* NEW RELEASE SPECIAL* Review of INDIE Ebook Myth-Touched – Book 2 of the Shadows of Eireland series by Joanna Maciejewska #BrainfluffINDIEbookreview #Myth-Touchedbookreview

I’m a fan of Joanna Maciejewska’s writing – see my reviews of her superb sand and sorcery series – By the Pact, Scars of Stone, Shadows of Kaighal and Demon Siege. And I was blown away by the first book in this series – Humanborn. So when I saw this one was due to come out – I immediately pre-ordered it.

BLURB: In the war, being hunted by mythborn was day to day life. Peacetime had changed things, but myth-touched Kaja never expected to be hunted alongside the mythborn…

With her life hanging by a thread, Kaja had little time to consider Eithne’s offer of aid. Now, free of her affliction, she bears the consequences of that decision. Stuck among her former enemies, caught navigating the nuances of lies and politics, she’s presented with little choice but to accept the out offered by Cathal, leader of the Scáthanna.

But Cathal and his team have troubles of their own as an invisible enemy haunts their steps. If Kaja helps them, she’ll be targeted as well, and when dealing with a faceless enemy, the only way to survive is by carefully choosing allies and tempering trust.

REVIEW: The middle book in a series is often the trickiest to write. I recalled the story with great clarity as Humanborn, set in an alternate Ireland which has been ravaged by a magical apocalypse, was a memorable read for all the right reasons. Myth-Touched has a far more low-key start, with the story picking up exactly at the point that Humanborn leaves off. Personally, I could have done with a bonding moment with Kaja in order to reconnect with her on an emotional level at the beginning. And whatever you do – don’t pick this one up if you haven’t already read Humanborn, because you will have missed far too much of Kaja’s backstory.

That said, Joanna really captures the sense of dislocation and tension as Kaja spends her days in the mythborn stronghold amongst her former enemies. I liked the progression of this character – in the first book, she was apt to go her on own way. However, stranded in the castle and surrounded by beings who openly despise her for having been magically altered, we see Kaja gradually transform into someone far cagier and less reckless. The romantic element is well handled throughout – I really liked the fact that despite the growing attraction, Kaja opts to take things very, very slowly.

Feeling betrayed as the life she’s living isn’t the one she’d thought was on offer – Kaja is keen to join the elite team, the Scáthanna, even though some of the members don’t particularly like her. I was waiting for the dramatic showdown, where there is a horrible quarrel, wringing the maximum amount of angst from a tricky, somewhat soul-sapping situation. But Joanna doesn’t go there. Instead, Kaja has to reveal her worth by degrees in training sessions and by spending time alongside the rest of the team, who gradually let her in.

While all this is going on, Kaja is also coming to terms with her new abilities and altered body. Though all that takes a back seat when one of the Scáthanna is murdered on a sortie – which winded me. It happened to be someone I’d thoroughly liked and I simply wasn’t expecting it. But I should have – Joanna isn’t afraid to off likeable characters if it serves the story. The narrative gains momentum as the surviving members come to terms with losing one of their own against an increasing threat. Someone within the mythborn ranks is targeting the elite force and I found myself staying up way later than I should as the tension ramps up.

While this book charts Kaja’s journey as she comes to terms with her new life – the peril facing the Scáthanna isn’t wrapped up by the end. That said, the next book in the series, Snakebitten, is due out later this year. And I’ll definitely be getting hold of a copy of it. Highly recommended for readers who like their urban fantasy adventures with layered, realistic characters set in an interesting world.
9/10