Night Owl Reviews Top Pick - The Summoning

In The Summoning, I played fast and loose with the religion of a group of people almost destroyed by the Spanish in the 1400s.  Here, I claim poetic license. There is a small number of Arawak Indians surviving in Guyana, only about 15,000, but they do represent one-third of the Indian population in that country.

The tribe of the past were agriculturists who lived in villages of sometime 3,000 and more. I was more concerned with their religion. Their religious beliefs centered on a hieracy of nature spirits and ancestors, somewhat paralleling the hierarchies of chiefs. Bingo! Nature spirits - Ö

The Arawaks were an indigenous people in South America but some of the tribe had migrated to the Caribbean centuries ago.  The Summoning is set in Jamaica - Ö

Eyrael, the hero, is the God of Wind and Sea to this obscure, isolated branch of the tribe. Their Shaman, a young and arrogant man, is one of the villains. I named him Taino after the Indians who migrated to the Caribbean. First villain done. - Ö

The other villain in the story is Sofiel, the God of Fire and Earth. In the other dimension from which they have been summoned, he is Eyrael’s brother. The Shaman prefers Sofiel to Eyrael and is working to eliminate Eyrael from worship by the people. Second villain - Ö

The book required little research, except Jamaica.  I’ve never been there. I needed the color, the sights and sounds—namely the feel of the place. So, off to the internet I went in search of Jamaica.  I think I succeeded because one reviewer said, “The author’s descriptions of Jamaica and of the horse into which Eyrael shifts are detailed and lovely. You hear the hoof beats and feel the heat of the tropics.”

With all my check marks, you can easily see that very little research was needed. Usually, I find that research will deliver much more than I need, and I’ll find myself using sometimes a few sentences.  BUT it does give me the feel of the place or whatever I’m researching and that’s all important to me.

Blurb:

Heather Morique is a witch. The problem is she doesn’t know it. Her husband Jahill was a refugee from an obscure branch of the Arawak Indians. After his death, mysterious whispers lure her to his homeland of Jamaica. Soon, she finds herself in a web of secrets, lies and illusions.

Jahill’s people worship Eyrael, the God of Wind and Sea, and his brother Sofiel, the God of Fire and Earth. The new Shaman has pitted brother against brother, and these two powerful spirits from an alternate universe fight to become the tribe’s ruling deity. Will light or darkness reign?

When Heather unwittingly summons Eyrael, these two unlikely soul mates face a dangerous fate.  The chemistry between them is more disturbing than the long-buried secrets.

***

Buy Link:  Amazon

Happy Friday, All!

Linda