Review by Ellie Annie -- Rowan Wood Legends

[Ellie Annie]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Rowan Wood Legends" by Olivia Wildenstein.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Rowan Wood Legends by Olivia Wildenstein is the second book of the Lost Clan series. The story continues to follow Catori Price, a young medical student who became involved in the conflict between the Fae and the Hunters following the death of her mother. Catori herself has learned her heritage stems from both sides, and she does not know whom to trust.

This story centers on an ancient conflict between two factions, and Catori is in the middle. On one side there are the hunters, members of the Gottwa tribe sworn to punish misbehaving faeries by stealing their dust; and on the other is the faeries, beings made of fire who enjoy traveling to earth and are known for their trickery. Rowan Wood Legends begins with the death of another close to Catori’s heart, and she cannot help but wonder about the suspicious timing and circumstance revolving around it and the theft of her book, The Wytchen Tree, which held a collection of her ancestors’ legends. Did the theft of the book lead to this death? What is in the book that makes it so crucial to the faeries? Will the Hunters sacrifice more lives to raise the others of their tribe hibernating within the circle of Rowan trees? Are there more to the Fae and will their politics cause the town and Catori more heartache? And will Catori be able to end this feud between the Fae and the Hunters before it destroys the town and the people she loves?

These are all the questions I had asked myself as I read the continuation of the Lost Clan series. I loved how Olivia Wildenstein kept her audience in suspense and always questioning the motives of both the Fae and the Hunters. I also enjoyed seeing the character growth in Catori as she learned the dangers of being in the middle of two sides of an ancient feud and her desire to become strong enough to both protect herself and those she loved. How, in the interim of learning to defend herself physically, Catori utilized the resources she had at her disposal to help in repelling would be threats from herself and home.

This was a rather enjoyable book to read all-in-all, and I could not find anything that I disliked about the story. It continued to keep the audience in suspense on which side to trust and who Catori will ultimately find herself falling for. And the progression of the story and Catori’s feelings were believable which is another bonus. Given the content of this book, I would say it was written for young adults and up.

Overall, I would give this book 4 out of 4 stars. The storyline was intriguing and so suspenseful that I couldn’t put it down. I also did not notice any editing issues in Rowan Wood Legends and thought it was admirable of Olivia Wildenstein to create her own fictional Native tribe and culture rather than risk insulting existing tribes. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a story that blends fantasy with intrigue and just a hint of Native American culture.

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Rowan Wood Legends
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