Book Review: The Blond Eskimo by Kristen Hunt

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this ebook, free of charge,from Spark Press, via Netgalley, 
for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it

And now for YA book that everyone will be talking about soon...

Synopsis:

Part Viking, part Eskimo, Neiva Ellis knew her family’s ancestral home, the island of Spirit, Alaska, held a secret. A mystery so sensitive everyone, including her beloved grandmother, was keeping it from her. When Neiva is sent to stay on the island while her parents tour Europe she sets out on a mission to uncover the truth, but she was not prepared for what laid ahead. 

On the night of her seventeenth birthday, the Eskimo rite of passage, Neiva is mysteriously catapulted into another world full of mystical creatures, ancient traditions, and a masked stranger who awakens feelings deep within her heart. Along with her best friends Nate, Viv and Breezy, she uncovers the truth behind the town of Spirit and about her own heritage. 

When an evil force threatens those closest to her, Neiva will stop at nothing to defend her family and friends. Eskimo traditions and legends become real as two worlds merge together to fight a force so ancient and evil it could destroy not only Spirit but the rest of humanity.

Review:

This is really a YA book, but most adults I know will be just as spellbound while reading it! It is hard to believe it is the author's debut book! Hunt does an excellent job in creating a spirit world of native Alaskan lore and legends, adding in spiritual beliefs, modern culture and the Alaskan wilderness, to create an enchanted island that you will NOT want to leave. In fact my only critique is the ending which is a bit abrupt, but leaves the reader begging for another book to finish the story. And really, that concept, a la JK Rowling, isn't that the feat all middle/YA authors are looking for? 

But I digress. The book is amazing, filled with characters so unique, and a tale so bound in native anthology, that you can't help to be charmed. Will true love save the day? How far will a mother's love go? Can two world coincide peacefully til the end of time?  Pick this one up for the kids, but secret it away from them when they're asleep and stay up all night reading it (trust me, you will, and it's only 308 pages), and find the next book everyone will be talking about! Don't miss this one!

About the Author:

Kristen Hunt is an artist and writer based in Phoenix, Arizona. She is an avid fan of movies, graphic novels and Young Adult literature. Anything evolving fantasy and supernatural experiences captures her interests. As a young child Kristen visited her family in Nome, Alaska and learned of her Eskimo heritage. Her Grandmother, known as the blonde Eskimo because of her golden hair and blue eyes, told Kristen the many legends found throughout Alaska, such as the Ishegocks, totems, and much more. It was these stories that inspired Kristen to write her current novel.


UPDATE:

Kirsten checked in over on Facebook to let us know:
I’m currently working on the sequel to Blonde Eskimo (score!), along with a YA Viking thriller (oooo). I promise to bring more Alaskan legends and Spirit World adventures.