Ratings Explanation

Language: Frequent exclamations of deity (Oh God, mother of Jesus, my God), hells and damns in various forms, bastard and the “B” word are used.

Violence: A sacred chamber is attacked and people are slaughtered by the dozens.  Centaurs are bloodied from battle.  There is a hold-up at a bank and gunfire.  A head is chopped off and bloody.  They were “all caught for their blood”, throats slit, blood drained.  A girl is beaten with a broom for spying.  There is a car chase and gunfire.  A bus blows up killing everyone.  Thugs attack with guns, an arm is smashed into throat, bones crack, and a butterfly dagger is stabbed into throat.  A boy is “flung across room, a deep gurgling cry came out of him as he lay twisting on the floor, writhing in pain”. More gunfire, Vivienne thinks they are going to kill her.  A dragon is fought and stabbed with a sword.  A man’s hands are cut off and it is described in detail.  Someone is covered in blood, sword raised.  A dagger is thrown to slash throat.  Rotting bodies lay everywhere.  Blood is squeezed from beating heart.  There is a battle.

Sexual Content: There are several kisses throughout the book.  He “felt erotic pleasure” walking next to a young priestess.  The feeling “gripped his loins and sent a rippling pleasure over his entire body.”  A girl is pinned against wall and kissed with “ravening lust”.  The women undress Vivienne.  Her naked body is doused with cold water.  There is implied sex.  He “exuded power and raw sexuality”.  There are naked, flying, lethal sentinels, exquisitely formed.

Adult Themes: Eleanor is neglected, abandoned and abused.  Her mother would disappear with a man, completely forgetting about her daughter.  “When one lover would disappear, a few weeks later another would take his place.”  Tarot cards are used.  There is chanting, demonic chanting and mystical rituals.  Mara falls deep into a trance.  Reincarnation is spoken of frequently.

Synopsis

When Vivienne’s grandmother dies, she is left with an amulet and many unanswered questions.   The Amulet is a priceless family heirloom and Vivienne soon realizes that there are people willing to go to any lengths to get their hands on it.  Vivienne begins having visions of a handsome golden-eyed man protecting her and warning her of danger.  Her fear and confusion lead her to seek out people who can help her find answers.  Vivienne travels to England and there finds a portal into another world of witchery and magic.  There she discovers who she really is and who the golden-eyed man is.  Her special gifts start to increase and enable her with power to overcome the evil that is threatening to take over the Misty Isle world.

Vivienne is supposed to be a 16-year-old girl, but I found throughout the whole book that her “voice” and actions make this age unbelievable.  I realize that she has been “reincarnated” and that this is supposedly not her first life, but still, sixteen?  I did not love this book but I am not generally a lover of the fantasy world full of witchery, demons and such things.  I did like how Lailoken calls Vivienne “my soul”.  It seems so much more than “my love”.  I thought that the bad guys were well written.  I got a very good sense of them in my mind.  My favorite quote from this book: “Belief was the essence of manifestation.”  The age group for this book is young adult which actually covers a large age range.  I would keep this book in the 12^th grade and higher range.