This book is full of mischief, magic, and mourning. Beautiful words spun into a grand adventure. Can’t wait to read the next one!

Maybe Book Two Will Be the Charm

So here's he thing. There is a lot to recommend this book. The author does a wonderful job describing and establishing the island of Arranmore and creating a wonderful mood and atmosphere. She has a marvelous touch with elemental magic and the parts of the book that invoke that ancient power are, indeed, magical.

The book, though, has to have characters. Well, our hero Fionn spends the lion's share of the book whinging and being alternately dismissive, sarcastic, or timid. Fair enough, he has to start there, I guess, in order to be transformed into the hero to be. But I got tired of waiting for the transformation, and if I'd been the ancient magical grandfather I would have considered dumping Fionn into the sea even before the magical villain did.

That sort of character development happens a lot, though, and it could have been forgiven in light of the magical scenes and the presence of Grandfather Malachai. But I don't understand why we also needed to have a bratty sister so that she and Fionn could bicker, insult each other, smarm, mutter, and generally compete in terms of disagreeable meanness. Again, lots of books start out with that sort of sibling conflict. But well past the halfway point the book still featured whining and bickering and cheap shots on almost every page. That was way too far into the book for such constant off-putting sourness.

Since by then the reader knows exactly what's going to happen I just jumped to the last chapters to confirm the ending. My hope is that, since Fionn is now hero material and his sister Tara has now been calmed down, Book Two will start out on a firmer, friendlier, more solid foundation and we can get on with the elegant magical adventure I'm expecting. Hope, like Dagda's magic, springs eternal, so I'm willing to see if Book Two can get beyond these flat characters and capitalize on the great story frame and setting established in this book.

(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

If I have a literary pet peeve — who am I kidding? I have a list of literary pet peeves! But one of them is books that end without a satisfying resolution. I don’t love cliffhangers, but I understand the point of them, and I’m never going to complain if a book doesn’t wrap every single thing up in a neat bow. (In fact, books that do that are often unsatisfying in a different way.) As Melville wrote, truth uncompromisingly told will always have its ragged edges. I can appreciate a ragged edge. What I don’t like is investing my time, energy, and interest in reading a book that just ends.

The Storm Keeper’s Island was kind of that book. I loved the set up: An island off the coast of Ireland is home to an ancient magic and a group of families who protect the world from the evil forces buried within it, and Fionn Boyle — still traumatized by the death of his father — is the top candidate to take over for his grandfather as Storm Keeper. There’s a lot of mystery and adventure, a little time traveling, and a lovely relationship that develops between Fionn and his grandfather. But then the book just ends — almost none of the threads that you’ve been following resolve. And that’s when you realize: Nothing has really happened. All this set-up has been for the sequel, not for this book. It feels like reading half a book. There were a lot of things I liked about this book, but I’m not sure I’ll pick up the sequel because the end was so disappointing. It just stopped.

Set on the island of Arranmore off the western coast of Ireland, the framework of this fast paced plot involves family, memories, myth, and of course. Fionn and his sister Tara are to spend their summer with their grandfather, the island's aging storm keeper who is reaching the end of his career. As is the custom, a new Storm Keeper will be “ordained” to keep the sea faring inhabitants safe from the violent storms which are common in this part of the Irish coast. A dangerous Sea Cave that grants on wish during each generation, and rival faction who seek to be the next Storm Keeper, make for a page turner of magical realism. This is the first of four books in the story, and once you read the first, you will be lighting a candle while you wait for the next installment, “The Lost Tide Warriors”.

The Storm Keeper's Island is a delighful read that blends Irish mythology with complex family relationships. The budding relationship between Fionn and his grandfather, who previously he had never met, strengthens the book and drives a lot of the plot. Doyle's writing is accessible for middle grade readers, and is so descriptive that the island of Arranmore and all who inhabit it (good and evil) practically leap from the page. I'm glad this is a series, because I need to know how this will play out.

This excellent middle grade magical mystery is about Fionn, who goes to spend the summer with his grandfather. He and his sister are trying to work out their family legacy of magic on the island. As the pieces come together, it turns out that they are in far more danger than they thought and that their powers may be bigger than they imagined. I can't wait to put this one in my library.

The Storm Keeper’s Island is a story of magic and adventure as Fionn is introduced to Arranmore Island home of his seafaring family for generations. When Fionn and is sister stay with his grandfather for the summer, Fionn gets more than he bargained for as he learns that the island is full of magic and that one family. controls it all. Meanwhile a dark force underneath the island has been reaching out to Fionn, hoping for his help to re-awaken and become powerful again.

I really enjoyed this fantasy novel with magic all its own, but still set strongly in a world I understand (which is exactly the type of fantasy I like to read). I liked the characters and their back stories – each rich enough to understand their motivation, plus a villain that’s dark and mysterious leaving the reader ready for the next installment.

But above all, I loved the setting a small island off the coast of Ireland with flowers that grow in a blink of an eye, ancient trees, mysterious sea caves and the scent of the ocean blowing through the grass. I loved how the Storm Keeper stored the magic in candles – each evoking a specific memory, time and place and each the very scent of the island. Keep your eyes peeled for the second book in the series coming out this summer – The Lost Tide Warriors!

Final Thoughts:
If The Storm Keeper’s Island was made into a candle it would smell of the sea, of generations of history, of family love and of bravery in the face of the storm.

I saw this book compared to Percy Jackson and Harry Potter, and I was skeptical going into it. PJ and HP are, by far, the two most captivating "anti-heroes" written for kids. Fionn lived up to the comparison. I laughed out loud several times when we were given an inside into Fionn's thoughts. The grandfather was also a likable character; the mystery wrapped up in his role was what dragged me in.

The sister left a lot to be desired, but I think all kids with a stingy, rude sibling will relate to the dynamic between Fionn and Tara.

Kids need books that tell stories of kids that overcome their fears when faced with adversity and the challenges we ALL go through, regardless of our age. I am looking forward to using this book in my Mock Newbery club in the 2019-2020 school year.

Thank you to Bloomsbury USA Children's Books for my advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

A delightful beginning to a story that will be interesting to fans of mythology-based books. I enjoyed the characters and the premise of the Storm Keeper and its power. The conflict between siblings was believable and the temptations of the power offered to Finn made the story much richer. I liked it a lot.

I loved this magical story. This story takes place on the island of Arranmore where there’s magic overflowing into the sea! Fionn and his sister go to Arranmore to spend time with their grandfather, Malachy. Fionn discovers many things during his stay, one of which is his grandfather is the Island’s Storm Keeper. The island will soon be picking a new storm keeper. Will it be Fionn or someone else that will misuse the powers of the island? Fionn is dealing with many issues, things from the past, present and future, and they all seem to be all coming to a head. This story rocks! Highly recommended!
This will be featured on my blog Sunday, January 20, 2019
www.colecampfireblog.com
LanaLCole@yahoo.com

Fionn has never been to the island where his dad died, where he grandfather lives, and which his mother refuses to return to. But this summer his mom needs a break and Fionn and his sister are sent to the island. It terrifies Fionn. He isn't brave and he hates the water. Soon after they arrive Fionn starts to learn about the legends of the island and his grandfather's magical job as the Storm Keeper. But where does Fionn fit into all of it and is it his destiny to be the next Storm Keeper.
I really enjoyed the book - good action and a cool folklore bit. My one criticism is the dreaded sequel - there was a lot of build up for it and not much resolution to this book.

Really fun (and at times deeply touching) fantasy novel set in Ireland. Clearly a part a series that I, at least, am already hooked on.