Dolmarehn by Jenna Elizabeth Johnson

Dolmarehn
By Jenna Elizabeth Johnson
The Otherworld Series 2
Paperback: 324 pages
Publication Date: September 8, 2012
Publisher: Independant
Rated:
4 out of 5 Stars
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Related Reviews: Faelorehn; Luathara
Category: YA, Urban Fantasy, Faerie

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A year ago, Meghan Elam learned that she was Faelorehn, a being of the Otherworld. Immortal. Only when her visions grew worse and when a mysterious boy appeared to help guide her, did she finally come to realize exactly who and what she was. But the questions didn’t end there, and Meghan is only just beginning to find the answers. Now she must juggle her life in the mortal world with the one she has started to build in the Otherworld. However, keeping her identity secret from her friends and family while trying to avoid a wrathful Celtic goddess is no easy task. With the help of her newfound friend and savior, Cade MacRoich, Meghan will gradually learn that not only does she come from a place full of magic and wonder but that she, too, is far more powerful than she ever thought possible.

Faelorehn, the first in The Otherworlds Trilogy was a major letdown, and if you remember my review, I was beyond disappointed with the first book in this series. I decided to give this series another try because of my absolute infatuation with everything Faerie. Wow, am I glad that I did. The second book, Dolmarehn, was so much better than I could have ever expected. I'm not sure how Miss Johnson turned it around so much, but she pulled off an amazingly written second book! The world, finally, began to come together- the reader gets to experience the Faerie world and it is described phenomenally. The many different creatures that reside there are creative and original- including faelah, which are sort of like the demons of the fae world. They are connected with The Morrighan, the one member of the Tuatha de Danaan that hates Meghan. The goddess wants Meghan's power, and will stop at nothing to obtain it. But there is no way that Cade will let that happen, regardless of his relationship to the Morrighan. I can't give much away without spoiling the entire series, but there were unexpected twists and turns in the plot line that blew me away. If you folks remember my review of the first in this series, it was more like the diary of a really boring high school girl, save for a couple tense moments with a demented goddess. This installment was filled with so much more excitement, drama, and adventure. Meghan and Cade got to explore a lot of the Otherworld, meet a few Gods and Goddesses of the Tuatha de, and Meghan finally learns who her parents were. She also begins to learn how to use her magick, which turns out to be far more powerful than anyone could have expected. The Celtic mythological research was historically accurate, as I remember hearing these stories of the Tuatha de from my childhood. The characters are wonderfully written- especially the Gods and Goddesses. Their personalities shine through the words, and I fell in love instantly with the Dagda! He reminds me so much of my grandfather. All in all, this book was so much better than Faelorehn, and I am beyond grateful that I decided to give this series a second chance! Fans of the Faerie world, and any mythology buff will absolutely love this book. My biggest complaint is the fact that Meghan's internal dialogue is still as obnoxious as it was in Faelorehn. She is constantly asking herself a million questions inside her mind- to the point where I wanted to throat punch her. Seriously! Because of that, I can only give it 4 out of 5 stars.

"After floating in the air for a few minutes, the fairy landed among a thicket of ferns. Fergus pulled away from me then and trotted alongside the fronds, brushing them with his legs. What followed completely transfixed me. As he moved down the line of ferns, hundreds of the little fairy creatures took to the sky, chirping in agitation and flashing their multicolored wings. A living, breathing rainbow."

""Eile isn't like the mortal world Meghan." Cade's voice took on a somber note. "Children are often born here, ones that are, I guess unplanned is the kindest term to give them. Sometimes acknowledging them can bring about severe repercussions, for both the parents and the children, so they are abandoned to the wilds."

"Who is your foster father?" Cade grinned with mischief, "the Dagda." "Oh! The Dagda? Really? Like, the one from the Second Battle of Maige Tuired? The god with the magic cauldron?" Cade smiled, relaxing back against the stone on his side of the fire ring. The Dagda, like the Morrighan, was a legend of Celtic lore. He was said to be one of the few gods who excelled at many things, and he had a reputation for being... I guess saying he was friendly with women was a civilized way of putting it. I snorted as I conjured up the image I had of him: an older, pudgier man with an unkempt beard and mustache. Now that I knew he existed, I wondered if the picture in my mind matched the reality. "And yes, he does live up to his wild reputation," Cade said cheerily."

""Live where you wish, but I will demand one thing of you." I spun around in a flash, my teeth gritted and my eyes most likely flashing several different colors. "You will demand me? You didn't even want me, what gives you the right to demand anything of me?" "The right a queen has over one of her subjects. And the right of a mother over her daughter. I do not want you to associate with Cade MacRoich. He's not good enough for you," my mother continued. "Oh really," I countered, "not good enough for the illegitimate, half-breed daughter you cast aside?" "No, not even good enough for that."

Related Reviews:
Faelorehn - The Otherworld #1

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