GONE WITH THE WIND meets THE LOST BOYS in this addicting Gothic Fantasy series by award-winning author, Cheryl R Cowtan! The time is 1984.We are in a seedy bar with Rachel, as she celebrates her 18th birthday alone. But we realize she’s not alone, never has been alone, as we witness the hypnotic, terrifying, and erotically charged events that herald the resurrection of her ‘other’, Scarlett.… resurrection of her ‘other’, Scarlett.
Scarlett’s memories carry us back to a time of romance, cultivated manners, and slavery, to a time of courage and displacement, to the Jamestown colony in Virginia. Arriving on a bride-ship, Scarlett seduces and wins William Cain as her lover and husband. Sustaining herself on the blood of trappers and sailors, Scarlett hides her evil nature from all except William’s brother and Ebba, a slave on the Cain plantation. Driven by their persecution, Scarlett is forced to hide her soul until the time is ripe to unleash her superior will on a world of sensual pleasures.
As Scarlett rises within Rachel, Rachel’s senses are heightened, and the night curves into a passionate and dangerous alliance with Angus, a Scotsman from across the sea. Thirsting for love, Rachel battles her ‘other’ for control while hoping for a ‘normal’ relationship with her new lover.
But unknown to Rachel, she has embarked on a perilous, spiralling journey of disaster in which those in her life will take sides in a desperate battle to subdue or raise Scarlett, The Fergus She. Desperate to belong, to be loved, to be normal, Rachel is her own worst enemy as she tries to survive, strives to know what is happening and why, where the She came from, and what her future can be . . .
From Canada to the US, to Scotland, the story of Scarlett eerily weaves a magnetic draw on the reader as we discover the terror and intimacy of possession.
In its unceasing flow of suspenseful storytelling, of threat and survival, of loyalty and treachery, Girl Desecrated bears witness of a unique and powerful literary imagination.
The compelling, deeply seductive novels of Cheryl R Cowtan have been compared to Anne Rice and Diana Gabaldon.
Experience Rachel’s battle against vampire possession through this novel of hypnotic beauty and shocking impact. It is a story of menace and love, family and loss, suspense and determination, and the extraordinary power of heritage.
“9/10 for originality–Blends thriller and horror seamlessly”! -Publishers Weekly Booklife Magazine
“This is the best book I’ve read in a long time…a deliciously dark, character-driven, psychological, Gothic fantasy. … At times, the writing is stunningly beautiful and at other times raw and thrilling.” -E.M.G. Wixley, author of The Witchfinder Series
“Girl Desecrated is a stand out in a crowded genre. I tore through it. The use of the vampire metaphor to explore issues associated with mental illness, and the search for identity in the context of an abusive past, gives the book a powerful undercurrent.” -Kathleen McFall, author of TheCowboy and The Vampire Series
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At first, I wasn’t too impressed with this book. Then, as the story moved along, it started to get VERY interesting. A 350-year-old curse is affecting Rachel, though she does not know it. YET. She just thinks she is going crazy like her mother. Rachel is a wild child and on her 18th birthday, she goes to a bar where the bartender does not check I.D. She meets a group of men from Scotland, one of whom catches her eye. In the end, Rachel finds she is the other half of the curse for this generation. Recommended.
Romance, intrigue, mystery, suspense, and danger — how can you go wrong with all of these elements combined? This story was interesting and engaging with likable characters and a fast-paced, unpredictable plot. Truly a joy to read! I loved the artful and riveting combination of romance and intrigue.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
Don’t you forget about me.
It is 1984; Rachel a complicated, troubled young woman with an abusive past is trying to get along in life. She suffers from mental illness due to childhood abuse by her uber-religious mother. This results in a split personality named Scarlett. Rachel medicates herself to keep evil, depraved, Scarlett at bey. Rachel knows if she does she will be unleashing violence and criminality into the world. She soon meets Angus Mcnab a kilted Scot who Rachel is instantly attracted to. Their slow-burn is electric and gratifying. I confess I was going to DNF this book in the beginning. I just couldn’t get into it and had no idea what was going on. lol. However, I took a deep breath and plowed on. And I am so glad I did. I ended up really enjoying it. It is so different than what I usually read. It was quite a wild ride. It reminded me of Alice In Wonderland. Except Alice was the mad hatter. lol. It ends with a cliffhanger that leads you flawlessly to the next book. It is good and satisfying not abrupt like most book cliffhangers. I immediately grabbed for the next book to see what happens. lol. This is the first book I’ve read by this author. She is really very talented and I will definitely read more of her books. I wish to thank BOOKSIRENS as well as the author for a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Girl Desecrated: Vampires, Asylums and Highlanders 1984 (The Fergus She Vampire Book Series 1) Kindle Edition
by Cheryl R Cowtan
I received a complimentary review copy via Booksirens and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Girl Desecrated is an extremely visual, tactile, and smell-oriented book. Taking place in Colonial Jamestown Virginia and 1984 Eastern Canada, and told by different narrators, it is easy to get lost in the sensual overload that Rachel, our 1980s Canadian, is faced with.
The book begins like an Urban Fantasy. The middle is like a psychological thriller. The end is a bloody, creepy horror novel. It made me want to read the next one to see what happens to the Fergus She!
Ms. Cowtan fills her story with mostly accurate 1980s trivia and information. I say mostly accurate because the book is set in 1984 and our character slips into acid wash more than once. Acid wash hit the fashion scene in 1986! But other than that, the 80s setting is believable and for a child of that time, it was a fun read.
The heroine Rachel is psychologically complex. She believes that her mother, who is spending her golden years in a psych ward, abused her so badly that Rachel has developed a second personality. This interesting idea isn’t exploited as much as I would like, but it is a great way to start a series about a never dying creature.
A reading race to the end, with twists and turns that beautifully hide most of what will happen, this book kept me turning pages until 4 AM!.
3 ½ stars rounded up to 4 because men in kilts.
https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Desecrated-Vampires-Asylums-Highlanders-ebook/dp/B078RZ38BF
All righty!! I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book… But BAM!! It was awesome. Rachel drew me into her crazy train and we blazed through her life. This story really had its twists and turns and I was actually a bit surprised at the ending. I am thinking about moving on to book 2.
I was gifted an ARC in return of an honest review.