A while back I reviewed Ruhanna’s Flight & Other Stories, a superb collection of short tales by author Jeanette O’Hagan. One of the stories that resonated with me the most was Heart of the Mountain, so I was pleased to learn it has its own series.
Heart is the tale of a young Adelphi shape-shifter named Zadeki who crashes into the side of a mountain during a snowstorm and breaks his arm. Falling into the realm of the subterranean Darane folk, he’s rescued by the twins Delvina and Retza and tentatively welcomed into their world.
But all is not well in the caverns beneath the mountain. The Glimmer Heart that sustains the Darane is slowly failing, and in its shadow a cruel leader who worships the Dark Ones has risen to power. The twins will need all of their courage, as well as the mysterious talents of the rescued above-grounder, to survive the approaching trouble and save the Heart of the Mountain.
This is a heartwarming tale of small people who accomplish great things. O’Hagan knows how to weave a unique and timeless fantasy, and her use of imagery and dialect makes Heart of the Mountain an especially memorable tale.
You can read more about Heart of the Mountain on Goodreads , and you can check out more of Jeanette O’Hagan’s work on her website. Stay tuned for my review of Blood Crystal, book 2 of O’Hagan’s Under the Mountain series!
