Iron Ember (Skye Druids #1)

Donna Grant

Blurb:

Skye isn’t just an island. It’s a home. A refuge. But not to Elodie MacLean. Not anymore. Tragedy tore her world apart and then took the one thing she felt made her whole. She vowed she’d never return, but that’s exactly where she ends up. Now, surrounded by the ghosts of her past, Elodie must navigate her version of Hell and try to make peace with herself and her family. But someone or something doesn’t want her on Skye, and she finds herself attacked—and this time not by her personal demons.

Scott Ryan has a mission: uncover who has been killing Druids and why. When his quest takes him to the beautiful Isle of Skye, he doesn’t think anything could captivate him more than the land itself—until he lays eyes on the breathtaking and confident beauty his leader sent him to find. However, it’s clear that she has trust issues, and he can’t reveal his plans—at least, not yet. But he’s always been sure of his ability to sway a person, and she’s a challenge he's more than happy to accept, especially when he finds he will do anything to protect her.

With so much history and so many secrets, victory is anything but guaranteed for the couple and their allies. And the forces at work, those who wish to rule the Scottish isle and all those who reside there, have a plan that nobody will see coming.

Themes: Paranormal, Magick, Fae

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating:

Review:

A new spinoff series begins in the remarkable Dark World of Donna Grant, one revolving around some of our favorite beings—the Skye Druids. I was a little skeptical that this one would be able to live up to some of the other spin-off series but I thoroughly enjoyed this first book and how it picked up right when the last book in the world of the Reapers left off. This story was filled with intrigue, secrets, betrayals, and ultimately the unexpected love of two people on seemingly opposing sides of the battle. Elodie MacLean has returned to the Isle of Skye in Scotland for only one reason—she’s hit rock bottom and has no other option in her life at the moment. Determined to do what is needed to fix up the family cabin in order to sell it and take her portion of the profit, she is pushing her past and the hideous truths she lived with there away, but the worst part is that she has lost her magick and doesn’t even consider herself a druid anymore. Scott Ryan is on the isle for only one reason, to bring Elodie back to Edinburgh and get to her join the fight to save the lives of druids everywhere, because he’s been told she is the key to the coming battle. But once they meet Elodie and Scott’s loose friendship soon turns into so much more as enemies begins to come out of the woodwork and Elodie’s past and list if blown wide open. They must come to trust in one another and their allies fully or they will lose the battles ahead and most likely the war being fought on so many fronts to end the Druids of Skye, and all druids in the end forever. I loved this story though I cried through so much of it. Elodie’s passion for life is just gone, but she never gives up fighting and never quits believing she can find her way back, that strength so much of what makes her such a great heroine. Scott might have ulterior motives in the beginning, but in the end the only reasons for anything he does is the love he’s developed for Elodie and the fear for her safety at every turn. I enjoyed reading their love story and seeing the passion sparking between them as they grew closer to one another. I loved seeing some of my favorite druids from past branches of the overall Grant worlds and seeing them all mingling together for the good of all druids. I am really looking forward to more in this series and seeing them ultimately kick ass against the hideous villain they don’t even yet realize is in their midst in disguise. Another masterpiece for Donna Grant and I wish I had even a fraction of her talent.