Mark of the Breenan

Forest Fae #1

by Emma Shelford

Strange things happen around eighteen year-old Gwen Cooper when she’s not paying close attention to her emotions—levitations, explosions, and other bizarre occurrences. She hides her peculiarities from everyone, even her best friend Ellie. But when Ellie is kidnapped by a mysterious stranger on a trip to England, Gwen gathers her courage and follows her friend into an extraordinary Otherworld, a realm of legend and magic accessible only through ancient hidden ways. As Gwen navigates the wilds of the primeval forest and the enchanting fires of faerie people, she finds clues to her past and the mother who abandoned her—discoveries which challenge her to embrace and wield her own powers to save her friend.

Genres: Fantasy, Fae

321 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2014

About the author

Emma Shelford feels that life is only complete with healthy doses of magic, history, and science. Since these aren't often found in the same place, she created her own worlds where they happily coexist. If you catch her in person, she will eagerly discuss Lord of the Rings ad nauseam, why the ancient Sumerians are so cool, and the important role of phytoplankton in the ocean.

Emma is the author of the Nautilus Legends (a marine biologist discovers that mythical sea creatures are real), the Musings of Merlin Series (Merlin is immortal, forever young, and living in the modern day), and the Breenan Series (a young woman follows a mysterious stranger into an enchanting Otherworld).

Reviews

[Tiera McMillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good, light, and enjoyable read! I felt like not only did the author give us a taste of a complex world I think it was done pretty well. I may be biased due to the fact that I love a fairy or fae book so I'm kind of a sucker. I think that this book had a little extra something, a little uniqueness that made it really enjoyable learning about the world. There were also some very unique concepts in the story that kept it fresh. I had absolutely no trouble falling right into the story. Honestly, I felt the author did a good job with the world building, during the first parts of the story I had absolutely no problem picturing every scene especially early in the book. I will say that once we "took a trip" so to speak that though I didn't really feel like I couldn't picture the scenes, there were a lot of places where there seemed to be a ton of information dumped on both the characters and the reader... the characters seemed to have no problems just going with it which may be a tad unrealistic... but hey its fantasy.. lucky for you tha'ts what I like.

I really liked our FMC Gwen who has a shy reserved personality throughout the most of the book but through her journey has started to really come out of her shell. Aidan, surprisingly I'm a little on the fence with. Its suprising because I switch book boyfriends at least twice a day. ;) I really was into him up until we took a trip to the other world. For some reason, once we got there he seemed to kind of take a back seat... though he was there the whole time he didn't really get to develop like Gwen did and by the end of the book I felt like he lacked intensity, especially since the other male characters in the book were super intense and mysterious. Even Bran, with his playful, class clown, bad boy thing he had going was higher on my list by the end of the book.

Our FMC, 18 year old college student Gwen, comes from a single parent home, constantly longing for her mother who after a brief session with her father, deposited a new born Gwen on his steps never to be seen again. Left with only a portrait drawn by her father, and the name Isolde, Gwen and her father have spent a lot of time searching for her with no luck. Not only does she not know her mother, she also has a problem when she gets over emotional, things happen with no explanation. In an unlikely spurt of adventurousness Gwen travels overseas to England for, what seems to be an exchange type program though it is not really described in detail. Cut to England, where Gwen and Ellie are learning about "British stuff." On a trip around the local village and surrounding area Gwen comes into contact with some things that bring her "powers" to the surface which is both confusing and intriguing to her. Her we come to an area that was never explained nor did the story come back to it... The lady with the purple door. Unexplained mystery here. While exploring the local village they come to a pub and meet Aiden local bartender extraordinaire..but that isn't the only stranger they meet. Ellie has an unexplainable draw to Corann and is fierce about her devotion right after meeting. Gwen is uncomfortable and wary of Corann. During a "ball" at the school Ellie is seen leaving with Corann and Gwen and Aiden decide to follow.. leading them on a journey they aren't likely to forget. Gwen comes face to face with her past... and some new future possibilities.

All in all I thought the story was entertaining, and light making it a great quick read. I would definitely be interested to see what else is in store for Gwen in the series!


* I was given the opportunity to join the advanced reader team for this book through Book Sirens and the author Emma Shelford in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank both for the opportunity! *

[Lily Wonka · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy of the Mark of the Breenan for free, and I am leaving this review happily and voluntarily.

This is right up my ally as far as genre is concerned. A bit of magic, a bit of Celtic lore, a female as main protagonist. I ended up being super frustrated because it just didn't do it for me, in spite of this.
DON'T GET ME WRONG : it's a nice relaxing read and I would encourage you to pick it up especially if you want something easy to get in and then get out of.
/!\ The rest of this review contains SPOILERS.

So I'm gonna cut to the chase, starting with the things I didn't like :
- THE FECKING ROMANCE HUGH, too obvious and too much room for something that seemingly leads nowhere, also, too much gooey clichés, the story could have done with half as many references to Gwen's attraction for Aidan and the "will she won't she blah".
- THE QUEEN : she's supposed to be nasty and shit. But she isn't
- The EASINESS of it all : the author has us believe it's gonna be super hard for Gwen to manage her quest through all those difficulties piling up, and then it all happens... No one dies, no one even gets angry (except Gwen).
- The apparent EMPTINESS of the characters : it doesn't go deep enough. Less about the romance and more about Loniel would have been nice for instance. And Gwen is a bit of a clichéed "i'm a poor girl help me" type of character until she sort of wakes up.
- To finish with the too cliché girls-like-boys-and-boys-like-girls feeling I got from the start.

As for the things I liked :
- THE PROLOGUE, so good ! I felt empathy towards baby Gwen straight from the start, loved it. I kinda wish we could have seen her awakening to her powers as a child.
- THE PREMISE is brilliant, I'll definitely check out the rest of the series, I'm not giving up on this. Plus Breenan guy having stolen the locket makes for an interesting plot twist.
- Aidan is a cool character.
- THE TATTOOS, I want to know more about the tattoos and the rituals and everything.
- The hints at Celtic Lore (even though there is no Morrigan maybe this place is Avalon ?).
- The writing is easy to follow without being childish, very flowy (you get me...?).

ALL IN ALL : don't expect to have a transcendent read, you might even get angry with a few details, but you should definitely read it if you don't want anything to grippy or too brainy with a little magic and Celtic lore !

[Jamie Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully Written Fantasy from a First-Time Author

I got pulled in right away by the prologue of this story, of a tiny girl accidentally showing otherworldly powers when emotionally distraught. I emotionally connected with her when I learned that her mother seemingly disappeared from her life when she was an infant. While Gwen still has these powers growing up, she learns to keep them under wraps when upset, but never really understands what they are. A trip to England with her best friend draws her into a world she had never imagined...and certainly never imagined herself to be a part of.

I would never have known that this coming-of-age fantasy was the author's first book. Her characters are fresh and engaging with unique voices. Gwen is a wounded heroine who is able to put the pieces of herself back together through this book's journey. Her father is sweet and understanding. Ellie is the perfect, slightly zany sidekick. Aiden...well, as Ellie would say, "British boys!" The prose is written simply but with a power, a purpose, and an elegance that makes it easy to read. The dialogue was what you would expect of teenagers and even what one would suppose of the fae. The worlds, both modern and fae, are described so that they can be easily visualized, pulling the reader into the book's world. The plot zips along once we get to the Otherworld portion.

I already have the next one in my KU reading queue. Looking forward to more from this author.

I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[GoodBookNook (Candace Renee) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed Mark of the Brennan. The world Emma Shelford created on the edge of our reality was full of intrigue. Not only of the magic that held it together, but of a deep history within. Save for a couple character quirks, and cliches, I am definitely looking forward to the rest of this series.

Mixing fairy lore with modern times can truly be a hit or miss for some authors, but I think Shelford made it work. She brought the protagonist to a European stage, rich with centuries of history and lore. Which made for an easy transition from our modern world to magic. It all seemed to meld together and make sense.

While the backdrop was wonderful, I only have a small complaint. I found the protagonist’s naivety of what was happening in the beginning hard to believe. Maybe, I’m being picky, but I kept thinking, “How are you not piecing this together lady!” That could be part of what kept me wanting more though. So Emma, if that was the plan, great work! And then there were a couple of lines of cheese towards the end that felt very romance-movie-cliche. I slightly cringed, but got passed it.


INSTAGRAM: @goodbooknook

I received and advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[MGB · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was just a month of college abroad. A trip to England, enjoy the country, literature and life. To Gwen it was a chance to find some of her personal history. The author creates a great story that reveals more about Gwen and her origin than she knew. Her Dad suspected something, she didn't understand all that had happened to her, but things come together on this trip. It was what Gwen wanted to learn, and more, lots more. Adventure awaits and she has friends to take the adventure with.

Definitely enjoy this story of youth and Fae and the unknown world where they come together.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great fantasy read and by an author local to my area! This is a perfect read for someone just starting off in the fantasy genre, yet the world Emma Shelford created is complex and mysterious. It keeps you wanting to learn more about the Breenan. I enjoyed the relationships between the characters, the fun discoveries of magic and the adventure into the Otherworld. Cant wait to read the 2nd book:)

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

18-year-old Gwen Cooper lives in Vancouver with her father. Not only does she have unusual abilities, but she also has a best friend named Ellie Brown, who’s always coming up with crazy ideas. This time, it’s a trip to an English castle for extra college credit.

Fave scenes: Gwen using British money, the store circle trial, and Gwen screaming.

[Kim Wesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad I backed the 10th Anniversary Hardcover of these books on Kickstarter. I really enjoy Emma Shelford's stories. I found myself immersed in her stories and not wanting to leave. I would love to follow more of Gwen and Aidan's story.

[Cheryl Fair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book. The characters, the depth of the characters and the story telling abilities of the author are all welcome. I look forward to reading book 2 and having met a new writer I enjoy

[May · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maiku:

Search for friend taken
through portal to Otherworld
yields clues to Gwen’s past.

[Steen Rancher · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess this is just my genre - unfortunately I found it impossible to "get invested" in the characters fate. I don't know if I will read the rest of this series but I have started on Emma's Merlin series. Maybe that will be more my speed.

[Aureanne-Elayne San Nicolas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark of the Breenan Review

I love this story and am extremely excited for the second book in the series to be released. I have read so many books with so many different takes on the world of fey, and this particular story is already one of my favorites. I especially love the historical aspect surrounding the barrows of England’s Bronze age.
~Spoilers~
Foregoing the summary of the prologue, the story begins with eighteen-year-old Gwen, her much more animated best friend Ellie, and her ever-loving father as the opening characters. Gwen, timid and emotionally withdrawn by habit, has been coerced by Ellie, to study abroad for a portion of her senior year. After several talks with her father, it is revealed that Gwen does not know who her mother is, and part of why she wants to go, is because she may have a chance to find her.
Upon arrival at the castle in England, in which she would be living and studying for the next few weeks, Gwen and Ellie discover a Barrow and each meet two young men, Aidan and Corann, of similar features to Gwen. Ellie eventually gets taken by Corann through a faerie portal in the barrow earlier visited by the two friends, and Gwen follows along with Aidan to the world they would each discover their parentage, make new friends, and save Ellie.
~
Again, I love this book, and plan on being a religious follower of anything Breenan related. However, there were some things I felt could’ve made the story much more enriching. So, what comes at first may be disagreeable but what comes after is pure admiration for what I believe is Emma Shelford’s personal awareness of reality and fantasy, and creativity as a writer.
With that said, I think there were a couple things that were left a bit underdeveloped, at least from the point when Gwen arrives in England and then in the world of the Breenan. I will be the first to admit, that sometimes, all of the little details about every character’s personality can be tough to push through. In this case though, I felt that because the situation escalated so fast in the book, the basic development of Gwen and Aidan was put off further than it should have been. This made it difficult for me to fully feel the impact of the intensity I know the author intended the reader to feel, particularly upon Gwen’s and Aidan’s entrance through the barrow. I think that this was my biggest issue.
Moving on from what I disliked. I think that Emma Shelford is otherwise an incredibly creative writer. It is obviously well within her ability to describe something as horribly terrifying and as beautifully inspiring as the forest of Queen Isolde. As well is it that she can veer from the typical child-finds-long-lost-parent stereotype in which the long lost parent had some near evangelical reason for leaving the child in the first place. Queen Isolde is harsh, and clearly unreadable by every other character in the book. Her expressions toward Gwen range from concern to disdain and the idea of such a completely imperfect character is something I found so refreshing.
Additionally, the disparity between Gwen’s father and mother was something I especially loved. There’s this theme of perfect matches and flawless compatibility that is idealized whenever romance is even thought of, and maybe they were so opposite that they attracted. More likely though, is that the love between Gwen’s parents was just imperfect. Thinking of flawless relationships is always fun, but the truth is that no love is truly perfect. It isn’t bad, just realistic, and their relationship wasn’t illusory, it was relatable.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone considering themselves a lover of mythology and lore, fantasy, or just a good story.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who enjoys the fantasy world of faeries and magic will love this book. Gwen, the eighteen-year old leading female character, has always been aware that she is different, and that she must keep her emotions under strict control to avoid unusual "happenings." A study trip to England with her friend Ellie places the two young women near the old barrows that are portals to the Otherworld of the faeries. Together with her new friend Aidan, Gwen desperately searches for Ellie in the strange and often frightening realm. As the story unfolds, we see the quiet strength of Gwen's character reveal itself in ever more powerful ways.
Aimed at a teen - young adult audience, this book is gripping throughout. Emma Shelford's creates a believable fantasy world where readers can see and feel the settings and the events as they share the experiences with the characters. The "marking ceremony" in particular is vividly portrayed - I was as tense as the characters themselves. Even though this is the first book of a trilogy, this portion of the story resolves itself by the last page, so readers are not left hanging. But a "portal" is left for books two and three to bring us back into this enchanting world. I can't wait for Shelford to complete the next part of our journey.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like a fast read, then this is for you! It went by in no time and I found myself wanting to read mrs by the end!
This book is essentially a coming of age story about a young woman by the name Gwen. She and her friend Ellie have enrolled in classes in a medieval castle/college (does sound fun doesn't it?) for summer classes. It is during this time that Ellie is kidnapped off to the Otherworld...Gwen and her new friend have to go get her. She and Aiden are in a completely different realm than their own and soon they discover who they really are. Both are Fairy offspring!
There are many adventures awaiting them all and I can't wait to see what she writes about them in the future!