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The Silent Blade
Dromiskin, Ireland. 925 A.D.
Eira has no greater desire than to see her life returned to what it once was—before her older brother Kevin's sudden disappearance four years earlier. But the simple life she hoped for seems unattainable; on the contrary, her life is about to get all the more complicated.
When she suddenly finds herself and Willem, her twin brother, taken captive by someone who claims to be Kevin’s enemy, things go from bad to worse. It soon becomes clear that she and Willem are to become bait in a trap set for Kevin, and Eira knows she must try to warn him. But how, when she herself is a captive?
As mysteries of the past are unveiled, and loyalties are revealed, Eira realizes how precious her friends truly are. And when mortal danger threatens those nearest to her, will she be able to trust God with the lives of her friends and family?
Eira has no greater desire than to see her life returned to what it once was—before her older brother Kevin's sudden disappearance four years earlier. But the simple life she hoped for seems unattainable; on the contrary, her life is about to get all the more complicated.
When she suddenly finds herself and Willem, her twin brother, taken captive by someone who claims to be Kevin’s enemy, things go from bad to worse. It soon becomes clear that she and Willem are to become bait in a trap set for Kevin, and Eira knows she must try to warn him. But how, when she herself is a captive?
As mysteries of the past are unveiled, and loyalties are revealed, Eira realizes how precious her friends truly are. And when mortal danger threatens those nearest to her, will she be able to trust God with the lives of her friends and family?
196 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 23, 2016
73 people want to read
About the author
Jesseca Wheaton
13 books192 followersJesseca is a daughter, sister, and a child of God. Her days are spent reading, cooking, spending time with siblings, or playing piano. And writing, of course! At an early age words fascinated her, and her love for the printed page has only grown. She lives with her parents and seven siblings in the sunny state of Kansas, and she’s convinced there’s no place like home.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
December 15, 2025
I loved this book so much!! It’s probably even a new favorite of mine now! ^_^ The characters can have a huge impact on if I like a story or not…at least the majority of the time…but I LOVED them all in this book! I don’t think there is any way I could choose a favorite! Kevin, Eira, Stace, Willem, and Casimir--I just love all of them! Another thing I liked about this book was the character’s names…they sounded so cool to me!
Kevin was a character that I very much enjoyed reading about, even though they are all pretty much tied equally ;) He was such a good older brother to Eira and Willem! (I’ve always wished that I had a brother or at least a younger sibling…someone I could look out for, you know…plus it can sometimes stink being the youngest :P When your older sisters get married and then leave you all alone xD...hehe I'm just kidding and sorry, I know I can sometimes get really off topic when I write reviews lol)
I really liked that the author included Biblical themes throughout the story and put actual Scripture in there as well!! That is something I don’t see very often! I just appreciated that a lot and it made the story even better than it already was! ^_^
I also really liked that there was a romance, but it didn’t take over the whole story. It was just the right amount to me :) I’m so glad I got the chance to read this! My only regret is that I didn’t pick it up sooner!! :D Seriously though, I cannot think of one thing that I didn’t like about it!
~Thanks so much to the author, Jesseca Wheaton, for providing me an e-book copy in exchange for an honest review~
Kevin was a character that I very much enjoyed reading about, even though they are all pretty much tied equally ;) He was such a good older brother to Eira and Willem! (I’ve always wished that I had a brother or at least a younger sibling…someone I could look out for, you know…plus it can sometimes stink being the youngest :P When your older sisters get married and then leave you all alone xD...hehe I'm just kidding and sorry, I know I can sometimes get really off topic when I write reviews lol)
I really liked that the author included Biblical themes throughout the story and put actual Scripture in there as well!! That is something I don’t see very often! I just appreciated that a lot and it made the story even better than it already was! ^_^
I also really liked that there was a romance, but it didn’t take over the whole story. It was just the right amount to me :) I’m so glad I got the chance to read this! My only regret is that I didn’t pick it up sooner!! :D Seriously though, I cannot think of one thing that I didn’t like about it!
~Thanks so much to the author, Jesseca Wheaton, for providing me an e-book copy in exchange for an honest review~
January 5, 2020
I feel like I should start out this book review by saying that, up until last summer, I had a dislike for stories with medieval settings. Quite honestly, I hadn't tried many books set in that time period, because the storylines usually didn't appeal to me. I had unfairly categorized all fiction with a medieval setting as the 'princess in distress rescued by handsome knight' type of thing. Which was wrong in itself, but I'm getting sidetracked here.
So when I found out that Jesseca had a medieval book in the works...I was intrigued. I knew I must learn more about this story! Could it be the one medieval book that I would like?
Well, friends.
It was.
And since reading an unedited, still-in-the-works version of The Silent Blade about a year ago, I can happily say I have found other books set in a medieval period to enjoy. ^_^ Hooray!
Okay, on to what I love about this delightful novel. :)
The theme of the story is forgiveness. Sacrifice. Love. Protection of family (if that's considered a theme?). Jealousy, and what can come from it when it's not quickly resolved. All of which are orchestrated so beautifully, all tied together in a glorious symphony of words that we call a book.
The characters are precious and real. The family ties are strong, believable, and challenge me to love my own family more. The romance is sweet and heart-warming. I just adore this story. :)
I must take a moment to talk about Kevin. Kevin is my absolute favorite character. He's like the bestest big brother ever. He has his flaws, his struggles – sure. That makes him human. But his protectiveness over his family, his siblings especially Eira, is so precious! I just love Kevin. He can be my adoptive older brother. <3
Also, *spoilers ahead* the side-story of Henry. Like, what even?!?! I was so stunned. I did not see that coming. Loved it. <3 Such a beautiful showing of how God is working through any and all circumstances. :) *end of spoilers*
And...the names. I just love them! Eira, Casimir, Aeden, Cian, Diarmuid, Peadar, Stace (I love Stace. We're great chums. I know all his secrets.)... If I tried, I couldn't pronounce half of them but they are so pretty and medieval! ^_^
It's not a perfect book, but it's a good book and I love it. For the young author's first officially published work, I found it to be remarkable. :) Five star rating for me.
**I received an e-ARC from the author in exchange for my honest review.**
Favorite Quotes.
"You are rather pretty, you know. Especially when your face is flushed and your hair has come loose. Like it is now."
"Remind me, just why am I carrying this?"
"Because, my dear friend, I carried it down here."
"There are more men in the world than you, Merek. As startling as that fact may be."
"We are His to begin with. Our life is in His hands and He will decide what's best."
"Do you ever do anything except ask questions?"
"Jealousy is like a sword, a silent blade that comes into our life and wrenches from us any good that may have been there before."
So when I found out that Jesseca had a medieval book in the works...I was intrigued. I knew I must learn more about this story! Could it be the one medieval book that I would like?
Well, friends.
It was.
And since reading an unedited, still-in-the-works version of The Silent Blade about a year ago, I can happily say I have found other books set in a medieval period to enjoy. ^_^ Hooray!
Okay, on to what I love about this delightful novel. :)
The theme of the story is forgiveness. Sacrifice. Love. Protection of family (if that's considered a theme?). Jealousy, and what can come from it when it's not quickly resolved. All of which are orchestrated so beautifully, all tied together in a glorious symphony of words that we call a book.
The characters are precious and real. The family ties are strong, believable, and challenge me to love my own family more. The romance is sweet and heart-warming. I just adore this story. :)
I must take a moment to talk about Kevin. Kevin is my absolute favorite character. He's like the bestest big brother ever. He has his flaws, his struggles – sure. That makes him human. But his protectiveness over his family, his siblings especially Eira, is so precious! I just love Kevin. He can be my adoptive older brother. <3
Also, *spoilers ahead* the side-story of Henry. Like, what even?!?! I was so stunned. I did not see that coming. Loved it. <3 Such a beautiful showing of how God is working through any and all circumstances. :) *end of spoilers*
And...the names. I just love them! Eira, Casimir, Aeden, Cian, Diarmuid, Peadar, Stace (I love Stace. We're great chums. I know all his secrets.)... If I tried, I couldn't pronounce half of them but they are so pretty and medieval! ^_^
It's not a perfect book, but it's a good book and I love it. For the young author's first officially published work, I found it to be remarkable. :) Five star rating for me.
**I received an e-ARC from the author in exchange for my honest review.**
Favorite Quotes.
"You are rather pretty, you know. Especially when your face is flushed and your hair has come loose. Like it is now."
"Remind me, just why am I carrying this?"
"Because, my dear friend, I carried it down here."
"There are more men in the world than you, Merek. As startling as that fact may be."
"We are His to begin with. Our life is in His hands and He will decide what's best."
"Do you ever do anything except ask questions?"
"Jealousy is like a sword, a silent blade that comes into our life and wrenches from us any good that may have been there before."
January 19, 2017
To read my full review go to:
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https://pageturnersweb.wordpress.com/
March 2, 2017
When I saw an open invitation to advance read for this book I was super excited. I had followed the author’s blog for a while and already loved her writing style. This was even better than I expected.
I fell in love with the characters, and I loved seeing them progress
The main girl captured my heart very quickly into the book. She’s an ordinary girl who struggles with ordinary problems which make her very relatable. She’s not gifted in many things girls are ‘supposed’ to be, like cooking and dancing and the like, but she’s still very feminine.
Her brothers were pretty awesome, just saying. Kevin is like the ultimate older brother.
Casimer was awesome, he’s protective and loving, and you just can’t help but love him.
I will say though, there was one thing that bugged me about this book. At one point a character gets mistreated by a bad guy, and when their rescued, they just say “don’t be mad at him, I’ve forgiven him.” And I think what the author was trying to do was build a forgiveness message up in the book, but what it made it sound like was that the good character was unrealistic.
But I really loved the book and I hope to read many more of this authors books as she publishes them.
*I was given this book by the author in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to give a positive review.
I fell in love with the characters, and I loved seeing them progress
The main girl captured my heart very quickly into the book. She’s an ordinary girl who struggles with ordinary problems which make her very relatable. She’s not gifted in many things girls are ‘supposed’ to be, like cooking and dancing and the like, but she’s still very feminine.
Her brothers were pretty awesome, just saying. Kevin is like the ultimate older brother.
Casimer was awesome, he’s protective and loving, and you just can’t help but love him.
I will say though, there was one thing that bugged me about this book. At one point a character gets mistreated by a bad guy, and when their rescued, they just say “don’t be mad at him, I’ve forgiven him.” And I think what the author was trying to do was build a forgiveness message up in the book, but what it made it sound like was that the good character was unrealistic.
But I really loved the book and I hope to read many more of this authors books as she publishes them.
*I was given this book by the author in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to give a positive review.
July 14, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. I have a love for medieval stories and am actually going to write my own very soon. The action scenes were awesome, especially the sword fighting ones:) I loved the relationships spread throughout the book. I always like when there are close brother/sister ties, and the romance was very light and sweet. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. It was an enjoyable book!
-I received this book in exchange for an honest review-
-I received this book in exchange for an honest review-
December 15, 2016
3.5 stars! :)
(Review also posted on The Road of a Writer: https://deborahocarroll.wordpress.com...)
I don't read much historical fiction, but I love Ireland and this book sounded intriguing, so I decided to give it a go. I'm glad I did! I wish I'd read it when I was younger because I have a feeling I would have ADORED it then... As it was, I still enjoyed it rather. :)
I loved most of the characters! They were a definite highlight. :) Kevin, the older brother, was so nice and cool. Willem, the heroine's twin, was sweet and wonderful. ^_^ Great brothers! I enjoyed reading about them. Casimir was epic! (I wish I'd known he was the Chieftain's son at the beginning... or even that there WAS a chieftain...? Instead of learning it at the end, because that would have made him even cooler. XD) A lot of other side characters were really interesting too. Rowen and Stace, for instance -- they were great! As were Aeden and Diarmuid and Cian, especially when they were all mysterious early on... ;) LOVED that. So much epic.
Along that note, can we take a moment to appreciate the amazing Celtic names in this book? Okay? Okay. LOVE THE NAMES.
There was a light thread of romance later, which was sweet. ^_^ (Though seriously, Eira: PAY ATTENTION. Ahem. XD)
I enjoyed the humor. :) The character interactions and a lot of the banter made it fun to read, and I do love a bit of fun in my books. ;)
There was a strong Christian aspect, which I enjoyed. The characters quote scripture often and pray a lot and I liked how their prayers felt natural. Between the strong faith theme and one of family/sibling closeness threaded through the story, it had some good things to say. :)
I also loved how it ended! Especially since I read a book recently that disappointed me in the ending department, so I really appreciate this one's ending... It left me feeling happy, at least! (I was curious what will happen to a certain character though. o.o)
As for things I didn't love as much... I will say that I felt like some of it was historically inaccurate. I couldn't understand why some of the characters did what they did, so some of the plot didn't hold together for me, I guess. I also didn't like the heroine, Eira, too much; which is probably just me, since I don't tend to like her tough-girl, obsessed-with-swords, can't-cook-to-save-her-life (literally) sort of type, so I'm sure many people will enjoy her. :) I just didn't get along with her, thought she acted beneath her age of sixteen, and found it odd that she didn't seem to know how to do anything other than sword-fight? That was just weird to me. :P (Sometimes I liked her okay, and I do love her name. ;)) Like I said, I think I miiight be a little too old for it since a lot of it was on a smaller scale and felt like bullies versus kids instead of grown men versus older teens/other men, and I have a feeling at a younger age I wouldn't have noticed the above complaints and would have just enjoyed the adventure and the action and all of that. But, again, could just be me!
Despite all of that, it kept my interest, was intriguing and at times exciting, and I couldn't put it down. :)
I might've given it 3 and a half stars... but considering that I would have loved it a few years ago, and that it kept me addicted to turning pages and wrapped up nicely, I'm bumping it up to 4 stars.
An enjoyable light read for anyone who likes historical fiction, siblings-stories, a Christian message, and cool Irish names. :)
I received a free Advance Reader e-Copy of this book from the author (thanks, Jesseca!) in exchange for my honest review, and these opinions are my own.
(Review also posted on The Road of a Writer: https://deborahocarroll.wordpress.com...)
I don't read much historical fiction, but I love Ireland and this book sounded intriguing, so I decided to give it a go. I'm glad I did! I wish I'd read it when I was younger because I have a feeling I would have ADORED it then... As it was, I still enjoyed it rather. :)
I loved most of the characters! They were a definite highlight. :) Kevin, the older brother, was so nice and cool. Willem, the heroine's twin, was sweet and wonderful. ^_^ Great brothers! I enjoyed reading about them. Casimir was epic! (I wish I'd known he was the Chieftain's son at the beginning... or even that there WAS a chieftain...? Instead of learning it at the end, because that would have made him even cooler. XD) A lot of other side characters were really interesting too. Rowen and Stace, for instance -- they were great! As were Aeden and Diarmuid and Cian, especially when they were all mysterious early on... ;) LOVED that. So much epic.
Along that note, can we take a moment to appreciate the amazing Celtic names in this book? Okay? Okay. LOVE THE NAMES.
There was a light thread of romance later, which was sweet. ^_^ (Though seriously, Eira: PAY ATTENTION. Ahem. XD)
I enjoyed the humor. :) The character interactions and a lot of the banter made it fun to read, and I do love a bit of fun in my books. ;)
There was a strong Christian aspect, which I enjoyed. The characters quote scripture often and pray a lot and I liked how their prayers felt natural. Between the strong faith theme and one of family/sibling closeness threaded through the story, it had some good things to say. :)
I also loved how it ended! Especially since I read a book recently that disappointed me in the ending department, so I really appreciate this one's ending... It left me feeling happy, at least! (I was curious what will happen to a certain character though. o.o)
As for things I didn't love as much... I will say that I felt like some of it was historically inaccurate. I couldn't understand why some of the characters did what they did, so some of the plot didn't hold together for me, I guess. I also didn't like the heroine, Eira, too much; which is probably just me, since I don't tend to like her tough-girl, obsessed-with-swords, can't-cook-to-save-her-life (literally) sort of type, so I'm sure many people will enjoy her. :) I just didn't get along with her, thought she acted beneath her age of sixteen, and found it odd that she didn't seem to know how to do anything other than sword-fight? That was just weird to me. :P (Sometimes I liked her okay, and I do love her name. ;)) Like I said, I think I miiight be a little too old for it since a lot of it was on a smaller scale and felt like bullies versus kids instead of grown men versus older teens/other men, and I have a feeling at a younger age I wouldn't have noticed the above complaints and would have just enjoyed the adventure and the action and all of that. But, again, could just be me!
Despite all of that, it kept my interest, was intriguing and at times exciting, and I couldn't put it down. :)
I might've given it 3 and a half stars... but considering that I would have loved it a few years ago, and that it kept me addicted to turning pages and wrapped up nicely, I'm bumping it up to 4 stars.
An enjoyable light read for anyone who likes historical fiction, siblings-stories, a Christian message, and cool Irish names. :)
I received a free Advance Reader e-Copy of this book from the author (thanks, Jesseca!) in exchange for my honest review, and these opinions are my own.
March 29, 2017
Another superb story by Jesseca Wheaton that will grab your heart and seize your mind. I was thoroughly fascinated by the characters in this medieval tale of honor, love and jealousy. Old acquaintances out to get revenge, a swordsman trying to move on with life and a simple family following their Savior. A truly thrilling adventure for the whole family!
December 31, 2017
Dromiskin, Ireland. 925 A.D.
Eira has no greater desire than to see her life returned to what it once was—before her older brother Kevin's sudden disappearance four years earlier. But the simple life she hoped for seems unattainable; on the contrary, her life is about to get all the more complicated.
When she suddenly finds herself and Willem, her twin brother, taken captive by someone who claims to be Kevin’s enemy, things go from bad to worse. It soon becomes clear that she and Willem are to become bait in a trap set for Kevin, and Eira knows she must try to warn him. But how, when she herself is a captive?
As mysteries of the past are unveiled, and loyalties are revealed, Eira realizes how precious her friends truly are. And when mortal danger threatens those nearest to her, will she be able to trust God with the lives of her friends and family?
I received this ARC eons ago, and was so awfully busy I never got around to actually reading it. Heheh. Well, now we're here, and-
I liked it!
Now there is a difference between liking it and shelving it as a classic and a favorite. This book was great for what it was- 120 pages of quick adventure and zingy dialogue. Fun beach read? A+. Historical fiction up to my standards? Eeeehhhhhhhh..... eh. Likeable, but eh.
The first thing that started me on my critical downward slope was Eira and her incredible sword-wielding skills. Don't get me wrong- I looooove swords and swordfights and girls with swords. The protagonist of one of my own WIPs is a lass with incredible sword skills.
She also does not use a Medieval broadsword. She uses the thinner, lighter swords more common in the 18th century, generally used as dress swords. Not only this, but she also has a very uncommon upbringing- and very good reasons to know how to use a.) a "man's" weapon, and b.) use a sword at all- this is the 18th century and they now have more advanced weapons, after all.
But Eira, here- she's a lil lady. And broadswords are heavy. Like- I'm six feet tall and an athlete, and without a good deal of training, I could not wield one with any force. I would barely be able to hold it above my head.
So is it possible? Eh, maybe. Probable? Not really. But then- this is fiction. It was a little historically inaccurate, but it could pass. But I would have enjoyed a little more backstory.
Backstory on everything. I love long books. Really long books. Really really long books. (I hope y'all get the idea...)
And we were missing a lot here. To start with, I never got why Merek was so. darn. angry. Really Merek? Burning down villages 'cause one thing a guy said? And how the dickens did you get people to join your clan, you revengeful, nasty, blacksmith's son?
Also, I was shipping Stace and Eira. And my ship sunk. Hence more sadness.
BUT IGNORING ALL OF THE ABOVE....
It was a really sweet story. HAVE I MENTIONED HOW MUCH I LOVE OLDER BROTHERS IN LITERATURE??? The whole protective family element more than saved this book for me. I'll read miles of plotless older brother sweetness and be happy. Don't look at me like that.
Soooo.... 3.75 stars? It was really good for what it was, just- Nicht mein typ. But I am looking forward to reading more by this author in the future...
Honestly- *hopeless shrugging* I'm still getting my thoughts sorted. Recommended method of finding out how good the book was? Go read it already. XD
May 23, 2018
FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of this book. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
I loved the Irish setting of this story, especially all the gorgeous names. All of the male characters were awesome (especially Willem and Stace!!!) except when My favorite part was actually the romantic side plot which is unusual for me, though I didn’t appreciate the female character’s attitude towards marriage at the beginning. ;) When Eira , and they were so cute later. I would love to see a stronger plot and a clearer message in this story. Just note there is some thematic violence and slight feminism.
Best quote: “Nothing really.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I just decided that I needn’t spend the day alone when I could just come over and spend it helping you two.” “Helping us with what?” Casimir placed his chin in his hands and his face took on a thoughtful expression. “Hmm, let me see. I thought I’d come and help you all do nothing as well. Sound good?”
Altogether, I found this to be a nice, quick read with delightful characters.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I loved the Irish setting of this story, especially all the gorgeous names. All of the male characters were awesome (especially Willem and Stace!!!) except when My favorite part was actually the romantic side plot which is unusual for me, though I didn’t appreciate the female character’s attitude towards marriage at the beginning. ;) When Eira , and they were so cute later. I would love to see a stronger plot and a clearer message in this story. Just note there is some thematic violence and slight feminism.
Best quote: “Nothing really.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I just decided that I needn’t spend the day alone when I could just come over and spend it helping you two.” “Helping us with what?” Casimir placed his chin in his hands and his face took on a thoughtful expression. “Hmm, let me see. I thought I’d come and help you all do nothing as well. Sound good?”
Altogether, I found this to be a nice, quick read with delightful characters.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
August 9, 2016
I immensely enjoyed this book! I was riveted nearly from the beginning, and found myself thinking of the story a lot (wondering what was going to happen next).
Wonderful, endearing characters that were easy to love and understand. Lots of action! Lots of plot twists and surprises! The story kept a quick-paced, nice flow, and the medieval time-setting was perfect.
I was also thankful the story was clean and Christ-like. Praise God for authors who give Him glory!
The title, also, was very catchy---and the cover was beautiful. Wonderful book! Great read! Highly recommended for any ages!
*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Wonderful, endearing characters that were easy to love and understand. Lots of action! Lots of plot twists and surprises! The story kept a quick-paced, nice flow, and the medieval time-setting was perfect.
I was also thankful the story was clean and Christ-like. Praise God for authors who give Him glory!
The title, also, was very catchy---and the cover was beautiful. Wonderful book! Great read! Highly recommended for any ages!
*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
September 15, 2016
This book surprised me in a very good way. I've been getting really bogged down in books lately, and I thought this one would be the same, with its medieval names and dramas. So it wasn't until I was stuck without anything to read except this that I began.. and I wouldn't have stopped until it was finished, except apparently late nights are not good for me.
The medieval 'names and dramas' didn't slow me down at all. The action kept me reading, and I liked the characters. I liked how each character developed as the story went along. Some of the scenes seemed a little forced, but to be honest, I didn't care - I just had to see how the story ended. :) I did wonder about the historical accuracy of the way it was written: I had to keep reminding myself of the time period it's set in, and that's how come they had sword-fights..
But neither of those things stopped me from enjoying the story. I know I'll be reading it again, and I want to say a big thank-you to Jesseca Wheaton for hosting a giveaway for this book, which I was surprised, and very privileged, to win. And, I'm looking forward to reading your future books, Jesseca! :)
The medieval 'names and dramas' didn't slow me down at all. The action kept me reading, and I liked the characters. I liked how each character developed as the story went along. Some of the scenes seemed a little forced, but to be honest, I didn't care - I just had to see how the story ended. :) I did wonder about the historical accuracy of the way it was written: I had to keep reminding myself of the time period it's set in, and that's how come they had sword-fights..
But neither of those things stopped me from enjoying the story. I know I'll be reading it again, and I want to say a big thank-you to Jesseca Wheaton for hosting a giveaway for this book, which I was surprised, and very privileged, to win. And, I'm looking forward to reading your future books, Jesseca! :)
July 17, 2016
This was a delightful afternoon read. There was excitement, adventure, light moments, a small dash of romance and engaging dialog. Though I don't usually read many fiction books that take place in the middle ages, I'm glad I read this one. When I first began reading I thought it would be another book where the girl saves the day and preforms daring acts that no man would or could do, but I was happily disappointed. I enjoyed the characters, and some of the descriptions were charming! There were a few times I cringed inwardly because I knew when a word that was used was actually created, but that's the historically correct author in me.
I would recommend this book.
I was give a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I would recommend this book.
I was give a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 19, 2016
The Silent Blade surprised me. It was my first experience with this author, and I must say I’m already looking forward to more. While this book was not perfect, there were so many great things about it.
Plot/Storyline: 4/5
It was a little unrealistic at times, yet I was drawn along. No problems holding my interest.
Characters: 4/5
While likable, there was room for some character development. I loved all the guy characters, by the way. They are awesome. :)
Writing: 4/5
Sometimes it was a little choppy and confusing, but for the most part it was wonderful!
Want-to-read-ability: 4/5
The first page drew me in immediately. That was one of my favorite things…there was no “breaking into the story” chapters!
Plot/Storyline: 4/5
It was a little unrealistic at times, yet I was drawn along. No problems holding my interest.
Characters: 4/5
While likable, there was room for some character development. I loved all the guy characters, by the way. They are awesome. :)
Writing: 4/5
Sometimes it was a little choppy and confusing, but for the most part it was wonderful!
Want-to-read-ability: 4/5
The first page drew me in immediately. That was one of my favorite things…there was no “breaking into the story” chapters!
October 5, 2016
*Received a free copy in exchange for an honest review*
This novel is set in 925 A.D. in Ireland (I'd like to go there someday), and is mainly focused on one family. Eira and her family are caught in a cause and effect scenario due to something that happened in the past. The actions in the book escalate quickly into an action packed book. As pages fly by, the reader is able to learn what happened to bring the family into the mess that they're in. Lots of action, some light romance, great storytelling as well as faith make this novel a great read. I highly recommend reading it.
This novel is set in 925 A.D. in Ireland (I'd like to go there someday), and is mainly focused on one family. Eira and her family are caught in a cause and effect scenario due to something that happened in the past. The actions in the book escalate quickly into an action packed book. As pages fly by, the reader is able to learn what happened to bring the family into the mess that they're in. Lots of action, some light romance, great storytelling as well as faith make this novel a great read. I highly recommend reading it.
July 16, 2016
This was an amazing book - I loved it!! Review to come. :)
June 3, 2016
When a trade ship docks at Dromiskin, Eira can't help but notice that the men on board act nothing like normal tradesmen. Willem, her twin, shares her suspicions, but not soon enough. Captured together to be used against Eira and Willem's older brother, the twins are thrown into the middle of a heated battle.
An exciting tale of danger, vengeance, deception, sword-fights, trust and forgiveness. The story flow was smooth and never weighed down. The plot line kept my mind wandering back to it, wondering what happened in the next scene. There were a lot of questions that arose as the story unfolded, and these questions were satisfactorily answered.
And I just have to throw in a comment about the names! Eira, Willem, Casimer, Rowen, Merek, Aeden, Cian, Diarmuid ... ah! I loved them all! Not too weird and balanced out by names such as Henry and Anna.
I was a little disappointed that there is practically no parental involvement in this story. And, at the beginning, what was mentioned of the parents was not completely honoring (like "Father makes me do classes" type of thing).
Some parts of this book didn't quite "feel" the era and there was some amateur writing, but overall, considering the author's age it was good.
There was some romance in this book, but it was sweet. No kisses.
*I beta-read this book for the author and volunteered to give my review*
An exciting tale of danger, vengeance, deception, sword-fights, trust and forgiveness. The story flow was smooth and never weighed down. The plot line kept my mind wandering back to it, wondering what happened in the next scene. There were a lot of questions that arose as the story unfolded, and these questions were satisfactorily answered.
And I just have to throw in a comment about the names! Eira, Willem, Casimer, Rowen, Merek, Aeden, Cian, Diarmuid ... ah! I loved them all! Not too weird and balanced out by names such as Henry and Anna.
I was a little disappointed that there is practically no parental involvement in this story. And, at the beginning, what was mentioned of the parents was not completely honoring (like "Father makes me do classes" type of thing).
Some parts of this book didn't quite "feel" the era and there was some amateur writing, but overall, considering the author's age it was good.
There was some romance in this book, but it was sweet. No kisses.
*I beta-read this book for the author and volunteered to give my review*
July 29, 2016
I loved her characters, the lessons she incorporated. She created a vivid setting that I loved (especially since it was Ireland).
There was nothing bad with the mechanics, but it wasn't outstanding.
I really enjoyed this book.
There was nothing bad with the mechanics, but it wasn't outstanding.
I really enjoyed this book.
August 6, 2016
Everyone should have a little sister like Eira : ) Just the right amount of niceness, while still being able to drag all of the guys into a whole heap of trouble!
Kudos to Jesseca for this debut novel!
Kudos to Jesseca for this debut novel!
March 7, 2018
Brilliant book. Brilliant title. Brilliant everything!
Some favorite quotes and my responses…
How I do friendships:
“Eira twisted her hair around her finger… ‘I miss her.’ ‘Eira, you saw her yesterday,’ Willem reminded.”
That moment that makes me go, YASS!
“ ‘Eira, if one of us do get injured or even killed, it’s not God taking us from you. We are His to begin with.’ ”
Onto the actual review…
Firstly I’ll just say that as I was reading this, I had my doubts. I had trouble keeping up with some of the characters—who they were and such. I was having trouble understanding some of the plot or what the purpose of the plot was…that is—until I finished it and IT ALL CAME TOGETHER!
So bottom line: HANG WITH IT, because it will blow your mind!
Few negatives, expanded: I had confusions about characters and who they were and couldn’t keep track of most of them, except for Eira, Willem, Casimir, Kevin—all the rest, I felt, lacked depth or significance, and I got them confused easily.
While I loved the historical aspect, I felt at times it was either forgotten or overdone. I think it was trying to be portrayed as realistic as possible to that time period, but I thought at times it got overdone, going over the top to enhance the historical feel when not absolutely necessary. Not a true negative, but just a note.
Positives? I loved Eira. I loved Casimir. I also loved the relationship between Kevin and Eira. It was so sweet and touching!
Really, I’d love to just talk about the ending. Because everything came together, all the loose ends tied together, the assumed-emptiness filled. And it did BEAUTIFULLY.
The plotline was so unique and individual, and perfectly lining up with the jealousy theme. It was captivating from the start, though, and had me hooked. I loved the characters and the way they interacted with one another. I appreciated the foreshadowing and hidden hints that I didn’t even know were there, leading up to the final point. I loved the message this book delivered, clearly and cleverly. So while I did have my doubts reading it, they were all dismissed by the way it came together. The author has doubtlessly improved a lot since her last book (though that was great too) and I am looking forward to seeing what else she comes out with!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Like my reviews? Follow my blog:
http://jcbuchanan.com
Some favorite quotes and my responses…
How I do friendships:
“Eira twisted her hair around her finger… ‘I miss her.’ ‘Eira, you saw her yesterday,’ Willem reminded.”
That moment that makes me go, YASS!
“ ‘Eira, if one of us do get injured or even killed, it’s not God taking us from you. We are His to begin with.’ ”
Onto the actual review…
Firstly I’ll just say that as I was reading this, I had my doubts. I had trouble keeping up with some of the characters—who they were and such. I was having trouble understanding some of the plot or what the purpose of the plot was…that is—until I finished it and IT ALL CAME TOGETHER!
So bottom line: HANG WITH IT, because it will blow your mind!
Few negatives, expanded: I had confusions about characters and who they were and couldn’t keep track of most of them, except for Eira, Willem, Casimir, Kevin—all the rest, I felt, lacked depth or significance, and I got them confused easily.
While I loved the historical aspect, I felt at times it was either forgotten or overdone. I think it was trying to be portrayed as realistic as possible to that time period, but I thought at times it got overdone, going over the top to enhance the historical feel when not absolutely necessary. Not a true negative, but just a note.
Positives? I loved Eira. I loved Casimir. I also loved the relationship between Kevin and Eira. It was so sweet and touching!
Really, I’d love to just talk about the ending. Because everything came together, all the loose ends tied together, the assumed-emptiness filled. And it did BEAUTIFULLY.
The plotline was so unique and individual, and perfectly lining up with the jealousy theme. It was captivating from the start, though, and had me hooked. I loved the characters and the way they interacted with one another. I appreciated the foreshadowing and hidden hints that I didn’t even know were there, leading up to the final point. I loved the message this book delivered, clearly and cleverly. So while I did have my doubts reading it, they were all dismissed by the way it came together. The author has doubtlessly improved a lot since her last book (though that was great too) and I am looking forward to seeing what else she comes out with!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Like my reviews? Follow my blog:
http://jcbuchanan.com
July 20, 2016
The Characters:
For me, characters always play a big part in how much a given story is liked by me. :) And in "The Silent Blade", Jesseca does a fabulous job creating loveable (while still believably human) characters...and her villains...*shudders*. A few of my favorites include her main character Eira (after all, who doesn't love a girl who can't dance to save her life but can swordfight along with the best of 'em?), Eira's brother Willem (funny, loveable, and kind to all whether enemy or friend), and their friend Casmir (well...more than a friend to some...*coughcough*). Oh, and the hero of the story, namely Eira's oldest brother Kevin is basically someone that everyone wishes was THEIR older brother. He's so kind and protective and *hugs self* Ah! I love them all!
The Setting:
Ireland, as I mentioned above, has always held a special place in my heart...I love their rich history, and their beautiful music and scenery. Really, sometimes I wonder why I haven't written a book about characters who live in Ireland yet...well, I know what's next for me after finishing "The Princess & I" and "Beyond the Galaxy"! :)
Jesseca does an excellent job describing her various settings, and I love the way she paints the village where her main characters live as well as the woods they frequent *cough* for a large chunk of the story. (See? Aren't I doing so well not giving spoilers?? ;P)
The Plot:
Jealousy. Revenge. Trickery. Love. War. Peace. And the holy law: to "bless them that hate thee and love them that spitefully use thee and persecute thee". I admired Jesseca's ability to weave all those things throughout her story to create a beautiful picture of Christ-like love Kevin gains towards those who would do anything to hurt the people he holds so dear. The journey is a hard one for him, and one where he often has to struggle inwardly between his desire to have his own revenge towards those who hurt his family, and his equally strong desire to do what is right and forgive his enemy. It's a journey you'll take yourself as you submerge yourself in Jesseca's story: Kevin's struggles will become yours, Eira's frustration will cause you to frown, Willem's jokes and Casmir's teasing will bring a smile (and a laugh more often then not) to your lips.
It's amazing. :)
My rating:
Definitely five stars over all. :) Sure, her writing might not be as good quality-wise as C. S. Lewis's, J. R. R. Tolkien's, or Jane Austin...but really, who wants to be an exact copy of one of those authors? Everyone has to start somewhere, and she has certainly started off on the right foot. Her writing holds a lot of potential, and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future!! :D
August 25, 2016
I really enjoyed this great adventure! :) I'm always looking for books set in Israel and Ireland - this one is in Ireland. The siblings, friends, and allies are all likable. The action and adventure is great! The faith of the characters is real and shown by their actions, not just spoken of. I love that Eira, the main character, is an expert swordswoman and is nice and doesn't have a bad attitude toward males. That is super important to me. The love of the siblings is very relatable and cool. There's mystery, faith, action, good romance, and some banter! Cool cover art, too!
This book is one I want to read again and can recommend to friends! I have another favorite book and author now! :) I look forward to more great writing and exciting books! Thank you, Jesseca, for writing such a cool book! Thank you, Mikayla, for reviewing it and letting me know about it on your blog, The Bubblegum Ballerina!
So many things I love about this book, and you can read the entire review at my blog Read to Your Heart's Content.
This book is one I want to read again and can recommend to friends! I have another favorite book and author now! :) I look forward to more great writing and exciting books! Thank you, Jesseca, for writing such a cool book! Thank you, Mikayla, for reviewing it and letting me know about it on your blog, The Bubblegum Ballerina!
So many things I love about this book, and you can read the entire review at my blog Read to Your Heart's Content.
July 10, 2016
The Silent Blade was a very good read, and i really liked it. The main characters is Eira, and Kevin and Casimer. Eira lives a good life with her family, and sword fighting, but everything that she knew is turned upside down when her and Kevin are captured by a man seeking revenge on her brother who left years ago. Will they escape? What will happen to their brother? Find out by reading The Silent Blade. :) It was a little confusing in parts and stuff but after a while i got it all. There is a little bit of romance, nothing much. There isn't tons of action, but it was still very good. So all in all it was a very good read, and i really enjoyed it. I would recommend it for ages 11-up.
June 23, 2018
Although I don't usually read novels set in medieval times, I made an exception for The Silent Blade after hearing great things about it from the beta-readers. I'm glad I did; it was a very good book! I liked it a lot more than I thought I would, and there were times when I definitely didn't want to put it down, even to eat. Unfortunately, my mother does not look favorably upon reading at the table. :D
Click to read the rest of the review!
~Kellyn Roth, Reveries Reviews
Click to read the rest of the review!
~Kellyn Roth, Reveries Reviews
June 10, 2016
An original, adventurous story about family loyalty and eroded friendships. While I was not able to wholly relate to the main character, she was all the more unpredictable because she was not like me. The setting and the atmosphere of the entire novel was beautiful. I was privileged to critique this book and was drawn in by the action, suspense, and themes Jesseca's story held even while in its drafting stages. As a finished novel, it can only be all the better.
July 18, 2016
3-3.5 stars
The Silent Blade is a story set in Ireland during the 900's. One evening, twins Willem and Eira are captured by enemies of their older brother Kevin and their lives take a course they hadn't planned. Soon they find themselves in the midst of conflict between Kevin and his long endured enemy, Merek.
A story of jealousy, revenge, forgiveness, and love.
Here are some of my thoughts on The Silent Blade! :)
Jesseca wove some good lessons in this story. These were on forgiveness and leaving vengeance to God, and of how jealousy can ruin a person. There is a good illustration of this in the story, and then you'll understand the title. :)
There was a very light romance, and it was just a sweet one. :) No kissing or anything.
My favorite character was possibly Casimir, but I don't know. :P Isn't that a great name though?! A little like "Caspian", but... different of course. ;) I like it.
There were some things that gave this a lower rating for me. Sometimes not a lot happened, or the characters reaction to things sometimes didn't seem very realistic. Maybe a lack of emotion...
BUT it was a good book! :) So go get yourself a copy of The Silent Blade, people! :D
Recommendations: Ages 11\12+ There wasn't really anything that wouldn't be appropriate for young readers- just minor violence. :)
The Silent Blade is a story set in Ireland during the 900's. One evening, twins Willem and Eira are captured by enemies of their older brother Kevin and their lives take a course they hadn't planned. Soon they find themselves in the midst of conflict between Kevin and his long endured enemy, Merek.
A story of jealousy, revenge, forgiveness, and love.
Here are some of my thoughts on The Silent Blade! :)
Jesseca wove some good lessons in this story. These were on forgiveness and leaving vengeance to God, and of how jealousy can ruin a person. There is a good illustration of this in the story, and then you'll understand the title. :)
There was a very light romance, and it was just a sweet one. :) No kissing or anything.
My favorite character was possibly Casimir, but I don't know. :P Isn't that a great name though?! A little like "Caspian", but... different of course. ;) I like it.
There were some things that gave this a lower rating for me. Sometimes not a lot happened, or the characters reaction to things sometimes didn't seem very realistic. Maybe a lack of emotion...
BUT it was a good book! :) So go get yourself a copy of The Silent Blade, people! :D
Recommendations: Ages 11\12+ There wasn't really anything that wouldn't be appropriate for young readers- just minor violence. :)
July 24, 2016
Where oh where to start?! The Silent Blade was amazing, and it’s definitely on my re-read list! Most of the characters were well-developed and easy to relate to, and I caught myself having a mini movie in my head of what I was reading. (After I read the book, I went to Jesseca’s blog and looked up pretty much every post she had ever done on The Silent Blade, specifically the character spotlights, just to solidify the pictures in my mind ;))
The relationships throughout the book were also great, and spoke about the characters as well. Casimir and Eira were sweet together, but it was not gooey, and lovey and all - it was just right! ;) Willem, Eira, and Kevin’s relationship together was really… refreshing. I love reading about sibling relationships, and Jesseca had it spot-on! Willem could be teasing at times, but he was always willing to help (the cooking scene was so funny! :)) And can I just say, Kevin is an awesome older brother. He’s like the older brother I’ve always wished for and can never have ;)
Character-wise? Hmmm… well, let’s see if I can do a fast version of this. (Note: I’m not going to do all the characters - cause that would make it a mite too long ;))
Eira is brave, witty, and conscious of others.
Willem is that typical teasing brother, (‘cept this time he’s actually Eira’s twin) but he can be very serious when he needs to be.
Casimir is an awesome person and an awesome friend too! I think everyone needs at least one person like him in their lives :) Protective, loyal to his friends and a good cause, and God-honouring too (‘cause that’s very important!: ))
Kevin - ah! You can’t help but like this guy. He loves his family and, like Casimir, is very protective over them. He is very smart and quick at thinking, but if his family is in danger, well - then you kinda don’t know quite what he’s gonna do ;) Which can be a good thing, but at the same time a not-so-good thing. You might understand better if you read the book, so if you haven’t already, go read it. Please.
Merek is ze bad guy. It’s amazing what jealousy did to him. He was very much blind in his anger and desire for unrighteous revenge, leading for an interesting adventure, to be sure!
SPOILER
It was a little strange trying to imagine a sixteen year old girl getting engaged at the end, but it was what happened in those days! :D
END OF SPOILER
All in all, I LOVED The Silent Blade. The themes tied in beautifully and the plot made very memorable. It's also clean and family-friendly :) It might be a little more difficult for younger ages to fully understand the themes, so if I had to assign an age range, I'd say around 12 and up.
Favourite quotes
“You know I can’t dance!” . . . “I think I do remember a conversation we had about it. . . I never confirmed nor denied whether or not I regretted the dance.” . . . “I positively cannot dance” . . . “I promise, I can.” . . . “I’m afraid I’m hurting you.”
“You know, you’re not too big for my lap.”
"Being hit with the hilt of Merek’s sword wasn’t exactly my idea of a warm welcome.”
“…if one of us do get injured or even killed, it’s not God taking us from you. We are His to begin with. Our life is in His hands and He will decide what’s best. But,” he chuckled, “I certainly hope we’re both around for a little while longer.”
“Jealousy is like a sword, a silent blade that comes into our life and wrenches from us any good that may have been there before. And without Jesus’s help it will never stop.”
The relationships throughout the book were also great, and spoke about the characters as well. Casimir and Eira were sweet together, but it was not gooey, and lovey and all - it was just right! ;) Willem, Eira, and Kevin’s relationship together was really… refreshing. I love reading about sibling relationships, and Jesseca had it spot-on! Willem could be teasing at times, but he was always willing to help (the cooking scene was so funny! :)) And can I just say, Kevin is an awesome older brother. He’s like the older brother I’ve always wished for and can never have ;)
Character-wise? Hmmm… well, let’s see if I can do a fast version of this. (Note: I’m not going to do all the characters - cause that would make it a mite too long ;))
Eira is brave, witty, and conscious of others.
Willem is that typical teasing brother, (‘cept this time he’s actually Eira’s twin) but he can be very serious when he needs to be.
Casimir is an awesome person and an awesome friend too! I think everyone needs at least one person like him in their lives :) Protective, loyal to his friends and a good cause, and God-honouring too (‘cause that’s very important!: ))
Kevin - ah! You can’t help but like this guy. He loves his family and, like Casimir, is very protective over them. He is very smart and quick at thinking, but if his family is in danger, well - then you kinda don’t know quite what he’s gonna do ;) Which can be a good thing, but at the same time a not-so-good thing. You might understand better if you read the book, so if you haven’t already, go read it. Please.
Merek is ze bad guy. It’s amazing what jealousy did to him. He was very much blind in his anger and desire for unrighteous revenge, leading for an interesting adventure, to be sure!
SPOILER
It was a little strange trying to imagine a sixteen year old girl getting engaged at the end, but it was what happened in those days! :D
END OF SPOILER
All in all, I LOVED The Silent Blade. The themes tied in beautifully and the plot made very memorable. It's also clean and family-friendly :) It might be a little more difficult for younger ages to fully understand the themes, so if I had to assign an age range, I'd say around 12 and up.
Favourite quotes
“You know I can’t dance!” . . . “I think I do remember a conversation we had about it. . . I never confirmed nor denied whether or not I regretted the dance.” . . . “I positively cannot dance” . . . “I promise, I can.” . . . “I’m afraid I’m hurting you.”
“You know, you’re not too big for my lap.”
"Being hit with the hilt of Merek’s sword wasn’t exactly my idea of a warm welcome.”
“…if one of us do get injured or even killed, it’s not God taking us from you. We are His to begin with. Our life is in His hands and He will decide what’s best. But,” he chuckled, “I certainly hope we’re both around for a little while longer.”
“Jealousy is like a sword, a silent blade that comes into our life and wrenches from us any good that may have been there before. And without Jesus’s help it will never stop.”
October 4, 2016
I already thought this book was published, so I was excited when I found out it was about to be published and I would be able to read it for review!
This is a hard book for me to rate. I can't say I disliked it and it was hard to stop reading once I got started. The beginning can be a bit confusing, but all the questions are answered shortly into the book.
There were a lot of characters, many minor ones, that I got a little confused with. Also, I felt that a lot of the characters acted and talked somewhat childish in nature and several terms sounded a bit too modern for that time. I think the biggest downfall for me was the lack of descriptions, but I know that is just picky me ;) It wasn't all dialogue, but I still could have used some more filler paragraphs.
I really liked the sword fight scenes. I always get thrills reading "the clash of swords"! As for the Christianity, there were a few lessons scattered throughout. Never in your face at all. There was nothing about this book I felt uncomfortable with. There was a hint of romance and brief touching (hands and dancing) but never were the terms, "electricity shot through her arm when she bumped his arm" used. It wouldn't have applied anyways for the time setting.
All in all I still would recommend this book, but I think slightly younger readers might enjoy it more than I did.
*I received this in exchange for an honest review.
This is a hard book for me to rate. I can't say I disliked it and it was hard to stop reading once I got started. The beginning can be a bit confusing, but all the questions are answered shortly into the book.
There were a lot of characters, many minor ones, that I got a little confused with. Also, I felt that a lot of the characters acted and talked somewhat childish in nature and several terms sounded a bit too modern for that time. I think the biggest downfall for me was the lack of descriptions, but I know that is just picky me ;) It wasn't all dialogue, but I still could have used some more filler paragraphs.
I really liked the sword fight scenes. I always get thrills reading "the clash of swords"! As for the Christianity, there were a few lessons scattered throughout. Never in your face at all. There was nothing about this book I felt uncomfortable with. There was a hint of romance and brief touching (hands and dancing) but never were the terms, "electricity shot through her arm when she bumped his arm" used. It wouldn't have applied anyways for the time setting.
All in all I still would recommend this book, but I think slightly younger readers might enjoy it more than I did.
*I received this in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2018
This book had a number of very sweet characters that I liked a lot, and the concept was quite interesting. I had no idea the setting was a real place in Ireland until I read the author's note in the back. Very cool!
Pieces of the plot and characterization did feel a bit rushed or underdeveloped to me, and there were parts, especially in the backstory, that I didn't understand and could have used more explanation on. Just a little bit more time in the story might have been helpful; with so many interesting plots and characters and themes, everything slipped by really quickly.
As a huge fan of several of Jesseca Wheaton's recent books, I enjoyed this look back at one of her earlier stories. :)
Pieces of the plot and characterization did feel a bit rushed or underdeveloped to me, and there were parts, especially in the backstory, that I didn't understand and could have used more explanation on. Just a little bit more time in the story might have been helpful; with so many interesting plots and characters and themes, everything slipped by really quickly.
As a huge fan of several of Jesseca Wheaton's recent books, I enjoyed this look back at one of her earlier stories. :)
May 4, 2018
Love the cover, love the title! This was such a fun little book! I loved the characters and the strong family relationships going on. Even It kind of reminded me of the Viking Quest series because of the mention of raids, and the Irishness of the book and the mention of Vikings- I mean it's really not all that similar (at least from what I remember) except in those instances. Anyway, this book was fun, had a great message and I can't wait to revisit this book and read others by this author!
December 29, 2022
3 stars & 3/10 hearts. I really wanted to love this book, but it was pretty disappointing, though I did like some parts of it. However, this was only the author's second published book (I applaud her for self-publishing and thank her for it—she's amazing!) so she has grown in her writing since then.
To begin with, here are some elements I disliked:
• The whole plotline was very confusing. I had difficulty keeping everyone straight, especially in action scenes, and I was pretty confused about what exactly was going on. I'm not sure if that is so much the book's fault as my fault for reading too fast (which, you know, would also be the book's fault for being too exciting so ha lol). But seriously, this could be might fault more than the book's.
• The language and characters were disappointing. It seemed more like Americans trying to act out a play about Irish in 925 AD than the real thing. The language was super modern and American, and the whole cast of characters was very American and not at all Irish in personality.
• I felt like Eira was super cliché. Not so much as a strong, sword-savvy girl, because she wasn't I-can-take-care-of-myself-ish or proud, and she was worsted, if I remember correctly.
(I also had some difficulty with Merek because I pictured him as a Big Bad Wolf... because long before I read the book I read a Writer's Questionnaire Game blog post about these characters, and there was a Red Riding Hood adaption in it with Merek as the Big Bad Merek. :P That's my fault, but I sincerely struggled with seeing him as a man. Lol!)
To offset these disappointments, here is what I liked!
• THE COVER. I mean, come on. It's so gorgeous!!! ^_^ I realllly need a print copy. *heart-eyes*
• The synopsis and the little tagline on the front cover. It's really good. <3
• Kevin and Wilhelm were pretty awesome sometimes. ;)
• There where are some pretty humorous moments. The author is amazing in this respect—sarcasm is really one of her strong points. xD
• There where are some really good descriptions, be it of nature or of emotion (e.g., what hate will do to you).
• This book was fast-paced and kind of sucked me in, even amidst my disappointment.
So, basically, this book gets three stars. I liked it, but I didn't love it. However, keep in mind that I am a history buff and I have read many old books with old language (which is truer to the era)... and other friends of mine loved this book. So it's really a matter of opinion. And I will probably like it better next time I read it. The cover is totally gorgeous, though, and makes it worth reading. ^_^ Jesseca Wheaton is one of my favourite authors, and most of her other books received 5+ star ratings from me. :) So don't let this one keep you from reading her other works. And I do not regret the 2-3 hours I spent reading this book. :)
A Favourite Quote: “‘God will keep us safe, Eira. We’re all in His hands[.]’
“‘But what if that’s not what He wills? ... How can I ever accept it if He takes one of you?’ ....
“‘Eira, if one of us do get injured or even killed, it’s not God taking us from you. We are His to begin with. Our life is in His hands and He will decide what’s best.’”
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: “Blue water shimmered in the light, and the gentle lull of the waves was peaceful.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘Do you ever do anything except ask questions?’
“‘Well there isn’t exactly much else to do,” Eira retorted. ....
“And why would I tell you?”
“Henry, I need something to keep me occupied. In all your foresight you forgot to bring along anything for me to do.”
To begin with, here are some elements I disliked:
• The whole plotline was very confusing. I had difficulty keeping everyone straight, especially in action scenes, and I was pretty confused about what exactly was going on. I'm not sure if that is so much the book's fault as my fault for reading too fast (which, you know, would also be the book's fault for being too exciting so ha lol). But seriously, this could be might fault more than the book's.
• The language and characters were disappointing. It seemed more like Americans trying to act out a play about Irish in 925 AD than the real thing. The language was super modern and American, and the whole cast of characters was very American and not at all Irish in personality.
• I felt like Eira was super cliché. Not so much as a strong, sword-savvy girl, because she wasn't I-can-take-care-of-myself-ish or proud, and she was worsted, if I remember correctly.
(I also had some difficulty with Merek because I pictured him as a Big Bad Wolf... because long before I read the book I read a Writer's Questionnaire Game blog post about these characters, and there was a Red Riding Hood adaption in it with Merek as the Big Bad Merek. :P That's my fault, but I sincerely struggled with seeing him as a man. Lol!)
To offset these disappointments, here is what I liked!
• THE COVER. I mean, come on. It's so gorgeous!!! ^_^ I realllly need a print copy. *heart-eyes*
• The synopsis and the little tagline on the front cover. It's really good. <3
• Kevin and Wilhelm were pretty awesome sometimes. ;)
• There where are some pretty humorous moments. The author is amazing in this respect—sarcasm is really one of her strong points. xD
• There where are some really good descriptions, be it of nature or of emotion (e.g., what hate will do to you).
• This book was fast-paced and kind of sucked me in, even amidst my disappointment.
So, basically, this book gets three stars. I liked it, but I didn't love it. However, keep in mind that I am a history buff and I have read many old books with old language (which is truer to the era)... and other friends of mine loved this book. So it's really a matter of opinion. And I will probably like it better next time I read it. The cover is totally gorgeous, though, and makes it worth reading. ^_^ Jesseca Wheaton is one of my favourite authors, and most of her other books received 5+ star ratings from me. :) So don't let this one keep you from reading her other works. And I do not regret the 2-3 hours I spent reading this book. :)
A Favourite Quote: “‘God will keep us safe, Eira. We’re all in His hands[.]’
“‘But what if that’s not what He wills? ... How can I ever accept it if He takes one of you?’ ....
“‘Eira, if one of us do get injured or even killed, it’s not God taking us from you. We are His to begin with. Our life is in His hands and He will decide what’s best.’”
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: “Blue water shimmered in the light, and the gentle lull of the waves was peaceful.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘Do you ever do anything except ask questions?’
“‘Well there isn’t exactly much else to do,” Eira retorted. ....
“And why would I tell you?”
“Henry, I need something to keep me occupied. In all your foresight you forgot to bring along anything for me to do.”
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