Patricia Leslie

Old Sydney comes to life in this speculative fiction retelling of the events leading up to the destruction of the famed Garden Palace in the late nineteenth century. Keeper of the Way offers deep immersion in a Sydney long gone, back when class distinction ruled and dark deeds could go unnoticed. Sydney resident Rosalie Ponsonby must turn to her family’s ancient fey ways to combat the creeping menace posed by the Algernons, who resort to blood magic and dark ritual on their path to power. The Ponsonby women, in stark contrast, work magic that favours well-being and healing, promoting unity, not discord. Some of my favourite scenes were the tender moments the tight-knit Ponsonby family shared, and I was impressed by the careful attention to detail and deft characterisation throughout. Keeper of the Way proved a rich and absorbing historical tale of old secrets and magic corrupted.… (plus d'informations)

The Ouroboros Key, published by Odyssey Books, blends Sumerian mythology, esoteric Templar secrets, and a detective story, all played out in the mountains of modern day Colorado.

Before Dan Tenney can understand the strange dreams he’s had all his life, he’s attacked by an enigmatic group, the Brotherhood of the Grail. When he is whisked away from them into an underground sanctuary by an even less explicable pair of men, he comes into the possession of what is apparently an ancient relic. His dreams get worse!

His friends search first for Dan, and then for the meaning behind the mystifying events they stumble upon. We readers learn the clues, the connections and the mythologies at the same pace as the band of searchers as they dodge murderous villains and attempt to pin down straight answers. This is as much a story about these characters and their idiosyncrasies and relationships as it is about a myth-riddled artefact. I liked this approach, as the details and lore of each mystery never got too heavy, too scholarly. We learn, together with our little band, enough to get some sense of things, and then are on the way again, as the quest develops into a dangerous trek in the mountains.

This novel will especially suit those who love to delve into the mysteries of ancient myths and at the same time enjoy a good adventure – and isn’t that most of us?… (plus d'informations)

I must confess at that I know the author Patricia Leslie, however I can assure you that this has not influenced my review. If I read a book by someone I know and I don’t like it, then I simply will not rate or review it. Gladly, though this is not the case with this book – I loved it.

Patricia Leslie’s first book The Ouroboros Key was a good read, but with A Single Light, she has surpassed herself. (To see my earlier interview with Patricia on A Single Light, click here. (http://tracymjoyce.blogspot.com.au/2016/03/book-A-Single-Light-Patricia-Leslie.html)

A Single Light is urban fantasy, but I believe it could easily be classed as a paranormal fantasy too. It has been suggested that it could also be classed as a horror story, but I think that's inaccurate. I didn't find it horrific in the least - engrossing yes, horrific no.

Within the story there are three groups of beings. 1. The Afflür; 2. The Bledray; 3. Humans. The Afflür and Bledray can exist in different planes of reality and take different forms. Amongst the Afflür there are “hunters”, who serve to protect humans from the Bledray. The Bledray are soul sucking vampires; they feed off the life force of humans, consuming them totally.

Set in the southern suburbs of Sydney, Cronulla – the Sutherland Shire, this story centres around a series of mysterious disappearances and the ensemble cast who gather to investigate them.

One of the first characters we meet is Lael, a hunter who is drawn to the area by the “disappearances.” Next we meet veteran journalist Rick Hendry who is covertly contacted by a federal agent, Anthony, to assist with the investigation into the missing people. As the story is unveiled they are joined by three others – journalist Gabriela, Jaime - a doctor from the coroner’s office and her boyfriend Ben.

By now you would have inferred from my earlier paragraph that these missing people are the work of the Bledray; you’d be correct. In fact the Beldray are gathering in huge numbers…and the threat to humanity feels very real.

The book opens with a passage from “The Journal of Malaik”, a former hunter. It was this passage that had me hooked on this story. Leslie’s writing immediately immersed me in this scene, the imagery was such that I was able to clearly visualise the blasted, blackened world depicted here. Each chapter is preceded by a short excerpt from this journal and the writing in these passages has an interesting rhythmic structure and a kind of poetry that makes it genuinely read like the mystical musings of another race. It adds to the story by providing cryptic clues, and enhances the storytelling atmosphere beautifully.

No matter the writing, stories are always diminished if the characters are not realistic, fortunately I enjoyed the characterisations within A Single Light. Hendry comes across as the jaded, experienced journalist in every way from his permanently dishevelled state, his style of life and his bitterness. Gabriela was his young protégé, now friend, and tries to get him to “hold” his life together. The relationship dynamic between the two, younger protégé turned watchful guardian against his further decay is realistic. The curious, yet frightened, Jaime and her boyfriend Ben, curious without caution, are portrayed very well. The dialogue is excellent and struck me as being just what I’d expect to hear Australian’s in this situation say - I believed it and them.

Overall this book comes across as more polished, tighter and more confident than Leslie’s last book, The Ouroboros Key. I found myself reading sentences and pausing, thinking, “Gee, I like that phrase,” or “What a good way to express that.” I get all sorts of writing to review and I rarely stop and think this.

The pacing was excellent and rarely, maybe the odd half page here and there, did I get impatient and want things to speed up. Seriously, I think this was just because I was totally hooked. The action sequences will suck you in and the climactic scene met all my expectations – thank goodness.

If you like paranormal fantasy / urban fantasy I urge you to read A Single Light. It ticks all the expected boxes, but Leslie puts her own twist on the genre. I can’t wait to read her next book.

Five Stars!… (plus d'informations)

This is an engaging mystery with a complex plot. Leslie writes very well and creates a great feel for setting in the novel and it romps along at fast pace.

When I first started reading this I thought it was going to be a bit of clone of all the grail / Messianic myths / conspiracy books (I was thinking along the lines of Michael Baigent through to Dan Brown). IT IS NOT a clone of any of these. Patricia Leslie has combined a blending of world mythology / folklore with religious myth in an entirely new way.

If you're a fan of mysteries and like your mythology / history give this a try - it's not what you expect.… (plus d'informations)