The Wise One
(The Scottish Scrolls #1)
By K.T. Anglehart
Young Adult Fairy Tale, Folklore, Fantasy
Hardcover, Paperback & ebook, 254 Pages
October 25, 2020 by Kat Biggie Press
Worlds collide for both young and mature readers, who will love the fast-paced thrills, chemistry between characters, and
interplay of witchy fantasy, mythology, Celtic folklore, and reality in
The Wise One—book one of
The Scottish Scrolls series.
Mckenna's never thought much of her nightmares, but on her seventeenth birthday, a vivid dream of burning at the stake awakens her dormant abilities, thrusting her into a world where faeries are real, spirits hold a grudge, and a High Priestess obsessed with a 16th-century prophecy is tracking her every move.
Now, her overprotective dads, Seán and Andre, are forced to tell her the truth—they know who her birth mother is, and her life is not the surrogate story she's always been told. Abigail, Mckenna's mom, is some sort of mystic, and Mckenna a Wise One.
Whatever the hell that means.
With the help of a persistent little wren and company of a newfound friend, Mckenna journeys to Ireland in search of her mother and real answers. Along the way, she learns to harness her innate magic and trust her intuition, as best she can anyway—Cillian, a kind and passionate delegate who crosses her path, is proving much harder to read.
Only her mother could truly help her halt her ill fate and prepare her for what's to come . . . before she gives in to the darkness she knows is buried deep within.
Author K.T. Anglehart expertly weaves a story set in Ireland that is both timeless and unique, a perfect cross-market read for those searching for the next endearing urban fantasy classic.
My thoughts: Magic, fairies, and Celtic lore are some of my favorites. That made this book a "no-brainer" for me to pick up.
The book is set during the 1990s. McKenna is a teen who doesn't fit in with most kids. The first thing is that she is teased because she has two dads. It was definitely something that set her apart during the time period. She likes to do her own thing, she isn't super social, and she just found out that her biological dad had a relationship with her mom. She has a mom out there who shipped her and her dad to America from Ireland.
The book is one of self-discovery. McKenna begins to realize she is different in her journey across the sea and to Ireland. She begins to "see" things and to have dreams about people and places from the past. The book really became interesting to me when she started to meet friends of her moms who taught her magical skills and prepared her for her role as a "wise one".
She makes a few friends along the way. Some are wonderful, and others are not so great. The joy really is in the journey. The story is told from multiple viewpoints as a reader, so I knew who had ulterior motives. I'm just waiting for McKenna to catch up.
I would recommend the book to an older YA reader. It contains language, underage drinking, and innuendo that may not be appropriate for some YA readers.
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Praise for the Book"A heartwarming coming-of-age story with characters that resonate, rich European folklore, and enchanting details that tickle the senses long after the last page is read." —
V. G. Anderson, author of The Light in the Sound
(Affiliate links included.)
About the Author
Katrina Tortorici Anglehart is a born and bred Italian-Canadian from Montreal. A devoted academic, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism; a graduate certificate in Scriptwriting; and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. After dabbling in TV writing and working as a digital marketing content manager, she left the nine to five to launch her freelance editing and coaching career. Today, she relishes in helping aspiring authors to develop and refine their stories.
Besides English, Katrina speaks French, Italian, and Spanglish. When she's not writing, diving into magical reads, or Netflixing, she's travelling with her favourite human--her high-school-sweetheart-turned-husband, Andy--and obsessing over her pet bunny, Magic, and newly rescued pup, Nessie. Katrina currently lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Tour Schedule
Tour Giveaway
One winner will receive a print copy of The Wise One (open to US, CAN and UK)
Ends August 25, 2021