Storm The Castle – Jolie Vines

 

    With everlasting longing and undying sorrow, today we bid farewell to our silent Archer and his mighty Bree, depart the wee tourist town of Pelion and soar on the billowing wings of the wind to a peculiar new story of love, one that is painted with the whitest of clouds upon the azure canvas. Further on, albeit at an early stage, we are to take our walk through the rainy streets of the mighty London, our footsteps will prove to be rebellious and lead us to a fantastic realm, seemingly out of tales of ladies and lords.

    For yes, we do timidly land in Scotland.

    And to you, my dear reader, I wish a warm welcome!

    I do hope you’ll enjoy travelling with me!

    Once upon a time, in a land of cloudy skies and rain drenched grounds, there was a damsel in distress. And it was Mathilda her name, and a stalemate arose in her path, seeming somehow impassable. Desperate to get her younger sister away from their cruel and neglectful family, she finds herself considering a potential marriage to her father’s fellow business partner, a man she has absolutely no feelings for, but whom she considers suitable enough to carry out her plan.

    Thus, it is because of this complete unfulfillment seems just a stone’s throw away.

    Or so she seems to think upon first sight, until she catches a glimpse of him.

    That him with whom, undoubtedly everything is to take place.

    I have always greatly admired strong female characters who are meant to inspire me time and time again, even in the smallest of ways. I have admired characters who fight tirelessly for those they hold dear, without any hint of hesitation or regret, and who embody genuine goodness at all times, for no ulterior reason. Those prepared to give their all, while demanding nothing in return. Those who do so out of sheer love. Those I have often desperately sought to discover, albeit perhaps many times, throughout the dozens of novels I have read, I have failed to find.

    Until Matilda. The one who showed me exactly why I must never cease my endless seeking. 

    Although somewhat in distress, as all damsels in tales have been since the earliest times, young Matilda manages to prevail among so many others and earns a place among my favourite heroines. Why, may you ask? Well, the answer proves to be quite simple—for she fought for her cause tooth and nail. She was even prepared to sacrifice herself, despite the looming misery awaiting in the future, and she did so without asking for anything in return, even though she would have lost everything in the aftermath. 

    And she was strong, yet gentle, often even vulnerable in her kindness. She was independent and sensitive, steady in her decisions, even when those were against her. She gave all her might, against all odds. For her sister. For herself. For love. For them all together, for they were all she longed for in life, but thought she would never achieve. Not given her situation. 

    As for Callum himself, I have countless things to say, but I fear my words today are as adversarial as they have not been in a long time. Yet, despite their apparent refusal to come together and put my every though into sentences, I still urge myself to halt their rebellion and write down all I have felt reading about him, hoping it will be enough.

    Callum McRae stole my heart. 

    He did it on his very first appearance and I never want it back. Besides, how could I ever want it again, when in his gentle hands I’ve found all I long for most? When in his souls lies the love, loyalty and understanding that I, and I dare say any other like me, need?

    I consider Callum to be a downright hero. A hero such as I wish to find in every book, be it romance or otherwise. And he has a troubling past. One that I never expected, but which in no way changed my impression of him for the worse, but only for the better. For yes, he is attractive and strong, as any hero in romantic stories usually is, but above all, he is human. A man with virtues and flaws. A man who is by no means perfect, but who does his best to choose the good in every situation. A man with beautiful soul, who lives for everyone around him, without asking for anything in return. Someone prepared to sacrifice everything for the well-being of his loved ones, even if that sacrifice would probably mean his own happiness.

    And there are plenty more to tell about their relationship, though the words seem to prove as lacking as in the beginning, leaving me unable to lay my thoughts before you. As expected, Matilda and Callum were attracted to each other at first sight, even though the circumstances were never right, and fate has proved to be against them from the start, throwing ruthless people and countless obstacles in their way. Nevertheless, nothing stood in their way, albeit the idea of giving up might have arisen at times.

    Callum found Matties and made sure his intentions for her were crystal clear from the start, using his stubbornness too fight for her, their future, and everything he’s single-handedly overcome and built throughout his life. As for Matilda, though she initially shows herself ready to sacrifice everything for the sake of her younger sister, things take un unexpected turn when Callum enters the picture. From behind the scenes, and yet so close to her, he provides all the support she needs to spread her wings and chose the right path. And the two of them, together, prove to be an unstoppable force. One that fights for love, without leaving aside the happiness of their nearest and dearest.

    I have no idea what I could possibly say about the villains, although perhaps in other cases there would be so much to tell. I can’t even figure out if it’s appropriate to call them “villains” or not, given their own situations and every reason. I think it would be more appropriate, perhaps, to just call them lost. Lost through their feelings and in their own pain. Lost through thoughts and mistakes. Through memories that aren’t always happy and through actions that aren’t exactly excusable.

   For yes, actions speak louder than words, and trying to apply a bandage on a wound will never erase what lingers deep down inside.

    Not truly. 

    That being said, this tale is a remarkable journey. One that I enjoyed getting lost into and one that I know I shall experience again someday, whenever my heart demands it. One that has taken me to lands that, for now, I only long to see. One about family and finding the one for you. About choosing your own path, whilst not forgetting those who matter and neither leaving them behind. About true love, sacrifice, and that happy ending that comes from standing your ground, no matter the hardship or doubt. About life, arguably, above all else.

    That one book that, right now, I needed to read the most. 

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Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan

 

I have pondered for a mighty chunk of time over what book I should choose first to embark on my journey through the enthralling world of reviews. And I have spent ages poring through my reading lists, desperately striving to find the most suitable of all. I nearly even considered abandoning the idea of sharing anything with you, but then, like a bolt from the blue, I was reminded of her — that her. I'm quite certain we all know exactly what I'm talking about, don't we? That one book we could read over and over again without tiring. The one that filled our souls with emotion from the very first word and that, after a myriad of tears, brought a smile on our faces and hope in our hearts. The one we'd give almost anything to be able to read again for the first time. Our favourite book. 

Or, in my case, "Archer's voice". Always "Archer's Voice". 

I discovered it somewhere around my second or third year of college when, in dire need of a break, I was scouring the internet for that one piece of literature that would sweeten my evenings and trill my heart as only a romantic story could. It was love at first sight or, perhaps better said, at first read as the book caught my attention right from the description and I picked it up without hesitation. Everything after that is history. A story whose pages flew by like a dandelion's puff in the air — timidly, softly, and bearing in a hint of hope. 

After a stormy night robs her of her happiness, leaving behind grief and nightmares, Bree Prescott arrives in Pelion, a small tourist town in Maine, hoping to finally find her well-deserved peace. As she settles into her new lakeside home and tries to get her life in some semblance of order, fate introduces her to Archer Hale, a lonely and mysterious young man who carries an unspeakable sorrow in his soul. Out of curiosity, Bree starts asking people around about him and is astonished to learn that the man is mute. Still, his disability and everyone's opinions of him are not a reason good enough for her to leave him alone, but only reinforce her decision to get to know him better. 

Her wish is granted shortly afterwards as, although Archer is reluctant towards the newcomer because of his unfamiliarity with people, the two manage to strike up a beautiful friendship that slowly blossoms into something more. Haunted by their own tragic pasts, the two eventually open up through sign language, healing the pain in their souls, and find love where they least expect it — in two broken hearts that somehow manage to heal each other and find light through the darkness again. Then, everything seemed to flow smoothly. As smoothly as the lives of two characters that were still shadowed by evil could go. But I won't tell you more about the enemy, not when I find them to be completely hideous, and I probably wouldn't finish writing the review if I were to pay any attention to them. I'll let you discover the bad guys by reading the book. 

As for the two main characters, I'm afraid I do not know where I should start. There are countless things to say, but my words seem to have slipped away right when I needed them most. I will, however, endeavour to put some of my thoughts in order, enough for you to get an idea and understand what lies ahead. 

To this day, years after I've found the book, Bree Prescott has remained one of the strongest heroines I've ever had the chance to read about. Although she's been through a traumatic experience that could leave a permanent scar on anyone, Bree does her best not to get trapped in her own personal nightmare and move on. At the same time, what happened to her did not turn her into a ruthless, cold person, but she remained the same kind-hearted girl, always attentive and caring towards those around her, which got me thrilled. What I appreciated most about her, however, was the demeanour she showed towards Archer. I appreciated that she saw him when so many others refused to, and that she gave him a chance. I appreciated that she was there for him and that she believed in him in a way those who should have didn't in a lifetime. And I appreciated that she loved him the way he deserved, without judgement or fear, as he should have been from the beginning. 

And Archer. My dear, sweet Archer. My quiet, sad boy who stole my heart from the very first words and made me shed bitter tears at the knowledge of all the wrongs that were done to him. The one who has been and will always remain my favourite male character, no matter how many others will come along. The one with the most beautiful and gentle voice of all. His story, a tragedy in the truest sense of the word for me, struck me to the core and shattered my soul into pieces that I could hardly put back together by the end of the book. I've suffered with him and learned how to love and fight fiercely. I've seen the world through his eyes, with all the good and the bad he had to live through, and I've found the power to navigate its darkness. And I've hated everything, though Archer was never the one to hate. I've hated this world's lack of mercy and the mean people who live in it. For yes, such were those who should have been by his side. Mean and merciless from the first to last. His uncle. Travis. Victoria. Even the entire small town that assumed the worst and abandoned him. They've all reminded me that even family or so-called loved ones, people who are meant to be there and protect you, can be monsters. 

I know it sounds harsh, but I will not change my opinion of them. It's impossible.

Not when an innocent child has suffered because of them.

Still, despite them, Archer proved to be strong, though I'm afraid "strong" is perhaps an understatement when it comes to describing him. Against all odds, he had opened his heart to the unknown and let love enter through the cracks in his soul. And he had found his voice. One of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard, because it was his. And then everything was fine. At least for a little while. 

Before I started writing this review, I had planned on telling you countless details about Bree and Archer's relationship, in order for you to get an idea of all that awaits you. But today, with my laptop before me and so much to be written, I declare myself defeated. I have no idea where to begin, especially when I fear I won't be able to do them justice. Still, one thing I can definitely tell you is that you have absolutely nothing to lose by taking a chance on this book and their love story.

Why, I hear you asking? 

Because both are special, with imperfections and without. Both of them went through fierce thunderstorms before finally reaching the sun. And both discovered love when they least expected it, or perhaps even thought it was impossible. I even like to believe that it was the hand of destiny that brought them together, as I've already mentioned, although that may sound strange to some of you. Or maybe just someone up there, in the form of a guardian angel, who wanted them to find each other and fall in love. Call it whatever you want. All I can do, as a humble reader, is ask you to give them a chance. You won't regret it. 

For he calmed the torment in her soul, and she helped him find his voice. And that's the most beautiful thing of all. 

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