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The Danaan Trilogy #1
The Forgotten Ones
Librarian's Note: Alternate cover for this ASIN can be found here.
Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember.
What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.
Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember.
What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.
197 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 28, 2013
About the author
Laura Howard
15 books908 followers*Visit www.laurahoward78.blogspot.com to join Laura's new releases email list and never miss her new books!*
Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other girly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn’t until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is her first published novel.
Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other girly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn’t until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is her first published novel.
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July 23, 2014
The Forgotten Ones is book one in the Danaan Trilogy by Laura Howard. I found this book a great start into the world of Irish Fairy tales, the story of a 21 year old girl struggling with the responsibility of having a schizophrenic Mother and never knowing her Dad. And of finding out about a world she never dreamed existed. A world she is forever linked to whether she wants to be or not.
Allison O’Malley keeps herself isolated on purpose. She feels like her only goals should be going to grad school and preparing to take over the responsibility of caring for her Mom. She and her mentally ill Mom live with her grandparents and she knows that eventually they won’t be able to help her to care for her. She has been in love with her long time friend, Ethan for as long as she can remember. But she feels like she can’t let those emotions out. She can’t put the life she is destined for onto anyone else’s shoulders. Her only joy is on her daily runs. When her feet are pounding the pavement, everything else falls away.
Her Mother, Elizabeth O’Malley is a gifted violinist. She met Allison’s father, Liam, on vacation in Ireland but when he disappeared, she returned home to Stoneville alone and pregnant. She still plays the violin occasionally and this is the only reminder Allison has of the woman her mother used to be.
Everything in Allison’s life changed the day Liam, her father, showed up at her door, not looking a day older than the day he met her mother, 22 years ago. Liam claims he can fix everything and tells Allison about a world she never dreamed existed. A world she only thought was found in fairy tales. There are dark forces at work and as Allison slowly grows to trust Liam, they work together to try to fix things.
I did enjoy this book. My complaint is the names of all the characters. I found it easiest to just sort of skim over them and pronounce them however I saw them. And I am hoping that in book two there will be more romance between Ethan and Allison. They clearly love each other and I so want them to be together. Even as Allison and her father are working to save her mother, Allison still carries huge responsibilities on her shoulders. It seems like no matter what she does, she is having to save someone. She is a tough girl, much tougher than even she realizes, and I think there is much to discover as to what she is capable of. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Allison O’Malley keeps herself isolated on purpose. She feels like her only goals should be going to grad school and preparing to take over the responsibility of caring for her Mom. She and her mentally ill Mom live with her grandparents and she knows that eventually they won’t be able to help her to care for her. She has been in love with her long time friend, Ethan for as long as she can remember. But she feels like she can’t let those emotions out. She can’t put the life she is destined for onto anyone else’s shoulders. Her only joy is on her daily runs. When her feet are pounding the pavement, everything else falls away.
Her Mother, Elizabeth O’Malley is a gifted violinist. She met Allison’s father, Liam, on vacation in Ireland but when he disappeared, she returned home to Stoneville alone and pregnant. She still plays the violin occasionally and this is the only reminder Allison has of the woman her mother used to be.
Everything in Allison’s life changed the day Liam, her father, showed up at her door, not looking a day older than the day he met her mother, 22 years ago. Liam claims he can fix everything and tells Allison about a world she never dreamed existed. A world she only thought was found in fairy tales. There are dark forces at work and as Allison slowly grows to trust Liam, they work together to try to fix things.
I did enjoy this book. My complaint is the names of all the characters. I found it easiest to just sort of skim over them and pronounce them however I saw them. And I am hoping that in book two there will be more romance between Ethan and Allison. They clearly love each other and I so want them to be together. Even as Allison and her father are working to save her mother, Allison still carries huge responsibilities on her shoulders. It seems like no matter what she does, she is having to save someone. She is a tough girl, much tougher than even she realizes, and I think there is much to discover as to what she is capable of. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
February 10, 2017
The Forgotten Ones was nicely written story but it didn't capture me and it left me completely indifferent. Since this is just my subjective opinion, don't feel discouraged to read it yourself, you may feel different about it.
My Allison and Ethan:
Allison is 21 years old girl who grew up without knowing her father and with only one aim - take care of her schizophrenic mother and take burden off her grandparents. She is introvert, prefers to be alone with her book and her only true friend is her cousin Nicole. When 23 years old Ethan, on whom she had crush for years, starts to pursue her, Allison tries to keep her distance from him. Especially when her father appears out of nowhere, telling her stories about supernatural race the Tuatha de Danaan and claiming she and her mother are in danger...
This story was not bad or annoying but I was never really entertained either. The premise of this story had potential, but for some reason I did not find its execution that much interesting. Allison was a little bit boring character, Ethan was not there enough and there were so many side characters that I even forget the names of most of them. Also, even though main characters were in their early 20s and I expected NA story, it has strictly YA feeling. Don't take me wrong, I love YA paranormal stories but I just did not end up loving this one.
This is not a standalone, after ending it was sure there will be continuation to the overall story but fortunatelly, there was no cliffhanger. The Forgotten Ones is a short story so if you find premise interesting, give it a chance, you may end up loving it.
* The copy provided by author as an exhcgange for honest review *
My Allison and Ethan:
Allison is 21 years old girl who grew up without knowing her father and with only one aim - take care of her schizophrenic mother and take burden off her grandparents. She is introvert, prefers to be alone with her book and her only true friend is her cousin Nicole. When 23 years old Ethan, on whom she had crush for years, starts to pursue her, Allison tries to keep her distance from him. Especially when her father appears out of nowhere, telling her stories about supernatural race the Tuatha de Danaan and claiming she and her mother are in danger...
This story was not bad or annoying but I was never really entertained either. The premise of this story had potential, but for some reason I did not find its execution that much interesting. Allison was a little bit boring character, Ethan was not there enough and there were so many side characters that I even forget the names of most of them. Also, even though main characters were in their early 20s and I expected NA story, it has strictly YA feeling. Don't take me wrong, I love YA paranormal stories but I just did not end up loving this one.
This is not a standalone, after ending it was sure there will be continuation to the overall story but fortunatelly, there was no cliffhanger. The Forgotten Ones is a short story so if you find premise interesting, give it a chance, you may end up loving it.
* The copy provided by author as an exhcgange for honest review *
November 12, 2013
I wanted to like this book. I really did... but wow.
Here are some impressions in random order:
1. The heroine is supposed to be in her early 20s, but she reads like she's middle grade. I have never read something so juvenile pretending to be for young or new adults.
2. I happen to have a mother with a severe mental illness and I know a lot of people who do because I was made to go to a support group and the main character's single minded obsession is just... stupid. That's not what it's like when you live with a mother like that every day of your life. And it's certainly not a reason to keep refusing the guy you really love. It's such a contrived obstacle to the relationship.
3. Somehow, the author managed to include the most boring part of the story while glossing over the interesting ones. I can't believe how many dull conversations about nothing pertaining to the story at all are had in this book.
4. Most problematic for me of all - the prose was intensely distant from what was happening. Most of the time, I felt like I was reading a very detailed synopsis. I wasn't "in" the story or fevered along with the heroine for a single page. I kept wondering when the plot would start, when the excitement would start, when I'd get sucked in - but all the author did was tell me about the events. One after the other. It was like watching a tv show on fast forward, so that you can't hear anything and you don't form a connection at all.
I will continue to support indie books, but this one was a huge disappointment especially because there's such a buzz about it.
Here are some impressions in random order:
1. The heroine is supposed to be in her early 20s, but she reads like she's middle grade. I have never read something so juvenile pretending to be for young or new adults.
2. I happen to have a mother with a severe mental illness and I know a lot of people who do because I was made to go to a support group and the main character's single minded obsession is just... stupid. That's not what it's like when you live with a mother like that every day of your life. And it's certainly not a reason to keep refusing the guy you really love. It's such a contrived obstacle to the relationship.
3. Somehow, the author managed to include the most boring part of the story while glossing over the interesting ones. I can't believe how many dull conversations about nothing pertaining to the story at all are had in this book.
4. Most problematic for me of all - the prose was intensely distant from what was happening. Most of the time, I felt like I was reading a very detailed synopsis. I wasn't "in" the story or fevered along with the heroine for a single page. I kept wondering when the plot would start, when the excitement would start, when I'd get sucked in - but all the author did was tell me about the events. One after the other. It was like watching a tv show on fast forward, so that you can't hear anything and you don't form a connection at all.
I will continue to support indie books, but this one was a huge disappointment especially because there's such a buzz about it.
December 11, 2016
I really liked the first half of this book but the second half seemed to drag on and on.
I thought the concept and plot was really cool. I loved the Irish folklore aspect of this book. The writing style was pretty good and it was fairly fast paced.
I wasn't really a fan of Ethan and Allison's relationship though. It never went anywhere, there was no development, and it was just kind of boring. For being a New Adult book, I expected a lot more.
The Forgotten Ones was a fun, short read but not quite what I was expecting.
I thought the concept and plot was really cool. I loved the Irish folklore aspect of this book. The writing style was pretty good and it was fairly fast paced.
I wasn't really a fan of Ethan and Allison's relationship though. It never went anywhere, there was no development, and it was just kind of boring. For being a New Adult book, I expected a lot more.
The Forgotten Ones was a fun, short read but not quite what I was expecting.
Want to read
December 30, 2012Laura is a thoughtful and sweet writer, so I have super high hopes for this, the concept sounds haunting and beautiful. Can't wait!
April 28, 2014
I was drawn to this book the moment I seen the cover and with all my friends talking about it all over facebook I had to go and check it out to see what all the talk was about!! I fell deeply in love with this book from the first moment I started reading it! It had this mystery about it and I couldn't stop until I figured out what it was and boy did I !!! I never suspected..... and the ending was INCREDIBLE!! I can't wait to read the 2nd book (there better be one LOL) to find out what's going to happen next! Lots of magic and adventure waiting to be discovered in this book!
May 18, 2013
cover is hauntingly beautiful
my only complaint is the characters names...I had no idea how to pronounce them so I would just kind of skip over the names to where I was slightly confused by who was who by the end of the book. Then, the correct pronunciation of the names was at the END of the book. too little too late IMHO.
Great plot through. I'm anxious for the second installment and am hopeful for more back story into this new world that is very intriguing
my only complaint is the characters names...I had no idea how to pronounce them so I would just kind of skip over the names to where I was slightly confused by who was who by the end of the book. Then, the correct pronunciation of the names was at the END of the book. too little too late IMHO.
Great plot through. I'm anxious for the second installment and am hopeful for more back story into this new world that is very intriguing
September 10, 2013
From the first time I lay my eyes on The Forgotten Ones I knew it would be an interesting read. Well the first thing that got my attention was the cover of the book, I just fell in love with it. Secondly the intriguing synopsis of the story that definitely captured my attention. Thirdly the mention of schizophrenia, because of my psychological obsessions over stuff like that. To add to all of that it was also an YA and Fantasy genre with romance! This here felt like all the perfect combinations of everything that I'm looking for in a book, so I gave it a shot.
The Forgotten Ones had a really interesting plot. I don't think I read anything like in this book before, and that was a big plus. The first half of the book didn't feel like a fantasy to me, it had more of a contemporary feel to it, which honestly didn't really bother me at all. I liked get to know the main character more and the people she cared about. That is what the first half is, also with a little bit of the romance interest of the main character, Allison. The fantasy starts when Allison father shows up asking for her mother not even knowing he had a daughter.Him and Allison than go on an adventure trying to find a way to help her mother and maybe even save themselves. The why of why her mother was the way she is in a story I found that really unique. Also the history of The Tuatha de Danaan was just fascinating, I loved how author used Irish mythology.
At first I didn't really like the main character, Allison. I understood were she was coming from and why she was the way she was, because of her mother, but I also found her to be boring. Only towards the end of the book where she developed as a character, I started to like her. So I think in a next book I will definitely like her a lot more. I really liked the Irish characters in a book, I just loved when they talked and the finding out of their history and powers. The only thing I found confusing i their names, author did wrote how to right say their names, but I couldn't remember who was who from times to times.
There also was a little bit of a romance in this book. Allison liked a boy Ethan, and surprise but he liked her back. She didn't want to have a relationship with him because she wants to take care of her mother, and I really liked that about her but you can't always take care of her, you need to have a life and some fun, and a little bit of romance. I did found their relationship cute, but it wasn't anything serious. But I think in a next book their is going to be a lot more romance, I hope.
Overall, I did enjoyed The Forgotten Ones. I really liked the story line and the fascinating history. I also enjoyed the characters, if not from the beginning than definitely at the end. What I hoped for more was a little more of romance. I also wished that the book was longer, I think it would of made a big difference. I think people would enjoy this book and I can honestly say that I will probably most definitely read the next book because there was quit a cliffhanger.
The Forgotten Ones had a really interesting plot. I don't think I read anything like in this book before, and that was a big plus. The first half of the book didn't feel like a fantasy to me, it had more of a contemporary feel to it, which honestly didn't really bother me at all. I liked get to know the main character more and the people she cared about. That is what the first half is, also with a little bit of the romance interest of the main character, Allison. The fantasy starts when Allison father shows up asking for her mother not even knowing he had a daughter.Him and Allison than go on an adventure trying to find a way to help her mother and maybe even save themselves. The why of why her mother was the way she is in a story I found that really unique. Also the history of The Tuatha de Danaan was just fascinating, I loved how author used Irish mythology.
At first I didn't really like the main character, Allison. I understood were she was coming from and why she was the way she was, because of her mother, but I also found her to be boring. Only towards the end of the book where she developed as a character, I started to like her. So I think in a next book I will definitely like her a lot more. I really liked the Irish characters in a book, I just loved when they talked and the finding out of their history and powers. The only thing I found confusing i their names, author did wrote how to right say their names, but I couldn't remember who was who from times to times.
There also was a little bit of a romance in this book. Allison liked a boy Ethan, and surprise but he liked her back. She didn't want to have a relationship with him because she wants to take care of her mother, and I really liked that about her but you can't always take care of her, you need to have a life and some fun, and a little bit of romance. I did found their relationship cute, but it wasn't anything serious. But I think in a next book their is going to be a lot more romance, I hope.
Overall, I did enjoyed The Forgotten Ones. I really liked the story line and the fascinating history. I also enjoyed the characters, if not from the beginning than definitely at the end. What I hoped for more was a little more of romance. I also wished that the book was longer, I think it would of made a big difference. I think people would enjoy this book and I can honestly say that I will probably most definitely read the next book because there was quit a cliffhanger.
December 5, 2015
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
The Forgotten Ones follows the story of Allison. Allison has spent most of her life worrying and caring for her schizophrenic mother. She has isolated herself from friends and having fun. Even risking losing the chance at a possible relationship with Ethan.....One thing that Allison never planned on was her father coming back into the picture. He claims that he can help her mother get her mind back, but Allison doesn't trust him. However, circumstances beyond Allison's control will force her to put her faith in her father(Liam) and some truths/secrets will turn her life upside down......
I think that The Forgotten Ones is off to a really good start. I found the concept of the story to be really interesting. I haven't read a lot of books that deal with Irish folklore, so this was fun for me to read. I also enjoyed having Allison's dreams play a part in the story and how they helped her put the pieces together of what was happening!
The Forgotten Ones is pretty fast paced. I wish we could have gotten a little more time with the characters, especially Ethan. I would have liked to see more of the relationship between Allison and Ethan, so I could get a better understanding of their feelings for each other. But, I'm hopeful that we will get that in the next book :)
And that ending!!!!! It ended with such a cliffhanger!!! I was left with a lot of questions and anticipation for the next installment!
Overall, I found this book to be enjoyable and off to a very promising start. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book and seeing what will happen next!!
*****I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*****
The Forgotten Ones follows the story of Allison. Allison has spent most of her life worrying and caring for her schizophrenic mother. She has isolated herself from friends and having fun. Even risking losing the chance at a possible relationship with Ethan.....One thing that Allison never planned on was her father coming back into the picture. He claims that he can help her mother get her mind back, but Allison doesn't trust him. However, circumstances beyond Allison's control will force her to put her faith in her father(Liam) and some truths/secrets will turn her life upside down......
I think that The Forgotten Ones is off to a really good start. I found the concept of the story to be really interesting. I haven't read a lot of books that deal with Irish folklore, so this was fun for me to read. I also enjoyed having Allison's dreams play a part in the story and how they helped her put the pieces together of what was happening!
The Forgotten Ones is pretty fast paced. I wish we could have gotten a little more time with the characters, especially Ethan. I would have liked to see more of the relationship between Allison and Ethan, so I could get a better understanding of their feelings for each other. But, I'm hopeful that we will get that in the next book :)
And that ending!!!!! It ended with such a cliffhanger!!! I was left with a lot of questions and anticipation for the next installment!
Overall, I found this book to be enjoyable and off to a very promising start. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book and seeing what will happen next!!
*****I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*****
February 13, 2014
It’s a sad day when you start reading a new book and after the first two or three chapters you start to realize that you already read it a year or so ago and it left absolutely no lasting impression on you.
The Forgotten Ones is not bad but there were several things that kept me from really liking it – or remembering it.
I read a lot of Young Adult and New Adult books. Why? Basically because of three facts: First there is this nostalgic touch to it, the memory of your first time: Your first kiss, your first falling in love, your first sexual relationship, the first real friendships and your first important decisions to make, the first big arguments with your parents. Second because I like to think “would I have done the same”, to compare and measure. Third because at its heart YA and NA both offer almost always a safe ending with Happily Ever Afters.
But The Forgotten Ones offers nothing of the above. As you will see Allie has no friends, she is bitchy to just everybody her own age, she’d rather read “Gone with the Wind” for the 10th time than talking to her so called friends while on the beach. She is nothing like me, I would never have done the things she does and I don’t like her, at all. Because of Allison O'Malley's age (she is 21) I would have expected her being more mature. But as soon as she leaves her schizophrenic mother behind and is confronted with her cousin and ”her friends” and especially Ethan she resorts to very immature behavior:
Excuse me? What’s the problem with that girl? As much as I admire her for wanting to take care of her mother and to unburden her grandparents for the life of me I cannot think of one justified reason why she shouldn’t have a little time left for friends and why she so adamantly wants to resist falling in love. Her single mindedness and nasty attitude drove me nuts: Nicole and her friends always have to convince her to join them and always she is the “good girl”, the reasonable one. She is a fucking Mary Sue!
That’s the crux: all her behavior shouts clear: Leave me the fuck alone!
It’s always ‘Nicole and her friends’, never ‘my friends’. It’s always such an ordeal to submit to “mindless conversation”. That girl drove me nuts! What is wrong with wanting to care for your parents AND having a little bit of fun in your life?
For a New Adult novel I felt the level of romance was underdeveloped as were the characters. It left me totally unimpressed and rather disappointed. Al is one of the most boring heroines I have ever encountered in New Adult books. Sorry to say, but even Bella Swan has more appeal. She's got a crush on Ethan but doesn’t flirt back because she thinks a romance would get in her way and also because she thinks Ethan is something of a player. I did not think I would ever say this but I was wishing for a sparkling vegetarian vampire like Edward to come and light up the romance because Ethan and Allie left me cold as ice. There is also something of a love triangle that I feel will play a major role in the next book. I couldn’t care less.
As to the plot: The first half reads like a plain vanilla romance and as I already mentioned I was not convinced or taken by that romance and especially not by Allie as MC. The beginning was well paced even a little bit slow and then the second part of the book where all the fantasy elements were focused everything happened extremely quickly and felt rushed. I don’t think those two parts merged well together. Because I was so annoyed by the first half of the book I couldn’t be bothered by the second part even though there’s (finally) more action and magic involved. The cliffhanger ending is a total bummer. The Forgotten Ones is a half told story (in my opinion) that could have been so much more but instead leaves much to be desired.
The Forgotten Ones is not bad but there were several things that kept me from really liking it – or remembering it.
I read a lot of Young Adult and New Adult books. Why? Basically because of three facts: First there is this nostalgic touch to it, the memory of your first time: Your first kiss, your first falling in love, your first sexual relationship, the first real friendships and your first important decisions to make, the first big arguments with your parents. Second because I like to think “would I have done the same”, to compare and measure. Third because at its heart YA and NA both offer almost always a safe ending with Happily Ever Afters.
But The Forgotten Ones offers nothing of the above. As you will see Allie has no friends, she is bitchy to just everybody her own age, she’d rather read “Gone with the Wind” for the 10th time than talking to her so called friends while on the beach. She is nothing like me, I would never have done the things she does and I don’t like her, at all. Because of Allison O'Malley's age (she is 21) I would have expected her being more mature. But as soon as she leaves her schizophrenic mother behind and is confronted with her cousin and ”her friends” and especially Ethan she resorts to very immature behavior:
“Hi,” I muttered before shoving a glob of half-melted ice cream in my mouth to avoid conversation.
(…)
Ethan’s teeth gleamed against his deep tan as he laughed. I stared back down at my feet again, wishing I were home doing laundry.
Excuse me? What’s the problem with that girl? As much as I admire her for wanting to take care of her mother and to unburden her grandparents for the life of me I cannot think of one justified reason why she shouldn’t have a little time left for friends and why she so adamantly wants to resist falling in love. Her single mindedness and nasty attitude drove me nuts: Nicole and her friends always have to convince her to join them and always she is the “good girl”, the reasonable one. She is a fucking Mary Sue!
”I hear you kids are heading to the beach today,” Pop (her grandfather) said (…)
“That’s right. Can’t wait.” I dropped down on the couch with my coffee.
Pop folded down the corner of his paper again, peering at me over his reading glasses. “It’s okay to have some fun once in a while, Al.”
I snorted in response. Going to the beach with Nicole and her friends didn’t really count as fun in my book. Other than Nicole, I didn’t really feel comfortable around anyone my own age. I’d never fit in, I’d rather just be alone or sit in the backyard with a book while Gram worked in her garden.
That’s the crux: all her behavior shouts clear: Leave me the fuck alone!
“There you are! I’ve been texting you all morning.”
I sighed, knowing what was going to happen before she was even in front of me. Once again, I had no believable excuses.
“I’m going to a cookout at Jeff’s parents’ house. Wanna come?” No matter how many times I’d turned down her invitations in the past, she never lost hope that I would one day be happy to tag along with her and her friends. (…)
“Are you sure I’m even invited?” I knew I was just putting off the inevitable. But I had to put up a little bit of a fight. I couldn’t let Nicole get complacent. She glanced at me and frowned. “I just invited you.” I breathed deeply. “If I come, will you leave me alone for the rest of the week?”
It’s always ‘Nicole and her friends’, never ‘my friends’. It’s always such an ordeal to submit to “mindless conversation”. That girl drove me nuts! What is wrong with wanting to care for your parents AND having a little bit of fun in your life?
For a New Adult novel I felt the level of romance was underdeveloped as were the characters. It left me totally unimpressed and rather disappointed. Al is one of the most boring heroines I have ever encountered in New Adult books. Sorry to say, but even Bella Swan has more appeal. She's got a crush on Ethan but doesn’t flirt back because she thinks a romance would get in her way and also because she thinks Ethan is something of a player. I did not think I would ever say this but I was wishing for a sparkling vegetarian vampire like Edward to come and light up the romance because Ethan and Allie left me cold as ice. There is also something of a love triangle that I feel will play a major role in the next book. I couldn’t care less.
As to the plot: The first half reads like a plain vanilla romance and as I already mentioned I was not convinced or taken by that romance and especially not by Allie as MC. The beginning was well paced even a little bit slow and then the second part of the book where all the fantasy elements were focused everything happened extremely quickly and felt rushed. I don’t think those two parts merged well together. Because I was so annoyed by the first half of the book I couldn’t be bothered by the second part even though there’s (finally) more action and magic involved. The cliffhanger ending is a total bummer. The Forgotten Ones is a half told story (in my opinion) that could have been so much more but instead leaves much to be desired.
April 14, 2013
I was given an ARC for an Honest Review.
Laura Howard Totally rocks.I have literally been waiting to read The Forgotten Ones for what feels like forever.This is the story of Allison dealing with her mothers Schizophrenia.She feels guilty that her family have had to help so she is trying to make it so she can do it on her own.She pushes people away because of it.Ethan is a guy who is trying very very hard to break through her walls.Liam comes to town and with him comes many surprises which are unexpected for Allison.She takes it better then I would.That is all I am saying.I do not like giving spoilers so that is that.Lips sealed.
This is definitely a must read in my book.Isn't the cover beautiful?Its so much more then what you think its going to be.It has the first tinges of a romance happening.It has Irish Folk Lore,it has exceptional secondary characters. The best part of The Forgotten Ones is that it draws you in and leaves you wanting more.I am eagerly awaiting Book number 2 and Will probrably start to Pickett Laura Howard's Facebook page to get it out there.Trust me on this.Read it.You will be so happy you did!It has definitely been worth the wait.Laura you did an amazing job and I will be looking forward to reading more by you.Thats a fact jack.
Laura Howard Totally rocks.I have literally been waiting to read The Forgotten Ones for what feels like forever.This is the story of Allison dealing with her mothers Schizophrenia.She feels guilty that her family have had to help so she is trying to make it so she can do it on her own.She pushes people away because of it.Ethan is a guy who is trying very very hard to break through her walls.Liam comes to town and with him comes many surprises which are unexpected for Allison.She takes it better then I would.That is all I am saying.I do not like giving spoilers so that is that.Lips sealed.
This is definitely a must read in my book.Isn't the cover beautiful?Its so much more then what you think its going to be.It has the first tinges of a romance happening.It has Irish Folk Lore,it has exceptional secondary characters. The best part of The Forgotten Ones is that it draws you in and leaves you wanting more.I am eagerly awaiting Book number 2 and Will probrably start to Pickett Laura Howard's Facebook page to get it out there.Trust me on this.Read it.You will be so happy you did!It has definitely been worth the wait.Laura you did an amazing job and I will be looking forward to reading more by you.Thats a fact jack.
Shelved as 'my-kindle-freebie-to-read'
July 16, 2013FREE TODAY 7-16-13 on Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CKXODRG/r...
May 17, 2013
Check out more of my reviews @ Moosubi Reviews!
I’m not much of a New Adult reader (though I’d love to read more!), so most of what I read from the New Adult genre happens to be contemporaries. And even by chance, if I do get to pick up a good New Adult fantasy novel, it’s usually an epic fantasy, not an urban fantasy. So when THE FORGOTTEN ONES came along, I was thrilled at the prospect of maybe getting to read one! That being said, I would probably say THE FORGOTTEN ONES ended up being an interesting and somewhat entertaining story, but not one that wowed me or had tons of New Adult-y content.
Part of the reason is because the first half or so of the novel read more like a contemporary romance, rather than a fantasy novel. Combined with the fact that the book itself isn’t very long, it made me feel like there wasn’t enough magic or fantasy in the story. And to be completely honest, though I thought the love interest and romance were sweet, I didn’t feel like there was much special about it either.
I was also iffy on the heroine, Allison. On the positive side, she’s strong in her own way by taking care of her schizophrenic mother and rescuing her comrades when they’re in need. However, sometimes I also found her point of view a bit dull, as I don’t feel like her character develops significantly. And this is more of a personal thing, but I’m also sick of the cliché that a heroine likes a guy, and the guy likes her back, but they can’t be together, especially since I think her excuse for not being with Ethan was a bit weak. But again, that might just be me.
One last, but more minor, thing that bothered me was that the story also seemed to follow some clichés. For example, you have that Allison isn’t actually completely human, since she’s actually part fairy. Realistically, how many times have we seen that scenario before?
And now to the positive stuff! I found that once Allison starts her adventure into another world, the story had a bit quicker pace and a more fantastical feel to it. Because of that, I, of course, was more engaged into the story. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, but I’ll say there’s much more drama, magic (think beautiful fairy courts, spells, curses and creatures!), betrayals and secrets involved, which, erm, tends to attract my attention :p There were even a few small twists I didn’t expect, which I hope will develop more in the next installment!
Overall, though I’d say THE FORGOTTEN ONES didn’t turn out to be what I expected in the beginning, I still relatively enjoyed the story by the end. This novel would probably appeal to YA or NA fans looking for a quick read that’s not too complex in its fantasy world, as there are still contemporary elements, but still having some magical elements. NA contemporary fans might also enjoy this novel, since quite a bit of novel read just like a contemporary book.
* Thank you to the author & IFB Blog Tours for the review copy!
I’m not much of a New Adult reader (though I’d love to read more!), so most of what I read from the New Adult genre happens to be contemporaries. And even by chance, if I do get to pick up a good New Adult fantasy novel, it’s usually an epic fantasy, not an urban fantasy. So when THE FORGOTTEN ONES came along, I was thrilled at the prospect of maybe getting to read one! That being said, I would probably say THE FORGOTTEN ONES ended up being an interesting and somewhat entertaining story, but not one that wowed me or had tons of New Adult-y content.
Part of the reason is because the first half or so of the novel read more like a contemporary romance, rather than a fantasy novel. Combined with the fact that the book itself isn’t very long, it made me feel like there wasn’t enough magic or fantasy in the story. And to be completely honest, though I thought the love interest and romance were sweet, I didn’t feel like there was much special about it either.
I was also iffy on the heroine, Allison. On the positive side, she’s strong in her own way by taking care of her schizophrenic mother and rescuing her comrades when they’re in need. However, sometimes I also found her point of view a bit dull, as I don’t feel like her character develops significantly. And this is more of a personal thing, but I’m also sick of the cliché that a heroine likes a guy, and the guy likes her back, but they can’t be together, especially since I think her excuse for not being with Ethan was a bit weak. But again, that might just be me.
One last, but more minor, thing that bothered me was that the story also seemed to follow some clichés. For example, you have that Allison isn’t actually completely human, since she’s actually part fairy. Realistically, how many times have we seen that scenario before?
And now to the positive stuff! I found that once Allison starts her adventure into another world, the story had a bit quicker pace and a more fantastical feel to it. Because of that, I, of course, was more engaged into the story. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, but I’ll say there’s much more drama, magic (think beautiful fairy courts, spells, curses and creatures!), betrayals and secrets involved, which, erm, tends to attract my attention :p There were even a few small twists I didn’t expect, which I hope will develop more in the next installment!
Overall, though I’d say THE FORGOTTEN ONES didn’t turn out to be what I expected in the beginning, I still relatively enjoyed the story by the end. This novel would probably appeal to YA or NA fans looking for a quick read that’s not too complex in its fantasy world, as there are still contemporary elements, but still having some magical elements. NA contemporary fans might also enjoy this novel, since quite a bit of novel read just like a contemporary book.
* Thank you to the author & IFB Blog Tours for the review copy!
February 3, 2021
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Laura Howard and AToMR Tours.)
21-year-old Allison wants nothing more than to be able to look after her schizophrenic mother, and take the burden off her grandparents, but the arrival of a man she recognises to be her father (Liam) stirs up trouble, and Allison’s mother goes missing.
Now Allison must go with her father to fairyland to get her mother back, and also to save her love interest Ethan. What do the fairies want with her and her mother though? Why has Liam suddenly turned up after 22 years? And does Liam hold the key to curing her mother’s schizophrenia?
This was an interesting story, rich in Irish Folk Law, with a smoking-hot love interest, and occasional humour, that had me hooked from the very beginning.
Alison was such a sweet, normal girl who really wanted to be able to care for her schizophrenic mother herself. She was so caring and understanding, and really put her own needs second to her mothers. She was also willing to go great lengths for her family and friends, and wasn’t afraid to speak her mind.
Ethan was really hot, and some of the things he did and said were totally swoon worthy! I was crossing my fingers that Ethan and Allison would get together, and when he took her on a date it was really lovely! I was a little concerned as to whether we had a bit of a love triangle blooming with one of the fairies who seemed to show maybe a little too much interest in Allison though.
I liked the storyline in this book, and I thought that the fantasy and fairies element of the book was woven almost seamlessly into what was up until that point a contemporary romance. I did think that the pronunciation of the Irish names could be difficult for a lot of people, although I found out at the end that there was a pronunciation guide at the back!
There was both humour and serious parts to this story though, with funniest moment for me being the bit where Allison was getting hit on by a lonely old man at the hardware store though! So funny!
I did get a little confused towards the end of the story, and there also seemed to be some sort of question over who exactly Allison was, which I guess will be address to some extent in the next book. I did find this to be an enjoyable read though, and hope that there will be more romance in the next instalment!
Overall; an interesting Irish fairy-story.
7 out of 10.
21-year-old Allison wants nothing more than to be able to look after her schizophrenic mother, and take the burden off her grandparents, but the arrival of a man she recognises to be her father (Liam) stirs up trouble, and Allison’s mother goes missing.
Now Allison must go with her father to fairyland to get her mother back, and also to save her love interest Ethan. What do the fairies want with her and her mother though? Why has Liam suddenly turned up after 22 years? And does Liam hold the key to curing her mother’s schizophrenia?
This was an interesting story, rich in Irish Folk Law, with a smoking-hot love interest, and occasional humour, that had me hooked from the very beginning.
Alison was such a sweet, normal girl who really wanted to be able to care for her schizophrenic mother herself. She was so caring and understanding, and really put her own needs second to her mothers. She was also willing to go great lengths for her family and friends, and wasn’t afraid to speak her mind.
Ethan was really hot, and some of the things he did and said were totally swoon worthy! I was crossing my fingers that Ethan and Allison would get together, and when he took her on a date it was really lovely! I was a little concerned as to whether we had a bit of a love triangle blooming with one of the fairies who seemed to show maybe a little too much interest in Allison though.
I liked the storyline in this book, and I thought that the fantasy and fairies element of the book was woven almost seamlessly into what was up until that point a contemporary romance. I did think that the pronunciation of the Irish names could be difficult for a lot of people, although I found out at the end that there was a pronunciation guide at the back!
There was both humour and serious parts to this story though, with funniest moment for me being the bit where Allison was getting hit on by a lonely old man at the hardware store though! So funny!
I did get a little confused towards the end of the story, and there also seemed to be some sort of question over who exactly Allison was, which I guess will be address to some extent in the next book. I did find this to be an enjoyable read though, and hope that there will be more romance in the next instalment!
Overall; an interesting Irish fairy-story.
7 out of 10.
April 26, 2013
This ARC was given in exchange for an honest review.
Since this book is not yet published, my review will be brief and spoiler-free. A full review will be posted after the release date.
I love paranormal. For the longest time, that's all I would read. However, it has been a really long time since I've gotten my hands on GOOD paranormal, so, I took a break from the genre. The Forgotten Ones is just what I needed! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author's writing style was exquisite. Her descriptions were beautiful.
"The last fingers of golden light caused the pink and blue umbrellas to cast a glow across Nicole's pale blonde hair."
" Tears lined her cheeks like silver rivers down her moonlt face."
The characters were believable, the dialogue was fluid, and the plot was addictive. I wasn't able to put it down until I got to the end.
The end.... THE END...I'm not a very patient person, Ms. Howard. I do hope to get "the rest of the story" soon. I have questions that need to be answered! :-)
Add this to your TBR. Look for it on May 15.
Since this book is not yet published, my review will be brief and spoiler-free. A full review will be posted after the release date.
I love paranormal. For the longest time, that's all I would read. However, it has been a really long time since I've gotten my hands on GOOD paranormal, so, I took a break from the genre. The Forgotten Ones is just what I needed! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author's writing style was exquisite. Her descriptions were beautiful.
"The last fingers of golden light caused the pink and blue umbrellas to cast a glow across Nicole's pale blonde hair."
" Tears lined her cheeks like silver rivers down her moonlt face."
The characters were believable, the dialogue was fluid, and the plot was addictive. I wasn't able to put it down until I got to the end.
The end.... THE END...
Add this to your TBR. Look for it on May 15.
April 22, 2013
I was fortunate enough to get an ARC. From the first chapter the story grabs and pulls you in. By the end you’ll feel hungry for more. This is the story of Allison whose mother suffers from Schizophrenia. Because of this, she doesn’t allow herself to have fun or get too close to anyone. Things start to change when Liam comes into the story. I don’t want to say too much because it will give away the story but trust me when I say that this will take you on a journey you won’t want to miss. I couldn’t believe this was a debut since the writing is flawless and the pace just right. Laura Howard has an amazing talent and I can’t wait to see what else she has in store for us. If you enjoy books like The Mortal Instruments you will definitely love The Forgotten Ones.
July 1, 2013
I have to say, that I have honestly read every Fae book I've been able to get my hands on, and It takes an amazing book to sweep me off my feet but Laura Howard has done it! I just love the characters! Allison really comes out of her shell as the story progresses, and her relationship with her newly appeared Dad develops interestingly. Lots of questions are raised when she travels to Tir Na Nog, and the "Fairies" she meets along the way are really amazing, whether friend or foe, they just leave me craving more! I started reading this story without knowing what genre it was, or anything at all about it for that matter, and I was pulled right into Allison's world, and I so want to go back and learn more, Laura Howard, I am a HUGE fan now! Thanks so much for sharing Allison's world with me.
April 18, 2013
What a lovely story. It took me back to my childhood, as my Mother was Irish & used to tell me stories of the Fairies under The Hill.
Very well written story of a young woman (Alison) worried for about being able to look after her sick mother (Beth).
Alison gets to learn the truth behind her mothers illness, when she meets the father she has never met before, and gets drawn into the mythical and magical land of Tir na nOg. I could not put it down.
I cannot wait to read the next installment
Very well written story of a young woman (Alison) worried for about being able to look after her sick mother (Beth).
Alison gets to learn the truth behind her mothers illness, when she meets the father she has never met before, and gets drawn into the mythical and magical land of Tir na nOg. I could not put it down.
I cannot wait to read the next installment
August 26, 2013
Review to come on August 26th as part of The Forgotten Ones blog tour hosted by Xpresso Reads
Favourite line: "I'm perfectly happy with a good book and a bowl of Double Fudge ice cream."
Yes, Allison, so am I!
Firstly, I have to say that the cover of The Forgotten Ones is pure awesomeness. I love it! So, so pretty. The font, the image, the colours, everything is beautiful.
Okay, so I went into this book with a preconceived expectation that was fulfilled, but not in the way I assumed it would be. The cover and title lent towards something magical and mystical, so when I was almost half way and hadn’t encountered anything in the way of magic (as in waving wands and stuff, not romantic magic, although there wasn’t much of that either), I was convinced I was reading a contemporary romance.
Then bam! We have magic faeries flitting around causing all sorts of trouble. Cool.
I’m going to back-track and start with Allison and Ethan’s relationship. I loved the tension between them, but sometimes I wanted to smack her over the head. Seriously, she’d been in love with this guy for forever, and he was obviously into her, but Allison kept making excuses. Her main reason was because Ethan was a player, but I didn’t really see that. If a girl was hanging off him, he made the effort to untangle himself and run to her. There was never any big event that Allison witnessed Ethan doing to suggest he was with heaps of girls. I wanted Allison and Ethan to get it on more.
Now, back to the bam! moment.
The first half of this book read like a contemporary romance, then all of a sudden I was thrown into a magical world with conniving faeries, some of them imprisoned, others creepy, and way too many complicated names to make sense of, or try and remember. At one point there were two guys fighting each other and their names both started with A. I got confused and it took me a while to work out if the guy who won was the guy I thought he was. I ended up skimming over the names because I didn’t know how to pronounce them. There was a pronunciation guide at the back of the book, but I didn’t know it was there until I'd finished. I think I wouldn’t have struggled so much if I’d read this first.
The reason for all the faerie fighting: Allison’s mum is schizophrenic. Allison has grown up with no father and spends all her time worrying about her mother. She also believes she is the reason for her mum’s illness. Cue creepy faerie man, Liam. He turns up looking for Allison’s mum, and is actually Allison’s long lost dad, and everything goes to hell. She disappears, Ethan disappears, and Allison goes to faerie land to save them.
Despite the things I didn’t like, I did enjoy The Forgotten Ones. It was a fast and easy read, but not one that grabbed my complete attention. There were too many characters for me to get invested in anyone in particular, and Allison was a little boring really. My favourite moment by far was the one kiss Allison and Ethan shared, but it was over so quickly. I really like Ethan, and I wish Allison had given him more of a chance.
The ending: We’re left with a cliff-hanger, but I didn’t feel as if there was a huge lead up to it. The story just sort of stopped. I love a good cliff-hanger, but I’m not a fan of this sudden-stop type of ending, and for me there was no satisfactory resolution. I know it’s part of a trilogy, but the second book isn’t out yet! This is the kind of book where you need the next one to keep going with the story, and I do want to find out what happens.
Overall I liked The Forgotten Ones, but I didn’t love it. That’s okay though, because there are plenty of people that will love it, and I encourage you to give it a go for yourself. You never know, it may be your favourite read of 2013.
Favourite line: "I'm perfectly happy with a good book and a bowl of Double Fudge ice cream."
Yes, Allison, so am I!
Firstly, I have to say that the cover of The Forgotten Ones is pure awesomeness. I love it! So, so pretty. The font, the image, the colours, everything is beautiful.
Okay, so I went into this book with a preconceived expectation that was fulfilled, but not in the way I assumed it would be. The cover and title lent towards something magical and mystical, so when I was almost half way and hadn’t encountered anything in the way of magic (as in waving wands and stuff, not romantic magic, although there wasn’t much of that either), I was convinced I was reading a contemporary romance.
Then bam! We have magic faeries flitting around causing all sorts of trouble. Cool.
I’m going to back-track and start with Allison and Ethan’s relationship. I loved the tension between them, but sometimes I wanted to smack her over the head. Seriously, she’d been in love with this guy for forever, and he was obviously into her, but Allison kept making excuses. Her main reason was because Ethan was a player, but I didn’t really see that. If a girl was hanging off him, he made the effort to untangle himself and run to her. There was never any big event that Allison witnessed Ethan doing to suggest he was with heaps of girls. I wanted Allison and Ethan to get it on more.
Now, back to the bam! moment.
The first half of this book read like a contemporary romance, then all of a sudden I was thrown into a magical world with conniving faeries, some of them imprisoned, others creepy, and way too many complicated names to make sense of, or try and remember. At one point there were two guys fighting each other and their names both started with A. I got confused and it took me a while to work out if the guy who won was the guy I thought he was. I ended up skimming over the names because I didn’t know how to pronounce them. There was a pronunciation guide at the back of the book, but I didn’t know it was there until I'd finished. I think I wouldn’t have struggled so much if I’d read this first.
The reason for all the faerie fighting: Allison’s mum is schizophrenic. Allison has grown up with no father and spends all her time worrying about her mother. She also believes she is the reason for her mum’s illness. Cue creepy faerie man, Liam. He turns up looking for Allison’s mum, and is actually Allison’s long lost dad, and everything goes to hell. She disappears, Ethan disappears, and Allison goes to faerie land to save them.
Despite the things I didn’t like, I did enjoy The Forgotten Ones. It was a fast and easy read, but not one that grabbed my complete attention. There were too many characters for me to get invested in anyone in particular, and Allison was a little boring really. My favourite moment by far was the one kiss Allison and Ethan shared, but it was over so quickly. I really like Ethan, and I wish Allison had given him more of a chance.
The ending: We’re left with a cliff-hanger, but I didn’t feel as if there was a huge lead up to it. The story just sort of stopped. I love a good cliff-hanger, but I’m not a fan of this sudden-stop type of ending, and for me there was no satisfactory resolution. I know it’s part of a trilogy, but the second book isn’t out yet! This is the kind of book where you need the next one to keep going with the story, and I do want to find out what happens.
Overall I liked The Forgotten Ones, but I didn’t love it. That’s okay though, because there are plenty of people that will love it, and I encourage you to give it a go for yourself. You never know, it may be your favourite read of 2013.
April 24, 2013
*****5 AMAZING FAIRY STARS*****
This ARC was given in exchange for an honest review
As most will say and I am sure that you have read this in almost every review...I LOVE THE COVER!! It is just gorgeous!! The cover alone sucks you in...and that is saying a lot.
Allison is a young lady who lives with her grandparents and her Schizophrenic mother Beth. Her goal in life is to finish college and take over on her mom's care. She has a crazy cousin who lives right next door, enjoys reading a good book, works at her grandpa's hardware store, never had a boyfriend and has only been kissed once by Ethan whom she secretly likes but tries to avoid being around him.
Ethan has a reputation of being a player. He is Italian, has an older brother who is going out with Allison's cousin, and his mom is Allison's moms best friend. He convinces Allison to go on one date with him which turned out great. He also wins a bet. What's the prize? Did he collect? You have to read to find out (hehe).
One day, Allison comes face to face with Liam, a man who is looking and wanting to see her mother. One look at Liam and she knows who he is. She has seen his face before. In a photograph that her mom has. It's her father and he looks exactly the same. He tells her that he is working on trying to get her mother back to her old self. The way she was before she met him. This confuses Allison but once she finds out who or what Liam really is, things start to come togther. She finds out why her mom is the way she is and she also learns about a whole other world.
An incident happens to where she meets other interesting Fey's and travels to Tir na N'Og. The way Laura describes Tir na N'Og makes me wish I was a Fey or at least makes me wish that I would just stumble across it one day while I am outside. It sounds so relaxing, beautiful, peaceful but at the same time you feel the wickedness that is lurking everywhere. *I am planning a trip to Ireland next year so who knows? I might stumble across Tir na n'Og. I will send a postcard if I do.*
I can't wait for the second book. I can't wait to find out what else is going to unfold and how things are going to end. I love all things fairy. Seriously. Ask my family. I have a collection of porcelain fairies.
I speak the truth when I say that I can see this as a movie.
OUTSTANDING JOB LAURA!!!
Happy Reading :)
This ARC was given in exchange for an honest review
As most will say and I am sure that you have read this in almost every review...I LOVE THE COVER!! It is just gorgeous!! The cover alone sucks you in...and that is saying a lot.
Allison is a young lady who lives with her grandparents and her Schizophrenic mother Beth. Her goal in life is to finish college and take over on her mom's care. She has a crazy cousin who lives right next door, enjoys reading a good book, works at her grandpa's hardware store, never had a boyfriend and has only been kissed once by Ethan whom she secretly likes but tries to avoid being around him.
Ethan has a reputation of being a player. He is Italian, has an older brother who is going out with Allison's cousin, and his mom is Allison's moms best friend. He convinces Allison to go on one date with him which turned out great. He also wins a bet. What's the prize? Did he collect? You have to read to find out (hehe).
One day, Allison comes face to face with Liam, a man who is looking and wanting to see her mother. One look at Liam and she knows who he is. She has seen his face before. In a photograph that her mom has. It's her father and he looks exactly the same. He tells her that he is working on trying to get her mother back to her old self. The way she was before she met him. This confuses Allison but once she finds out who or what Liam really is, things start to come togther. She finds out why her mom is the way she is and she also learns about a whole other world.
An incident happens to where she meets other interesting Fey's and travels to Tir na N'Og. The way Laura describes Tir na N'Og makes me wish I was a Fey or at least makes me wish that I would just stumble across it one day while I am outside. It sounds so relaxing, beautiful, peaceful but at the same time you feel the wickedness that is lurking everywhere. *I am planning a trip to Ireland next year so who knows? I might stumble across Tir na n'Og. I will send a postcard if I do.*
I can't wait for the second book. I can't wait to find out what else is going to unfold and how things are going to end. I love all things fairy. Seriously. Ask my family. I have a collection of porcelain fairies.
I speak the truth when I say that I can see this as a movie.
OUTSTANDING JOB LAURA!!!
Happy Reading :)
April 15, 2013
I received this book as a beta to proofread! I loved this story! I normally don't read this genre of books, but I think I might start indulging on them!
The story in about Allison and her mother, Beth. Allison and Beth live with Allison's grandparents, Beth's parents. Allison works at her grandfathers hardware store and she is saving up to go to graduate school. Next door lives her cousin and best friend. They do everything together.
All Allison wants to do is to be able to care for herself and her mother. She has not let herself fall for Ethan, who she has secretly loved forever.
Allison knows her father is from Ireland and she looks like him. She knows of his name and that he basically left her mother before she came back to the states. However, there is a lot that Allison doesn't know and it all starts to come out when Liam comes into the picture.
I really liked the different characters in the story. There is a lot of questions at the end of the story! It's not a complete cliffhanger, but it made me really excited for book #2!
The Forgotten Ones is an amazing journey and a refreshing read. It was nice to step into a fantasy and question if it could really happy. I love the strength that Allison showed towards the end of the book. I hope it continues into the next book and she gets who she wants!
The story in about Allison and her mother, Beth. Allison and Beth live with Allison's grandparents, Beth's parents. Allison works at her grandfathers hardware store and she is saving up to go to graduate school. Next door lives her cousin and best friend. They do everything together.
All Allison wants to do is to be able to care for herself and her mother. She has not let herself fall for Ethan, who she has secretly loved forever.
Allison knows her father is from Ireland and she looks like him. She knows of his name and that he basically left her mother before she came back to the states. However, there is a lot that Allison doesn't know and it all starts to come out when Liam comes into the picture.
I really liked the different characters in the story. There is a lot of questions at the end of the story! It's not a complete cliffhanger, but it made me really excited for book #2!
The Forgotten Ones is an amazing journey and a refreshing read. It was nice to step into a fantasy and question if it could really happy. I love the strength that Allison showed towards the end of the book. I hope it continues into the next book and she gets who she wants!
August 12, 2013
The Forgotten Ones is a great story. I love how Laura created this world of The Tuatha De Danaan. The descriptions and the characters all flowed nicely and the side characters were very interesting. I love how Laura gave us a glimpse into a fragile relationship between a father and his daughter and how trust had to be earned and not given freely.
Imagine your mother being sick and no matter what you or the doctors did she remained sick. Well Allison knows all about her mother being sick with Schizophrenia. Her grandparents have cared for her mother long enough and she wants to help them out. She has denied herself any friends and she does not have a life. She has a huge crush on Ethan but she puts all those feeling aside to make sure she cares for her mother.
Then one day her father comes back into their lives and says he knows how to help her mother. He starts to tell Allison about The Tuatha De Danaan and how Fairies can help save her mother. At first Allison thinks he is crazy but she soon finds out that there are secrets and lies that are uncovered and Allison has no choice but to believe her father and trust in him in order to save her mother. But can her mother be saved or is she to far gone?
Imagine your mother being sick and no matter what you or the doctors did she remained sick. Well Allison knows all about her mother being sick with Schizophrenia. Her grandparents have cared for her mother long enough and she wants to help them out. She has denied herself any friends and she does not have a life. She has a huge crush on Ethan but she puts all those feeling aside to make sure she cares for her mother.
Then one day her father comes back into their lives and says he knows how to help her mother. He starts to tell Allison about The Tuatha De Danaan and how Fairies can help save her mother. At first Allison thinks he is crazy but she soon finds out that there are secrets and lies that are uncovered and Allison has no choice but to believe her father and trust in him in order to save her mother. But can her mother be saved or is she to far gone?
April 19, 2013
Given an ARC, For an honest review.
What an incredible journey this book takes you on!! Laura Howard does a phenomenal job in bringing a mystical world to life.
Everything Allison thought she knew about the world around her, changed the minute there was a knock at the door.
All Allison wants to do, is be able to take care of her mom....when her dreams start to become reality, Allison gets help from the most unsuspected person, she finds herself fighting in a world she didn't know about and protecting people shes afraid to love.
I really like the cast of characters and swoon worthy Ethan!! Allison grows stronger and stronger with each page as the world that she knew starts to unravel.
A great cast of characters and a beautifully written mystical world makes this book a deffinate must read!!
Now I need book book 2!!! ;)
What an incredible journey this book takes you on!! Laura Howard does a phenomenal job in bringing a mystical world to life.
Everything Allison thought she knew about the world around her, changed the minute there was a knock at the door.
All Allison wants to do, is be able to take care of her mom....when her dreams start to become reality, Allison gets help from the most unsuspected person, she finds herself fighting in a world she didn't know about and protecting people shes afraid to love.
I really like the cast of characters and swoon worthy Ethan!! Allison grows stronger and stronger with each page as the world that she knew starts to unravel.
A great cast of characters and a beautifully written mystical world makes this book a deffinate must read!!
Now I need book book 2!!! ;)
April 16, 2013
Have you ever gone out in the winter time to look at the lights? If you close your eyes almost all the way and look just through your lashes the lights become this wonderful haze of color and your body is filled with this energy of the magic surrounding you. THAT is what The Forgotten One's is. A breath of fresh air in the world of words, a little hint of chaos in your linear thinking and a sparkle of magic in a wolrd that it utterly mundane. This book will bring you to the edges of your imagination and back again, it is such a whirlwind of fantastic there are not enough words for it. One of the top reads of 2013!
September 28, 2016
Irish fantasy
I read this in August, just before I was going on a trip to Ireland and it really got me in the mood for my trip to the very lush green island! This story is about fairy's and the mystical world that lives along side our reality. Sort of a "Harry Potter" of sorts. This first book takes us to the reality of fairies with the heroine finding out that her dad is one. The second book deals with more of the injustices that have occurred and what they can do about it. And finally the third book is the battle of sorts to put things to rights. A wonderfully enchanting story, very entertains and well worth reading.
I read this in August, just before I was going on a trip to Ireland and it really got me in the mood for my trip to the very lush green island! This story is about fairy's and the mystical world that lives along side our reality. Sort of a "Harry Potter" of sorts. This first book takes us to the reality of fairies with the heroine finding out that her dad is one. The second book deals with more of the injustices that have occurred and what they can do about it. And finally the third book is the battle of sorts to put things to rights. A wonderfully enchanting story, very entertains and well worth reading.
August 28, 2013
We are The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club, to know more about this book, go to the post in our website:
The Forgotten Ones (The Danaan Trilogy # 1) by Laura Howard
If you are interested, you can visit our website:
The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club
The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club's Review:
Review:
The Forgotten Ones is the first book in the Danaan Trilogy and a fantastic adventure that will take you in a wonderful, and at the same time, frightening, journey.
When I started reading The Forgotten Ones, I was so hooked up in the story! I was in love with Ms. Laura’s writing and the book itself. Ok, I admit that Laura’s writing is mind-blowing, I do like it! But when I was on the page 137/186 the author started to throw a lot of names! That was it; I couldn’t deal with so many names at the same time. There was a point where one of the characters said a name, and I immediately thought “who’s that?” Funny thing? Allison was as lost as me! *giggles*
“’Which one is Deaghlan again?’ I asked. My mind swirled with all the new names to remember”
This made me laugh, a lot! Anyway, after a few pages (20 more or less) I got back on track. Despite this misfortune, I still think that Laura Howard’s writing is perfect! It is enjoyable, descriptive and beautiful.
The Forgotten Ones shows Allison’s POV. I liked seeing her perspective. I could feel her doubts, her fears, and her happy moments. Although I would have loved some chapters from Ethan’s side of the story I enjoyed reading Allison’s point of view.
Another thing that made this book enjoyable was the plot. It was intriguing, passionate, and heartbreaking! I liked more the first part of the book than the second one. By first part I mean when she is on earth, and the second when she’s on the faerie territory. I must clarify that when Allison went to the fairies land, it was magical and scary at the same time!
In the first part, for about 70 pages (guessing), we get to see Allison and Ethan’s relationship (He’s to die for! *fangirling*). Well… more than relationship I will describe it like this: he has a big crush on her and he definitely shows it. Allison? She is like in love with him, but doesn’t want to be with Ethan in a relationship (Don’t worry Ethan, I’m available *wink*). Anyway, I somehow understand why Allison doesn’t want to be in a relationship, but I still don’t see why it will affect with her “duties”. I know, you are wondering what these mysterious “duties” are, but it is up to you to read the book and find out.
Although I liked Allison & Ethan’s love story, I felt like something was missing. I wanted to know more about how deep their love for each other was, why Ethan has such a big crush on Allison and vice versa. I wanted, needed, to know the backup story. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the chemistry they had and the sparks that flew when Ethan was around Allison.
When I first was introduced to Ethan, I knew he was going to be my husband a big part of my love for The Forgotten Ones. He is so sweet, charming and don’t forget, please, he is a hottie! I liked how he was with Allison; he gives himself to her, kind of. I felt really sorry for him because for all he knew Allison didn’t like him the way he did. I also had a strong feeling (a bad one) when something happened that had to do with Ethan. Do you want me to tell you what it was? Oh my dearies, I will be a good girl and let you find out by yourselves *hugs*.
As for Allison, I liked her sometimes and I wanted to slap her other times. I like her because she is such a strong and fierce girl. I admired her because of her dedication to her mother and family. She really takes care of her mother.
As I have said, I wanted to slap her because she was mean with Ethan (not all the times, I must say). If you don’t want to show him how you feel, fine! But have some respect and treat him with kindness! He was nothing but gallant and sweet with her. I ended up forgiving her because of some things happened that lead me to forget about my bad feelings for her.
In the second part we have the adventurous journey. We met some good fairies and some bad ones…wait, bad it’s not the word, more like EVIL, your worst nightmare!
I liked the suspense and the scary thoughts that came to my mind every time Aoife’s (EVIL!!!) name was pronounced! I liked Aodhan’s courage. I pity Liam and felt compassion for Allison’s mother, Elizabeth. I had a lot of different emotions while reading this part, but I loved each one of them. In this part there are some twists that will catch you off guard but you will embrace them gracefully! I liked this part but I am doomed when it comes to romance, hence why I liked more the first part than the second one.
If the whole story wasn’t good enough, there comes the end. I freaked out with the end! I had a hard time believing what I had read! I was shocked (it has something to do with Ethan), for a reason, and not so shocked for other. I know… this sound weird, but if you read the book you will understand me! It is just that some things at the end I predicted it (you have it written quite before ending the book) and some of it didn’t see it coming!
So guys, it’s time for me to say goodbye to you and if you like fairy tales, adventurous stories and a pinch of romance this is your book! You have to read The Forgotten Ones, because I can assure you one thing: you will have an intriguing journey full of magic, and you're going to love it.
Finally I would like to thank Xpresso Book Tours for giving us the opportunity to read this wonderful book and to Laura Howard for sharing her magnificent work with the world and with us, of course.
The Forgotten Ones (The Danaan Trilogy # 1) by Laura Howard
If you are interested, you can visit our website:
The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club
The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club's Review:
Review:
The Forgotten Ones is the first book in the Danaan Trilogy and a fantastic adventure that will take you in a wonderful, and at the same time, frightening, journey.
When I started reading The Forgotten Ones, I was so hooked up in the story! I was in love with Ms. Laura’s writing and the book itself. Ok, I admit that Laura’s writing is mind-blowing, I do like it! But when I was on the page 137/186 the author started to throw a lot of names! That was it; I couldn’t deal with so many names at the same time. There was a point where one of the characters said a name, and I immediately thought “who’s that?” Funny thing? Allison was as lost as me! *giggles*
“’Which one is Deaghlan again?’ I asked. My mind swirled with all the new names to remember”
This made me laugh, a lot! Anyway, after a few pages (20 more or less) I got back on track. Despite this misfortune, I still think that Laura Howard’s writing is perfect! It is enjoyable, descriptive and beautiful.
The Forgotten Ones shows Allison’s POV. I liked seeing her perspective. I could feel her doubts, her fears, and her happy moments. Although I would have loved some chapters from Ethan’s side of the story I enjoyed reading Allison’s point of view.
Another thing that made this book enjoyable was the plot. It was intriguing, passionate, and heartbreaking! I liked more the first part of the book than the second one. By first part I mean when she is on earth, and the second when she’s on the faerie territory. I must clarify that when Allison went to the fairies land, it was magical and scary at the same time!
In the first part, for about 70 pages (guessing), we get to see Allison and Ethan’s relationship (He’s to die for! *fangirling*). Well… more than relationship I will describe it like this: he has a big crush on her and he definitely shows it. Allison? She is like in love with him, but doesn’t want to be with Ethan in a relationship (Don’t worry Ethan, I’m available *wink*). Anyway, I somehow understand why Allison doesn’t want to be in a relationship, but I still don’t see why it will affect with her “duties”. I know, you are wondering what these mysterious “duties” are, but it is up to you to read the book and find out.
Although I liked Allison & Ethan’s love story, I felt like something was missing. I wanted to know more about how deep their love for each other was, why Ethan has such a big crush on Allison and vice versa. I wanted, needed, to know the backup story. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the chemistry they had and the sparks that flew when Ethan was around Allison.
When I first was introduced to Ethan, I knew he was going to be my husband a big part of my love for The Forgotten Ones. He is so sweet, charming and don’t forget, please, he is a hottie! I liked how he was with Allison; he gives himself to her, kind of. I felt really sorry for him because for all he knew Allison didn’t like him the way he did. I also had a strong feeling (a bad one) when something happened that had to do with Ethan. Do you want me to tell you what it was? Oh my dearies, I will be a good girl and let you find out by yourselves *hugs*.
As for Allison, I liked her sometimes and I wanted to slap her other times. I like her because she is such a strong and fierce girl. I admired her because of her dedication to her mother and family. She really takes care of her mother.
As I have said, I wanted to slap her because she was mean with Ethan (not all the times, I must say). If you don’t want to show him how you feel, fine! But have some respect and treat him with kindness! He was nothing but gallant and sweet with her. I ended up forgiving her because of some things happened that lead me to forget about my bad feelings for her.
In the second part we have the adventurous journey. We met some good fairies and some bad ones…wait, bad it’s not the word, more like EVIL, your worst nightmare!
I liked the suspense and the scary thoughts that came to my mind every time Aoife’s (EVIL!!!) name was pronounced! I liked Aodhan’s courage. I pity Liam and felt compassion for Allison’s mother, Elizabeth. I had a lot of different emotions while reading this part, but I loved each one of them. In this part there are some twists that will catch you off guard but you will embrace them gracefully! I liked this part but I am doomed when it comes to romance, hence why I liked more the first part than the second one.
If the whole story wasn’t good enough, there comes the end. I freaked out with the end! I had a hard time believing what I had read! I was shocked (it has something to do with Ethan), for a reason, and not so shocked for other. I know… this sound weird, but if you read the book you will understand me! It is just that some things at the end I predicted it (you have it written quite before ending the book) and some of it didn’t see it coming!
So guys, it’s time for me to say goodbye to you and if you like fairy tales, adventurous stories and a pinch of romance this is your book! You have to read The Forgotten Ones, because I can assure you one thing: you will have an intriguing journey full of magic, and you're going to love it.
Finally I would like to thank Xpresso Book Tours for giving us the opportunity to read this wonderful book and to Laura Howard for sharing her magnificent work with the world and with us, of course.
June 28, 2013
Laura is a friend of mine, and I'm proud as punch to be part of her crack ninja street team for the Danaan Trilogy. I signed up on a whim to be part of something bigger than my blog, and it's been a great experience. I had no idea what I was getting into since I'm a relatively new blogger and The Forgotten Ones is Laura's debut novel. I'm so glad that this novel totally lived up to my expectations!
First, the characters: Allison is fiercely protective of her family, particularly her mother, which is definitely something I respect and can relate to. She's also in that stage of life where she's trying to figure out What Comes Next while trying to balance family, work, and school, which doesn't leave a lot left over for friendships and romance. Sometimes I really wanted to shake her because, Earth to Allison, Ethan is completely in love with you and you should totally jump on that! Allison spends much of the first few chapters sassing poor Ethan and trying to convince herself that it would be a bad idea to get involved with him, even though she's been in love with him for ages. This is clearly a terrible idea because Ethan is adorable. Seriously, if I could have Ethan, my life would be, like, 97% better. Despite Allison's misgivings, Ethan is actually a Good Guy. He's sweet, he's gentlemanly, he's super helpful (I mean, Allison stood the kid up, but he still came over to help her look for her mom!), he's charming and handsome and funny and handsome and did I mention he was handsome? No? Well, he is beautiful in a totally manly way. These two just need to hurry up and make out already. I also really liked Nicole, whose effervescent personality is a perfect foil to Allison's quieter, more withdrawn persona. Nicole was great at drawing Allison out, which I think was definitely needed. The fairy characters are much more mysterious and harder to get a grasp on, but I definitely love Aodhan, the big protector of humans who have been screwed over by fairies with a superiority complex. I want to know a lot more about all the Danaan characters, especially Aodhan. And props to Laura for including a pronunciation guide because I had zero clue how to pronounce the fairies' names!
One of the very very best parts about TFO was how much research Laura put in to create her fairies and their world by incorporating old-school Irish mythology. While I love Ireland and its awesome old-school history, I generally don't seek it out because it's so foreign to me and kind of hard to understand. I love how Laura carefully wove the threads of the mythology into her story without massive info-dumps so I felt like I was getting a mythology lesson without the lesson. Also, pronunciation guide. Seriously, so helpful. More authors should include these!
My favorite aspect of The Forgotten Ones is Laura's masterful writing, hands-down. The keyboard is Laura's paintbrush and the screen, her canvas. The descriptiveness of this book is ridiculous! Consider my senses fully engaged! I felt like I could see, touch, smell, taste, hear, feel (emotionally) everything that Laura described. The imagery was lovely and perfect from the beach to Ethan's crowded family gatherings to the forest to the realm of the Danaan. Well-done, Laura!
I do wish the scenes had been a bit longer. Their short length ensured a quick grasp at the action and a quick read, but I think some of the scenes could have been combined and some filler included as well. I felt like everything happened so quickly that I would have liked to see a bit more "normal" interaction between Allison and the other human characters (like Ethan. Mostly Ethan.). Also, I would have liked to see more of whatever's going on in Tir na n'Og because those Danaan are tricksy hobbitses. Also, my one huge complaint is that Ethan was TOTALLY naked during the climax of the novel [pause for inappropriate giggle break...okay, I'm back] and Allison didn't give him more than a cursory glance. ALLISON! There is a gorgeous, perfect male speciman RIGHT in front of you! More descriptions of said perfect manliness, kpleaseandthanks! Especially because Laura fancast TFO and picked Steven R. McQueen as the perfect Ethan so pretty much, we missed out on Laura's lovely descriptive language in regards to this. Yeah. Cruel and unusual punishment! Seriously, though, I like that this is a new adult novel that is actually clean! I know a lot of authors are using new adult to include scenes that are maybe too mature for young adult, which is cool, but right now new adult is kind of just the slutty older sister to young adult. Props to Laura for focusing on Bigger Issues than just sex. But srsly, Laura, throw us a bone for #2 and describe Ethan's glistening pecs/shoulders/biceps/abs/etc. Pretty pretty please!
The Forgotten Ones has some good twists to it and sets up very nicely for the second book in the trilogy, which I can't wait for. I would call this a definite success for Laura and self-pubbed authors in general. It's rare to find gems in Amazon's glut of self-published ebook, but I can tell you that The Forgotten Ones is definitely one of those gems. You should go buy it for sure, especially because it's currently only $0.99. NINETY-NINE CENTS. Macklemore is practically screaming at you to go buy it!
First, the characters: Allison is fiercely protective of her family, particularly her mother, which is definitely something I respect and can relate to. She's also in that stage of life where she's trying to figure out What Comes Next while trying to balance family, work, and school, which doesn't leave a lot left over for friendships and romance. Sometimes I really wanted to shake her because, Earth to Allison, Ethan is completely in love with you and you should totally jump on that! Allison spends much of the first few chapters sassing poor Ethan and trying to convince herself that it would be a bad idea to get involved with him, even though she's been in love with him for ages. This is clearly a terrible idea because Ethan is adorable. Seriously, if I could have Ethan, my life would be, like, 97% better. Despite Allison's misgivings, Ethan is actually a Good Guy. He's sweet, he's gentlemanly, he's super helpful (I mean, Allison stood the kid up, but he still came over to help her look for her mom!), he's charming and handsome and funny and handsome and did I mention he was handsome? No? Well, he is beautiful in a totally manly way. These two just need to hurry up and make out already. I also really liked Nicole, whose effervescent personality is a perfect foil to Allison's quieter, more withdrawn persona. Nicole was great at drawing Allison out, which I think was definitely needed. The fairy characters are much more mysterious and harder to get a grasp on, but I definitely love Aodhan, the big protector of humans who have been screwed over by fairies with a superiority complex. I want to know a lot more about all the Danaan characters, especially Aodhan. And props to Laura for including a pronunciation guide because I had zero clue how to pronounce the fairies' names!
One of the very very best parts about TFO was how much research Laura put in to create her fairies and their world by incorporating old-school Irish mythology. While I love Ireland and its awesome old-school history, I generally don't seek it out because it's so foreign to me and kind of hard to understand. I love how Laura carefully wove the threads of the mythology into her story without massive info-dumps so I felt like I was getting a mythology lesson without the lesson. Also, pronunciation guide. Seriously, so helpful. More authors should include these!
My favorite aspect of The Forgotten Ones is Laura's masterful writing, hands-down. The keyboard is Laura's paintbrush and the screen, her canvas. The descriptiveness of this book is ridiculous! Consider my senses fully engaged! I felt like I could see, touch, smell, taste, hear, feel (emotionally) everything that Laura described. The imagery was lovely and perfect from the beach to Ethan's crowded family gatherings to the forest to the realm of the Danaan. Well-done, Laura!
I do wish the scenes had been a bit longer. Their short length ensured a quick grasp at the action and a quick read, but I think some of the scenes could have been combined and some filler included as well. I felt like everything happened so quickly that I would have liked to see a bit more "normal" interaction between Allison and the other human characters (like Ethan. Mostly Ethan.). Also, I would have liked to see more of whatever's going on in Tir na n'Og because those Danaan are tricksy hobbitses. Also, my one huge complaint is that Ethan was TOTALLY naked during the climax of the novel [pause for inappropriate giggle break...okay, I'm back] and Allison didn't give him more than a cursory glance. ALLISON! There is a gorgeous, perfect male speciman RIGHT in front of you! More descriptions of said perfect manliness, kpleaseandthanks! Especially because Laura fancast TFO and picked Steven R. McQueen as the perfect Ethan so pretty much, we missed out on Laura's lovely descriptive language in regards to this. Yeah. Cruel and unusual punishment! Seriously, though, I like that this is a new adult novel that is actually clean! I know a lot of authors are using new adult to include scenes that are maybe too mature for young adult, which is cool, but right now new adult is kind of just the slutty older sister to young adult. Props to Laura for focusing on Bigger Issues than just sex. But srsly, Laura, throw us a bone for #2 and describe Ethan's glistening pecs/shoulders/biceps/abs/etc. Pretty pretty please!
The Forgotten Ones has some good twists to it and sets up very nicely for the second book in the trilogy, which I can't wait for. I would call this a definite success for Laura and self-pubbed authors in general. It's rare to find gems in Amazon's glut of self-published ebook, but I can tell you that The Forgotten Ones is definitely one of those gems. You should go buy it for sure, especially because it's currently only $0.99. NINETY-NINE CENTS. Macklemore is practically screaming at you to go buy it!
August 29, 2013
Allison is a twenty-one year old living with her grandparents and her schizophrenic mom in the small town of Stoneville. If you looked up “loner” in the dictionary, there beside the definition would be a picture of Allison. She is so wrapped up in her plan to care for her ill mother and try to take some of the burden off her grandparents shoulders, she refuses to have friends of her own or any type of romantic relationship. She’s been having strange dreams for the past six months about her long lost Irish father, Liam, whom she’d assumed abandoned her mom after knocking her up. Strange that she would be dreaming about a man she’d never met, right? Well, there is no hiding from the truth once Liam shows up on her doorstep after twenty-two years. He has a whopper of a secret to share with Allison! After his arrival things even stranger than her dreams begin happening, and she has to wonder if schizophrenia is coming for her, too.
The Forgotten Ones is listed as a YA Paranormal, but I don’t agree. The first half of the book closely resembles a New Adult Contemporary, and the second half of the book is chock full of faeries and folklore which to me screams Fantasy.
Categories and genres aside, this book was a quick read that I neither loved nor hated. It was entertaining, but not captivating. Allison is a strange character that holds everyone at a distance other than her grandparents. She just sort of floats through each day, happy to be reading a book or going for her morning run. She has no interest in having friends of her own and slams a wall up in front of the only guy she’s ever liked, Ethan. I really would have liked to see more develop between those two, but Allison fought it every step of the way which made me want to strike her down.
I liked the hints that were given during the first part of the book during her dreams. I also thought it was awesome that the author made Allison feel like she might be falling ill (losing her mind) like her mom. She was hearing voices inside her head after all. That would give anyone, especially someone with a schizophrenic parent, the idea that they were headed down the same path. Brilliant addition to the story.
Once the fairies entered the story, though, it was a bit startling. It went from contemporary to fantasy very quick. Sure there were little seeds planted along the way that helped get the readers mind ready for something strange to happen, but when it did it just seemed to happen too big all at once. There were also a lot of fairies with really odd names that I had no idea how to pronounce and found it difficult to keep track of. I tried the best I could and I completely understand that fairies aren’t going to have names like Mark or Nancy, but these were some doozies. I think it took away from the flow of the story a bit.
Once Liam lets Allison in on his secret, things get crazy fast. Elizabeth, Allison’s mom, ends up disappearing from the house that she never leaves. The whole town is looking for her, scared out of their minds, but Liam and the fairies are the only ones that can help get her back. Allison obviously can’t tell anyone the truth about Liam or the fairies, so she sneaks off to help rescue her mom from the other world and the dark fairies. It’s a wild ride full of intensity that kept me reading long into the night.
Overall, I found The Forgotten Ones entertaining, and I think I will probably read the second book in the series to see where the author takes us. There are a lot of shining reviews on this one so be sure to pick up a copy and see what you think. No two persons ever read the same book. — Edmund Wilson.
The Forgotten Ones is listed as a YA Paranormal, but I don’t agree. The first half of the book closely resembles a New Adult Contemporary, and the second half of the book is chock full of faeries and folklore which to me screams Fantasy.
Categories and genres aside, this book was a quick read that I neither loved nor hated. It was entertaining, but not captivating. Allison is a strange character that holds everyone at a distance other than her grandparents. She just sort of floats through each day, happy to be reading a book or going for her morning run. She has no interest in having friends of her own and slams a wall up in front of the only guy she’s ever liked, Ethan. I really would have liked to see more develop between those two, but Allison fought it every step of the way which made me want to strike her down.
I liked the hints that were given during the first part of the book during her dreams. I also thought it was awesome that the author made Allison feel like she might be falling ill (losing her mind) like her mom. She was hearing voices inside her head after all. That would give anyone, especially someone with a schizophrenic parent, the idea that they were headed down the same path. Brilliant addition to the story.
Once the fairies entered the story, though, it was a bit startling. It went from contemporary to fantasy very quick. Sure there were little seeds planted along the way that helped get the readers mind ready for something strange to happen, but when it did it just seemed to happen too big all at once. There were also a lot of fairies with really odd names that I had no idea how to pronounce and found it difficult to keep track of. I tried the best I could and I completely understand that fairies aren’t going to have names like Mark or Nancy, but these were some doozies. I think it took away from the flow of the story a bit.
Once Liam lets Allison in on his secret, things get crazy fast. Elizabeth, Allison’s mom, ends up disappearing from the house that she never leaves. The whole town is looking for her, scared out of their minds, but Liam and the fairies are the only ones that can help get her back. Allison obviously can’t tell anyone the truth about Liam or the fairies, so she sneaks off to help rescue her mom from the other world and the dark fairies. It’s a wild ride full of intensity that kept me reading long into the night.
Overall, I found The Forgotten Ones entertaining, and I think I will probably read the second book in the series to see where the author takes us. There are a lot of shining reviews on this one so be sure to pick up a copy and see what you think. No two persons ever read the same book. — Edmund Wilson.
May 1, 2013
3.5 stars.
*I'd like to thank the author for giving an ARC, in exchange for my honest review.*
When I saw that this book was about fairies and Irish mythology, I knew I had to have it. The fact that I was lucky enough to get an ARC of one of my most anticipated books for the year was pretty amazing. I'm so glad to say that I found this book to have a wonderful heroine, and some great Irish mythology thrown in. I also really liked Laura's version of Tir Na Nog.
I think Allison was my favorite character in this book. She was the one we got to know the best, as she was the heroine, and the character through who's eyes the story was told. She was really protective of her mother, and she wanted to take the responsibility of taking care of her mom and herself off of her grandparents. That showed just how much she appreciated other people's efforts to help her. Of course, I felt really horrible for Al, because she had so much responsibility. She felt like she couldn't have a life outside of her mother, and as she was only in her early twenties, it made me sad for her, as well as for her love interest whom she continually pushed away.
Speaking of her love interest, I really liked what we got to see of Ethan. He was very patient, and he didn't mind helping Al if she ever needed him, even when the two of them weren't talking. It was obvious how much he cared about her, and I cringed every time she pushed him away, or later, when she lied to him to keep him from all the insanity her life became. I can't wait for the sequel, so that we can see more of him. The ending of this book set up a lot of possibilities for these two.
There were a lot of secondary characters in this book. I loved how Al's grandparents tried to look after everyone, and it was obvious that they really loved their family. Al's mother was sick most of the time, but there were a few moments when her true self shone through, and I'm hoping to see more of that in the next book. Al's father, Liam, was an important person, as he was the catalyst of her finding out about Tir Na Nog, and he really got the book moving. However, my favorite secondary character was Aodhan. I just loved his backstory, and he was such a strong person. I hope to definitely see more of him in the series.
The plot of the novel followed Al learning about her father, as well as the fairy world. The beginning was slower since we got to see a lot of Al's daily life, but I liked it, since it gave a feel for the world in which she lived, and we learned of her priorities and friends. It was so sad to see how a lot of people shunned Al, just because she wanted to do the right thing. After she met Liam, the action picked up, and everything happened quickly. I was never bored, and there was always something new going on. the only downfall of this book would be that I think some of the world-building could be deepened, since I felt like there was more to be explained. However, this is a series, so that could very well be what happens in the sequel.
As you can tell, I liked this book. It was a quick and easy read, with a sympathetic heroine, who I only got annoyed at a few times. The author used Irish mythology very well, and I loved her take on the Fairy world. After the cliffhanger ending, I'm eagerly anticipating the next book in this series. IF you like mythology, fairies and good characters, I definitely recommend this book.
*I'd like to thank the author for giving an ARC, in exchange for my honest review.*
When I saw that this book was about fairies and Irish mythology, I knew I had to have it. The fact that I was lucky enough to get an ARC of one of my most anticipated books for the year was pretty amazing. I'm so glad to say that I found this book to have a wonderful heroine, and some great Irish mythology thrown in. I also really liked Laura's version of Tir Na Nog.
I think Allison was my favorite character in this book. She was the one we got to know the best, as she was the heroine, and the character through who's eyes the story was told. She was really protective of her mother, and she wanted to take the responsibility of taking care of her mom and herself off of her grandparents. That showed just how much she appreciated other people's efforts to help her. Of course, I felt really horrible for Al, because she had so much responsibility. She felt like she couldn't have a life outside of her mother, and as she was only in her early twenties, it made me sad for her, as well as for her love interest whom she continually pushed away.
Speaking of her love interest, I really liked what we got to see of Ethan. He was very patient, and he didn't mind helping Al if she ever needed him, even when the two of them weren't talking. It was obvious how much he cared about her, and I cringed every time she pushed him away, or later, when she lied to him to keep him from all the insanity her life became. I can't wait for the sequel, so that we can see more of him. The ending of this book set up a lot of possibilities for these two.
There were a lot of secondary characters in this book. I loved how Al's grandparents tried to look after everyone, and it was obvious that they really loved their family. Al's mother was sick most of the time, but there were a few moments when her true self shone through, and I'm hoping to see more of that in the next book. Al's father, Liam, was an important person, as he was the catalyst of her finding out about Tir Na Nog, and he really got the book moving. However, my favorite secondary character was Aodhan. I just loved his backstory, and he was such a strong person. I hope to definitely see more of him in the series.
The plot of the novel followed Al learning about her father, as well as the fairy world. The beginning was slower since we got to see a lot of Al's daily life, but I liked it, since it gave a feel for the world in which she lived, and we learned of her priorities and friends. It was so sad to see how a lot of people shunned Al, just because she wanted to do the right thing. After she met Liam, the action picked up, and everything happened quickly. I was never bored, and there was always something new going on. the only downfall of this book would be that I think some of the world-building could be deepened, since I felt like there was more to be explained. However, this is a series, so that could very well be what happens in the sequel.
As you can tell, I liked this book. It was a quick and easy read, with a sympathetic heroine, who I only got annoyed at a few times. The author used Irish mythology very well, and I loved her take on the Fairy world. After the cliffhanger ending, I'm eagerly anticipating the next book in this series. IF you like mythology, fairies and good characters, I definitely recommend this book.
May 15, 2013
There is just something about the paranormal/fantasy books that pull me in and say “Hey, read me!” Maybe it is because I deal with buggers, diapers and two screaming children all day, so they are like my escape to my own personal Calgon moment. So, when you add the the recently uber popular “New Adult” label to this book, I was on it like cheese on macaroni. I’ve been dying to get my hands on this book for months.
Now, I tend to be a bit harder on books I read in the paranormal/fantasy genre. The stories have to be believable, have a basis in reality and not make my eyes roll to the back of my head. Laura does and EXCELLENT job of blending the fantasy and real world elements together. They make sense and the reactions of the characters to the discovery of the fantasy world are believable. Adding in the Irish folklore, brings further credibility to her story. I did have a difficult time with the pronunciation of a lot of the Irish characters names and when I finished the book, I noticed that there is a pronunciation guide in the BACK of the book. Then, I had to laugh, because I was so way off on so many of the names. So, keep that in mind!! There were also so many characters from this fae world, that I had a hard time keeping them straight! I could tell Laura knew that and kept trying to clue us in as to “who was who” throughout the book. That is all a part of these first books in a series, all the character and setting building that needs to be done to set the story up for future books.
This book is labeled as new adult, but I think it is totally readable for the teen audience. It has a very YA feel. Allison is 21, but still lives at home with her grandparents to help take care of her ailing mother. Now, I don’t know what will happen in future books, but I can tell from Laura’s writing style that you will not see a lot of descriptive scenes, which have become so common place in new adult novels.
It is such a fast read and easy read. I wanted more! I would have loved it if it were a bit longer, because I felt like there were some things that could be expanded on, that would help with the emotional element in the book. My biggest thing with books is the emotional connectivity I feel towards the characters and I honestly felt very little emotion. This is where nearly every suggestion I would have to improve on the book lies. The connections between characters in the book just felt flat to me and left me feeling indifferent. The romance didn’t feel believable and I think was overshadowed by other elements in the book. Which is fine, but I am a romance junkie. The interaction with her long lost father was odd, I would have liked to have seen a little more emotion on his end. I know that living in Tir Na Nog hampered his humanity, but I don’t know, something was just off there.
The story is interesting and unique. The book is very well edited and thought through. Would I recommend this book to lovers of this genre? YES! This is a series that I see only getting better with the addition of each new book. It is a very good debut novel and I hope to see so much more from Laura Howard in the future!!
Now, I tend to be a bit harder on books I read in the paranormal/fantasy genre. The stories have to be believable, have a basis in reality and not make my eyes roll to the back of my head. Laura does and EXCELLENT job of blending the fantasy and real world elements together. They make sense and the reactions of the characters to the discovery of the fantasy world are believable. Adding in the Irish folklore, brings further credibility to her story. I did have a difficult time with the pronunciation of a lot of the Irish characters names and when I finished the book, I noticed that there is a pronunciation guide in the BACK of the book. Then, I had to laugh, because I was so way off on so many of the names. So, keep that in mind!! There were also so many characters from this fae world, that I had a hard time keeping them straight! I could tell Laura knew that and kept trying to clue us in as to “who was who” throughout the book. That is all a part of these first books in a series, all the character and setting building that needs to be done to set the story up for future books.
This book is labeled as new adult, but I think it is totally readable for the teen audience. It has a very YA feel. Allison is 21, but still lives at home with her grandparents to help take care of her ailing mother. Now, I don’t know what will happen in future books, but I can tell from Laura’s writing style that you will not see a lot of descriptive scenes, which have become so common place in new adult novels.
It is such a fast read and easy read. I wanted more! I would have loved it if it were a bit longer, because I felt like there were some things that could be expanded on, that would help with the emotional element in the book. My biggest thing with books is the emotional connectivity I feel towards the characters and I honestly felt very little emotion. This is where nearly every suggestion I would have to improve on the book lies. The connections between characters in the book just felt flat to me and left me feeling indifferent. The romance didn’t feel believable and I think was overshadowed by other elements in the book. Which is fine, but I am a romance junkie. The interaction with her long lost father was odd, I would have liked to have seen a little more emotion on his end. I know that living in Tir Na Nog hampered his humanity, but I don’t know, something was just off there.
The story is interesting and unique. The book is very well edited and thought through. Would I recommend this book to lovers of this genre? YES! This is a series that I see only getting better with the addition of each new book. It is a very good debut novel and I hope to see so much more from Laura Howard in the future!!
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