Echoes of Angels [Paperback]

Caitlyn McKenna (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1894869419 | ISBN-13: 978-1894869416 | Publication Date: May 1, 2002

Twenty-one years ago, Cassandra Blackthorne and her daughter, Julienne, fled their family home. Ironically, circumstances lure Julienne Hunter back to her birthplace--Blackthorne Manor in Virginia--and into the clutches of the man her mother hated, Morgan Saint-Evanston. She soon discovers that Blackthorne balances between two worlds, that of mortal reality and the dimensional enigma known as Sclyd. Come Halloween, they will merge and Scyldian entities will be free to hunt the weaker human race for slaves and sacrifices to appease their dragon god, Ouroborous. Destined as a keeper of eternity's gates and protector against the armies of darkness, Julienne's legacy will be costly, for she must sacrifice her soul to save mankind.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...not for the faint of heart. The plot is disquieting, blurring boundaries, submerging readers in a chaotic world..." -- Heartstrings- Reviewer C.L. Jeffries

"..an excellent story; one I guarantee will stay in your mind..." Charlene Smith, Reviewer. -- Sime~gen - Review by Charlene Smith

"A fantasy novel of exceptional quality...the writing in Echoes of Angels is exceptionally beautiful and descriptive." -- Maria Osborne-Perry, author Ravished Wings

"A phenomenal debut book in the paranormal genre!" Kelley Hartsell, Reviewer. -- The Best Reviews Website, July 28, 2002

"Extraordinary! Morgan's one of the least likable men in print. But you care about his fate...that's just good writing." -- Janet Miller, author Lady of the Knife

"Promising the scope of an epic fantasy on the levels with Terry Brooks and Stephen Donaldson..." Amanda Killgore, reviewer. -- Romance At It's Best Website, June 01, 2002

"This story is a keeper." Shadoe Simmons, Reviewer. -- The Best Reivews Website, July 12, 2002

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Prologue

Ireland—766 AD

The woman was small, slight, and very young. Sighing in exhaustion, she settled onto her side, pillowing her head on her arm. Her long black hair hung in limp shreds around her pale, drawn face.

An intense fire crackled in the stone hearth, its earthy scent mingling with the pungent odors of sweat and blood. Haunting shadows leapt along the walls, mimicking her painfully slow movements. Outside, the thunder rolled, echoing the cries she’d made earlier, uttered like an evil omen, as luminous fingers of lightning viciously scratched at the skies.

She shivered, snuggling deeper under the animal pelts covering her. Her body ached; her eyes were red-rimmed and bloodshot from lack of rest. Drawing her knees up to her chest to preserve her body’s heat, she ran her hand over her stomach, over the flat plane where a mountainous belly once ruled. A frail smile crossed her delicate features. Her labor had been long and difficult, lasting through nearly two nights. She needed sleep, but sleep would have to wait.

She wanted to think of her babies. Her heart swelled with pride and love, a secret rush of pleasure coursing through her. She had done as she must—she’d hidden herself from those who would destroy her kind and given birth to two healthy offspring. Both babies slept peacefully beside her, well swaddled, suckled by the milk in her ample breasts, their small bodies perfect in every detail.

Two babies. A boy and a girl. One blond, one dark; ivory-skinned, like her.

Twins.

She frowned. A dreamvision granted to her by the Goddess Cerredwen had foretold she would give birth to a leader who would carry her legacy, bringing peace to her race and the three worlds.

The prophecy had not foretold she would have two babies. Worried, she began to pray:

Great Mother, guardian of your children,

I beg your wisdom.

Inspire my dreams;

Bring me knowledge,

Give me the key—

which child to choose

Product Details

• Paperback: 306 pages
• Publisher: Zumaya Pubns (May 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1894869419
• ISBN-13: 978-1894869416
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,190,303 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent writing, December 5, 2002

By 

Walter Ihlefield (Spring Grove, Virginia United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Echoes of Angels (Paperback)

As a writer, I know what it takes to keep a reader engrossed. As a reviewer, I can say that Caitlyn McKenna has fulfilled the requirements in "Echoes of Angels." Real, individual characters and an excellent plot-line bring the reader into a dimension of witchcraft and immortality. This one will stay in my library.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An impressive debut in the paranormal genre of romance, October 2, 2002

By 

Kelley Hartsell "Kelley" (Irving, TX) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Echoes of Angels (Paperback)

Courtesy of Paranormal Romance Reviews

Julienne Hunter has just completed rehab and is ready to start over with a new and better life. She had been at the top of her game as a supermodel until the rough life got to her. Drugs, alcohol, and anorexia had all been a part of her life, until the day her now ex-husband slashed her face with a razor knife, putting a halt to her career. She realized her ways of life had to change... And what better way to start over then to return to the family her mother had abandoned, taking a young Julienne with her.

Morgan Saint-Evanston was suffering in a silent misery of his own making. He is an immortal, from an alternate reality, Sclyd, though born in the world of the mortals, where his practices in the dark arts were welcomed and necessary for his survival. After a violent battle where he nearly destroyed his one time friend and now greatest enemy, Xavier, Morgan abandoned Sclyd, coming to the world of the mortals and swearing off of his use of the occult. Though he escaped his world, he is still an outlaw, and is cursed with an abominable loneliness... and the loss of his soul.

When Morgan came to the world of the mortals, he took Julienne's family under his wing. He taught them the ways of magic and the occult in exchange for them keeping his secret and protecting him. Julienne's mother, Cassandra, could not accept the ways of her family, particularly Morgan, and abandoned them, taking an infant Julienne with her. Julienne had little or no memory of her family, except that her mother hated Morgan with every fiber of her being.

Now the time has come where the doors between the worlds would be opening, and Julienne's destiny is tied to that. Morgan has tracked her down, at the request of her grandmother, and is returning her to the world that should have been hers. Morgan thinks it is a mistake, but he cannot refuse Julienne's grandmother. Julienne is reborn into her family, infused with Morgan's own blood, without even being aware of what is happening to her. Once the family skeletons are revealed, Julienne embraces their ways, ready to take her place as a powerful priestess. As she is learning everything from Morgan, she finds herself falling in love with him, knowing it is a huge mistake. As events spiral out of control, with the opening of the other worlds, Julienne and Morgan are called over to his world to once again face Xavier, which is their greatest challenge...and maybe their ultimate destruction.

This was a very intriguing beginning to the KEEPERS OF ETERNITY series. It is extremely well written and has a fascinating and unique premise. The plot moves along smoothly, keeping the interest of the reader through to the end. The story actually does not end, but just stops, giving a definitely "to be continued" feel, setting up the next book quite well. One will be very eager to see what happens next.

Julienne is a fascinating woman, very weak-willed in her old life, but finding a new strength of purpose upon returning to the home of her birth. She changes and one gets the impression, she does a complete turn around from her old ways. She is disgusted with her ruined face in the beginning, but comes to realize she is still an incredible woman, with a special beauty within that had never been allowed to shine before.

Morgan however, is another story. This reviewer had an extremely hard time warming up to him. Be forewarned - he is violent, abusive, downright rude, and drowning himself in liquor every night, as he tries to battle his inner demons. Some people may not enjoy reading parts of the story for that reason. Probably part of the reason for the dislike of Morgan, comes from personal experiences of this reviewer's life, hitting way to close to home for comfort, bringing back bad memories. But most will probably have an easier time accepting him for who he is. As the story progresses though, one finds the true reasons for Morgan's behavior, his is in an agony of life that he cannot control or overcome. His only reaction is to lash out, in hopes to make his own pain recede a little. He does come around in the end, when he realizes how important Julienne is to him, and just how deeply he really does love her.

ECHOES OF ANGELS is an exciting saga, crossing from coast to coast, and world to world. Definitely a worthwhile read, it will keep one entranced, waiting with baited breath for the next chapter in the drama.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Timeless Tales review, November 10, 2002

By 

"tteditor" (Washington DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Echoes of Angels (Paperback)

By TT reviewer Amy L Turpin

Julienne Hunter is a one-time model whose career was taken away by an estranged husband's attack, leaving her face scarred. She had been dragged into the pit of drugs by her ex, which contributed to her professional demise, but the gashes to her face with a utility knife laced with battery acid put the stamp of retirement permanently on her dwindling profession.

After the vicious attack, she checks herself into a rehabilitation center in order to come off the cocaine. It is there that she learns she has living family and that they have been taking care of her financial situation for some time since her injury. Believing her only relative is the one she has known since she was three, her deceased mother, she is afraid of what she will find if she agrees to meet with this family. She never knew her mother's secrets, she only knew that her mother hated this family that was now trying to bring her home.

The first of the two that she meets is a striking man by the name of Morgan Saint-Evanston. His cool demeanor, not to mentionn his willingness to call her every bluff, is enough to grate on Julienne's nerves. Morgan Saint-Evanston is a man used to getting his way and has very little patience for weakness in people and it is obvious he sees her as a pathetic little girl.

The home he takes her to is stunning, and for the first time, Julienne becomes truly aware of her heritage. At least the heritage with relation to things of the known world. What she isn't aware of are the fantastical things that are her birthright.

While she and Morgan learn to love hating one another, Julienne's grandmother alone knows that Julienne is the key to saving Morgan's very soul. With Morgan refusing to acknowledge his responsibility to help those very people he has taught and trained throughout his life, Anlese did the only thing she could to help the stubborn man; she mated he and her granddaughter without either of their knowledge.

As Julienne learns more about Morgan's dark past, she catches glimpses of vulnerability, fleeting as they are. She sees the tortured man he has become over, what must have been for him, endless centuries. As tortured as her own mother had been, which she now knows was due to her mother's psychic tendencies and the fact that she was what amounts to a witch.

Having made his decision to leave the mortal world, Morgan knows he must sever all ties: including those with Julienne. It turns out to be a decision he has to rethink. Having become intimately involved with the beautiful girl, he is once again unsure of his destiny.

But Julienne has plans of her own. Embracing her heritage, she does as her grandmother tells her she must. She leaves with Morgan when he returns to his world. Now, all she has to do is stop the end of the world . . .

This is a tantalizingly unique tale about Celtic magic and the mortals and immortals surrounded by it. Although the flow seems to lag in a few places, the utter distinctiveness of this work makes it a worthwhile read. I look forward to the next chapter in the lives of Morgan and Julienne.