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The Spellbound Abbey
How far could you go to keep your world from shattering?
In the country of Flaize, tensions are high as sickness spreads and so do rumors of military activity in the neighboring country of Dragnoir. Many are preparing themselves for a war - but it will be a war they cannot win.
Audrey Hughes is a young librarian in the bordering district of Yonnam, struggling to make ends meet for her family as fewer jobs are available for her father. With the sudden death of one of the district's leaders, Audrey's best friend Farah Davies, she receives an inheritance and an important position of power within her district, and finds herself thrust into a whole new world unlike any she had seen or heard of in any of her books.
When rumors of war with the bordering country, home of the Dragonkin start to become more real - Audrey finds herself caught in between the struggles that could cause the war to begin. Leaving it up to her to stop it. Within an abbey of secrets, and finding who is her friend and who is her foe. Is it the Lady Viviene Raithe who seems to rule the abbey? Lord Julian Halloway and his mousy wife Lady Priscilla? Or the strange Dominique Pascal - a man from outside the district who has a keen interest in Audrey's life? It is up to Audrey to solve the mysteries of what has a hold over this spellbound abbey and keep her world safe. Desperate to keep a hold of everything she understands, Audrey is at a greater risk of shattering it all. Destroying this binding will come at a price - one that will cost more than a hundred lives. Is it a cost she can afford?
An utterly thrilling magic mystery, face a strange adventure unlike any other in The Spellbound Abbey.
In the country of Flaize, tensions are high as sickness spreads and so do rumors of military activity in the neighboring country of Dragnoir. Many are preparing themselves for a war - but it will be a war they cannot win.
Audrey Hughes is a young librarian in the bordering district of Yonnam, struggling to make ends meet for her family as fewer jobs are available for her father. With the sudden death of one of the district's leaders, Audrey's best friend Farah Davies, she receives an inheritance and an important position of power within her district, and finds herself thrust into a whole new world unlike any she had seen or heard of in any of her books.
When rumors of war with the bordering country, home of the Dragonkin start to become more real - Audrey finds herself caught in between the struggles that could cause the war to begin. Leaving it up to her to stop it. Within an abbey of secrets, and finding who is her friend and who is her foe. Is it the Lady Viviene Raithe who seems to rule the abbey? Lord Julian Halloway and his mousy wife Lady Priscilla? Or the strange Dominique Pascal - a man from outside the district who has a keen interest in Audrey's life? It is up to Audrey to solve the mysteries of what has a hold over this spellbound abbey and keep her world safe. Desperate to keep a hold of everything she understands, Audrey is at a greater risk of shattering it all. Destroying this binding will come at a price - one that will cost more than a hundred lives. Is it a cost she can afford?
An utterly thrilling magic mystery, face a strange adventure unlike any other in The Spellbound Abbey.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 7, 2022
1 person is currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Mason Monteith
3 books10 followersMason Monteith is the author of the new regency fantasy book, The Spellbound Abbey. She works as a freelance editor, working with indie authors to improve their books before publication – from fantasy to thriller.
She began to write in 2012, and while she has written many stories, The Spellbound Abbey is her first published novel.
She currently lives in the Midwest where she enjoys writing fantasy worlds to escape into with unique morality questions, unique character experiences, and deep and intriguing plots.
You can find her on socials under @bookishmasonmonteith.
Be sure to visit her author webpage: masonmonteith.com
She began to write in 2012, and while she has written many stories, The Spellbound Abbey is her first published novel.
She currently lives in the Midwest where she enjoys writing fantasy worlds to escape into with unique morality questions, unique character experiences, and deep and intriguing plots.
You can find her on socials under @bookishmasonmonteith.
Be sure to visit her author webpage: masonmonteith.com
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 5, 2024
The Spellbound Abbey is a fantasy novel with a rather unique setting. It evokes the atmosphere of a historical fiction (I definitely got Downton Abbey and Jane Austen vibes from the characters and setting) and gaslight fantasy, but it is set it a world other than ours and had many of the trappings of High Fantasy (I particularly appreciated the map)! At the same time, the atmosphere felt very cozy and - with the addition of a quietly strong female lead in Audrey - elicited many feelings during my reading that I would associate with my favourite period dramas. All of this was definitely the highlight for me.
Overall it is well written, although my one concern is that the tense switched often between first person and third person POV, which was distracting. I have seen this used in many novels, but it was often to differentiate between different time periods or different narrators, for example.
A charming debut novel. I look forward to more from the author.
I would like to thank the author for sending me an ARC of her book. It was a privilege to read and I am grateful to have been given the opportunity. This review is my own independent evaluation.
Overall it is well written, although my one concern is that the tense switched often between first person and third person POV, which was distracting. I have seen this used in many novels, but it was often to differentiate between different time periods or different narrators, for example.
A charming debut novel. I look forward to more from the author.
I would like to thank the author for sending me an ARC of her book. It was a privilege to read and I am grateful to have been given the opportunity. This review is my own independent evaluation.
November 3, 2022
Fantastic Story!
Mason Monteith’s writing style is intriguing, one of a kind. She starts chapter one by introducing the main character, Audrey Hughes. Audrey is forced to take care of her family because her father is without a job and her mother is ill from an unknown sickness that's spreading throughout the district. Not only is she the breadwinner of the family, but she also has to prepare meals after coming home from work every day. Living like this is stressful for Audrey, but she pushes through and continues working at the library.
Audrey is an introvert; thus she doesn’t really have many friends except her boss, Mr. Abbot and Farah, an upper-class old lady who is also one of the district's leaders. Unexpectedly, Farah passes away from an undisclosed illness and leaves everything she owns to Audrey.
Audrey finds herself in a life of power in upper-class society. However, not everyone welcomes her with a warm hand. In fact, the majority wants her gone. Julian Holloway and Vivienne Raithe, two upper-class board members, do their best to sabotage her, but with the help of Domonique, a kind stranger, she is able to see through their deception and lies.
I really don’t want to get into the story beyond this point because I want this fascinating piece of art to unfold like magic right before your eyes as it did mine. Just read the book and enjoy the story for yourself.
I will add that this book was fun to read. I loved the suspense and mystery throughout the story. The descriptions were perfect, and it was very easy to visualize the scenes. I loved the originality and uniqueness of this story. There was nothing predictable in this book. I loved the grittiness of the story, the bitter-sweet moments, and the twists and turns.
Dark Fantasy and Sorcery lovers, this one's for you.
Mason Monteith’s writing style is intriguing, one of a kind. She starts chapter one by introducing the main character, Audrey Hughes. Audrey is forced to take care of her family because her father is without a job and her mother is ill from an unknown sickness that's spreading throughout the district. Not only is she the breadwinner of the family, but she also has to prepare meals after coming home from work every day. Living like this is stressful for Audrey, but she pushes through and continues working at the library.
Audrey is an introvert; thus she doesn’t really have many friends except her boss, Mr. Abbot and Farah, an upper-class old lady who is also one of the district's leaders. Unexpectedly, Farah passes away from an undisclosed illness and leaves everything she owns to Audrey.
Audrey finds herself in a life of power in upper-class society. However, not everyone welcomes her with a warm hand. In fact, the majority wants her gone. Julian Holloway and Vivienne Raithe, two upper-class board members, do their best to sabotage her, but with the help of Domonique, a kind stranger, she is able to see through their deception and lies.
I really don’t want to get into the story beyond this point because I want this fascinating piece of art to unfold like magic right before your eyes as it did mine. Just read the book and enjoy the story for yourself.
I will add that this book was fun to read. I loved the suspense and mystery throughout the story. The descriptions were perfect, and it was very easy to visualize the scenes. I loved the originality and uniqueness of this story. There was nothing predictable in this book. I loved the grittiness of the story, the bitter-sweet moments, and the twists and turns.
Dark Fantasy and Sorcery lovers, this one's for you.
December 12, 2023
I received an arc im exchange of my honest review.
I couldn't finish , unfortunately.
It had a good start. The book was still on edit back then so there were certain loopholes and jumps that were really confusing and made the story mundane.
I wasn't sure whether I should review something I haven't even finished so🥲
Those who have, let me know how it ends!
I couldn't finish , unfortunately.
It had a good start. The book was still on edit back then so there were certain loopholes and jumps that were really confusing and made the story mundane.
I wasn't sure whether I should review something I haven't even finished so🥲
Those who have, let me know how it ends!
November 3, 2022
This book has and amazing world-building. The mythology behind this whole world is fascinating, from the dragonkin, the division of the different districts, the magic, the mysteries behind it, all this makes an interesting and great fantasy book.
Audrey is an incredible main character, hardworking, brave, curious, intelligent, who doesn’t fall into tropes of the typical girl who needs to be rescued, she’ll do everything possible to protect and save the ones she loves the most. She was my favorite character. From one moment to another her life will change forever and she’ll be involved in this new place full of secrets.
And well, there’re more characters, with good or bad motivations, that seemed incredible to me with their powers and their intrigues. Specially Dominique, King Hraikon, Julian, Vivianne and Farah. I also love Fletcher and Remy.
The story has all the elements that hook the reader: a war, political plots, alliances, a monarchy, unfairly divided social classes, drama, lies, unpredictability plots …and more!
I really appreciate that the book includes a glossary with each of the characters and places in the book, it helps a lot when reading the story.
It's a fantastic book that you MUST read as soon as you can, it's an original story and it doesn't disappoint.
Audrey is an incredible main character, hardworking, brave, curious, intelligent, who doesn’t fall into tropes of the typical girl who needs to be rescued, she’ll do everything possible to protect and save the ones she loves the most. She was my favorite character. From one moment to another her life will change forever and she’ll be involved in this new place full of secrets.
And well, there’re more characters, with good or bad motivations, that seemed incredible to me with their powers and their intrigues. Specially Dominique, King Hraikon, Julian, Vivianne and Farah. I also love Fletcher and Remy.
The story has all the elements that hook the reader: a war, political plots, alliances, a monarchy, unfairly divided social classes, drama, lies, unpredictability plots …and more!
I really appreciate that the book includes a glossary with each of the characters and places in the book, it helps a lot when reading the story.
It's a fantastic book that you MUST read as soon as you can, it's an original story and it doesn't disappoint.
April 10, 2023
Disclaimer: I received this book for free in return for an honest review from LibraryThing.
Audrey Hughes is a young librarian living in the country of Flaize. A country where a mysterious deadly disease is spreading. A country that is also on the verge of war with the neighboring country of Dragnoir, a country of dragons. After the sudden death of her friend Lady Farah Davies, one of the leaders of Audrey's district, she discovers Farah left her everything. In her new position of her new position of power it is up to Audrey to save her home before it is too late.
I found the idea behind this book to be interesting, however I felt that this book fell short of its potential. I found it to be predictable and I felt it could use some more world building in the beginning of the book.
Audrey Hughes is a young librarian living in the country of Flaize. A country where a mysterious deadly disease is spreading. A country that is also on the verge of war with the neighboring country of Dragnoir, a country of dragons. After the sudden death of her friend Lady Farah Davies, one of the leaders of Audrey's district, she discovers Farah left her everything. In her new position of her new position of power it is up to Audrey to save her home before it is too late.
I found the idea behind this book to be interesting, however I felt that this book fell short of its potential. I found it to be predictable and I felt it could use some more world building in the beginning of the book.
December 20, 2022
I want to thank the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. I loved this novel, the world is fantastic and the mythology was . . . so well thought out. The only issue I have with this, is the following: 1 - Is this told from 1st person's perspective or the 3rd? There are these weird interval switching suddenly from Audrey's point of view to a 3rd party . . . All in all 4 stars.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews