The Romance Reviews

Monday 25 January 2010

Reviews & News - "Torc of Moonlight"

Torc of Moonlight is Linda Acaster's fourth novel, and the first in a trilogy of British time-slip romantic thrillers set in university cities around the fabled North York Moors.

Why fabled? Mediaeval seats of learning - abbeys - ringed the Moors almost before they'd been given their name, and the Lyke Wake Walk, the supposed midnight coffin walk, is still undertaken by the intrepid across its boggy centre during the midsummer solstice. It's long been favoured by authors intrigued by its history: Bram Stoker's Dracula made use of its coastline and port of Whitby.

Torc of Moonlight starts in more mundane Hull, at its university, where Alice and Nick meet in odd circumstances. She's determined to find the shrine to a forgotten Celtic water goddess, he to gain her love. Neither realise they are being called from the myths of history, not until the trees crowd in and fragments of dreams become the nightmare of reality. Those mediaeval abbeys didn't ring the Moors as isolated seats of learning; they were citadels built to contain the power of the old religions still live in the landscape.

For more information, excerpts, & link to purchase http://www.lindaacaster.co.uk/
Availability:  pbk £7.99/$13.99
ebook from BooksOnBoard e-Pub format £6.50/$10
Kindle edition out soon

Linda will be speaking about Torc of Moonlight at the Huntington Community Centre, York, on 25 Feb, at the launch of the La Scala short story competition: http://lascalastudios.photium.com/

Reader Reviews:
Full reviews can be read at Amazon.co.uk

...The historical detail is immaculate, as is the authentic detail of modern student-life, the whole suffused with a rich pagan sexuality as the plot twists towards its terrifying (pardon the pun) climax...
...in starkly elegant prose, builds a powerful novel of possession and psychological breakdown...
...narrative voice is punchy, crisp and authoritative...Her love scenes aren't half bad either...
...darkly chilling read with suspense built so adroitly...
Two things I guarantee will happen when you read this book:
1 - you'll have to finish it, because you'll be desperate to know how the mysteries unravel
2 - you'll want to buy an ordanance survey map and go hunting for signs...
...Torc of Moonlight is a highly enjoyable read; the kind of story that has you thinking about it long after you've put it down.

Wishing you enjoyable reading!
Linda Acaster
http://www.lindaacaster.co.uk/
http://www.lindaacaster.com/
http://lindaacaster.blogspot.com/

12 comments:

Lindsay Townsend said...

Excellent, Linda! A wonderful way to start our celebration of reviews and readers' feedback! Congratulations on all the super feedback you have gathered so far for your TORC OF MOONLIGHT!

Silversongbird said...

I found Torc unputdownable. It can be read on so many levels that I feel sure it is one of those books I shall return to in the certain knowledge I will see something I didn't see the first time. Mind you, I read the last 50 pages at break-neck speed, desperate to know what happened.

Jan Bowles said...

Thank you Linda for sharing your reviews.

To have such wonderful feedback from genuine readers, must make you want to write more!

Your book Torc of Moonlight sounds a fabulous read. Full of mystery and suspense.

Jan

Zequeatta Jaques said...

Your book sounds a wonderful read, Linda. I read the customer comments on Amazon - isn't it such a great feeling when others enjoy your work.

Kaye Manro said...

Congrats, Linda! Torc of Moonlight actually sounds fantastic to me. What fine reviews as well.

Linda Acaster said...

Thanks for all your encouragement. I'm afraid I'm one of those who always first looks for holes rather than highlighting the accolades. Just writing the blog post made me appreciate how good the feedback has been. Long let it continue! I'm gathering research material for Book2.

Linda

Sarah Simas said...

HI Linda and Lindsay!

What fantastic reviews! How lovely to get such high praise. :) Kudos! I love the concept of your series. I've always been quite fascinated with England and your books sound like the perfect food to fuel my interests. Thanks so much!

Savanna Kougar said...

Linda, congrats on all your success. And thanks for all your knowledge about those pagan mystical times. Luv it!

DanielleThorne said...

Great reviews and nice cover!

Penny Grubb said...

I read Torc of Moonlight and loved it. I'm not a fan of time-slip usually, but this is done so well that you don't even think about it; you just keep reading.
I can't wait for book 2.

stuartaken.net said...

I've read Torc of Moonlight and found it enthralling, engaging, moving and determined to make me read on. I thoroughly recommend this novel for its mix of romance with mystery and menace. A great read

LK Hunsaker said...

Hi Linda, I've been considering this one for a while and will have to take the plunge. ;-)

Congrats on all the great reviews!