Danielle Ackley-Mchail brings the richness of Irish legend, the myth and magic of Erie to the streets of New York in her fantasy novel, “Yesterday’s Dreams.”

Danielle has used in depth research into the legends of Carman, an Athenian goddess and her three sons. The Tuatha de Danaan stepped in to stop the terror and destruction Carman and her sons were reeking on the mortals of early Ireland. They chain Carman and force her to watch as her sons are destroyed. But…..Oclas (evil), the third son has not been totally destroyed, and he has set his minion Lucien Blanc lose on the unsuspecting humans.

Cliodna of the Tuatha de Danaan—the fairy folk of Ireland also known as the Sidhe—runs the quaint antique shop Yesterday’s Dreams, as Maggie. She collects and protects items that have  “a bit ‘o’ the magic.” And she waits, for those of her line have sworn to aid and protect the clan O’keefe.

Kara’s father’s illness and treatments have driven her to pawn her legacy from her grandfather, Quicksilver, her violin. And give up her dream of attending Juliard. While looking around Yesterday’s Dreams, Kara is shocked to see a picture of her grandfather dancing with a woman who looks exactly like the young woman running the shop. It doesn’t help knowing that Maggie’s ancestor might have known her grandfather. Kara feels as if her soul is being torn from her, and pours forth all her pain and sorrow when she plays a final tune on her precious instrument before leaving it in Maggie’s hands.

Maggie knows Quicksilver is more than just a violin. There is power here, as there is in Kara, and she knows she must protect them both from the evil that stalks them from the moment Kara and Quicksilver enter her shop. Maggie knows she must gather her forces for a desperate battle against evil. For it now walks the streets of modern New York in the form of Lucien Blanc, and he wants what he senses behind the walls of Yesterday’s Dreams, and he wants the power he senses in Kara O’keefe.

Danielle Ackley-Mcphail turns fantasy to plausible reality in Yesterday’s Dreams. The characters in this story are so charming and alive they spring from the story to haunt and taunt like a soft Irish mist long after the final page is read. I found Yesterday’s Dreams a delightful page turning adventure into imagination, and certainly look forward to reading more works by this author.

Charlene Austin
www.carrielynnlyons.com 

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