Source: Received
from author for review
Ellen’s rating: 5/5
SUMMARY
Second year is finally over and Syd is happily
back at home in Wilding Springs. Her new love with Liam has yet to be explored
very far, thanks to his meddling and over-protective mother, and Syd is
beginning to lose patience with the whole thing. But when a desperate call for
help comes from an unlikely place, Syd finds herself once again charging into
danger, a danger that puts every single witch at risk.
REVIEW
As
usual it was a treat to be back with Syd and the gang for yet another
adventure. With all witch covens facing the imminent loss of their magic, Syd
steps up to find the culprits and stop them. Of course, until a large coven
like the Dumonts is targeted, nobody seems to have noticed that several small
covens had already suffered; or did they notice and choose to remain silent?
In Ancient Ways I definitely felt that the
series was gaining depth. With every book the characters are more fleshed out
and the world building advanced. Syd, particularly, is growing as a character.
Oh yes, she is not above petty childishness and some, often well deserved, self-pity.
She is, however, so much more adult than the girl who hated and denied her own
magic. Now a responsible young woman who has a purpose and a whole lot of
determination, Syd will fight against threats aimed at her family, fellow witches
or anything that endangers the magical world. I truly admire this kind of
progressive character development in a series.
In this
book Syd has a very big and heart breaking difference of opinion with her
mother. As leader of the high council of witches, Miriam Hayle can't afford to
disclose certain information or let disobedience pass; not even if her own
daughter is the one accused of disobedience. This conflict drives the story and
makes for some highly explosive, as well as deeply sad, moments.
With
antagonists like Ameline Benoit and the Brotherhood, Syd and company have
little peace and a great deal of adversity. Add to this an old enemy who is now
a valuable, if slightly crazy, friend and you won't want to miss a moment of
this book.
Full of
suspense, riveting action, Syd's impossibly complex romantic life, and a near
death experience for one of the most beloved characters, Ancient Ways is a page turner I simply couldn't put down.
I
advise readers to get the previous fourteen books in the series before reading Ancient Ways. I promise you, you won't
regret it.
PURCHASE LINKS
ABOUT the AUTHOR
My official bio reads like
this: Patti Larsen is an award-winning middle grade and young adult author with
a passion for the paranormal. But that sounds so freaking formal, doesn't it?
I'm a storyteller who hears teenager's voices so loud I have to write them
down. I love sports even though they don't love me. I've dabbled in everything
from improv theater to film making and writing TV shows, singing in an all girl
band to running my own hair salon.
But always, always, writing books calls me home.
I've had my sights set on world literary domination for a while
now. Which means getting my books out there, to you, my darling readers. It's
the coolest thing ever, this job of mine, being able to tell stories I love,
only to see them all shiny and happy in your hands... thank you for reading.
As for the rest of it, I'm short (permanent), slightly round
(changeable) and blonde (for ever and ever). I love to talk one on one about
the deepest topics and can't seem to stop seeing the big picture. I happily
live on Prince Edward Island, Canada, home to Anne of Green Gables and the most
beautiful red beaches in the world, with my very patient husband and four
massive cats.
AUTHOR LINKS
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