LEGACY OF TRUTH is now released! And lovely reviews are coming in…
Legacy of Truth is the story of Esme, the good sister of a pair of twins, who seeks to make her own way after her family leave Ireland for the shore of America. She is gifted with a brooch that has magic powers by her grandfather, and once Eithne, the ambitious twin who will stop at nothing to gain status and power, learns of it, she plans to steal it.
Ms. Nicholas does a good job of weaving in Irish folklore and describing the setting, making Ireland of the 1800s come to life. I particularly enjoyed her dialogue as well.
I received a free copy of Legacy of Truth in exchange for a fair review.
A tale of love and magic set in 1800s Ireland
Author Christy Nicholas’s first book in this series, “Legacy of Hunger,” wonderfully demonstrated her love for Ireland and Irish culture and history. This second book, “Legacy of Truth,” keeps those strengths and adds more—memorable characters, powerful conflict and a nuanced exploration of what is family, what is love and how one is to navigate the choices life throws one.
We meet Esme, the “good” twin in a pair of twin sisters, as a young girl nearing young womanhood. Her life is set in motion by two things—her Grandfa bequeathing her a slightly magical heirloom brooch and her selection of a husband from her suitors. Both lead to a schism with her remaining family, as she must leave her home to follow her new husband and conceal from her jealous twin the precious heirloom. Without spoiling the journey for readers, both the brooch and Esme’s continuing decisions about loving companions frame the course of her life and the drama in the story.
The writing is smooth and well-edited, with a vivid and detailed concreteness that beautifully supports the enthralling world created by the author, a world that begins in the 1780s in small towns in Ireland. I greatly enjoyed the flashes of Irish folklore and moments of magic, more organically integrated into the story in this volume than in the first book. The characters are real and human, with distinct personalities and motives. I particularly enjoyed Esme’s friendship with her neighbor Aisling, a surprising and sweet love. Esme herself, while “good” relative to her scheming and ambitious twin Eithne, is flawed and human, struggling with life’s challenges as we all do, and failing at times to be perfect and upright. While I questioned Esme’s decisions and judgment around love at times, I never found them to be forced or false but rather a natural outgrowth of her worldview and understanding as a simple woman in a small town, far from the worlds of sophisticates and lords and ladies. This is not a plot-driven tale of high adventure, but rather a chance to live in and explore another time and place and society through the life of a sympathetic and engaging character.
Recommendation: for readers of historical fiction who enjoy Ireland and the tiniest hint of magic, and well-drawn humble characters living real lives and a gentle tale pulled inexorably forward by the main character’s decisions about how to live her life.
Historical fiction, when done right, is always a genre that I enjoy to read. I read the first book in this series and found it to great novel, full of rich details and history, blended seamlessly around a wonderful story with a magical twist.
The second novel did not disappoint. Here, we see the story of Esme and her family. Esme, a twin, has a connection to her sister, but it is not a bond of love. Esme is a great character, one who you are drawn to. Her, and her family, are so well written, that you forget it’s just a book. Christy Nicholas has a gift with characterization, and the characters come alive, especially Esme, her husband, and Aisling, the neighbor. Even the horse is given character and attention in the book.
The story has fantasy elements, Esme has a magical brooch, and that, along with trying to find a place for herself in the world, along with her husband, after the rest of her family (except her twin and her grandfather) goes to America.
The imagery and writing are rich and imaginative. You can imagine being on the wind swept hills, in the cottage, or in the stones. The pull of the magic is constant, and it draws the twins to it, in a somewhat cliched storyline of good twin and bad twin. However, while the plot of one twin pitted against another is a bit of cliche, it never comes across that way while reading because the plot and the characters are so organically evolved that you get caught up in the drama and intrigue, rooting for Esme, who has odds stacked against her.
This book is part romance, part fantasy and part history, but it is masterfully written and engaging. I did not wan to put it down at times, it really captured my imagination and my interest and I can’t wait for what comes next.
I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
As a reader, I felt like I knew Esme, the main character personally and I really cared about what happened to her. Nicholas’ writing is very engaging and well written. The story is well thought out and very easy to follow. I am looking forward to the next installment in the series and to more books written by this author!
While Legacy of Truth a prequel to Legacy of Hunger, it works as a stand-alone novel.
Set in late 18th century Ireland, Esme must grow up quickly in small, isolated northwestern town. Her parents are leaving for America, abandoning her and her sister to fend for themselves. As she struggles to find her place, she finds it difficult to keep hold of what’s left that’s precious to her.
Once married and in a new town, Esme’s only friend, Aisling, helps her through difficult times, as her Traveler husband stays away longer and longer plying his trade.
While Esme has had some comfort in her small family, she must now find comfort on her own, as her treacherous sister tries stealing the family heirloom to sell, a brooch reputed to have mystical powers, which had been left to her by her grandfather. Esme must learn to cope with her dwindling family and growing despair in order to keep the brooch safe. #Ireland #newrelease #ebook #histfic #sale #99cents #fantasy
I also have a nifty new book trailer!
I write historical fantasy novels, mostly set in Ireland, and a contemporary romance based on my parents’ 30-year search for true love. Don’t miss information on Celtic myth and history, as well as practical travel planning tips, and hidden places, in my travel books.
– Better To Have Loved – Contemporary romance based on the true story of my parents’ 30-year search for love
– Legacy of Hunger – Historical fantasy set in 1846 Ireland
– Legacy of Truth – Historical fantasy set around 1800 Ireland. Prequel to Legacy of Hunger. Available now!
– Legacy of Luck – Historical fantasy set in 1745 Ireland and Scotland. Prequel to Legacy of Truth, tentative release date January 11, 2017!
– The Enchanted Swans – Historical fantasy set in 500 BCE Ireland, based on The Children of Lir, an Irish Fairy Tale. Tentative release date March 8, 2017!
– Stunning, Strange and Secret: A Guide to Hidden Scotland
– Mythical, Magical, Mystical: A Guide to Hidden Ireland
More info at Green Dragon Artist :: Home ,
Christy Jackson Nicholas, Author , and
Tirgearr Publishing – Christy Nicholas
Green Dragon Artist Blog
Handmade at Amazon Store
Celtic Fairies, Fables, and Folklore! Bestselling author (top #100 Amazon Canada, #1 in Paranormal Fantasy, Amazon Canada) Christy Nicholas, also known as Green Dragon, is an author, artist and accountant. After she failed to become an airline pilot, she quit her ceaseless pursuit of careers that begin with 'A', and decided to concentrate on her writing. Since she has Project Completion Disorder, she is one of the few authors with NO unfinished novels. Christy has her hands in many crafts, including digital art, beaded jewelry, writing, and photography. In real life, she's a CPA, but having grown up with art all around her (her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother are/were all artists), it sort of infected her, as it were. She wants to expose the incredible beauty in this world, hidden beneath the everyday grime of familiarity and habit, and share it with others. She uses characters out of time and places infused with magic and myth. Combine this love of beauty with a bit of financial sense and you get an art business. She does local art and craft shows, as well as sending her art to various science fiction conventions throughout the country and abroad. Facebook: www.facebook.com/greendragonauthor Homepage: www.greendragonartist.com Blog: www.greendragonartist.net Twitter: www.twitter.com/greendragon9
Historical fantasy, time travel adventure, and urban fantasy 
Reblogged this on Still Another Writer's Blog.
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Thanks for the reblog!
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You are welcome!
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Love your intro for your novels. What better way to learn cultures and beliefs than through stories! 🙂 And many many thanks for taking the time to pass through.Wishing you a great weekend ahead! 🙂
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Thank you so much!
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Congratulations. Sounds like a great book!
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Thank you!
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Congrats! Sounds and looks incredible & I love the book trailer – fabulous. 🙂
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Thanks much!
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Congrats on your new release
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Thank you!
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Fabulous reviews. 🙂
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Thanks!
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