The characters are easy to relate with and well thought out. Each character has some role to play in this story and the plot is nicely brought together at the end. All the twists and turns in the story are tied up with a sensible explanation at the end. The story is one of self-discovery as well as the strength of friendship and trust. There are some interesting lessons that a teenager or child can learn form this story and the author has brought them out really well. The author has also briefly touched upon the existence of superstitions and the kind of effect they can have on people. All willows were seen as trees of celebration in biblical times but this has changed over time and now willows are often associated with sadness and mourning. Midsommar, for example, is more than just a cult horror movie, it was a national holiday marking the solstice in Norway up until 1771 and is still celebrated in Sweden and Finland today. The hawthorn was thought to be the ancestor of the maypole and was the source of May Day garlands and the May Queen was often crowned with May blossom. The rhyme ‘here we go gathering nuts in May’ referred to the collection of knots (not in fact ‘nuts’) of may blossom.

FILE SIZE : 839 MB(File Compressed) If you like this game, BUY IT to support the software developers! I loved the setting. Pity Me School reminded me of an evil Hogwarts and I found a lot of the magical side of the story had touches of Harry Potter about it (which can only be a good thing!) The way in which the Grand Hall was described had me picturing Hogwarts & the caped teachers sitting at the front on a stage. Then there’s the ‘Pity Me Perfects’ who do all of the teachers spying for them and appear where you’d least expect them.In Ireland it was planted near houses to protect against spirits, especially of the dead. In Wales rowan trees were often planted in churchyards. In Scotland there was a strong taboo against cutting down a rowan.

I received this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review by the “Lover’s of Paranorrmal” Group on Goodreads.com Is it even a party if there’s not a punch-up? Not when it comes to solstices! A prevailing theme of solstice celebrations is the eternal battle between light and darkness as the wheel of the year turns. The Oak and Holly Kings are relatively modern additions to this archetype and during summer solstice the Holly King wins. He reigns over the dark half of the year while the Oak King recovers, winning the rematch at the winter solstice.More recently oak was the sacred wood burnt by the druids for their mid-summer sacrifice. In fact the word 'druid' means 'oak man'.

Hawthorn was a powerful supernatural force for good or evil and has been associated with sacrifice and protection. The folklore surrounding elder is wide and often conflicting. It was thought that if you burned elder wood you would see the devil but if you planted one by your house it would keep the devil at bay. Apparently, it could charm away warts and vermin. Oak's association with the gods of thunder may have come from the phenomenon that oaks are often split by lightning being the tallest trees standing in the landscape. One of the book's strong points is the world-building, despite being dystopian, the world is quite colourful and vibrant in parts and it has its fun moments. The illustrations are really good too, though some of them didn't really add much.In Denmark the tree was associated with magic. A dryad called the Elder Tree Mother was supposed to live in its branches. If you wanted to cut the tree to make furniture from its wood, the Elder Tree Mother must be asked permission first. If she wasn't, you ran the risk that she'd follow and haunt you.