The Cauldron Stirred

Judith Sterling

Jul 2017 · The Wild Rose Press Inc

About this ebook

Ashling Donoghue never dreamed moving to Ireland would rock her perception of reality and plunge her into a mystery that brings legend to life. At seventeen, she’s never had a boyfriend, but she feels an immediate connection to Aengus Breasal, the son of the wealthy Irishman who’s invited her family to stay at his Killarney estate. For the first time in her life, a guy she likes seems attracted to her. But Aengus is secretive, with good reason. He and his family are the Tuatha Dé Danann, ageless, mythical guardians adept at shifting between this reality and the magical dimension known as the Otherworld. Evil forces from that world threaten the Breasals, the Donoghues, and all of Ireland. Ashling must open her heart, face her fears, and embrace a destiny greater than she could ever have imagined.

Ratings and reviews

Audiobook: Narrator - Jenny Beesley This narrator was perfect for the story. Not sure how old she is, but she fit perfectly for the 17 year old heroine. Her accents were wonderful. I’m no expert so I don’t know if they were correct, just that I enjoyed them! And there were even some sound effects that surprised and delighted me. Wow! This was an amazing story!!! I knew going in it was Young Adult and I’m not really a fan, but holy heck...everything else about this story was incredible! It’s obvious this author has a wealth of knowledge of all things Ireland, ancient folklore and mythology. This is rich with layers as the story slowly unfolds to reveal so many twists and turns, I had to keep listening long past the point where I usually turn it off. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but if you enjoy books with some paranormal activity and lots of action, this is definitely for you!!! *This does end on a bit of a cliffhanger with some things left unresolved.

Being uprooted to a foreign country so your mother can study an ancient manuscript would be the end of the world for many teenagers but not Ashling. From the moment she lands in Ireland, Ashling has the feeling she’s home, only she’s never been to the Emerald Isle before. Strange dreams haunt her while one look at the handsome, yet mysterious Aengus has her heart racing. When she follows him to the forest in dark of night, a whole new world she never knew opens before her. Has she plunged down the rabbit hole or is this her destiny calling her home? To say I loved this book is a huge understatement. First, I read it in two sittings. I was sucked into the story from the beginning and found Ashling to be a lot like me when I was a teenage girl. She’s shy, smart as a whip and doesn’t understand why boys don’t ask her out. An absolutely charming character and one who I identified with most. Second, the backdrop of Ireland and the mystical elements drew me further into the story. I love a good Irish story and you add fairies, leprechauns and guardians to the mix and I’m in heaven. Judith Sterling has developed a fascinating world and totally believable. That’s the beauty of her storytelling ability; she’s talking about Celtic myths, yet I was convinced it was 100% real. Third, the relationship between Ashling and Aengus was slow building sweet romance which I adored. The mystery surrounding Aengus piqued my interest and when he revealed his secrets to Ashling, I swooned. No really, I did. If you love paranormal fantasy peppered with clean romance, drop what you’re doing and pick this up right now. You won’t even notice it’s young adult. I’m very excited to read the rest of the books in the series. Write faster, Judith Sterling! My Rating: 5+ stars