The Forgotten Ones

I received this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Forgotten Ones is written by Laura Howard and is book one in the Danaan Trilogy. This book is based around a woman named Allison O’Malley who has just finished college and is planning to attend grad school. She lived with her grandparents and her schizophrenic mother. Allison knows nothing of her father except that his name is Liam and that her mother met him while visiting Ireland.

Laura has definitely chosen a subject matter that is near and dear to my heart with the subject of the Tuatha de Danaan and their amazing lore. The Danaan are the Celtic Fairies that were most prominent before Christianity took over. From the glimpses that were to be had in this novel I am intrigued by her interpretation of them.

Although The Forgotten Ones is supposed to be written about college age kids, everyone lives with their parents and seems to almost be more like high school kids on Summer break with the feel that you get for them. The story is entertaining and a quick read. I did enjoy the characters, but I didn’t really feel a connection to them. Instead of being a fully integrated part of the story, I felt more like I was on the outside looking in.

Allison’s mother Beth was schizophrenic, but it seemed more like a clinical approach than the connection I wanted to feel from a situation that had affected Allison her entire life and that she was preparing to take on for the rest of her life in the care for her mother.

The only relationship that seemed to truly take on any emotion was the one between Allison and Ethan. Although this relationship felt like it was between much younger characters, it felt real and heartfelt. You could actually feel Allison’s real hesitation to pursue anything with Ethan, and also the warring of her yearning to try. The only thing that seemed the most unrealistic was his almost instant change to a gentleman from a player.

With all that being said I give this book a 4/5 stars. Regardless of any errors, it was still enjoyable to read. It was a great light read, and I would definitely like to read more in the trilogy. It felt like the book was really just getting started in on the action at the end of the book. If you are into fiction, fantasy, Celtic Lore, romance, new adult, etc, then you would enjoy this book.