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An atmospheric new novel for teens...
I'm finally getting around to blogging about one of the books I brought on holidays last month! An action-packed and incredibly fast-paced tour-de-force through Irish folklore, Banshee Rising was ideal beach entertainment. It's even more perfect for reading as darker evenings creep in and Halloween approaches. Banshee Rising is about Caitlin McCabe, an Irish teenager with an unwanted gift; she can see spooky apparitions and, as she is about to discover, mythical creatures too. Caitlin's father died when she was young, and her mother disappeared when she was a baby. Caitlin lives alone with her Granny, doesn't have any friends, and is bullied at school and called a freak. When she meets Professor Sackimum Brody, who has the abilities as Caitlin and knew her father, her world is transformed. Suddenly Caitlin is caught up in a battle against an ancient enemy and a force that threatens the safety of humankind.
Riley writes with vivid cinematic descriptions; he has a fantastic imagination and a wicked sense of humour. It's brilliant to see characters from Irish mythology brought to life in such an innovative way, and lovely to have so many Irish landmarks included too. Dublin city is itself as much of a character as the many historical and legendary figures featured in the novel.
It's astonishing how many cameos from Irish folklore there are, and how many famous scoundrels and heroes make an appearance in the book. Riley is a master of suspense and readers are on the edge of their seats from start to finish. There's lots of intrigue and some elements that remain unexplained, so I hope there's a follow-up soon. I can't wait to discover what happens to Caitlin next!
About the author: Riley Cain is an Irish writer, and a keen reader, whose special affection for collecting classic ghost stories is equalled by a fondness for watching old scary movies on Halloween – in the dark! It is these interests, combined with a passion for wacky words and ridiculous rhymes that led to the creation of Riley’s first collection of fun and frights for kids, The Halloween House (read our review). Riley lives and works in Dublin and haunts the internet at www.rileycain.com.
Riley Cain is donating the proceeds of sales of Banshee Rising to the Irish Red Cross for Ukraine - find more details here:
Banshee Rising was published by Currach Books on 17th August 2021 - see this book on the publisher's website
A huge thank you to the lovely people in Currach Books for sharing this story with me - all opinions expressed are my own.
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