Return of the Mantra

Blood Gift Chronicles #1

by Susie Williamson

Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9781939269744

Suni has always known she is different. She and her mother Mata make their living weaving baskets, and selling herbs they harvest secretly at night. Her father abandoned them to work in the tyrannical King's crystal mines.
Mata follows the old ways of the Mantra, which the King has outlawed. He demands people worship him and the power of the crystals. Mata and Suni keep their beliefs to themselves.
Tragedy strikes, and with no warning, Suni is cut adrift. She sets off to find her father. Will she also find the destiny Mata wanted for her?

Genres: Fantasy

199 pages, Paperback

First published May 24, 2018

About the author

Originally from Yorkshire in the UK, I started out as a science teacher, until venturing out to Africa for 4 years when I was in my twenties. I taught English as a Foreign Language in Sudanese universities, and Adult Literacy in a rural township in South Africa. On returning to the UK I moved to Devon, where my childhood passion for creative writing was reignited. Among a collection of varied jobs, including support work in a women's refuge, I prioritised my time to write. I live in Exeter with my wife, Kate, close to the river Exe and a bike ride away from the sea.

Blood Gift Chronicles is my character-driven, fantasy adventure series, published by Stairwell Books. Book One, Return of the Mantra, is a Firebird Book Award Winner.

See my blog site for more information:
http://susiewilliamson.blog

Reviews

[Kate Barlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is so refreshing to see a strong young woman main character with strengths, flaws, fears and dreams. Suni is totally relatable and I was on board with her journey from the first page, willing her to succeed. This is a real page turner, set in a layered, magical world that feels oddly familiar. I love this book and can't wait to see how the rest of the series unfolds.

[Yvonne Hendrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The otherworldliness of this novel is magical, but the issues Suni faces jab at our consciousness because her world is a microcosm of our own. It's this which allows the reader to explore their own feelings and responses and ask what they would do in the place of Suni and indeed all the characters who must make difficult choices and decisions. We can do this only because the characters are so real - alive, flawed, trying to survive and thrive while the world around them disintegrates. A truly thought-provoking novel.

[Eliza Mood]

An adult and young adult fantasy by Susie Williamson from fabulous Stairwell Books. (I would say that - but its true!) Enjoyed this fantasy of rites of passage touching on belief, spirituality, inner strength. A fable resonant for our time. How lies and delusions through accretion can become powerful, a sham that all play their part in maintaining through layers and levels of collusion. Until, from the least expected quarter...

[Merlos Axel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The books is totally fantastic.

[Dave Holwill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable fantasy adventure, great world-building and an original theme.
Reminiscent of Ursula LeGuin at her best.

[Moopkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pleasant, easy-to-read fantasy with a strong, likeable female protagonist. I enjoyed the story and the array of unique characters. I felt the potentially triggering subjects were handled with care and respect, and I appreciated the inclusivity of diverse characters. My only gripe was the ending- it felt rushed and reminded me of assignments I’ve written where I’m reaching my word limit but still have several points I want to squeeze in. Overall very engaging and enjoyable.

[Runalong · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Didn’t really gel with me but a decent read