Dark Star

by Kelly M. Smith:

Fantasy/sci-fi books are supposed to take readers to another plane when they read, make reality disappear for a few blissful hours. That’s exactly what Carol J. Hansen’s debut, self-published novel “DarkStar” does for the reader.

The Warshaw family wizardry’s future, the Mysticryss, is compromised when rightful heir to the “unseen world”, Ayden Warshaw, consorts with black magic and is disowned by the family, leaving younger brother Alec to learn the ropes in a mere three years.

To give seventeen-year-old Alec a taste of normalcy before he begins his serious studies (and to take him away from his nefarious brother’s plans for revenge), his grandfather, the Grand Wizard of Warwickshire, sends him from England to scenic Logan, Utah, USA, to attend public school with his non-magical cousins.  Handsome Alec meets pretty Amrie Morgan, Utah native and friend of his cousin, Nigel. Amrie has been plagued by strange dreams her entire life; dreams that consist of a mysterious presence and a crescent moon and a star enclosed in its tips.

Alec’s family crest is a crescent moon with a star the same ethereal blue as Alec’s eyes enclosed in its tips. They two are inevitably drawn to each other, and as they explore their budding romance, Amrie is also exploring Alec’s oddities, which include seemingly being able to read her mind and turn caterpillars into butterflies. But not only does Alec have to endure his family abhorring his relationship with a “normal”, Amrie has to deal with her best friend Rand’s jealousy of her relationship.

But when Amrie’s friend Zoe meets a mysterious twenty-year-old guy who expresses excess interest in both Alec and Amrie, things go further south than ever for the young couple and Alec is faced with danger and death and the use of his still-forming and much resented powers.

Carol J. Hansen’s debut novel explores the concept of magic, both light and dark, and how it effects the mortal world as a whole and humans individually. It shows that wizardry isn’t only for Harry Potter and that evil could be lurking anywhere–even in a nice little town like Logan, Utah.

I highly recommend this story (the first in a trilogy) to anyone looking for a new way to view magic and romance. It is well-plotted and has a cast of unique characters.

The link below will send you to where you can purchase the book, and also, if you’re interested, you can also purchase the three song EP that accompanies the novel, written, produced and performed by Matt Lande (ex-StorySide:B and Heaven Is Where). In my opinion, listening to the album while reading the novel is the ultimate otherworldly experience.

Enjoy your first look into the “unseen world”.

http://www.mydarkstarworld.com

Dark Star can also be found on Amazon.com.