L.P. Halliday is living a life full of magic. Later diagnosed as an adult with autism, she's obsessed with books and fell in love in telling stories that are unique and witchy.
Together with her husband, she enjoys life with her beloved animals - 2 senior dogs, a flock of runner ducks, 250,000 bees and a pet cow named Carl.
The Dryburgh Chronicles Part 1: The Existence of Shadows is her debut novel that speaks of love, courage, and magic.
Book Overview
As an Oxford professor specializing in witch history, Lilian Darling works to clear the reputation of the people who were falsely accused as witches in the old times. She didn't believe that they engaged in this "evil" practice.
To gather more evidence, she and her research partner, Edgar Falkirk, traveled to Scotland. But Lilian told him that she had to meet alone a person who found a torn part of an ancient book spell. Edgar didn't find it a problem. It gave him the opportunity to tour around the magnificent ruins of Dryburgh Abbey. Then, he accidentally found the ancient spell book that turned their lives upside down.
Transported to Scotland in 1500s, Lilian and Edgar's lives were in grave danger as they possessed the knowledge that people in that period believed as blasphemous. Would they be able to save themselves?
Discussion Questions
- What is your first impression of Lilian? How about of Edgar?
- Describe the atmosphere of the story. What do you like about it?
- What do you think about the setting? Explain.
- The story is fast-paced. Does this affect the story? How?
- What are Lilian's strengths?
- What are the weaknesses of Lilian that led her and Edgar to bigger problems?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of Edgar?How important is he in the story? Explain.
- What is the most excitiing part in the story?
- Are there parts in the story that you'd like to improve? Why?
- Would you recommend this book? Why or why not?
Quotes
What I Loved The Most
- The main character, Lilian Darling, is relatable. As I was reading the descriptions about her, I was surprised to know that we have similiarities. I am an introvert who loves to read a lot and think a lot like her. I could see my reflection in her.
- L.P. Halliday's vivid imagery transported me to Scotland. When Edgar was going around the abbey, I could feel the atmosphere, see the beautiful trees, and imagine the magnificence of the ruins wih warm pink sandstone walls.
- The unexpected twist in the plot highlights Halliday's skill in keeping the readers engaged.
What I Loved The Least
- I like that the story is dynamic. The fast-paced plot is balanced with the descriptions of the settings, characters, and character backgrounds. However, some details about important characters were dumped in a conversation. Too much information was easily disclosed in one scene. I would love to have some suspense in finding out the past of some characters.
Summary
In the book The Dryburgh Chronicles Part 1: The Existence of Shadows by L.P. Halliday, the fear of rejection could throw you back to the late 1500s. During this period, many people, mostly women, were accused of witchcraft. A significant rise of witch trials was seen, and religious people had a heightened sense of faith and desire to eliminate heresy and superstition. Possessing deep knowledge about witches and witch trials, Lilian, together with her research partner Edgar, who were accidentally transported to Scotland in the 16th century, were in a grave danger. If the village folks found out who Lilian and Edgar truly were, the latter would find themselves in the middle of a burning large pile of wood. Would they be able to escape their impending doom?
This book is a breath of fresh air for me. After reading several technical nonfiction and long-winding fantasy books, The Dryburg Chronicles electrified my reading life. I love reading fiction and non fiction books but sometimes they were challenging to read, leaving me drained. But this book? It piqued my curiosity, kept me engaged in every turn of the page, and left me hungry for more. I couldn't wait for the sequel.
L.P. Halliday, the author of the book, is later diagnosed as person with autism. She's obsessed about books and passionate about storytelling. The Dryburgh Chronicles Part I: The Existence of Shadows is her first book and this is the part that amazed me because even though it was her first book, she did a great job in creating characters that are relatable and at the same time intriguing. I enjoyed reading about Lilian and Edgar, getting to know them, and getting excited about their love story. I can't wait for the sequel to come out to know where their relationship is heading.
I appreciate Halliday's skill in creating vivid places and events that made me forget the things around me. I was transported to the magnificent abbey with pink walls, the thick forest where they were chased by villagers, the cold cave where Lilian and Edgar hid, and the Great Hall where the townspeople gathered for the witch trial. My reading experience with her book is memorable because I enjoyed its the major aspects of a story -- the characters, the plot, and the setting.
Another thing that I liked about the story is its fast-paced plot. Halliday was able to balance the pace of the story with character and setting descriptions. However, there's just one part where the background of some characters was dumped in one scene. Unfolding the shocking revelation of these characters in a more suspenseful way would have intensified the excitement of reading the next pages. But then, the story was still engaging until the last page.
If you like time travel, witch stories, slow-burn romance, I highly recommend this book. Thank you. L.P. Halliday and Book Siren for the opportunity to read the Advanced Reader's Copy of this book and share my honest thoughts.
Further Information
Book Information:
The Dryburgh Chronicles: The Existence of Shadows by L.P. Halliday
Published on September 30, 2024, Independently Published
281 pages (Kindle)
Reference: