YA / Historical Fiction
I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars
The witches are back, and they aren't the only ones
seeking vengeance. In this second book
of the Vengeance Trilogy, readers be warned: don't get attached to anyone, evil
or good, because the body count is high! (hmm. Is this to be the hallmark of books by Aaron Galvin?)
Where book one followed Sarah, book two focuses on her younger sister,
Rebecca, fifteen years after the first book concluded. Familiar characters return, including Sarah,
Priest, Bishop, George, and Andrew, but there are plenty of new and fascinating
characters introduced (my favorite is the witch Mercy -- don't be fooled by her
name). Salem's Fury does what it needs to do in establishing characters and
conflict for the next installment: Rebecca as a tribeswoman and would-be
warrior, Sarah struggling to make peace with herself, Mercy and Cotton Mather
as the adversaries, Priest still mysterious as ever, Bishop dying but full of
vim and vigor, and the core group of characters fighting not just the enemies,
but each other.I would have liked a bit of a recap from book one, especially regarding the sins of the father (aka, Dr. Campbell, aka Paul Kelly) as there were only references back and they were vague -- probably not an issue for anyone who reads the books more closely together. Also, it was hard for me to accept Priest as a father-figure to Rebecca: a role model and teacher, yes, but father felt off, especially given Sarah's feelings on the matter. Again, a recap might have cleared this up or made this feel right. There is a heavy concentration on Native American life and culture, which I expect was accurately portrayed for the times given Aaron Galvin's penchant for research and his maternal grandmother's ancestry. I am no expert by any stretch, but it did cross my mind whether or not the story was realistic in the acceptance and roles of white people within a tribe. (I certainly would like to believe it accurate! It was a very positive, rational portrayal).
This installment suffers a bit of "middle book
syndrome" and there are some lulls in the story; however, when there is
action, it is intense, it is bloody, and it is memorable. As the story winds
down, Galvin satisfies readers by providing some resolutions and sets the tone for
what's to come in the final book. The last chapter/ending really raises the
stakes and confirms for careful readers what they will probably suspect or at
least will have been considering.
As with the first book, this book is extremely violent,
fairly graphic, and has a high body count, so not for the sensitive reader; I recommend it for high school aged readers and older. There is a lot of warring going on -- between the tribes, between the witches
and the tribes, between the tribes and the white settlers, between the witches
and the white settlers. Revenge is a
driving force as alliances are formed and dissolved, and deceit is constantly
hovering over every situation.
Thank you to the always awesome author, Aaron Galvin, for providing me a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review -- the only kind I give.
Thank you to the always awesome author, Aaron Galvin, for providing me a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review -- the only kind I give.
Here's a little video reveal from Aaron about Salem's Fury!
Can't view? Click here to go to YouTube to view.
LEARN MORE ABOUT AUTHOR AARON GALVIN:
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| BOOK 1 |
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| COMING FALL 2015! |
