Off Track

The Madeline Journeys #1

by P.A. Wilson

Off Track is a fantasy quest series about the ultimate fish-out-of-water - a negotiator more used to sly tactics in a magical world where the truth can be determined with a spell and prophecy is real. A LAWYER IN A STRANGE LAND Madeline's always had a purpose. Lately, it's been to make partner at her high-powered law firm, something that she's chased relentlessly for years, even to the exclusion of a social life and any solid relationships. Fate, and some pretty powerful magic, change all of that in minutes. She and her assistant Simon are pulled into another world, where magic and prophecy are real. The people of the Summer Lands are under threat from a blood feud between their ruler, Lord Alric, and the demented warmonger Sayer Goddard. It can only end when one family is destroyed - and Alric has been assassinated, leaving the realm without a leader and open to ransacking by Goddard. It seems that all hope is already lost with the death of Alric's line. It has been foretold, however, that Madeline will play a part in what will save them - even if she's not exactly willing to get involved at all. Alric's wife and the current ruler, Lady Arabela, is pregnant with his son. She needs Madeline's help to finally kill Goddard and end the blood feud, but no one - not even Madeline herself - knows exactly what she's supposed to do. Time is already running short. Their quest to stop Goddard has to be done by the next full moon, or the land will be overrun and destroyed. Arabela is not used to taking no for an answer, especially not with her subjects' lives as stake. But Madeline's not used to being so completely off-track, and she doesn't take orders from anyone - not even someone with magic and an army at their disposal. Today, however, is anything but usual. Today, the life or death of a nation rests with her.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Fiction

294 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 29, 2012

About the author

Before you read about me, how about a link for some free ebooks? Click on my website and pick your genre, there's a free book for each. http://www.pawilson.ca/

Perry Wilson is a Canadian author based in Vancouver, BC who has big ideas and an itch to tell stories. Having spent some time on university, a career, and life in general, she returned to writing three years ago and hasn't looked back since (well, maybe a little, but only while parallel parking).

She is a member of the Vancouver Independent Writers Group, and has self-published several novels. The second book of the Charity Deacon series, Greed, is due out in the fall 2012. (A French vacation pulls Charity and her best friend into the shady world of gun smugglers and missing people.)

She also writes the Quinn Larson Quests, which follows the adventures of a wizard named Quinn who must contend with volatile fae in the heart of Vancouver, and the Madeline Journeys, a fantasy series about a high-powered lawyer who finds herself trapped in a magical world. Her previous stand-alone novels are Breaking the Bonds and Closing the Circle.

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book needs a lot more polishing in order to be better.

[Eileen Campos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great build up. Some expository points didn't have to be so descriptive... It dragged a bit. And the bickering between the two women made me roll my eyes a bit sometimes.

The story was good and got better but someone saw they only had 5 minutes to write the ending and made the most anti climactic, rushed and jaded-sounding ending ever. I did the proverbial jaw-drop at how rushed the ending was. The loose ends were tied with dental floss.

I love it except for the last couple of pages. I was reading and the story and narration made me turn the page every time until the book was done.

I love the setting of the alternate universe. I wish Simon did so much more. And I wish he had more of a climax to his own quest, he was chosen too, ya'know.

I wish there was a better picture painted of blu. More of a backstory, more than the guy who did magic. Maybe I skipped over a few pages or paragraphs about blu, but I have no visual representation of him other than being a wizard with a pointy hat, ala Mickey Mouse in Fantasia, with his robes being short enough that can make him run ala secret agent.

Also, when Madeline said her part (the one where blu interrupted them so that no dishes were being broken), I wish it didn't sound so jaded. It needed a little more oomph, more tug on heart strings. Even if Madeline wasn't such a person, the scene calls for it. It was like? Your whole inner conflict, resolved just like that?! Wish there was more of a struggle to get it out, more reaction.

I recommend this book though. It was a free read and a good few hours away in whatever world they were in.