To The Grave

Part One

Young Adult - Fantasy - General
297 Pages
Reviewed on 01/24/2022
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

G. S. Hollaway, is the author of TO THE GRAVE, born in 1996 and based in London, she is a student archaeologist and fanatic of dark and gritty gothic fantasy.

Part one in a trilogy, TO THE GRAVE is a young and new adult fantasy/mystery about Lady Evangeline, heir to the Ravenhill family name, who becomes entangled with the occult as she tries to solve her mother's murder.

Other than writing, she enjoys spending time with her pets, making a dent in her reading list, binging on television boxsets or playing the same video games over and over again.

If she could give advice on her younger self while writing her first book she would push herself to just get it out of her system and get the first draft written. The story is inside, you just need to let it flow.

She hopes to write more books in the future, as she has many stories within her that should be shared with the world.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Amy Powers for Readers' Favorite

To the Grave is the first book in a new young adult fantasy by G.S. Hollaway. Lady Evangeline understands her role as heir to her father’s position, but something just feels suspicious about her mother’s death and her father’s new marriage. Upon discovering a hidden book, Evangeline and her sister Felicity suddenly find themselves facing the possibility that blood magic was involved in her mother’s death. Additionally, a curse involving a deadly beast that attacks the nearby village is somehow connected to Evangeline and Felicity, putting everyone’s lives in danger at each full moon. In their attempts to uncover the clues and solve the mystery of their mother’s death and their own curse, they learn that friends and enemies aren’t always what they seem. No one is safe when blood magic is involved.

Blurring the lines between history, fantasy, the supernatural, and adventure, To the Grave has everything that a reader could look for. There is non-stop action from the first to the last page, and G.S. Hollaway has woven together several complex plots that follow a variety of characters with their own unique qualities and problems. I especially enjoyed the contrast between Evangeline and Felicity and the way that these two sisters each played a role in unravelling the mysteries of the manor. It’s impossible to predict what will happen next, and so many twists and turns around every corner are sure to leave readers on their edge of their seats. I certainly look forward to reading more about Evangeline and Felicity in their future adventures.

K.C. Finn

To The Grave: Part One is a work of fiction in the fantasy, adventure, and action subgenres, and was penned by author G. S. Hollaway. The work is intended for the young adult reading audience but may suit readers at the mature end of the scale owing to moderate references to abuse and some scenes of violence, murder, and gore. Focusing on occult mysteries and dangerous secrets, we find ourselves in the village of Ravenhill with our protagonist and heir to the family dynasty, Lady Evangeline. Thrown into a weird and magical world of curses and grief, Evangeline reluctantly begins a quest to discover what really happened to her late mother.

I thoroughly enjoyed this macabre and exciting YA adventure novel that celebrates all things gothic and magical in its unique storytelling. Author G. S. Hollaway opens what promises to be an exciting new world with the bloody village of Ravenhill and there were plenty of atmospheric descriptors and cinematic techniques to bring the setting and its chilling past to life. The dialogue was also authentically penned and smoothly woven in, serving to display the unique traits of the characters whilst moving the plot forward in a natural way, which is ideal for the young adult reading audience to stay hooked. In terms of its plot construction, the storyline has great elements of mystery and clue placement that slowly bring together a tapestry of intrigue amongst the brilliant emotional revelations at play. Overall, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend To The Grave: Part One for any YA enthusiast seeking a fascinating fantasy read.