[This is a review I wrote in 2008]

What a captivating book. Mysticism, fantasy, spiritualism and a great story combine to make this book completely and utterly unputdownable!! With Kit Berry at the helm, enter the magical world of Stonewylde - an old-fashioned self-sufficient community set in modern day Dorset - and experience a way of life that combines ancient pagan rites and customs, with 21st-century living.

Sylive is 14 years old and lives in a block of flats with her young mum. Sylvie is very poorly and sufferes from every allergy, intolerance, and illness possible. She's spent a lot of time in hospitals and they don't seem to know what to do for her, or how to help her get better. That is, until Sylvie meets a doctor at the hospital who comes from Stonewylde and suggests that she try and arrange a visit there for Sylvie to see if the change of scene and environment helps her to feel any better...

Slyvie soons flourishes in the natural organic environment of Stonewylde and before long is full of vitality and energy that she has never experienced before, so she and her mum decide to stay. Stonewylde seems like a perfect place full of happiness and beauty, but something niggles away at Sylvie when she befriends a boy from the village, Yul - a boy she's not supposed to have anything to do with because he is a lowly commoner and she is supposed to be residing with the better educated people from the "hall", under strict orders from the Magus (or king). From here Sylvie discovers a darkness at Stonewylde which she and Yul come to battle against together, each of them discovering magical powers in themselves they never knew they possessed.

This is a magical and captivating story of friendship and endurance, and discovery. Beautifully written, I was hooked right from the first page and couldn't put it down until I'd finished (at 3am!). I'm really looking forward to reading the sequels. ( )

There is a hidden place within England, a place of magic where people follow the old ways. And that's where this story takes place.

Sylvie is poisoned by modern society and comes to Stonewylde. She is weak, but she slowly finds strength and her way. Still at one time I did fear her going tstl on me as she become friends with someone she had seen do something bad. But then again she is just that nice.

Yul, is a village boy who I felt sorry for. This is not a nice society. I quickly saw the faults through his eyes. The Magus who is in charge can say whatever he wants to but this is a feudal society where some reap the benefits of the sweat of others backs. Poor Yul, he is just so broken.

Yes this may seem like the perfect place, but there is a darkness over it all too. I also felt like some are pushed too much when it comes to a certain ritual. But I shall say no more. It's the old ways and it makes it to one good story. Darkness and light.

The book may end with a glimmer of hope but it's far from over and it made me want to jump at the next one at once.

A YA fantasy/paranormal story that will bring you friendship, injustice and budding romance. ( )

Definitely a YA story, but quite interesting and readable for adults, will try the second in the series but I didn't think the ending was up to much. Very pagan and nature-loving in tone, and easy to read. ( )

I enjoyed reading this book...I do enjoy reading books with a magical or witchcraft theme. At first I was surprised at how dark parts of the story were,I wanted to cry for yul at times. Although the world of stonewylde did pull me in and I wanted to know what happened to the characters. The pagan festivals are enjoyable to read about, and the descriptions of nature made me want to be there! I am interested in reading the rest of the series to see what Magus is up too and how the story unfolds..... ( )

Kit Berry's world is original and the pagan background solid, allowing for a bit of poetic licence . I find the social structure of Stonewylde distasteful but I am sure that will get sorted out in the rest of the series. Just suspend your rationality circuits to get past the risible idea of a largish hidden community in the South of England- the most measured , counted and managed part of the UK (world?) , the far north of Scotland would be slightly more plausible, but then you could not support a large agricultural community there.
I did end up speed reading the end .
Decent enough if some what plodding fantasy ( )