Turns of Fate by Anne Bishop – a Review

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Description:
Words have power. Intentions matter.

Most people come to Destiny Park for entertainment. They come to have their cards read to tell them a bit about their future. They come to walk through a beautiful park and to eat at the hotel’s restaurant. They come in the hope of catching a glimpse of the Arcana, the paranormal beings who rule the Isle of Wyrd.

But some people come to make a bargain with the Arcana—to change their fate. And some people come for dark purposes.

When Detective Beth Fahey is sent to Destiny Park to inquire about a “ghost gun,” she will begin a strange journey on which she must learn to navigate the Arcana’s unforgiving laws and dangerous attractions. Her search will draw her into seemingly impossible cases and the secrets of her own past as tensions rise between the Arcana and their human neighbors across the river.

For the Isle of Wyrd is a place where the dead ride trains to their final destinations, predators literally become prey, and seekers’ true natures are revealed in the ripples of destiny unknowingly stirred in their wakes.

Who will live? Who will die? And who will be lost in between? 

Review:

Turns of Fate by Anne Bishop is the first book in her new Isle of Wyrd series. People come to Destiny Park for entertainment, have their cards ready to tell them a bit about their future; they walk through the  beautiful park and to eat at the hotel’s restaurant. They come in the hope of catching a glimpse of the Arcana, the paranormal beings who rule the Isle of Wyrd.

New Detective Beth Fahey has just moved to Penwych to join the 13th precinct, as they are liaisons between human laws and Arcana.  The town is the closest to the Isle of Wyrd, where many humans cross the river on the Ferry to view the gardens in Destiny Park. Beth works for Captain Forrester, who runs the 13^th District, which is also in the Fate River.

Beth ends up with the short straw, as she must take the ferry to the Isle of Wyrd, to get answers. She meets Lucas Frost, the Sorcerer King or leader of the Isle of Wyrd, warning her about the Arcana bargains, which could come with severe consequences. Those who sneak onto the island, walk through the moon gates, can find themselves lost and never found again or get help to hide when necessary.  People come to have their palms read or ask Ladies Three to look into their futures.  Arcana will help, but there is a cost. Arcana sees justice, right and wrong differently than humans, having their own rules.   

A gang of boys’ capture Captain Forrester son’s (Colin) to bully on the island, and things went very wrong with the boys finding serious actions and bodies discovered. Colin will find a place in Arcana to be safe and become happy to learn about the jobs he helps with; until he will eventually be free.

Beth is smart, tough, inquisitive, and had an abusive childhood with a caretaker. We learn more about Beth’s truly powerful protectors, which the Ladies Three project that she is one of them.  They know the protectors have been looking after her since she was a child, as they know there is something different about Beth. Along the way, Beth learns more about herself and her past.  

Turns of Fate was a fabulous story, filled with suspense, police investigations, diverse characters, violence, abuse, greed, bullying, in this fantasy world.  Turns of Fate was very well written by Anne Bishop.   I am a big fan of Anne Bishop and have read and loved all her books. I look forward to more from the Isle of Wyrd.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher