10 / 10
If you’re looking for a little magic and a dark but hopeful fairytale, you should look no further. Not only did I have the honour of reading a fellow contributors writing, it was an enthralling story. Spanning only 94 pages the story manages to convey so many emotions such as rage, sadness, love, and hope. I was rooted to my spot as I read the story…it left me with a starry-eyed feeling and with a longing for the story of some of the other characters.
Of Salt and Stars is the story of Maris Heilen, a young woman who is haunted by dreams of a beautiful woman that beckons her from beneath the water. Her dreams of the woman are the only constant she has, as she lives her life without commitments, in life, love, and everything else. Her dreams take on a different tone altogether upon the death of her father, and she finds herself in a little Colorado town in the mountains, where she stumbles upon clues that her dreams may not just be in her mind. When she discovers that her past is linked to the mysterious woman who’s fallen into a deep darkness, Maris resolves that help save the woman, beating out the darkness that is attempting to take hold in Havenwood Falls.
The story instantly reminded me of a fairytale when I started it. It started with bright light being snuffed out by the darkness, with that darkness taking root in others. Like a disease, it spreads and grows, rooting into the hearts of others. It was compelling from the start. The prologue draws you into the main story, urging you to find our why Maris leaves strings of broken hearts behind and can’t seem to settle. The haunting dreams seem to be the only comfort that Maris and the reader can seem to find until together they stumble into Havenwood Falls. The storytelling is lush and vivid, I felt like I was in this small, magical Colorado town with Maris.
For a novella, there was a lot packed into it that it didn’t just feel like a quick story. It draws you in and makes you fall for each and every character. I haven’t read any of the other Havenwood Falls stories (and there are quite a few if you’re looking for something new to start), but this didn’t feel like I needed to. It stands alone quite well, and if I hadn’t looked up the series name, I’d have never been the wiser. The story builds to a wonderful crescendo that will resonate with readers.
I’m not sure who I loved more to be honest. Maris was a wonderful character who definitely grew and changed throughout the story, but I have to say that the side characters in this story really drew me in as well. Simon especially. I so badly want to read another story about Simon. If there is, I’d appreciate it if someone could politely point me in that direction…because I have more reading to do. From what I could tell, characters from previous stories also made an appearance in this story, some mysterious, some not. You’ll definitely form connections with most of the characters.
I loved this novella, there wasn’t anything I could complain about. It seems like novellas can either be a hit or a miss, making me feel that they should be held to a higher standard. Since there’s less pages and seemingly more to cover. Seven Jane has created a very well rounded story that I devoured from start to finish, and I am so happy to have had the privilege to read it. I would rate this novella a 10/10. I’m ecstatic to keep reading books in this series, and look forward to more from Seven Jane!
Of Salt and Stars is now available from Amazon.
Will you be reading Of Salt and Stars? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Two women, one love, and a curse lurking in deep, dark waters.
For as long as she can remember, Maris Heilen has been haunted by dreams of a beautiful woman beckoning to her from beneath the water. These dreams have been Maris’s only constant. She’s lived her life like a leaf caught in the rushing tide: no rules, no commitments, and no long-term lovers, either—just a string of broken hearts that have tried to anchor her unwilling heart to the earth. When her dreams take on a new sense of urgency following the mysterious death of her estranged father, Maris knows it’s time to uproot and keep moving, her soul pulled to the west, toward the water—toward her.
Instead Maris finds herself drawn to a surreal little town high in the Colorado mountains, where she begins to believe her dream might be much closer to reality than she’d ever imagined. When she discovers her past is linked to a legend even more haunting than her dreams—and that the woman in them is not only real but in danger of being lost to an unfathomable darkness—Maris resolves to outshine the evil that has crept into a small corner of a forgotten forest in Havenwood Falls.
Welcome to the secluded mountain town of Havenwood Falls, home to sexy men, strong women, and neighbors who bite. Discover supernatural mystery, thrills, and romance in a place where everyone has a deep, dark, and often deadly secret.
This is a stand-alone dark fantasy tale in the Havenwood Falls shared world. Havenwood Falls is a collaborative effort by multiple authors across multiple series all in the paranormal fantasy genre, allowing readers to discover new authors and stories to fall in love with. Each author brings a stand-alone plotline, so they can be read in any order.
Thank you so much for the kind and thoughtful review, Nathalie!