Guest Author Interview: Sarah Ettritch

Please welcome today's guest author Sarah Ettritch!  Sarah is the author of Rymellan 1: Disobedience Means Death, A Tragic Romance, and The Salbine Sisters.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Sarah:  I was a late bloomer. I only started to write seriously when I was in my early-forties (I’m creeping up on my late forties now).

EJ:  What brought you to the fantasy genre?

Sarah:  My muse. I don’t decide up front what genre of story to write. I write whatever my muse throws at me and figure out the genre later. I like to read fantasy books, and I enjoy computer role-playing games with fantasy settings, so it’s not surprising that I ended up writing a fantasy story.

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Sarah:  I’d love the ability to read the minds of animals. Having said that, finding out what my cats are thinking might scare the heck out of me or scar me for life. What’s going on in their little heads when they do that “staring into space” thing?

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Sarah:  The Salbine Sisters has a touch of romance, two strong female protagonists, and an engaging story that twists and turns to its end. You can download the first chapter at the book’s website, where you’ll also find information about the main characters and Salbine lore.

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?

Sarah:   Interesting question! For Lillian, a younger (and plumper) Judi Dench. Lillian is a strong but vulnerable woman, the sort of character Dench plays well. For Maddy, Ellen Page. She’s about the right age, and I’ve always visualized Maddy with dark hair.

The Salbine Sisters by Sarah Ettritch.

She gave up everything to become a Salbine Sister, member of a religious order of powerful female mages. But when Maddy nearly dies while trying to draw forth elemental fire, she learns that Salbine has withdrawn from her the gifts every sister works to master. Feeling trapped in an order to which she no longer has any right to belong and believing herself unworthy of the love of Lillian, one of the most powerful mages in the sisterhood, Maddy begs the abbess to let her travel to another monastery to research her condition.  On her journey, Maddy's faith in both herself and Salbine are tested to their limits. When she attempts to draw fire and fails horribly, frightened townsfolk throw Maddy into prison. Fearing that the abbess will never learn her fate and rescue her, Maddy resigns herself to a short and brutal life.  The only bright spot in Maddy's existence is Emmey, the pickpocket with whom she shares a cell. Through her and the steadfast love of Lillian, Maddy learns that Salbine's purpose is not always the same for everyone, and that love and compassion are more valuable than magic.


Thank you Sarah for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Sarah Ettritch and her books, please visit her website.

Book Review: Hex Hall

Hex Hall (Hex Hall, book 1) by Rachel Hawkins.

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.  By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.  As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.


Teens with paranormal powers are supposed to be safe at Hecate Hall...  But someone, or something, is killing students.  Sophie, a young witch who misused her powers and risked human discovery, has been sent to Hecate Hall on the orders of the Council.  The Council is the ruling body for Prodigium, people such as witches, faeries, vampires, and werewolves, and their orders are law.  Hecate Hall is a special boarding school, secluded from human society, created to "protect and instruct shapeshifter, witch, and fae children who have risked exposure of their abilities, and therefore imperiled Prodigium society as a whole."  Unfortunately for Sophie, Hecate Hall is being plagued by student deaths and her one friend and roommate is the prime suspect.  I found Hex Hall to be an engrossing, fast-paced paranormal read filled with mystery and young romance.  These characters are completely believable, the mystery is incredibly suspenseful, and the romantic tension kept me frantically flipping pages.  I found myself unable to put this book down!  I can't wait to read Demonglass, the second book in this series.

I highly recommend Hex Hall (Hex Hall, book 1) to readers of mystery, paranormal romance, young adult, urban fantasy and especially to fans of paranormal suspense.

Source: This book was purchased by me for review.


Hex Hall on Amazon.
Hex Hall on Goodreads.

Book Review: A Spy in the House

A Spy in the House (The Agency, book 1) by Y.S. Lee.

Rescued from the gallows in 1850s London, young orphan (and thief) Mary Quinn is surprised to be offered a singular education, instruction in fine manners — and an unusual vocation. Miss Scrimshaw’s Academy for Girls is a cover for an all-female investigative unit called The Agency, and at seventeen, Mary is about to put her training to the test. Assuming the guise of a lady’s companion, she must infiltrate a rich merchant’s home in hopes of tracing his missing cargo ships. But the household is full of dangerous deceptions, and there is no one to trust — or is there? Packed with action and suspense, banter and romance, and evoking the gritty backstreets of Victorian London, this breezy mystery debuts a daring young detective who lives by her wits while uncovering secrets — including those of her own past.


A strong female sleuth and an intriguing mystery.  A Spy in the House is a fabulous mystery set in Victorian London.  This story begins with young Mary about to face the gallows for thievery.  In a fabulous twist of fate, Mary is whisked away to Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls where her adept mind and independent streak are cultivated.  When, at the age of seventeen, Mary makes an inquiry to the headmistress about her future prospects she learns a dangerous yet exciting secret.  There is a secret organization, The Agency, hidden within Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls.  Women are often overlooked in Victorian society and The Agency has found this to their advantage.  The Agency is in need of young women with Mary's skills and disposition and she is readily employed as a spy, but will Mary be able to keep her temper and stubborn streak in check?  Will she remain undetected long enough to survive her first mission?  An amazing beginning to an exciting mystery series.  Mary is my favorite kind of heroine.  I loved this book so much I immediately ordered The Body at the Tower, the next book in the series, for myself and gifted both books in the series to family and friends.

I recommend A Spy in the House (The Agency, book 1) to readers of mystery, suspense, romance, young adult, and especially to fans of historical mysteries with a strong female heroine. Fans of the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear, the Study series by Maria V. Snyder, and the Mary Russell series by Laurie R. King will love The Agency series by Y.S. Lee.

Source: This book was purchased by me for review.

A Spy in the House on Amazon.
A Spy in the House on Goodreads.