Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Mists of the Highlands by Miranda Martin Narrator: Senn Annis
Series: Fae Highlanders #1
Published by Tantor Audio on June 20, 2023
Genres: Fantasy
Length: 7 hours, 42 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
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Torn between two worlds, two men, and two times.
While on a college-sponsored field trip to experience a real archaeology dig, Missouri University student Quinn Cameron is separated from the rest of her class by a heavy fog. A fog that transports her back in time, to 1592. Something that even her 3.8 GPA and sarcastic wit won't be enough to help her survive.
Now she's in a primitive world she has only studied in books. History, she learns, is a far cry from the comfort and security of her former life. And her only safe harbor from politics and violence is Duncan MacGregor, a valiant, brooding, and mysterious Scottish warrior.
Soon, even that security is threatened when she finds herself connected to the dark, mysterious Fae who claims she has a fate to fulfill. He's the only one with information on how she arrived here...but can she trust him to tell her the truth about how to get back?
Mists of the Highlands is the first book of the Fae Highlanders series which describes itself as a cross between Outlander and Dark Fever, both books I loved. I have wanted to capture the magic I felt when reading Outlander and hoped this new series would scratch that itch. I love the concept of going back in time due to some mischievousness of the fae.
Quin has always felt drawn to Scotland. It is almost obsessive, to the point she gave up medical school to become an archeologist. On a trip into the highlands, she is pulled back in time and into the McGregor clan. Living with the clan, she finds she doesn’t really fit in, not surprising since she is from the future and can’t do any of the normal things people of that time do. But at least there is the dreamy Duncan McGregor who she finds and instant connection with. She just has to figure out a way to save him from the clan war they are about to get into.
Mists of the Highlands has a few things going for it. I love the historical aspect of the book and seeing how the clans lived in that time. I also enjoyed all of the Fae aspects of the book. Quin, being Fae touched, journeyed to the Fae realm for a little while and we got to have some interactions with the fair folk including Dugald who actually seems like a interesting kind of Fae that appears to be able to manipulate time. I was very intrigued by his character and hoped we could explore it more. He seems to be the second love interest of the story.
I did have a few issues with this book though as well. Quin, for one, I struggled with. She started out pretty strong but then just fizzled. Everything is happening to Quin and she plays the victim most of the story. Which is funny since the Fae keep calling her ‘The Destroyer’. She cries, she runs away and overall she just wasn’t that impressive to me to carry the entire narrative. The story is all insta lust/love/fate and I usually struggle with that also. Quin feels like she has known Duncan forever but she also feels a bit the same about Dugald, which I will buy into because of the time travel but I think the author leaned on that a little hard. Quin and Duncan fall in love right away almost after no meaningful interactions, it was just hard for me to totally jump on board.
The good news is it looks like the entire series is complete and moving over to audio so if this story works for you, you can binge it shortly. I loved the Fae aspect and hope there are more interactions with the fae going forward as that was my favorite part of the book. I think my expectations were a little high because this was compared to Dark Fever series and that is a huge bar to hurdle (at least books 1-5). So I will see, with expectations managed, if the rest of the series fleshes out well.
Narration:
Senn Annis is a new to my narrator. She did a fine job with the material she had and I did enjoy the accents of the clan. She gave a good representation overall of the story. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
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Man I hate a whiny heroine and I was excited because she went to my Alma mater 😉
I’m hoping part of it is just first book syndrome and she evens out.
I feel like I would have some issues too.
Everyone has stuff that bugs. Crying heroines is mine
A heroine who does not live up to her potential. I see the reason you would have issues.
Hoping she takes more charge and grows in other books of the series.