Every once in a while, you meet an author you immediately like. I mean, people are likable, to some degree. But to find a likable author who is also a great writer is rare. And I found one in Alyssa Roat. She’s a YA author and editor and has over 250 bylines in local and international publications.

In her latest book, Wraithwood, she delivers a story that I feel is enjoyable to all sorts of readers. Her young character, Brinnie, is going through a difficult time in life as she spends the summer with an obscure uncle. Here’s what Amazon says:

An estranged uncle, a mysterious mansion, and Arthurian legend—together they lead to a world of magic and bloodthirsty wizards who want teenage Brinnie dead.

Brynna “Brinnie” Lane has always lived a quiet life under the watchful eye of her hovering mother—until she’s sent off for the summer to live with an uncle she didn’t know she had. While her parents get to travel across the globe, she’ll be spending three months in the middle of nowhere: upstate New York. It looks like she might spend the entire summer friendless with her nose in a book.

However, she soon finds that Wraithwood Estate, her uncle’s creepy old mansion, holds as many secrets as the man himself. When Brinnie is warned not to explore any of it, her curiosity only grows. As unnatural events take place and Brinnie hears whispers of a hidden war, she must unravel the truth about her family’s mysterious past if she wants to survive.

Something terrible happened at Wraithwood thirty years ago, and Brinnie is determined to find out what—even if it means confronting the possibility that magic is real.

Roat’s story combines mystery, magic, and good writing: a perfect combination for a YA story. I love the way the story builds at just the right pace as Brinnie learns the truth about the strange house she’s living in. The action scenes are exciting and the relationship between the main characters is gratifying. I really think you’ll like Wraithwood. I’m ready for book two…

Click to tweet: Friday Fiction: Wraithwood. In Alyssa Roat’s latest book, Wraithwood, she delivers a story that I feel is enjoyable to all sorts of readers. #YA #FridayReads