Kerri (The World of Hystory Book 1) – Book Review
by J C Loving
*I received an advance reader edition of this book. All opinions are my own.
The World of Hystory series begins with Kerri by J C Loving, a vibrant fantasy tale weaving together Irish folklore, magical school intrigue, buried history, and the beginning of rebellion against a potent enemy. I was immediately attracted to this cover, and by the end of the description, I was sold.
Easy to say, I was super excited to dive into this one! And it did not disappoint.
Let’s review it, without any spoilers, and if it sounds up your alley too, go grab yourself a copy. This is the start to what is set to be a very engaging series.
Tragedy struck Kerri Whelan’s family farm in Ireland, changing her life forever. She is forced to leave the life she knows and travels to Staunton, Virginia where she learns that her family history is far more spectacular than she ever thought. Her grandmother being a Fae Queen, Kerri has magick of her own, and the Merry Caldron University is ready to teach her how to utilize it.
I grew up in Virginia, and I’ve also always been fascinated with stories of magic and witches. I’ve even written a few of my own. Virginia as a setting always feels a little familiar and nostalgic for me, but there is also something about Virginia that makes me think of history. This being an alternative history really hit those buttons for me too, personally.
One of the book’s greatest qualities is its university setting. I am a sucker for a great magic academy! We are introduced to a world filled with witches, fae, vampyres, dragons, werewulfs, sasquatches and other magical species with hunter training, spells, strange courses, and mysteries around every turn. It has the joyful, absorbing sense of a magical-school story, but it also creates a far bigger issue outside the classroom.
It’s easy to root for Kerri as she learns more about her powers, adjusts to a new life, and starts to grasp that the history she’s been told isn’t the complete story. The story’s “Rejects” add a nice element of companionship and new family to the book, especially as they begin to push back against the forces trying to control the magical realm. The novel is grounded with actual stakes and pushed onward by their opposition to the Vatic witches and the Vatican’s authority.
Loving also creates a world with many levels and space to grow. From Ireland to Virginia and beyond, the tale links ancient beasts, magical lineages, hidden societies, and a mysterious moongate that can open the road to other planets. There is always another bit of legend to learn, another peril on the horizon, or another mystery about Kerri’s family to solve. I’m looking forward to the next book.
If you like magical academies, paranormal adventure, folklore-inspired fantasy, secret histories, and stories about young people who refuse to sit back and accept an unfair world, you will love Kerri. It is an ambitious initial step and leaves a lot of excitement for what is to come from the World of Hystory.
Kerri (The World of Hystory Book 1) By J C Loving Pre-order now. Release date October 31st.