Into The Mists by Serene Conneeley is a young adult modern fantasy about a grieving teen called Carlie. Carlie has always lived a happy life in Australia with her parents. That is until tragedy strikes and her parents die. Believing herself to be all alone, she is shocked when her mother’s best friend tells her she has a grandmother living in England. She never knew she had a grandmother and she’s sure Rose must be a villain to make her young mother run all the way to Australia. But when Carlie comes to stay in Summer Hill, England, she’s not prepared for the sweet old lady grieving for her only child. Nothing is as she originally assumed. Her mother’s family has a magical secret.

Into The Mists is a story of self-discovery, family, and healing. Serene Conneeley explores the various stages of grief not only for the young but anyone who has lost a beloved family member. It reminded me of A Monster Calls in that regard. However similar in theme, Into The Mists goes further in giving Carlie something to look forward to in the future. Grief doesn’t have to be erased but it can be accepted and perhaps used to garner a more positive approach to life. Carlie is so young and she’s lost everything she knows. When she’s thrust into a stranger’s home in a new country the challenge is if she’ll let herself wallow in anger and grief or learn to enjoy life again. It is also worth mentioning that this book includes fairies, dream walking, and witchcraft.

Into the Mists: Into the Mists Trilogy Book One by Serene Conneeley is the story of Carlie, a young woman who loses her mother and father and is sent from Australia to London to live with a woman she doesn't know - her grandmother, Rose. Carlie is dealing with her grief and having to live with a stranger, but that's only the tip of the iceberg as weird things start happening to her. Her mother ran away and she had a good reason. Carlie is expecting her grandmother to be horrible or unfriendly, so Carlie is thrown when she seems like a nice old woman.

Serene Conneeley has written an entertaining book with Into the Mists. I like the idea of Carlie being completely uprooted and coming to live in this strange new country. Everything she knows has been taken away, but she learns a lot about herself and her family. Carlie is a well written character whom I enjoyed reading about. I think that any teenage girl could relate to her, or any former teenage girl! This was a good read with a well paced story line. I liked the drawings included on the pages too; they give the book a kind of whimsical look. I liked Luther the cat too. Any story with an animal in it is a winner for me. I think that this book will appeal to young adults and fantasy fans, and that it will do well on the market. I would recommend it.