The Wise One

The Wise One is an interesting book. I did enjoy it, although it took a little while for me to understand when it was set (recent history, during the Irish Troubles). The book follows the path of a young lady who, on her 17th birthday, begins to discover she has magic. Along with a new friend she travels to Ireland in search of her mother, meeting a cast of strange and wonderful people along the way.

I had a few issues reading this. Around two thirds of the way in I fought a bit of a slog, but from there to the end was a race that left me wanting to know what happens next. Characters in The Wise One are well developed - it makes sense that they react the way they do to the situations they're placed in. As always, motivations are not entirely clear, people are not always honest (with themselves or others), and it can be hard at times to work out who is the ‘good' side.

Well worth a read if you are into lighter fantasy with a solid real world base. The descriptions of countryside are beautiful, if you don't want to visit Ireland after this then there is no hope.