Book Review of Rae of Hope

Book Review of Rae of Hope by W. J. May

Rae of Hope

ISBN: 9780983129790

Author: W. J. May

Publisher: Mitchell Morris Publishing, Inc

Trade paperback 6x9

Pages 248

Price $17.99

Genre: YA Fantasy

Book Synopsis:

How hard do you have to shake a family tree to find out the truth about the past?

Fifteen-year-old Rae Kerrigan never questioned her family’s history. That is until she accepted a scholarship to Guilder Boarding School in England. Guilder is an exclusive, gifted school. Rae has no idea what she is getting herself into or that her family’s past is going to come back and taunt her.

She learns she is part of an unparalleled group of individuals who become inked with a unique tattoo (tatu) on their sixteenth birthday. The tatu enables them to have supernatural powers particular to the shape of their ink-art. Both of her parents where inked, though Rae never knew, as they passed away when she was young. Learning about her family's past, her evil father and sacrificial mother, Rae needs to decide if there is a ray of hope in her own life.

Book trailer:  http://youtu.be/iauHkcm6UQo

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Author Information:

Wanita May grew up in the fruit belt of Ontario - St.Catharines.  Crazy-happy childhood, she always has had a vivid imagination and loads of energy.

The youngest of six -- four older brothers, and sister -- they taught her at a young age to be competitive in all aspects of life.

At sixteen, she began competing in athletics (track and field) and before she turned seventeen, she was representing Canada in high jump.  She continued to compete, breaking Canada's JR High Jump record (1.92m - 6' 3 1/2" for those metric-ly challenged).  She attented University of Toronto, and Kansas State University - graduating with a BS degree in Kinesiology and beginning her Masters in Business.

She is currently married, and the mother of three adorable kids.

After her father passed away in 2009, from a six-year battle with cancer (which she still believes he won the fight against), she began to write again.  A passion she'd loved for years, but realized life was too short to keep putting it off.

Her first book, Rae of Hope - from the Chronicles of Kerrigan - is available Nov 15, 2001 by Mitchell Morris Publishing.  It is contracted as a four book series and available in print and ebook through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Smashwords and other online sites.

She is currently represented by Dawn Dowdle of Blue Ridge Literary Agency. Wanita is a writer of Young Adult, Fantasy Fiction and where ever else her little muses take her.

Blog:  http://wanitajump.wordpress.com/

Author website: http://www.wanitamay.yolasite.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/wanitajump

Book Review:

I admit that when I first started reading this book, my first thought was that it was a “Harry Potter” wannabe with a female lead.  However, the further I read the more I realized that Rae of Hope is a unique view on “magic” and people who can do extraordinary things.  The more Rae learned about her birthright world, the more we did.  It brought to mind Savvy where at a certain age you gain powers of some sort.  In this world the powers are tied to a tatu that forms when you reach 16 years of age.

Her parents were rebels with two tatu people marrying, a frowned upon notion.  To bring even more drama to the situation, she finds herself the center of attention for the first time in her life.  This confuses Rae as much as the whole tatu issue.

Intriguing read:  making you care about what happens to Rae.  Suspenseful: in that you don’t know if will be like her father… or her mother… or both.  After all they both had valid points.  And her “friends”, are they trying to help her or lead her down a dangerous path. 

Great read.  Surprising twists and unexpected turns.  Can’t wait to read more about Rae and her friends.  I give this 4 of 5 clouds.