Beyond the Breach

Battle of the Banshees

By: Candace Nola

Narrated by: Jamison Walker

One year after Laraya battled her way home from a horrifying and alternate reality, created from her childhood nightmares, she finds her dreams haunted once more, by visions of the banshee intent on hunting her. The guardians of the world she left behind - the Naman - are calling out to her in her dreams, and in desperation. In an effort to pull her back, the banshee is slaughtering the innocents of that world.

Her nightmares are calling her back to the breach, to battle once more, for the innocent and for everything she holds dear. The Naman, the Jackflies, and the Pretty Things all aid her in waging war on the murderous banshee that is determined to be unleashed in her reality.

Will she defeat the evil that haunts her world, before it destroys her?

©2020 Candace M Nola (P)2022 Candace M Nola

It's about the imagery

This is the sequel to Breach which brings Larays back into the Breach to save the world that saved her from the trauma of her past. I will say the story was not as compelling as the first book, but I was not here for the story. The reason I came back for this final story is the imagery.

While Laraya fights her literal demons, I couldn't stop being in awe of how Ms. Nola made black marks on a white page sound like magic. Each line promoted beauty similar to gazing at either The Lady Shalott by Waterhouse or the Géricault Raft of Medusa. I simply enjoyed they way descriptions of the landscape or the creatures of the land popped an instant image in my head. I could feel the wings of the pegacorns and the chill from the banshees.

It's not a fast paced as the first book as a lot of time is spent preparing for the trip into the Breach and the sense of wonder is not there even though we have a new person experiencing the world. However, this time we get more time with the Jacks and Jills and I was there for it.

The story ties up the loose ends nicely which I like to think of that breakthrough in therapy that allows you to heal. It was beautiful and comforting to know that after facing those dark places, there's a chance of happiness.