The author creates an alternate timeline in which modern-day druids inhabit an island community which has seceded from the United States. Unfortunately, the narrative frequently includes awkward use of language and grammar that interferes with strong engagement with characters and story line. In addition, there are repeated inaccuracies in the use of descriptive phrases and metaphor that do not align with accompanying details, creating a less than fluid reading experience. ( )

Let down by a rocky start and very poor pacing, but the elements of a decent series are there. Urban fantasy needs a carefully worked introductory section to bring the reader up to speed with the way this created universe is chosen to work, and this is very much lacking here. Once everything finally meshes into place some halfway through the book then it's worth persevering until the end, although it's fairly abrupt with a sequel (trilogy?) planned.

It's quite difficult to give a summary of even the opening half of the plot because it's so disjointed, and will reveal events that the author obviously intended to come as surprises later in the story. An adopted younger on of a disfunctional family is struggling to live on his own a year after the family dramatically broke apart. Part of that break up left him with a shape scarred into his chest and a document written in strange language which his intermittent research suggests may be related to the unknown island off the coast of his part of the US. He makes a trip out there with the only friend he hasn't yet driven away.. Meanwhile his 'brother' has some friends who make a similar deduction and meet him there. Separately in a an unstated location, and un-described power struggle is happening within the community of Druids who have unstated (and unlimited?) powers of some sort. Various members of different factions argue about past events and how to implement future ones. The druidic sections are particularly confusing to read and make little sense without more background than we're ever given. They probably could be omitted entirely for a more readable novel, most of the important action from them is eluded to later on to the main characters anyway.

Not a series I'll be continuing with. Which is a same because the druid world when we finally get there is well described and interesting with some fine characters and good personal interactions. ( )