Review: Adder and Willow by Sam Burns

Title: Adder and Willow

Series: The Rowan Harbor Cycle: Book Six

Author: Sam Burns

Publisher: Amazon/Kindle Unlimited

Length:  155 Pages

Category: Fantasy

At a Glance: I love me some Fletcher and Conner! The action in Rowan Harbor is really starting to pick up in this latest installment, more pieces of the puzzle are revealed, and the roles of the individuals involved become more defined.

Reviewed By: Lindsey

Blurb: Fletcher Lane has a problem. His boyfriend’s parents are coming for a visit, and they want to meet up. He’s ready to commit, so what happens if his prospective in-laws don’t like him? And how is he supposed to keep Rowan Harbor’s unique nature a secret when he might be the worst liar ever born?

To make matters worse, when he finds and helps two strangers stuck on the road, it leads him to a new threat: the man who’s been terrorizing the town has set events into motion that endanger more than just Rowan Harbor. Can Fletcher and his friends stop him before there’s nothing but a smoking crater where the Oregon coastline used to be?

Review: If you haven’t read the first five books in this series, stop and do not continue. Go to the beginning, with Blackbird and the Reeds. This series is a trilogy of trilogies; in the end it will total nine books. While Adder and Willow is the sixth book in the series, it is the third book in the second trilogy, and it absolutely cannot be read as a stand-alone.

For those of you that have been keeping up with this series thus far, I personally felt this was a great installment. While I know that for some Fletcher isn’t their favorite character out of the main three whose perspectives we get, he is mine. I have been waiting for his turn to take center stage again; this story is essential in that it really begins to solidify Fletcher, Connor, and a few of the secondary characters’ roles in the upcoming battle we know is barreling in their direction. As with the prior installments, it answers several questions but also brings up more.

Adder and Willow focuses on Fletcher, specifically, him coming into his own and becoming more confident in who and what he is. There is a focus on his burgeoning relationship with Conner and the obstacle coming their way; the larger plot ARC continues to build, and pieces start moving themselves into position. There are a few surprises with new occupants coming into Rowan Harbor and bringing with them warnings, yet seemingly also having some sort of role of their own. There are also changes in the town and the people that alter the foundation of Rowan Harbor. While Oak still seems to know more than they are saying, only little clues are delivered, changing the possibilities of exactly who and what has it out for the town and its people.

Everyone has a different favorite, and mine happens to be Fletcher. I fell for him way back in book one, and he has maintained my number one spot as far as MCs in the Rowan Harbor Cycle. So, as you may imagine, I have been anxiously waiting for his story to come back around. I was not disappointed. Fletcher is kind and quiet, the “good cop” to Wade’s more stringent cop personality. Fletcher is a nurturer by nature, but he still struggles with insecurities. Without really recognizing it within himself, he is constantly taking care of those around him, worrying about them. He is still not quite sure what his abilities are, but Oak is teaching him. Fletcher began his journey in Fox and Birch to embrace who and what he is, but there is still work to be done. I enjoyed seeing him continue to grow more confident in who and what he is, and finally putting himself first.

I am glad that Conner had a fair amount of page time—my biggest issue with this series has been the lack of connecting with some of the romantic partners, specifically Sean (Jesse’s boyfriend) and Conner. I am still struggling when it comes to Sean and seeing him as a little more than a secondary character. I was worried the same would be said for Conner, but I am happy to report Conner has definitely won my heart, and I am more connected to him and Fletcher as a couple than I was at the end of Fox and Birch.

While the story still mainly follows Fletcher and his self-discovery, Conner’s calming presence and understanding when it came to Fletcher really helped me to see the two of them as a couple and get to know Conner a bit better as an individual. Fletcher is hit from all sides: he is struggling to overcome his anxiety over whether or not Conner’s parents will like him, trying to figure out and stop the newest attack on Rowan Harbor, and having to make a decision that could permanently change the course of his and Conner’s relationship. Conner has Fletcher’s back, and I loved that Fletcher finally has someone who takes care of him.

With this being the end of the second trilogy, there are three more books left. We are gearing up for the final run as action in Rowan Harbor is picking up. I am on the edge of my seat and cannot wait to see what will happen next in the final trilogy.

You can buy Adder and Willow here:
[zilla_button url=”http://authl.it/B07J3MJR75?d” style=”blue” size=”large” type=”round” target=”_blank”] Amazon/Kindle Unlimited [/zilla_button]