Haunting Warrior by Erin Quinn
May 4, 2010
Paranormal Romance
Paperback, 384 Pages
Berkley Trade

Reviewed by Tori

Fav Quote:  That he was a man who could accept her failings and still look at her the way he did…like she was a woman worth fighting for…like she was a woman he desired more than air and water and life itself…it was inconceivable.

Rory MacGrath’s life changed the night his father disappeared. Changing from an innocent boy to a troubled young man Rory was sent from his home in Ireland to live in America. He shunned his family, his land, and his people. Now Rory has begun to dream. Dreams of a beautiful woman who calls to him to return home to Ireland and the destiny he was born to.

Rory gave up on magic the night his father disappeared along with a magical book-The Book of Fennore. Sent to live with his Aunt and Uncle in America he buries the past and tries to forget. Until the dreams started. Always the same dream. A hauntingly beautiful woman and a man who could be his twin.

As he tries to figure out where he fits into all of this his Nana visits him from pale and tells him it’s time to come home. Once Rory arrives back in Ireland he visits the castle where his father vanished and is pulled back into the past. There he finds the woman from his dreams-Saraid. She is his past, present, and future. Only with her can he correct the past and and in doing so ensure the future; and his survival.

Erin Quinn writes a powerful story of magic, betrayal, and redemption set in the luscious Emerald Isle. An emotionally charged story filled with the mythesism of ancient Ireland; Ms Quinn transports us back to an enchanted time of clans and kings. I have always loved time travel stories and this one does not disappoint. Rory is a dissolute man. Working in a dead end job, he goes through the motions of living without any hope.
All he has are his dreams. Dreams that leave him terrified but wanting. Then his grandmother’s spirit comes to him with a message. It’s time to return to The Island Of Fennore. Only he can finish what was started so long ago when his father and the Book vanished. When Rory arrives home, he finds his twin sister Danni concerned and frightened.  She knows he is going searching for the Book and fears the results. For nothing good comes to those who possess the Book. When Rory goes to the ancient castle where his father vanished he is pulled back in time to medieval Ireland and finds himself married to the woman of his dreams. Literally. Rory sees Saraid and knows this is the woman he has been waiting his whole life for.

As Rory and Saraid are pulled into the battle over the possession of the Book we watch their love slowly but passionately come alive. Rory is a true hero of times past. Strong, determined, and loyal he fights all odds to keep Saraid by his side. Saraid is courageous, brave, and very intelligent. She is willing to make difficult choices to save those she loves.

She too has seen and met with Rory’s grandmother’s spirit and even though she is scared by the encounter she moves forward with purpose and does not forget what she was told. I thoroughly enjoyed Rory and Saraid’s love affair. While it was more implied then shown; their heated mixture of glances and soft touches accented their romance to swoon worthy degree. There were some trust issues that seemed to stall the romance at first. They soon resolved themselves in a satisfactory way. The supporting cast of characters are a unique mix of strengths and weaknesses that add to the story’s over all appeal.

The plot is a delicious mixture of  intrigue and mythesism that left me flying through the pages to see the outcome. I really liked how she immersed and mixed the Book of Fennore and it’s powers with the characters in the story. Ms. Quinn has a brilliant prose to her writing that brings a sense of truth without the unbelievable aspect that sometimes occurs with time travel stories. The ending is unique but a worthy ending that enchants you and offers possibilities of what is to come in her next book.

I did feel that the story over did it a bit on the description of certain events as it tended to drag the story down a bit. But it would pick right back up and I would find myself drawn back into her world engrossed and intrigued as before.

I give this book 4 stars and cannot wait to read her next one. I will also be picking up the first in the series, Haunting Beauty, as I have been told it gives a better understanding of what led up to the events in Haunting Warrior.


Rating: 4/5

Recent Reviews:
Leontine’s Book Realm – 4/5
Lovin’ Me Some Romance – B+
Fiction Vixen – 3/5

Thanks Tori!