The Elanraigh: The Vow by Sandy Hunter Blog Tour, Guest Post, Giveaway and Book Review

I have the pleasure in not only being a part of this Tour but also in being able to bring you a guest post by the author S.A. hunter as well as my thoughts and review on her book, Elanraigh: The Vow and a giveaway to win an ebook copy of her book and a signed bookmark!!


I asked S.A. how she came up with the idea for the book and characters and below was her reply.

S.A.: 

In 1995 I read an intriguing article in the Vancouver Sun, titled “Lumber firm wails the blues over “singing forest”. Apparently a local tree planter had a spiritual experience in a forest near Tenise Creek; she says, “something akin to the voice of angels rose from the landscape.” I tucked the though provoking article away and some years later, was sorting through my tattered old file full of various newspaper and magazine articles, the “Story Ideas File”, and read the “singing forest” article again. I began to type and wrote, ““The Elanraigh forest quivered with deep unease. Forest-mind sifted the westerly wind and breathed its warning.” And so a sentient forest came to be both a major character and the setting for my YA fantasy, Elanraigh: The Vow.

I knew I wanted to place Elanraigh in an alternate earth, quasi-medieval time and place. Once I had my protagonist, Thera, in mind the other characters just came forward and pretty much led me where they wanted to go. I drew heavily on memories of my own father’s honorable nature in creating Duke ArNaronne. The Elanraigh forest-mind is of course, Thera’s primary teacher; however, the characters of Sirra Alaine (strong and solid) and Mistress Rozalda (wise and calm) are important mentors to Thera at this stage of her development. For the Ttamarini warrior, I wanted a race of beings who shared Thera’s reverence for the spirit of the Elanraigh, and her affinity to nature. I styled them, rather loosely, after an idealized Native American culture. If I had the joy of casting Elanraigh: The Vow as a movie, I would love to have Taylor Lautner play Chamakin  Everyone else is their own unique person...as far as I know 

Sandy Hunter www.sandrahunter.blogspot.ca

(S. A. Hunter)

Elanraigh: The Vow

Blog Tour sandyh118@shaw.ca

Thank you so much Sandy for stopping by today and giving us that insight into the creation of the book and characters!!

 Synopsis:

 Only Thera of Allenholme hears the voice of forest-mind…and heeds its warning . Thera doesn’t know why the Elanraigh forest-mind chose her, of all the Allenholme folk, to hear its voice and to awaken her gifts of mind and spirit. The Elanraigh sends a warning dream; black sails swooping toward Allenholme from across the western sea—the Memteth, an ancient enemy, armed with blue fire that hungers to consume life. As Thera awakens to her gifts of bonding with raptor birds and reading hearts, the knowing; she also awakens to love. Will she choose Chamakin the young Ttamarini warrior who is a kindred in spirit to her, or the polished young nobleman who covets her beauty even more than her estate? Forest-mind is aware she is yet too young for such power and responsibility. It has no choice—the lives of all Thera’s people and the existence of the Elanraigh Forest itself, depend on Thera fulfilling her destiny. Can she learn what she must of gift, and heart, to survive what comes their way? 

My Thoughts:
This was such a great original YA fantasy read. Truly unique in every sense of the word. 
It will keep you enthralled right from the beginning.
It was hard not being sucked right into the story with the first opening chapter that was filled with magic, mythology and legend. 
Thera was a fabulous, feisty heroine that knew what needed to be done and made sure it got done in the best way possible for everyone. She was kind and caring and you can tell already has the makings of a great leader at the age of only 14. 
Hunter did a fabulous job describing Thera's world, she made it appear magical and almost ethereal at times. This story was very well written and flowed very nicely.
I think it will be fun to see where this story goes next. 

I give this one 4 Stars!  a Rafflecopter giveaway Also please don't forget to check out the author's grand prize giveaway of a paperback copy of Elanraigh: The Vow, a signed bookmark and a $20 Amazon Gift Card! a Rafflecopter giveaway