Karen Monahan Fernandes

I won a free copy of Strega from a GoodReads First Reads giveaway. I originally entered the giveaway because the cover and title caught my eye. I read the summary and decided to take a chance because it's not the type of book I usually read. I'm certainly glad I did.

I was hooked from the first page. Karen Monahan Fernandes utilizes the words in a way that one is able to visualize even the smallest details of a setting. She is profoundly effective at guiding one through Jay's often, at first, unstable feelings and powers. As the narrative continues, there are many twists and turns, with all Fernandes' supporting characters both thrilling and engaging. Jay, in particular, is an excellent, complex heroine that thrives not only on the love of her soulmate and love of the family around her, but also on her own self, especially once she has come to fully understand her powers.

This is one of the few books in my life that I haven't been able to put down. If I've had to stop, I've rushed through whatever I had to do to get back to reading. I found myself gasping at several points throughout Jay's journey. For me, it was the perfect blend and balance of supernatural, historical, family and romantic love. And being of Italian descent, I'm now intrigued to research the Etruscan roots that permeate the novel. Suffice to say, I am eagerly and impatiently waiting for the next novel in the series.… (more)