5.0 out of 5 stars Island of Tory, April 20, 2012
By
Jean Ann Geist (Bowling Green, OH)
A wonderfully written and researched young adult novel, full of Irish lore and intrigue. A definite pageturner, as the reader is led from clue to clue to discover who is friend and who is foe on this mysteriously shrouded island.
5.0 out of 5 stars Vivid and suspenseful writing, August 10, 2012
By
Rich and enchanting, Island of Tory is the kind of tale that one takes to the beach and savors on a lazy summer afternoon. This book is finely-tuned, from the cover and design to the plot and characters. The prose is exceptional for a work of youth lit and hooks the reader, especially during action-packed scenes. I was also impressed that the character thoughts and emotions were seamlessly woven into the narration.
My favorite aspect of this book is the suspense. Tory Island is intriguing and, through Geither’s skilled narration, it transcends the boundary between setting and character. Also, the recurring theme of “appearance vs. reality” heightened the suspense and added richness and texture to the characters, who are memorable and well-developed–especially Arella (the lead), Father Cillian and Declan. While some may gripe that the fantasy elements in this book are overused, I think Geither presented these classic elements in a clever way, with many twists and turns. The only criticism I have is the sporadic nature of the artwork–I would have preferred either frequent artwork or none at all. However, this was just a minor distraction and did not make the book itself less readable.
Overall, Island of Tory combines a vivid setting, memorable characters and stellar prose with a suspenseful plot. I highly recommend this book.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great New YA Fantasy, July 15, 2012
By
Nancy K. Wallace “Children’s Librarian” (Ellwood City, PA USA)
When Arella Cline’s parents die in a car accident, she goes to live with her Aunt Fi on Tory, an island off the Irish coast. Enrolling at a small private school, she is befriended by easygoing Declan McQuilan. Arella’s love of soccer helps her fit in but she makes enemies, too. She finds sullen Cannon Fidelous’s attentions particularly disturbing and tries to avoid him. When Arella inexplicably sees shadows and visions, she blames it on grief. Even Aunt Fi begins behaving oddly, painting one watercolor after another of the island’s landmarks and hanging them in Arella’s room. When Cannon warns her that the inhabitants of Tory are not all they appear to be, Arella begins to investigate an ancient prophecy not realizing that her own life is in danger!
Handsome guys, a mysterious island, prophecies, and ancient curses blend perfectly in this skillfully concocted YA fantasy! The misty Island of Tory creates the perfect backdrop for a well potted mystery. The addition of a Discussion Guide makes it a great choice for YA Book Discussion Groups!
5.0 out of 5 stars Island of Tory, April 22, 2012
By
Rita L. Smith (Ohio)
Regina Geither’s “Island of Tory” is a unique blend of mystery and intrigue. It blends a young woman’s quest to leave the island with Irish history and lore. I loved it.
Rita
ritalsmith.com
Trudy Powders rated it 5.0 out of 5 stars
I loved this book…I’m a huge fan of Irish lore and this book did not disappoint! There was action and a few surprises along the way.I read this book in one sitting,I was so excited to see what else happens.This story is about a young girl named Arella.After a tragedy Arella stays with an elderly aunt and things begin to happen to her and around her.She befriends a few people who help her along the way.Ms.Geither captures the beauty and the harshness of living on a almost forgotten island.This…more I loved this book…I’m a huge fan of Irish lore and this book did not disappoint! There was action and a few surprises along the way.I read this book in one sitting,I was so excited to see what else happens.This story is about a young girl named Arella.After a tragedy Arella stays with an elderly aunt and things begin to happen to her and around her.She befriends a few people who help her along the way.Ms.Geither captures the beauty and the harshness of living on a almost forgotten island.This book has very mild language and mild violence.I enjoyed this book with it’s plot and it’s energy.I gave this book 5/5 Well done!
reginamgeither.com 