The Enchanted


Young Adult - Coming of Age
333 Pages
Reviewed on 03/27/2021
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

Author Biography

J.C. Brennan was born in Flint, Michigan, and grew up in the small village of Skidway Lake. Brennan is a mother of three and an academic scholar. She's a published author, a poet, an expert seamstress, and a talented painter. Her acquired skills and scholastic achievements helped her out of the small town of her youth, though her heart remains there. She has won several awards from New Apple, Readers' Favorite, & Pinnacle Book Achievement. J.C. Brennan currently resides in Arizona.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

The Enchanted: A Novel by JC Brennan is a beautifully written story with a strong appeal to fans of young adult novels and stories with coming-of-age themes. Rebecca had grown up with a grandmother who had an uncanny gift for storytelling, and some of her stories were chilling, the ones that can turn a usually bright and colorful room into an eerie, shadowy one. Her tales had always fascinated Rebecca. On her grandmother’s death, Rebecca Gentry and her father inherited a huge sum of money and a castle in Scotland. What they don’t know is that Castle Fordottar has a dark and magical history, and to Becca’s stupefaction, her grandmother’s tales have not all been made up. As father and daughter begin to navigate their mysterious home, they have to figure out how to break the spell and dispel the darkness.

This is an entertaining story, a tale filled with magic and colorful characters. JC Brennan’s writing has a spell of its own. It is fluid and enjoyable. Readers will love the cast of characters, from the major ones to the minor characters, to those that live only through the power of their magic. The scenes are well-written and focused, and I loved how real they are. The author has the unique gift of weaving backstory into the narrative without digressing, creating abundant twists in the narrative, and inventing characters that feel real and are unforgettable. The Enchanted: A Novel is a gripping tale that is well-accomplished. It is an affecting story that is piercing, winding its way towards a young girl’s questions about her past, a story that appeals to fans of fantasy. I devoured it through the night, transported to a world where unexpected things happen.

Peggy Jo Wipf

The Enchanted by JC Brennan takes you into a world where present time meets magical creatures and centuries of disputes. Rebecca Gentry is about to turn sixteen when she loses her grandmother Margaret. Upon the reading of the will, Rebecca discovers she will become Lady Becca of Castle Fordottar in Scotland. Becca uncovers the truth behind her family and the importance her presence will have on the people in her realm. They expect her to fight a powerful and vengeful witch who has tortured her family for years. On her sixteenth birthday, she receives her full power. Will she have the strength and force to defeat Hellina once and for all? She must find a way or it will be the death of everyone in the kingdom.

JC Brennan slowly unravels a complex web of lineage secrets that links an evil witch, Hellina, to the descendants of Castle Fordottar. The Enchanted is a captivating tale that holds the imagination and attention of its reader. Becca struggles with the secrets that are withheld, though adapting to the mystical world she now lives in is terrifying. The author builds an aura of suspense and charm around her characters as the day of Becca’s ascension as the Enchanted approaches. An unusual ally aids Becca, giving this novel a surprising twist and an unexpected ending. Though I wonder, is this really the ending or just the beginning of Lady Becca and the reign of Castle Fordottar? Overall, JC Brennan brings together an assortment of mystical creatures and folklore to our century, leaving a taste of adventure and enchanting dreams.

Lit Amri

“It happened in the time of kings and queens. A time of witches warped the gates of hell. Evil comes in many forms, but when King Dontallar’s depraved desires call a nefarious presence, it ignites a monstrous curse. It is he who invites the storm!” When she was a little girl, Becca Gentry loved hearing her grandmother's stories every night before bedtime. When her grandmother dies a week before her sixteenth birthday, she left Becca and her father with a large amount of money and a property in Scotland; 150 acres of land with a castle that overlooks the North Sea. Moving into Castle Fordottar is exciting but strangely nerve-wracking for the teen. Her feelings are soon justified, as the castle hides ancient and dark secrets about the fairy tales that Grandma Margaret used to tell.

Scotland's myths and legends add a vibrant layer to the story premise and concept of The Enchanted. Witches, fairies, Woodlanders, Wulvers, Selkies including Wiry-cow - beings that I’ve never heard before - are part of the world-building. The steadily-paced plot gives plenty of room for character development and the revealment of the Gentry's family history. Becca's family has been hiding the truth about her lineage to keep her protected, yet their action also prevented her from learning her true ability that is crucial in order to fight the evil that has plagued her ancestors and their allies for centuries. It's easy to root for Becca as she has a lot to deal with in a considerably short time; her family's secret is complex and life-threatening. The imaginative elements mostly come from magical and suspenseful scenes as the reluctant but brave young heroine gradually embraces her destiny. Championing family love and sacrifices, J.C. Brennan's The Enchanted is a fascinating fantasy novel with an ending that is set up for a sequel.