A Spell of Rowans- Book Review

A Spell of Rowans by Byrd Nash

Publication Date: 26th Oct 2021
Genre: Contemporary/ Women’s Fiction, Hints of Fantasy 

4.2 Stars 

Trigger Warning: Nonsexual child abuse, suicide, attempted sexual assault. 

Vic, aka, Victoria is called home to Grimsby by her elder sister Philippa. Their mother, the infamous narcissist, Rachel Rowan has died, and her three children have to settle the details. Vic agrees to her Philippa and their younger brother Liam in the town. 

She’s been away for too long, trying to escape the suffocating life with their mother. However, she knows that nothing involving Rachel will ever be easy. 

As an empath, Vic has spent her life trying to block’s emotions for messing with hers. Philippa was her opposite and charmed people around her. Liam could tell the history of whatever object he touched. And their dead mother, Rachel, had the knack of finding secrets and controlling others. 

Things take a turn for worse the moment Vic enters Grimsby. Though she’s not surprised, Vic realizes that she didn’t know a lot of things because she kept it that way. Liam seems to have suffered the most, and Vic feels torn between wanting to help and wondering if she should. 

The past, too, has been left dangling when Vic left, and it looks like Vic has no choice but to face her fears. With her siblings to support her, Vic finds alleys in two men with powerful positions. With one of them being close to her heart, can Vic survive the intensity of complicated emotions piling on top of one another? 

A Spell of Rowans is my first book by the author, and I'm impressed by her writing. The book really isn’t sci-fi or fantasy even. It’s more on the lines of a little paranormal here and there. Most of it is a family drama with some suspense and uncertain romance thrown in. 

Since I pretty much forgot the genre, I could enjoy the book without wondering about the lack of fantasy elements (on a large scale). Also, I tend to like books with just a little touch of fantasy, so this fits my reading preferences rather well. 

Another plus point is the writing flow. After ending up with a couple of slow books, this one relieved me. My pace got back to normal, and I added the extra 0.2 stars for the same. 

The story intrigued me from the first page and kept me hooked throughout. Vic is our narrator, and we see things from her perspective. She’s the kind of character I like to read- a bit vulnerable, a little headstrong, a bit impulsive but sensible, determined, caring, and capable of carrying the story on her shoulders. 

The other characters, Philippa, Liam, and Reed, were also well etched, though Hunter needed a little more. That said, I loved Liam’s character. He’s an endearing young man, who’s been through a lot, carries a lot of baggage, and yet is a compassionate man. 

Though Rachel is dead, we feel her presence throughout the book, just the way the author intended it. Her character is defined from the first. Yet, it’s only later that we begin to see the full extent of it. 

I wished some of it was shown earlier, kind of alternating with the present. That would have better sustained the momentum at the end. Also, this book isn’t high in atmosphere or descriptions. It has some and is easy to visualize, but those looking for the high atmospheric effect will be disappointed. I should’ve been too, but, guess I picked it up at the right time. This is what I needed now, and it worked for me. 

To sum up, A Spell of Rowans is not an easy book to read (refer to the triggers), but a worthy one. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Rook and Castle Press, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

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