Today I’m kicking off the blog tour for The Mark of the Salamander by Justin Newland.

Here’s the blurb

1575: Nelan Michaels is a young Flemish man fleeing religious persecution in the Spanish Netherlands. Settling in Mortlake outside London, he studies under Queen Elizabeth’s court astrologer, conjuring a bright future – until he’s wrongly accused of murder. Forced into the life of a fugitive, Nelan is dramatically pressed into the crew of the Golden Hind.

Thrust into a strange new world on board Francis Drake’s vessel, Nelan sails the seas on a voyage to discover discovery itself. Encountering mutiny, ancient tribes and hoards of treasure, Nelan must explore and master his own mystical powers – including the Mark of the Salamander, the mysterious spirit of fire.

The Mark of the Salamander is the first in The Island of Angels series: a two-book saga that tells the epic story and secret history of England’s coming of age during the Elizabethan era.

Review

Young Nelan doesn’t have it easy. He’s a young man trying to live in a world of persecution. All he really wants to do is get an education but not everyone likes his kind.

Things quickly escalate and Nelan finds himself on the run for murder… but everything he did was simply to defend himself… Just no one will believe him… That is with the exception of Dr Dee..he knows there’s something about Nelan..he’s got a future to live for.

On the run without a family.. without funds and with only the clothes on his back he’s fortunate to find work and with any luck the love of a good woman too.

Alas the peace won’t last forever.

Nelan discovers he’s a way with fire like no one he’s ever seen, and he learns to respect it and it’s destructive power.

When people she his natural talent this leads him to a new job that will unfortunately take him closer to his past than he would have liked and this time there’s no escape.

Trust into one of the worst prisons possible Nelan quickly has to adapt and he’s smart.. he knows if he doesn’t get out soon then he never will.

For me this was when things really started to get interesting as he meets a group of sailors which leads him to a life on the water.

I’m never one for spoilers but seriously there’s so much going on in Nelan’s life.. the poor boy is just thrust from one dangerous situation to another.

Pacing wise the story flowed nicely, it’s an easy fast flowing read as the author doesn’t plough you with tonnes of information that’s not needed, it’s all about the setup and giving you interesting titbits.

In the authors style I really enjoyed the plot mixed with the spiritual side as Nelan discovers his powers and hopefully find his true purpose in life.

The book is very character driven with decent length chapters, this combination helped me quickly come to like Nelan and feel for him during the pain he must have suffered. Especially a dark secret he’s been hiding from himself, too young at the time some secrets have been buried but the fire will soon set those free.

Overall a cracking 4* read, lots to get to grips with, fast flowing exciting plot

My thanks go to the author and Zoé @ www.zooloosbooktours.co.uk for having me on the tour and for providing a review copy of the book to aid my review.

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To find out more why not following the tour?

Author Bio

JUSTIN NEWLAND’s novels represent an innovative blend of genres from historical adventure to supernatural thriller and magical realism. His stories explore the themes of war and religion, and speculate on the human’s spiritual place in the universe.

Undeterred by the award of a Doctorate in Mathematics from Imperial College, London, he conceived his debut novel, The Genes of Isis (Matador, 2018), an epic fantasy set under Ancient Egyptian skies.

The historical thriller, The Old Dragon’s Head (Matador, 2018), is set in Ming Dynasty China in the shadows of the Great Wall.

The Coronation (Matador, 2019) was another historical adventure and speculates on the genesis of the most important event in the modern world – the Industrial Revolution.

The Abdication (Matador, 2021) is a mystery thriller in which a young woman confronts her faith in a higher purpose and what it means to abdicate that faith.

The Mark of the Salamander (Book Guild, 2023) is the first in a two-book series, The Island of Angels. Set in the Elizabethan era, it’s an epic tale of England’s coming of age.

His WIP is the second in the series, The Midnight of Eights, the charting of the uncanny coincidences that led to the repulse of the Spanish Armada. Author, speaker and broadcaster, Justin appears on LitFest panels, gives talks to historical associations and libraries and enjoys giving radio interviews and making podcasts.

Born three days before the end of 1953, he lives with his partner in plain sight of the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England.

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Justin’s Links

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjustinnewland/

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/justin.newland.author/

Website : https://justinnewland.com/

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Book Links

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199139776-the-mark-of-the-salamander

Buy Links –  https://mybook.to/marksalamander-zbt

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