The Forgotten Ones Blog Tour: favorite quotes, review & giveaway

On this Saturday we are one of today's stops on The Forgotten Ones Blog Tour hosted by Itching For Books Blog Tours. We are posting some of our favorite lines as well as our review and there's a tour wide giveaway. 

The Forgotten Ones (The Danaan Trilogy #1) by Laura Howard

New Adult fantasy*Paperback/eBook, 177 pages

Published April 30th 2013

Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember.

What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from thedark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.

Favorite quotes:

"I have to. I have to go out there," she said. "He's waiting for me."

Cranky Nicole was a challenge, but pouting Nicole was impossible.

He had to know the way he affected me, how he got under my skin. Four years ago, in one of my weaker moments, I'd fallen for his charm. I couldn't let that happen again. But, the memory of that kiss still left me breathless.

I rubbed my hands over my face. Of course nothing was out here. I couldn't help wondering if this was how it had started for my mother. Paranoid over every little sound.

"Allison," she murmured. I shivered at the clarity in her voice. I hadn't heard her say my name since I was six years old. "It's okay, Mom." I wiped her tears away with a tissue from the nightstand. Her eyes shone bright and burned holes into mine.

Sometimes when you watch a movie, the camera will zoom into someone's face, and everything else in the world will cease to exist for a moment. That's what happened when I met this stranger's eyes.

Because I had seen them before. Those eyes had gazed affectionately at my mother in my dreams. His light golden-brown hair was short, but I could tell that if he grew it out a few inches, it would be wavy just like mine. He looked exactly the same as he did in the photos I had in my room.

I had spent more than my share of time watching Ethan's face. I'd watched him play hockey, I'd watched him play baseball. I'd watched as he flirted with girls, I'd watched him stand stoically at his grandfather's funeral. I thought I knew how to read him pretty well. But, at that moment, I couldn't figure out what was going through his mind.

"Just one time," he said quietly.

"What?" I asked, frowning in confusion.

"Say yes, just one time." Ethan slowly moved behind the counter, his eyes never leaving mine.

"If you don't have a good time, fine. But, I've been trying to get you to give me a chance for years. Don't act like you don't know."

I shook my head slightly as he approached, wanting him closer but afraid of what that would mean. He stopped, his brow creasing.

"I won't hurt you," he whispered.

About the author:

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Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other girly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn’t until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is her first published novel.

I love reading books about the fey and I'm always curious about each author's spin on the lore. Laura Howard has culled from the Gaelic/Scottish mythology of the Tuatha de Danaan and tir na n'Og to create a captivating story sure to satisfy many faerie fans in The Forgotten Ones. 

Allison is twenty one, lives with her grandparents who take care of her schizophrenic mother. She is determined to go to grad school, earn her degree, and then take over supporting her mom. She values her family and her dedication to them is admirable. She doesn't want to include relationships in this life plan, but how long can she put off her true feelings for her childhood crush, Ethan? His intentions are clear as he pursues her and then her father, Liam, shows up on her doorstop looking for her mother. Allison's quiet life has certainly become interesting,  especially when Liam informs her that her mom is in danger, and so is she.

The quiet, book loving and sharp-tongued Allison changes over the course in this book as she is introduced into the world of the fey by Liam. The lore created here is reminiscent of other books dealing with Tuatha de Danaan from the names and descriptions of a beautiful fantasy land. These fey are emotionless, cold, and selfishly intent on their own plans and needs. There are two types of magic and there's glamour and other skills Allison personally encounters. She learns there may be a way to cure her mother so she steps up, determined to help out no matter what. When her mother disappears, she tells Liam she is going to tir na n'Og with him and she does. There she meets a slew of fey, including the King and Queen, and more secrets are revealed. Allison's involvement also threatens the security of those she loves, including Ethan.

The Forgotten Ones begins with an intense scene and weaves an intriguing tale involving the people under hill, an ailing parent, spying crows, a fantasy land straight out of Disney, a vengeful powerful fey woman, and romance. Allison's point-of-view is unwavering as the story moves from the human world to the magical land of tir na n'Og. There are a lot of fey names to keep track of. The pacing is steady and the writing flows. Once the story shifted to fey land, the pacing quickened and I would have liked a bit more description in spots. The scene with Breanh went by too fast and with Aoife as well. 

The author's fluid writing kept me invested, and the cliffhanger ending made me yearn for the next installment. Allison is a strong, sympathetic character I liked along with her family, cousin Nicole, Ethan, and out of the fey Aodhan really grew on me. Can't wait to see more of him and the fey clan in book two. What is Deaghlan really up to? Hmm, guess I'll find out when the second book in The Danaan Trilogy is published.

Rating: 3.5

Cover comment:

The model reminds me of Carrie Ryan's The Dead Tossed Waves cover. I like this cover. It looks like Allison could be lying on top of a faerie mound. Draws me to the book.

Book source:

I received a promotional copy in return for my honest review.

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