I thoroughly enjoyed this YA fantasy! I loved the Scottish setting and appreciated Eilean and Freya as characters.

Occasionally the YA-ness bothered me as an adult reader—it’s a bit heavy on Eilean’s angst over badly hurting a peer 5 years ago (get over it already! He was bullying a queer teen and you stopped him!) and the plot is a little slow. It also takes 20% + of the book for her to accept the call to adventure. Get moving already!

All that being said, the Otherworld was cool, I loved the grandma character, and I’m curious where the series will go. I felt some Frodo/Sam vibes from Eilean and Freya and I loved that aspect too. A queer YA fantasy in Scotland that was fun and much needed!

*Note: I may make a TikTok about this as well—look for it at @evolution_of_emily.

The cover is beautiful with colours with a strong protagonist, if that doesn’t intrigue you I don’t know what will. The spiral of life follows Eilean, Freya, and Bhradain trying to save the magical world, a world dying. The YA fantasy inspired by Celtic folklore, bring a cozy slow read perfect for the winter months. The importance of nature and folklore was very well integrated and made this read an experience in itself. This was well written for a YA, with pop references, and a urban setting in one of the two worlds.

The novel has wonderful representation, from LGBTQIA+ rep to mental health and therapy rep. Her journey felt very realistic with coping skills and therapy practices, this gave representation for mental health. This novel being written with a younger audience is really amazing, from being hopeful it is also validating different emotions that might bring shame, like anger, guilt and the mixed emotions of our past actions. The low-key LGBTQIA+ rep was beautiful, having two queer teenagers going through adventure is really pretty.

I enjoyed having a unique creative hobby; blacksmithing. Especially as it is shown to bring skill in the magical world. The skill is both a coping mechanism and a way to express herself. It was used beautifully to represent her inner emotions.

I believe this is a perfect cozy fantasy, perfect for autumn and winter, if you want something that is mainly vibes and just soft and slow. It was not fast past with lots of plot twits. I do believe the novel could of done with more depth on the magical aspects, and maybe slightly longer to give us enough time to really dive into the magical world. I really enjoyed description of the landscapes in both world but which there was more.

The audio book felt wonderful, honestly having the Scottish accents really made me immerse more into the story. I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook.

I recommend this to anyone that was a comfort, cozy winter/autumn fantasy, this really was wonderful.

[ARC Netgally - Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)- Sep 22 2024]

First off, a big thank you to Netgalley, Bandele Books, and the Independent Book Publishers Association for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest review and feedback.

First off, I really liked the audiobook -- the sound effects at the start of the book and each chapter were really helpful for keeping me engaged and I think will go a long way for YA audiences. Rebecca Daltry does a fantastic job as well. The amount of representation also went a long way for me! My favorite character was probably their kelpie companion.

However, I did struggle to keep attention in parts because the story-line was so straightforward-quest oriented. It wasn't boring but I do have ADHD so I got confused in parts and it was hard to keep some characters straight. I'll definitely be recommending to my sister, who thrives on this kind of book.

YA chosen-one fantasy inspired by celtic folklore

The story was so enjoyable all the way through and I lived the characters and dynamics felt really realistic for girls of their age.

The audiobook itslef was so well done, it's one of the best I heard. The accents and different voices to show different characters was AMAZING!!! More productions should listen to this and do the same, it was duet style with a single narrator if that make sense.

I will most definitely keep an eye out for the sequel!

Reviews on TikTok and Instagram coming soon!

Story: 3/5 Stars
Narration: 4/5 Stars

What initially drew me in to this story was the cover- gorgeous and unique and I think it matches the protagonist perfectly. A queer female protagonist that dabbles in black smithing is a cool concept.

While I found both Eilean’s and Freya’s anxieties realistic, I honestly did not feel much about either characters personalities nor did I feel they grew much in character development by the end of the book. I did love the Kelpie.

I think the pacing of the book was good, however I wish there was more (fantasy) world building and more exploration into magic- I feel like the whole magic aspect would be anyone’s first priority to learn about but the characters really mostly ignored it. Also- I didn’t know much about Nordic mythology and I still really don’t after the end of this book, I just wish there was more information provided about it!

I think the narration was good however I found the voice effects/filters really distracting and sometimes hard to understand- especially the coughing sickly voice was hard to discern. The sound effects at the start of each chapter were fine but I feel like some didn’t fit the mood or scene at all.

Overall the story was an easy read and while some parts were enjoyable, I don’t think I’ll find myself picking up the second book.

3.25

Thank you NetGalley, Bandele Books, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks, and Francesca McMahon for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thoughts:

Wow!

With comparisons to Percy Jackson and Merlin, that leaves this book with big shoes to fill and higher expectations. While I agree wholeheartedly with those comparisons, it is actually the differences from those two that makes this book worth it to read! The Celtic folklore, queerness and female main character made me go full heart eye emoji.

I both loved and struggled with our troubled past and chip on her shoulder protagonist, Eileen, in this. However, I am eager to discover more about her and see her journey with Freya as the series continues. This book is marketed YA, but definitely reads more middle schooler like Percy Jackson.

I had a fun time with the narration on this one for the random audio effect additions! They were thrown in at random times, but it was entertaining.

Paperback/Hardcover/Audiobook/E-book:

Audiobook

Pace:

Medium

Cover thoughts:

starcaster is one of my favorite artists for fanart, and this cover art is what led me to pick up this book!

Triggers:

Violence, Mention of Death, Bullying, Injury, Illness, Homophobia, etc.

I really enjoyed the audiobook. The story is captivating from the beginning and I really liked Eilean. From the side characters my favourite is definitely Bhradain! The sound effects in the beginning of each books are a lot of fun and Rebecca Daltry does a great job overall.

The book was good for me as a lover of all things mythology. The characters were interesting and I enjoyed their development. The narrators added to the story and I really had a good time.

Thank you Net Galley, Bandele Books, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and Members' Audiobooks for this audiobook arc!

Francesca McMahon weaves Celtic lore into a contemporary YA fantasy with LGBTQIA+ rep, mental health and therapy practices, and a bit of blacksmithing.

I think McMahon’s strengths in this novel lies in their inclusion of Celtic folklore and mental health representation. I found myself interested in the gods, creatures, and symbols that our main characters encounter with the start in world building. It’s a central part of the story throughout the novel in plot and Eilean’s, our protagonist’s, heritage. Eilean is also working though her anger with therapy and blacksmithing. Throughout the journey, she is able to use technique and skills and explore a bit of her fears and blockages. Her journey felt realistic. I thought blacksmithing was a unique hobby that aligned with the story. Furthermore, the cover (and synopsis) pulled me in with its style and colors. I will say that I did not realize this was a contemporary fantasy novel based on the aforementioned elements. The writing style and pop culture references reads for a more younger YA audience.

I found, A Spiral of Life, unfortunately, lacked development in plot area and characterization. I appreciate the story immediately starting off at a decent pace, but the journey overall felt lackluster. The characters and the plot didn’t grab my attention by the reins within its 8 hrs of narration. There was occasional glimpses at Freya and Bhradain’s character like magical power and being in the air cadets, but nothing overall that strengthened their character development or plot as some were one and done moments. I think I was missing the tension and the momentum of the story. This dark power over the land is described as “far more vicious that I believed” and “not really here” with very little explanation by the end. There was some negative effects of this dark power to both Scotland and the Otherworld, but nothing that seemed to imped their journey. I also felt like Eilean’s school conflict, relationship with her grandmother, and the “chosen one” concept could have been better fleshed out. Overall, this book felt like the slow build of “rising action” with a plateau of a climax. Honestly, the synopsis ad for the second book at the end had more interesting plot and character development.

Audiobook wise, narration was fine and fit the story. It was a bit harder to get through the climax chapters with the changes between lethargic and wheezy narration styles. There was occasional usage of effects which was cool. I didn’t see the meaning of the sound clips at the beginning of each chapter as it was [chapter title] then [sound effects]. Sometimes they matched the chapter sometimes not. Maybe put them during the title narration.

Thank you to Francesca McMahon and NetGalley for an audio ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Spiral of Lif is an exciting YA adventure that <i>pulls you deep</i> (pun intended) into a world of Celtic mythology, reminiscent of the Percy Jackson series but with its own unique flair. The story follows a compelling trio of characters—Eileen, Freya, and Bhradain—who each bring their own strengths to this magical journey.

Eileen, the main character, stands out with her strength, stubbornness, and determination. She’s a force to be reckoned with, driving the narrative forward with her fierce independence. Freya, on the other hand, is the sweet and sunshiney balance to Eileen’s tenacity, adding warmth and light to the story. Bhradain, the kelpie, is undoubtedly my favourite. His sarcastic wit and snarky attitude bring a lot of fun to the story, and he quickly became the character I looked forward to hearing from the most.

The narrator did a fantastic job bringing the story and its characters to life, capturing the nuances of each personality and keeping the listener engaged from start to finish.

While the pacing sometimes felt a bit uneven, and certain plot points could have been developed further, the overall experience was enchanting and thoroughly enjoyable. The Spiral of Life is a delightful dive into Celtic myths with a fresh, youthful twist. Fans of mythology-based YA adventures will find much to love here. I cannot wait to delve into the rest of the series.

If the cover of this book doesn't immediately pull you in then then the description definitely should. I don't believe I have ever read a book about a female blacksmith and while that is fun enough on it's own, we also get to learn much more about Eilean and her adventure into another world.

While I do like Eilean as a character, the standout character for me is definitely the aquatic undead horse with a bad attitude!

I would say this book leans more toward middle grade/young teen but it's also fun for adults. Perfect for someone who wants to dip their toes into an easy fantasy book.

The audiobook narration was so fun with added sound effects and different voices from narrator Rebecca Daltry.

Thank you NetGalley and Bandele Books | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks for access to the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bandele Books for approving my request to listen to an audiobook arc of this book.

This book follow Celtic mythology and is a subject I loved learning more about and hearing of all the different folk tales and myths surrounding the gods and goddesses. I also really enjoyed the fact that the mc was so passionate about being a blacksmith. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where the persons chosen skill in craftsmanship was so well suited and incorporated into the story.
I really enjoyed the first instalment of this new series and I am so excited to see where the story goes next and also how the characters relationship develops going forwards.

This story deals with intense anger and guilt and also the start of a journey towards healing. I enjoyed the lgbtqia+ representation and also the scathing kelpie companion. This book had so much world building and I’m excited to see where it goes next.

DNF @43%
Thank you NetGalley for the audio arc.

Eilean is a troubled kid who has turned to blacksmithing in as an outlet. While visiting her hometown to see her ailing grandmother, a magical encounter sends her on a grand quest to save the Otherworld.

Unfortunately I do not believe I was the target audience for this. This is classed as a YA fantasy, but lack of complexity in the plot, character development, and relationships make this read more like a middle grade novel (minus the few curse words thrown out here and there). There were too many conveniences, and a lot of the world building came in the style of asking another person a bunch of questions.

However, as far as the audio production is concerned I do think the narrator did a great job and the added sound effects at the beginning of each chapter were a nice touch.

Thank you for this audio book ARC to Francesca McMahon and NetGalley.

The Spiral of Life follows Eilean, a moody 17-year-old girl with a knack for modern-day blacksmithing and some unresolved anger issues in her past. When Eilean and her parents return to her childhood home to visit her grandmother, Eilean is, much against her will, swept away on a dangerous quest consisting of gods, monsters, talking horses - and a pretty nice girl named Freya.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5

The author has described this book as 'Percy Jackson meets Merlin' so obviously I had to request it right away. And believe you me, my expectations were high. Surprisingly, the Spiral of Life actually met quite a few of them.
Whereas there could've been more character work and dialogue, I really liked that which there was. The main character, Eilean, felt like a more snarky Percy Jackson, whereas Freya was her total opposite, the ultimate sunshine character. However, my favorite of the three main characters was the hilarious talking kelpie whose name I am certain I would misspell. Also, A+ for the diverse representation!
Loved the worldbuilding and different entities the characters encountered. The author clearly has a great knowledge of the Celtic folklore.
The prose was quite good. The dialogue was realistic (and sometimes hilarious) and the descriptions were vivid. The only problem I had (and the reason I'm giving the book 4.5 stars and not 5) was that the book is riddled with adverbs. At one point a character 'laughed humorously'. That was too much for me 😅 but otherwise, like I said, the writing was good.
The plot was very Percy-Jackson-like, a straight-forward quest, which I didn't mind but also wasn't super interesting. At times I was in a bit of a lost about what was happening and where the characters were, but this could be due to my ADHD brain struggling with listening comprehension. The ending was fantastic, though, really made me look forward to book 2.
And now that I mentioned listening, let's talk about the narration. I did not care for it, to be honest. I didn't like how the narrator did Freya's voice, and some characters' speech I struggled to even understand. I wish I'd read this instead of listening. (Also, then I could spell the kelpie dude's name.) But this could just be me not being used to audio books. I really liked the soundscapes at the beginning of each chapter, though!
Altogether, I liked this book. It certainly gave me Percy Jackson vibes and wasn't boring for a second. It gets my approved-stamp and I recommend reading it. Might even check out the author's other books, too.