A Wizard's Shelter by Hollis Shiloh

Title: A Wizard’s Shelter

 

Author: Hollis Shiloh

 

Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy

 

Length: Novella (120 pages)

 

ISBN: 978-1-62798-558-1

 

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (5^th March 2014)

 

Heat Level: Low

 

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3 Hearts

 

Reviewer: Pixie

 

Blurb: Visiting his sister Mary at the lighthouse should be a delightful vacation for Elliot–except he’s going there in disgrace while he awaits his fate from the wizard council.

 

Mary’s assistant, Rue, is a gentle, self-possessed young man about Elliot’s age. Elliot is drawn to him, and his magic seems to calm down around the handsome and mysterious Rue. Elliot sinks gratefully into the unexpected grace of Rue’s kindness and friendship. He doesn’t understand why his magic is broken or why it feels whole again around Rue. But right now he’s just trying to survive, grateful for the reprieve Rue’s friendship provides.

 

But then a potential tragedy on the beach culminates in Rue revealing his true nature: he’s a Selkie, both man and seal, with a magic that somehow complements and heals Elliot’s when they’re together. And that might not be possible for much longer.

 

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4755

 

Review: Elliot is a young wizard who was looking forward to his new job, but after a terrible accident his magic is unstable and he visits his sister Mary while awaiting his fate from the Wizard council. Elliot meets Mary’s assistant, Rue, who is a lovely young man who has secrets of his own and seems able to calm Elliot’s magic, but as the Wizard Council comes to a decision, will they listen to the two young men or will Elliot’s broken magic be too great a danger?

 

This is a lovely gentle story that is set in a little fishing village with a strong historical feel to it and we have two young men who both come from magic and a connection that settles both their souls. Elliot is a young man who is severely troubled, his magic has broken, and keeping control is proving hard, when he meets Rue just being close to the other man helps to settle the magic. Rue finds himself working at the lighthouse as an assistant after his family basically turn their backs on him, Finding someone who could accept his nature is something he never dreamed of, but Elliot is the answer to his silent prayers.

 

Elliot and Rue are a wonderful couple whose relationship starts out as a friendship where love blooms, but it is a gentle love, an innocent love that develops slowly. Elliot isn’t sure if he wants a physical relationship but the love he feels won’t let him shy away from the possibility, whereas Rue has his own reasons from keeping their relationship platonic. Their feelings for each other shine through especially near the end when Elliot is given the Wizard Council’s decision.

 

While I liked the storyline of the mystery of what happened to Elliot’s magic, I was enthralled by the setting and innocent love between Elliot and Rue, their determination to protect each other and to accept whatever they have between them as it comes. I loved the descriptions of the wild storms and how it affected Elliot, the loss of control and his desperate feelings as he fought within himself with his magic. This story is one that has an old feel to it, like it was set two hundred years ago and where magic is accepted, but Selkies are still thought of as more of a myth.

 

I recommend this to those who love fantasy and history combining, a gentle love story, determination to get the truth and accepting love in all its forms… oh and a happy ending.