Heather’s Bookshelf: Natural Disaster
Author: Alena Orrison
Released: Anticipated release date is October 19th.
Genre: NA Urban Fantasy ARC
“I left my shoes on the patio and stepped onto the cold ground. None of the family wore shoes inside the garden. There was something about the connection of foot to earth, feeling the dark soil and small rough rocks between the toes that created a space in the mind.”
“Natural Disaster” introduces Jessica Barnes, a young woman who loses both of her parents in a tragic car accident. Jessica and her brother Evan, struggle to deal with their loss in different ways within their small community of Willowbrook.
Each joins a grief support group and Jessica starts a community garden in memory of their parents. Juggling her grief, her gardening project, and her coffee-shop business is a lot for her to take. And the weather seems to be matching her moods…
The history of Willowbrook and the ancestors of the current residents hold secrets and the key to helping Jessica and Evan as they navigate their new lives and the changes within themselves. But when a handsome reporter, Zane, comes into town to investigate the strange weather, Jessica realizes what could happen if their secrets got out.
Will Jessica be able to control her powers? Will her secrets be revealed? Will Jessica put everyone she loves in danger?
Trigger Warning: death, adult language
Overall, I enjoyed this character driven fantasy tale. The story is told through Jessica’s POV. Jessica is a little bit of an emotional mess, but she’s also a relatable and mostly likable protagonist. Her interactions with her brother and her bestie Hannah provide a lot of insight into the character of Jessica as well as those around her. I also found Old John to be a really fun ancillary character and I enjoyed the scenes he was in. The small town and the people within it lends further to the character development as well as the connection to history of the town and those within it. There’s a bit of romance weaved into the story in a way that made it feel natural and not forced. It’s a sweet little side story that also leads into the bigger tale. The elements of magic were not really new and I wish this aspect of the tale would have been a little more creative in how the magic works or how it can be utilized. The ending was also a little abrupt for me. It ends with a little bit of a cliffhanger, but wraps up the main tale nicely. The author has informed me there will be a sequel, so the ending makes sense especially for the pending protagonist. I also hope the sequel will give more insight into the resident’s ancestors- or could there be a prequel in the future? I’d sign up for that.
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
A fantasy tale focused more on character development and relationships than magic. An interesting ancestry and a budding romance highlight this story, lacking a bit in creativity and uniqueness.
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Check out my interview with Alena Orrison
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