Circle of Nine: Sacred Treasures & Mercy in the Mist by Valerie Biel

Virtual Book Tour October 27 – December 31

Sacred Treasures

Description

Brigit Quinn thought uncovering her magical heritage was the biggest shock of her life. But a year after learning she’s descended from a legendary Celtic tribe sworn to guard the mystical power of Ireland’s ancient places, the real battle is just beginning. As she trains for her place in the Circle of Nine, Brigit is determined to protect the secrets and sacred traditions of her people.

But when a cryptic warning arrives—hinting at a shadowy force hunting the Sacred Treasures—everything she’s fought for is suddenly at risk. If the ancient weapons fall into the wrong hands, The Circle could be shattered forever.

Haunted by doubts about her powers, the true intentions of those around her, and disturbing revelations about her family’s past, Brigit must navigate a dangerous path of betrayal, magic, and myth. The enemy is closer than anyone suspects—and time is running out. Can Brigit uncover the truth before darkness claims the Circle?

The first time I summoned a portal, I didn’t understand how I accidentally opened a doorway to another realm. The second time wasn’t a mistake. I was ready—and I stepped through with the grim resolve that my mission must succeed.” —Brigit Quinn

Mercy in the Mist

Description

The danger was supposed to be over.

The sacred treasures are safe.

The enemies banished to the Otherworld.

But Brigit Quinn’s dreams tell a different story.

The condemned return to haunt her sleep—pleading, accusing, refusing to be forgotten. Something is still wrong, even if the rest of the Circle of Nine insists the threat has passed.

When anonymous warnings surface and the police begin asking questions about the missing, Brigit’s visions intensify, blurring the line between dream and prophecy. The Circle is unraveling. Shadows are gathering.

To restore what’s been broken, Brigit knows they must return to the Otherworld and seek answers from the immortal Elders—knowing that to question them is to risk everything.

In this spellbinding fourth installment of the Circle of Nine series, ancient magic, mortal danger, and Brigit’s quest for the truth collide in a journey that will test the bonds of loyalty, love, and the fragile trust between gods and mortals.

My Thoughts

This immersive series is nothing short of spectacular. I kept thinking as I sped through these 4 volumes that this series is a perfect gateway for a young adult reader who is maturing in their reading tastes. I could easily see myself recommending this to a 13 year old then leading them on to The Mists of Avalon.

The characters are likable, endearing, infuriating, treacherous, crafty, and wise. The author does a fantastic job of building the mortal characters true to life – for example, Brigit is as much a teenager in love as she is powerfully magic. There is romance, danger, love, and hate infused in these pages, emotions that often traverse time.

The real glue, though, is the wonderful story of a family pledged to protect the magical history of Ireland. Brigit and the women who came before her are depicted as part of a greater whole, and the relationships between mothers, daughters, grandmothers, and so on are very well done.

The author has built a world that prickles with excitement as the age-old tale of good versus evil, light against dark is told in a new and gripping way. The battle scenes in both these volumes are some of the best I’ve read in a while, and the depiction of the Tuatha gods and their weapons is riveting.

Recommended for teen readers trying out fantasy, and for adult readers who enjoy Irish mythology and fantasy.

Author Bio

Valerie Biel writes award-winning books for middle grade to adult audiences–stories inspired by her travels and her insatiable curiosity. Her young adult fantasy series, Circle of Nine, was inspired by the myth and magic of Ireland’s ancient stone circles. She’s also the author of HAVEN, a contemporary middle grade novel, and BEYOND THE CEMETERY GATE, a mystery suspense story. She’s a founding member of the Blackbird Writers & a member of Sisters in Crime & the Wisconsin Writers Association. When she’s away from the computer, she’s likely wrangling her overgrown garden, reading multiple books per week, or traveling the world–often on trips for the The World Orphan Fund charity she and her husband run. She calls a (tiny) portion of her family’s century-old Wisconsin farm home, but regularly dreams of finding a cozy cottage on the Irish coast where she can write and write.