Inside Voices by Sarah Davis (review + giveaway)

That night she dreamt of the scarred bear. Relief at seeing his large form filled her. He stood silent, his brawny frame still. Not a muscle twitched. He was a magnificent beast... Penny walked closer, knowing this was not a vision, and stood near him. He turned his large head toward her, his gaze piercing the depth of her soul. She felt lighter the longer she stared at him, like she could raise her arms and fly out across the ocean.

Inside Voices by Sarah Davis is an absorbing tale set in a harsh, unforgiving landscape.

This book is unlike anything I have read in the last few years. It's a beautiful story of the nature and wildlife of Alaska, of grief, forbearance and love.

Penny Osborn has a gift. Ever since she was a very young child, she could communicate with her twin sister Lucy telepathically. "In fact, she couldn't recall a time when her sister wasn't in her head".

Her gift could also be described as a curse, as she lives with premonitions where she sees the future events unfolding, without knowing where or when they might happen. In high school she watched the massacre unfold from behind the classroom. She has seen it on the night before it happened, as a vision, a premonition, which she could not prevent. On the same day her father is killed by the same suspects who shot the students and faculty at school.

Penny and her mother move to Alaska, where she starts studying at the University of Alaska-Anchorage. Leaning toward a career in arctic marine biology, Penny is invited to join in a research team on the project over the next two years, at the edge of the Arctic, to Utquiagvik. 

"The opportunity piqued Penny's interest in focusing her future career on the marine bears".

She quickly makes new friends, including her boss, research leader Dr Army Volkov and his nephew Noah, an army veteran who works on security.

Since moving to Alaska, glimpses of the scarred polar bear sneak into Penny's dreams. She has faced a lifetime of traumas, and the research project in the Arctic gives her a chance for a new beginning. She enjoys the running, dogs, martial arts and playing the guitar.

And then her life changes dramatically when she rescues a newborn polar bear cub, whose mother is killed by another bear. She risks everything to save its life.

Penny's dreams are getting darker and more sinister, with the elusive and scary Shadowed Man appearing next to the bear. Penny doesn't understand what these visions are showing her, they are confusing and frightening.

There is a rising number of murders in the community. Who will be the next victim of the serial killer? Will Penny be able to identify him through her visions and stop the murders?

Penny is a great character, she is intelligent, compassionate, with an intuitive understanding of animals.

Her bond with the bear she's bringing up is amazing. No wonder Noah calls her Momma Bear.

She is a caring soul, and she is fiercely protective of those she loves.

You will learn a lot about the wildlife in Alaska, and the chapters dedicated to helping the bear cub to survive are utterly fascinating (you will find out how to prepare the baby food for bears). Feeding him as a baby at short intervals is a full-time job, and Penny wouldn't have coped without the help of her mother, and Noah and later Army. 

Her relationship with Noah is developing slowly. They both have a big trauma in their life, and are not sure about each other's feelings and their own mental health to make progress.

Penny's PTSD has been caused by the tragic and distressing events in her life. She has trouble sleeping and has upsetting nightmares and flashbacks as well as panic attacks.

"Not a day passed when Penny didn't think about that day. It was always in the back of her mind along with the guilt and sorrow and shame".

The inner workings of brain are an unchartered territory. Penny is worried that she is losing her mind, and is reluctant to share her visions, but Noah and Army are understanding.

Shamanism and spirit animals are part of their culture, and they look upon Penny's visions as a gift. Noah tells her, "Have you considered the possibility of a spirit animal? In my people, there are shaman, or angakkuq. People who are psychic... Don't ever think I would laugh at such a thing..."

The story of Fjord reminded me of an old book I read many years ago, The Bears and I by R.F. Leslie, where a man looks after three orphaned bear cubs.

Wildlife rescue as a plotline weaves masterfully with the romance and murder mystery. The supernatural elements add a unique angle to the story.

Inside Voices draws on a strong sense of place. It's original, suspenseful and will have you utterly hooked. 

Potential triggers: mass shooting, death, mental health issues and bereavement, animal attacks.

This book review is part of the blog tour.

Many thanks to Sarah Davis and Rachel's Random Resources for my c-copy of the book!

Purchase Link - http://mybook.to/insidevoices

Author Bio –

Sarah Davis is many things...wife, mother, veterinarian, writer. An avid reader, she enjoys stories that transport her into new and exciting lands. Having read more books than she could ever count, she has considered writing a novel for ages. It wasn't until the idea for "Inside Voices" popped into her mind that she finally started pursuing that dream, with much encouragement from her family. She and her incredible husband share their remote home on the prairie with their three extraordinary children and one mostly human weimaraner.

Social Media Links –

Blog: www.sarahdavisauthor.com   

Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/sarahdavisdvm/  

Facebook Personal page: https://www.facebook.com/sarahshoarse  

Twitter: @SarahDavisAuth1  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pennyosborn10/  

https://www.instagram.com/sarahdavisdvm/ 

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