After a nasty divorce, Fleur La Salle returns to her hometown of Antigonish in Nova Scotia to rebuild her life and passion, both lost in her short marriage. Mark of a Crescent Moon follows her journey into disparate and unfamiliar worlds of realization when she pursues the meaning of her recurring dreams, only to find herself in another world entirely.

Fantasy melds with transformation processes in a vivid manner in Clara Fay's story as, one year after her move, Fleur finds herself past the period of mourning what could have been, thoroughly immersed in life in a tribal village from long ago. The family and connections she's longed for come to vivid life, as does the art that is her passion, when she is drawn back to Scotland by a mysterious letter. An event from her dreams causes her physical trauma when she then falls into a portal of standing stones and is transported into the past.

As Fleur becomes immersed in hidden family history and receives lessons on tapping into her emotions to remember who she is, readers follow her on a journey that is both metaphysical and psychological as Fleur draws unexpected new connections with Thomas and her supportive Auntie G.

Clara Fay creates a finely tuned balancing act between emotional growth and intrigue as Fleur approaches her past, present, and future from a different angle than she's ever done before.

The mystery, time-travel components, and shifting roles and interpersonal relationships that Fleur experiences with Thomas and others around her drive a storyline replete with action and self-reflection. These make Fleur's world and reactions feel authentic and realistic.

The family curse that affects not just Fleur but events and lives past and present is just one facet of a story marked by intrigue, destiny, and the surprising intersection of an artistic and spiritual journey.

Libraries and readers seeking multifaceted stories that defy pat categorization and draw with the lures of psychological growth, historical intrigue, and interpersonal relationships will find Mark of a Crescent Moon a fantasy adventure of a different order, well stepped in mystery and discovery that will keep readers thinking and guessing throughout.

D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

From the beginning, Mark of a Crescent Moon leads the reader on an exploration of fundamental spiritual development through the experiences of Fleur LaSalle, a young woman who is aware of her intuitive gifts but whose life experiences are blocking her full potential for enjoying those gifts. Upon receiving a surprise letter about a lawsuit, she learns she has inherited property half a world away. The news shines fresh light on one of her most cherished desires, a connection to family.

Encouraged by her grandmother to travel to a remote island in the Hebrides archipelago off Scotland’s shores, she begins seeking answers to troubling dreams. The dreams grow in urgency and detail after she arrives at the house inhabited by her ancestors for generations. Mysteries abound as her life fills with dreams transitioning to visions, an ancient stone henge, the existence of a curse on her family, and the appearance of an intriguing man she had dated once. Ms. Fay uses a background of Scottish history to frame Fleur’s story in rich, beautiful detail.

This story moves quickly and encompasses many factors related to spiritual development through meditation and the complex signals an open human mind can receive and use for living the best possible life. Fleur’s experiences and reactions to her dreams and visions result in a vibrant and detailed story about the critical importance of being true to self, connecting to the energetic source that fuels all life, and the power love has to endure through the ages. I expect I will be reading this book again.

Summary:
Mark of a Crescent Moon: Through the experiences of Fleur LaSalle, author Clara Fay leads readers on an exploration of concepts related to spirituality, intuition, portals, and dreams and visions. Ms. Fay breathes life into these mysteries by staging them against a background of Scotland’s Hebrides islands and Scottish history. This book is rich and beautiful in details without slowing or stalling the unraveling of the story. Definitely worth the read!

Reviewed by: Sandra Valencia, award-winning author of The Chikondra Trilogy and the Legends of Turand series

Fay twists together fantasy and historical fiction with ease as Fleur tries to make sense of her dreams about a mysterious woman pleading for help. Mystical and enchanting, the plot entrances readers, and Fay tackles time travel with the experience of a master. Fay's spirited descriptions of historic Scotland evoke strong images, and she breathes a mystical setting into life with stirring prose. The sparkling style reminds readers of the innate human need for connection. Comfortably mixing historical fiction, mystery, and fantasy makes this a creative tale, and Fay maintains a fairytale aura throughout."

Reviewed by: The BookLife Prize

"Mark of a Crescent Moon" by author Clara Fay is an enjoyable and wonderful book that captivated me from start to finish. The novel explores themes of family, love, history and the pursuit of personal identity in a beautifully crafted narrative.

The author's writing style is engaging and immersive, allowing readers to vividly imagine the world and characters within the story. The book seamlessly weaves together intricate plotlines and richly developed characters, making it a compelling read. Each chapter unveils new layers of mystery and intrigue, leaving readers eager to uncover the next piece of the puzzle.

One of the highlights of "Mark of a Crescent Moon" is the strong character development. I found myself emotionally invested in Fleur’s journey, rooting for her through her discoveries and triumphs.

Furthermore, the book delves into complex themes such as cultural identity and the struggle between tradition and personal desires. The author tackles these topics with sensitivity, allowing readers to contemplate the choices and conflicts faced by the characters. This exploration adds a thought-provoking layer to the overall narrative, making it more than just a gripping story.

Another aspect that impressed me was the vivid and evocative descriptions of the setting. Whether it was a quaint coastal town, a cold Scottish isle or the historical city of Edingburgh, the author's words transported me to each location, immersing me in the sights and sounds of each place.

In conclusion, "Mark of a Crescent Moon" is a wonderful novel that offers an engaging and immersive reading experience. With its compelling characters, and mysteriously developing plot line, it leaves a lasting impression on readers. I would highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a captivating story that combines adventure, romance, and thought-provoking elements.

Following Fleur LaSalle, the heroine of Mark of a Crescent Moon, in both her physical and spiritual journeys is indeed a mixture of adventure, intrigue, romance and introspection.

From 1987 to AD 560, the author moves the heroine across the landscapes of time and geography while providing the reader a clear and colorful visual of what life was life during the pre-internet days of the 1980’s and the ancient time of the Picts.

Clara cleverly builds the relationship between Fleur and her ancestors and ties in a fascinating relationship with the famous Book Of Kells.

The historical timeline is especially interesting to those of Scottish heritage and Outlander fans will be intrigued by the portal activity within the standing stone circles.

As a Maritime Canadian, I enjoyed the familiarity of the Canadian East Coast setting where Fleur begins her quest to understand her dreams and subsequently acts on the mysterious calling that she hears in those dreams.

This well written narrative quickly got me emotionally immersed in the life of Fleur, a Canadian woman with a close connection to nature who has recently escaped a poisonous relationship and returned to live with the beloved grandmother who has raised her.

From the beginning one must marvel at the author’s creative and well-chosen use of adjectives that transform Fleur’s thoughts, experiences and relationships with her gran and friends into a vivid and captivating read. The story continues to grip as it takes an increasingly spiritual and mystical turn. Starting with Fleur’s indecipherable and rather disturbing dreams, the reader is gradually introduced to a mystical part of Fleur’s life that she herself only starts to learn about. More and more, the borders between this ‘other life’ and Fleur’s present existence merge as she voyages to Scotland, where she connects with her ancestors, both in person and through spiritual connections.

A second story, set on an island off the coast of Scotland several centuries before Fleur’s time, gradually wriggles its way into Fleur’s story. Mystically, enthralling and spiced with both historical insights and complex themes of personal identity and traditions, the reader is captivated while trying to figure out the connections between that tale set long ago and Fleur’s present dilemmas. It is hard to put the book down as Fleur struggles to unravel her past and to fight a legal battle that eventually not only determines her own future but also that of many others involved in her life.

A truly great read and the best writing I could choose for a holiday book that kept me hostage through a
captivating storyline, thrilling adventure, and well described character development. I highly recommend this book, not just as a holiday read.

Based on the cover and book description, I went into my reading experience with Mark of a Crescent Moon expecting a relatively straightforward book of portal fantasy. To my delight, upon reading, I found Clara Fay's first novel replete with complex characters and a gripping plot that kept me engaged to the very end. Very pleased to learn this is the first book in a series. I'll be watching this author for more!

I was captivated by “Mark of a Crescent Moon”.

I loved the author’s descriptive writing. It transported me to places I’ve never been to before and yet felt I was a part of the community and landscape. She made it so easy to visualize Nova Scotia and Scotland both in the present and way back when!! It didn’t take me long to became very attached to Fleur and her ancestral lineage as well as her friend, Matty! Loved their special friendship - Matty made me laugh.

This is an enchanting story and I especially enjoyed how the author weaved the present into the distant past using the thread of mysticism and magic.

I hope there will be more from where this story came from. It was perfect escapism for me that was also uplifting. Clara Fay is a beautiful wordsmith and storyteller.

Once you start reading Mark of a Crescent Moon by Clara Fay, you won’t want to put it down. Clara Fay’s character description made you feel like you were part of the story, right there going through the adventures of Fleur, finding herself after going through her divorce. It was mystical and breathtaking being taken through Fleur’s dreams to find her Scottish roots. You, the reader, feel what Fleur was feeling – confusion, passion, fear, romance, adventure – all of it. You feel like you are there, a part of the story. It was hard to put the book down until it was finished. Great job, Clara! I highly recommend Mark of a Crescent Moon.

Mark of a Crescent Moon is captivating from the very beginning. Set between Scotland and Canada, spanning centuries, this story is beautifully spellbinding. If you are inspired and fascinated by the spiritual dimensions of life then, like me, you may well be lucky enough to have new and unexpected insights while reading this brilliant novel. If you aren't, this book stands alone as an exciting and beautifully written story.

This book will stay with me for years to come.

I love this book and cant wait to buy all the other books in this series. This book is a rare find and from a first time author too. Families, ancestrally strong women, grandmothers, granddaughters, intuitive's, creatives, logic, the law, history, travel, the past, the future, the power in all of us and the pull of life teasing us into more, if we will dare to take the steps and answer the call.

This is writing at its very best. Great characters, great adventure, great storylines and there are so many illuminating life messages in this book. I feel better for having read it and I will snap up book two as soon as it appears. I highly recommend this book, a real page turner.