Author: Laura Howard
Publisher: 197 Pages, (April 30th 2013)
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult
From: the Author & purchased on Amazon
Format: eBook
Add to: Goodreads
Synopsis: Allison O’Malley’s plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she’s been in love with for as long as she can remember.
What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison’s mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn’t trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother’s sanity.
Review: 4.5 Stars - The Forgotten Ones By: Laura Howard is the first title in the thrilling Danaan Trilogy. Once I started it, I couldn’t put it down making this title one of my favorites for the year.
Allison has been struggling with issues at home for years. She lives with her grandparents and her mentally ill mother. She takes on more than anyone her age should; she has plans and will do everything in her power to make those plans happen. She stays out of trouble, works at her grandfather’s store and works hard to stay away from the one boy who could ruin everything.
Sounds like your normal contemporary right? Well, it’s anything BUT! There’s a long lost father, magic and trouble. There’s the truth of her mother’s illness and questions Allison has regarding a father she never knew. There’s also lore, love and dangerous people and places at every turn for Allison in her search to obtain all that was taken back.
See, not so normal and far from contemporary and it filled in each box that makes a book memorable and a reader wanting more.
Howards characters are flawed yet wonderfully developed. She has lore that I loved reading about and things that happened that I was mesmerized by. The people of Tuatha de Danaan are still somewhat a mystery to me yet I’m okay with that because I know there will be more to these Irish folk and more to Allisons story in the next two books that follow.
Allisons relationship with her grandparents was sweet and heartwarming. It’s always nice when there are parents involved or grandparents as there was for the female lead. And her relationship with her cousin who lives next door, while often rubbed me the wrong way there’s no other way to see this relationship but caring. And then we have Ethan, Allison’s love interest from afar who would like nothing more than for Allison to give him a chance. There’s a spark between the two but Allison is keeping her distance because of her plans and his past as being a player.
Ethan as a character fit the story yet I would have liked to see more of him and see his relationship with Allison over a longer period of time. Thankfully this being the first in a trilogy I’m hoping I get just that over the next two installments. So I reminded myself often while finishing the book that with patience I’m sure I’ll have answers to these questions and all the others that were running through my head while reading.
All in all, if you haven’t read the Forgotten Ones you should. You should move this title to the top of your to be read list, because it’s pretty fantastic. I wish I hadn’t waited so long to read this one and I’m glad when I did that I found as much to love as I have and I’m more than eager to read the next installment because, seriously I can’t wait to see what happens next! I highly recommend this intriguing story with characters you’ll love and a mysterious people who you’ll be interested to understand. Enjoy.
Author Bio:
Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other girly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn’t until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is her first published novel.
Find Laura Online:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Order The Forgotten Ones Online here:
Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK
GIVEAWAY!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I love all the family dymanics in this book! It's so often missing nowadays and family is in everyone's life you know. This sounds like a great read, though, and definitely unique. So happy you loved it, Lisa! Awesome review! :)
ReplyDeleteIt IS REALLY unique! And I LOVED it! Everyone should read this one :)
DeleteGreat review, Lisa xo
ReplyDeleteThanks Kassiah! <3
Delete