Review: The Storm Keeper's Island by Catherine Doyle

The Storm Keeper’s Island 

by Catherine Doyle 

January 22, 2019 

Bloomsbury  

Source: ARC  

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Catherine Doyle's stunning middle-grade debut, an evocative tale of ancient magic, bravery, and family bonds. 

When Fionn Boyle sets foot on Arranmore Island, it begins to stir beneath his feet. 

Once in a generation, the island chooses a new Storm Keeper – someone to wield its power and keep its magic safe from enemies. The time has come for Fionn's grandfather, a secretive and eccentric old man, to step down. Soon, a new Keeper will rise. 

Fionn's ancestral home has been waiting for him. But, deep underground, someone else has been waiting, too. As the battle rages over who will become the island's next champion, a more sinister magic is waking up, intent on rekindling an ancient war. 

Catherine Doyle's gorgeously written and evocative tale is perfect for fans of Orphan Island, Beyond the Bright Sea, and A Snicker of Magic. 

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Arranmore Island holds magic, adventure, and so many secrets. Secrets about the weather, about unusual candles, and magical warfare. In every generation the island chooses someone to guard its magic and secrets, it chooses a Storm Keeper. Eleven-year-old Fionn’s kooky grandfather is the current Storm Keeper and it seems the island has its heart set on Fionn inheriting that sacred role. But Fionn soon discovers that some of Arranmore’s secrets are best left buried. 

I love every enchanting bit of this book! Captivating magic? Check! Wild adventure? Check! Engaging characters? Check! Clever humor? Check! Masterful storytelling? Check! The Storm Keeper’s Island has all this and more. 

Catherine Doyle spins a story like no other, full of dreamy, lyrical prose that just swirls and whirls right of the page. Doyle has an achingly beautiful way with words and her ability to lay out a scene, world build, and create heart stirring emotion is truly wondrous. Arranmore Island, with its rich history, eclectic people, and bubbling magic, makes for a charming and intriguing setting. I really enjoyed Doyle’s quirky, relatable characters and I love how the island itself, along with the sea and the weather, are these evocative and powerful characters in their own right. 

Fresh, imaginative fantasy, exciting adventure, cheeky wit, and breathtaking storytelling collide to create an unforgettable tale that burns as bright as its magical candles. Young readers will dive head first into The Storm Keeper’s Island and refuse to come up for air until the very last page. 

MY RATING 

5/5 Cupcakes

Catherine Doyle grew up in the West of Ireland. She holds a first-class BA in Psychology and a first-class MA in Publishing. She is the author of the Young Adult Blood for Blood trilogy (Vendetta, Inferno and Mafiosa), which is often described as Romeo and Juliet meets the Godfather. It was inspired by her love of modern cinema. Her debut Middle Grade novel, The Storm Keeper's Island (Bloomsbury, 2018), is an adventure story about family, bravery and self-discovery. It is set on the magical island of Arranmore, where her grandparents grew up, and is inspired by her ancestors' real life daring sea rescues.  

 

Aside from more conventional interests in movies, running and travelling, Catherine also enjoys writing about herself in the third-person.