The Hob's Bargain

by Patricia Briggs

"Her gift of sight has shown her visions of mayhem and murder. So, to save her village from ruthless raiders, Aren of Fallbrook strikes a bargain with the magical Hob, who will exact a heavy price to defend the village—a price Aren herself must pay." (-from the publisher)

I really like the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs and not finding myself interested in any of the books I have at home- I decided to try some of her other books. This book is a fantasy novel- not paranormal like the Mercy Thompson series. And I was really into it! All day while I was at work, I just wanted to finish the book. Reading it on my lunch break wasn't enough time!

When the reader meets Aren, we find her a 30-year old woman who had resigned herself to spinsterhood- but had just been married the day before to a man younger than her. So, Aren is enjoying her first day of marriage and as she goes to prepare the noon-day meal for her husband, she hears horses and men outside her house and it is not her husband. Raiders have come- so Aren takes shelter in their pantry below the house, making sure to cover the floor door with a rug as she closes it. Fearing for her life, Aren stays hidden- and her proximity to the bare earth sends her visions- of the death of her husband, father, brother-in-law, mother, sister and unborn niece. Aren is bombarded with images of their deaths, of possibly of her own if she is not careful. After the raiders leave, Aren tries to go to town to warn the villagers and meets up with a party of townsmen who had seen a bloodstained, riderless horse run into town. Aren shares with the townsmen her visions, and as they ride into town an earthquake rocks the valley. Unknown to the villagers at first, the earthquake has closed off most of the passages out of the valley and flooded a neighboring town. But the magic that once was held dormant by bloodmages, has now been re-awakened. And for Aren, who has long surpressed her magical abilities, the future of her village and humanity may lay in her hands.

I really enjoyed this book. I have always liked fantasy novels, and when I was younger it was pretty much all I read. But it has been a bit since I have read an adult fantasy novel- and everything about this book hit the right notes with me! I cannot wait for my other book requests by Patricia Briggs to come in.