Barrie Watson knows all too well how the Watson gift
affects her. Her recent trip to San Francisco has left
her with an aching headache that doesn't go away until
she sets foot back at Watson's Landing. Now, a mysterious
stranger is telling her he can take care of the gift (and
curse) which ties the Watson, Beaufort, and Colesworth
families to their lands. Meanwhile, word has gotten out
about the Fire Carrier and ghost hunters are clogging up
the river, trying to catch a glimpse of the strange fire
that lights up the waters. Will Barrie trust the stranger
and team up with her manipulative cousin, Cassie?
The mythology underpinning The Heirs of Watson
Island is fascinating! I love that we get to see some
of the historical events that have shaped the various
gifts and curses that haunt the Watson, Beaufort, and
Colesworth families. We didn't get to see as much of the
trickster-like yunwi as I would like but the mystery
surrounding Obadiah kept me enthralled. I want to know
more about Obadiah, even as I question Barrie's
willingness to work with him.
Martina Boone sensitively addresses the issue of PTSD in
PERSUASION. We see how the behaviors can be misperceived
while also gaining insight into what is really going on
with someone dealing with PTSD. I love when a book
addresses a mental health issue and does it well!
PERSUASION was a very frustrating read to me in some
respects, but I suspect that this says more about my age
rather than the storyline itself. I had to remind myself
on several occasions just how young Barrie is to bear all
the responsibilities that have been placed on her.
Repeatedly, I wanted to yell at her to stop blindly
trusting folks and instead rely on those who have proven
themselves worthy of that trust. However, I think young
adult readers will relate more to Barrie's mixed emotions
and desire to handle things on her own. If you like your
young adult stories on the eerie side, don't hesitate to
give PERSUASION and The Heirs of Watson Island a
chance.
Beautiful Creatures meets Gone with the Wind in the
spellbinding second novel in the Heirs of Watson Island
trilogy that “skillfully blends rich magic and folklore with
adventure, sweeping romance, and hidden treasure”
(Publishers Weekly, on Compulsion).
Grieving the death of her godfather and haunted by her
cousin Cassie’s betrayal, Barrie returns from a trip to San
Francisco to find the Watson plantation under siege.
Ghost-hunters hope to glimpse the ancient spirit who sets
the river on fire each night, and reporters chase rumors of
a stolen shipment of Civil War gold that may be hidden at
Colesworth Place. The chaos turns dangerous as Cassie hires
a team of archeologists to excavate beneath the mansion
ruins. Because more is buried there than treasure.
A stranger filled with magic arrives at Watson’s Landing
claiming that the key to the Watson and Beaufort gifts—and
the Colesworth curse—also lies beneath the mansion. With a
mix of threats and promises, the man convinces Barrie and
Cassie to cast a spell there at midnight. But what he
conjures may have deadly consequences.
While Barrie struggles to make sense of the escalating peril
and her growing feelings for Eight Beaufort, it’s impossible
to know whom to trust and what to fight for—Eight or
herself. Millions of dollars and the fate of the founding
families is at stake. Now Barrie must choose between what
she feels deep in her heart and what will keep Watson’s
Landing safe in this stunning addition to a series filled
with “decadent settings, mysterious magic, and family
histories rife with debauchery” (Kirkus Reviews, on Compulsion).
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