Return of the Bloodline
An Everglenn Novel
Generations-old secrets are exposed as a woman fights to save her home and her children in the entertaining fantasy novel Return of the Bloodline.
Stretching across oceans and time, Suzy Webb’s fantastical mystery novel Return of the Bloodline brings a sinister prophecy to a head, unraveling generations-old secrets while its heroine fights to save her home and her children.
This trilogy-ending story begins in medias res, with Freya and her family being watched from afar by a persistent tyrant. Meanwhile, in the race to unite the clans and reclaim their freedom from British rule, one patriot and his comrades seek to destroy them, even if it means coming after Freya’s children. Tension builds as a clash of rivaling forces, some from clear across the Atlantic, draws nearer.
Freya, a natural healer, is a complex heroine who faces the choice between using her power for good and succumbing to the temptation to do whatever is necessary to protect her children. Family legends and the obligations that come with them complicate her situation further. After a slow beginning, her story’s pace picks up to reflect the obstacles that she and those closest to her face. The idyllic atmosphere of Everglenn is a source of reprieve from such troubles, affording a glimpse into what little normalcy the family can enjoy.
Freya’s family members are developed in terms of the emotions they grapple with in the course of their conflicts; they are fleshed out in an intimate manner. The secondary characterizations are also distinctive, with people’s varying mannerisms and speaking habits well attended to. The book’s women, in particular, are multifaceted, undertaking dramatic feats and handling everyday concerns with quiet strength. Still, it is Freya who stands out most: grounded yet fierce, loving yet willing to make compromises when necessary.
Everglenn is a lush setting that evokes magic, history, and mysticism through detailed descriptions of its trees, grass, and human-made elements. Such exposition grounds the story in its physical spaces while feeding into the emotions of the narrative via colors and other contextual connotations. Fear and uncertainty are accented with shadows and a sense of foreboding, while comfort and stability are highlighted in richer tones and safe settings. These stark differences become even more pronounced as Freya and her family realize what limited choices are before them and what they will need to sacrifice if they are to restore the peace in Everglenn. Freya is forced to make a difficult choice in the book’s gripping finale.
In the warm and suspenseful fantasy novel Return of the Bloodline, a family is formed and fights to save each other and the one place where they all belong.
Reviewed by
Katelynn Watkins
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
