Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Review: The Web by Megan Chance

The Web is Megan Chance's second book in the Fianna Trilogy. In the first book, The Shadows, we were introduced to our main characters the Knox family, the Devlin family, and the Fianna or Finn's Warriors as they come to be known. Set in New York City in 1874, Megan Chance uses the turbulent times in Irish and American history as a backdrop for the introduction of legends and magic that these families had thought mere stories told to children. In the second book they have been confronted with the realities that these long ago legends pose on them in their present lives. In this Grace Knox must make a choice that will not only affect her life, but all of Ireland. In book one Grace thought that she knew exactly where her life was headed. She would enter society as planned, find a husband, and everything would be wonderful. The first part was going well, Patrick Devlin had come home from Ireland and made his intentions known and it seemed as if Grace's plans were set. Until an ancient ritual was set in motion and the Fianna were summoned from their long slumber. Now Grace was caught between the safe, comfortable life she thought she wanted and a powerful but dangerous magic that was her birthright. As a if that wasn't enough, she was also caught between two men who loved her and wanted to protect her, but were also fighting on opposing sides. They each wanted what was best for Ireland, but had very different ideas about what that meant.

Megan Chance weaves a beautiful web of mystery and magic In this series that not only keeps you guessing, but draws you in and makes it believable that elves and Irish legends could be roaming the streets of New York unbeknownst to the average citizen. She captures the atmosphere of the city during the late 1800s in a very vivid way. Not only do you see how the very rich live, or the very poor, but every type in between. In this series Megan Chance takes the reader from one side of the city to another in a variety of travel modes. The descriptions of people and places give you insight to the era as if you were there and the unrest and riots were happening in your city. Megan Chance incorporates everything you could want in a fantasy book with everything you could want in an historical fiction.