Author: Jared Southwick
Publisher:Brigham Distributing (October 2010)
John Casey was ten years old when his mother was murdered…and ten when his father hid the truth from him. Without that knowledge, he has no idea of the enemies that lie in wait.
Now grown up, John lives a solitary life, in a world enslaved by ignorance and superstition, at a time when anyone unusual is treated with distrust and even killed…and John has some very unusual gifts. When he is accused of witchcraft, John does the only thing he’s ever done—Run! That is, until he meets Jane, who lives in the bleak, imprisoned town of Marysvale. Life outside the safety of the town walls means certain death from the brutal monsters that hunt there. However, life inside, under the rule of a tyrannical leader, means no life at all.
As the love between John and Jane grows, the dangers of Marysvale unfold; and for the first time in his life, John discovers that there is something worth dying for.
A fun, clean, action-packed story filled with monsters and tyrants, heroes and heroines.
Marysvale is definitely good clean fun...in a monsters want to eat you kind of way. John Casey has no memory of his past. He only knows that he has a unique gift that many people see as evil. He can see into the souls of living things. After being accused of being a warlock, he runs and this leads him to a place where he can begin to find answers about his past. Along the way, he also finds something to live for.
Marysvale did start out a bit slow for me, but it quickly picked up the pace. I enjoyed reading it. This book has everything that a good adventure needs: mystery, damsels in distress, and monsters. I enjoyed all of the characters, especially Jane. I love a strong female lead. Jane and John's relationship is very sweet. The monsters, called the Brean, are truly creepy beings. I wouldn't want to meet one of these things walking through the woods!
While I enjoyed the book, I felt like I was left with a lot of unanswered questions in the end. I wanted to know more about the monsters and why they attack humans from the surrounding towns. As this is the first book in a series, I think it is a good foundation book, but I want more. There is a second book, Alyth, coming out soon and I look forward to reading it to get some answers.
I definitely recommend this book. I think it would be good as a YA, maybe even upper MG read.
--Kari
About the Author:
Jared Southwick enjoys traveling and experiencing different cultures, cuisines, and associated foodborne illnesses. He once went night diving in the Pacific Ocean where, although he didn’t actually see it, he’s sure that a great white shark almost ate him. Jared petted an alligator in the Okefenokee Swamp, and a wild, heavily sedated black bear in her den. He explored the islands of West Africa, where his foot was attacked by a very ferocious, tiny octopus. However, he has never encountered a Brean…
He and his wife live in a quiet, friendly city, in the shadow of the Wasatch Mountains, where strange monster sightings are uncommon.
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