Length: 78,000 words approx.
Cover Design: Natasha Snow
Natural Magic Series
Book #1 - In This Iron Ground - Amazon US | Amazon UK
Blurb
Kaiyo’s bloodline has been part of the Garrow pack for generations. He has been destined to be shaman, to anchor the werewolves to the land, and lend aid with the force of his Ousía. When Kaiyo is fourteen, however, an attacking group kills all of the adults in the pack, leaving young Ahmik, only fifteen, as leader.
Their worries don’t end there.
Smelling blood in the water, enemies hunt the decimated pack from all sides. Kaiyo grows increasingly reckless in his desperation to defend his pack, to finally grow into his shaman powers, and to protect Ahmik: the boy he loves.
In the end, Kaiyo loses his pack anyway.
Packless, landless, Kaiyo drifts. For ten years, he fights to remake himself into the shaman, and the man, he was meant to become. One phone call from his old pack, though, and he is forced to return.
Something is killing children and Kaiyo is the only one strong enough to stop it.
Kaiyo never thought his journey would take him back to his old land, his old pack, and to Ahmik. Forced to face his past, and the wounded love that still aches for Ahmik, Kaiyo will be tested like never before.
Content Warning: This story contains themes of depression and associated thoughts and behaviours. However, as always, it focuses on recovery and strength.
This book takes place in the Natural Magic world but can be read as a standalone.
4 Stars!
The story isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, romance and sex. In truth, it’s quite sad and just a bit gloomy. Humor runs through it but it’s, in my opinion, quite subtle. The romance is underplayed if not nonexistent (there is love but it’s really not the focus) and the characters excluding Kaiyo aren’t really the center of attention. In fact, I was left with a feeling of not really knowing much about any of them. But with all that said, it really was Kaiyo’s story we were getting.
I wish I could say I recommend this story to everyone but I really can’t. This is a book for readers who are looking for something deeper, a non-cookie cutter formula that just might leave you with a few tears. It tackles depression in a very realistic way that is not resolved with a magical cure. There’s not a ton of sex and we don’t get to see much of the wolf side of the Shifter characters. If none of that makes you turn away though, give this one a try. Marina is a wonderful and talented author with a unique style of storytelling.
***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.***
5 stars
All That Has Flown Beyond is the second book in the Natural Magic series by Marina Vivancos. While this is the second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone for the most part. Kaiyo is a human in a small pack of shifters. He is destined to be a shaman but wakes up rather late. His lack of care of himself leads him to be cast out of the pack and out of Ahmik's life, who is not only his boyfriend but also the pack's leader. While young, there was a tragedy in which all the adult members of the pack were killed and makes the then 15-year-old Ahmik the pack alpha. After being cast out Kaiyo becomes depressed and barely survives. He finally awakens as a shaman and after a situation, he becomes tied to his home once again.
Kaiyo is such a relatable character. After being cast out of the pack he falls into depression. He goes away to school and does fairly well but as the days go on his depression worsens. He takes counseling and it helps a bit but what really helps him is when he awakens as a shaman and starts training. We do not hear anything about Ahmik until Kaiyo returns home and even then this story is in Kaiyo's POV. What we do learn is that while Kaiyo is away, the pack suffers as well. It turns out Kaiyo was essentially the glue that held them together.
I loved this book. Almost as much as the first book. I cannot wait to see what Marina does next for this series. My only complaint has to be that I wish she would include a section on how to pronounce names and certain words. This book has a powerful message about depression and facing it head on and how accepting help from families and professionals is very important on surviving this mental disease and even when you think the worst is passed the depression is not completely gone it is an important reminder how maintenance is important in this battle.
***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.***
Dec 3 - Megan's Media Melange, Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!, On Top Down Under Book Reviews, Dec 10 - Bonkers About Books, Wicked Faerie's Tales & Reviews, Dec 12 - Mirrigold: Mutterings & Musings, Bayou Book Junkie, MM Good Book Reviews, Book Review by Virginia Lee
Author Bio
When Marina was a child she couldn’t sleep. Night after dissolving night she just couldn’t sleep. Nothing much worked – until she started making up stories in her head. Suddenly, the transition into unconsciousness was a smooth dive into calm waters.
Marina is currently in a period of sleepless upheaval, and she hopes writing down the stories in her head will cast the same spell it did decades ago.
Marina hopes to write in a variety of romance sub-genres, from contemporary to supernatural to sci-fi. Her style, however, tends to focus on character-centred stories that explore different facets of the human experience, such as mental health. She also enjoys writing explicit, drawn-out sex scenes, so expect those to be a prominent feature of her stories.
Marina tends to keep to herself unless prompted, so don’t be shy in approaching her!
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