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E. E. Holmes
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Spirit Legacy (The Gateway Trilogy Book 1) Kindle Edition

by E.E. Holmes (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 13,918 ratings
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A troubled past. A haunted future.

"The Gateway is open."

These cryptic words wake 17-year-old Jess Ballard from a terrifying dream into an even more terrifying reality. Jess’ life has never been what anyone would call easy; doing damage control in the wake of your nomadic, alcoholic mother doesn't exactly make for a storybook childhood.

But now her world has fallen apart just when it should be coming together: her mother gone—dead under mysterious circumstances; her life uprooted to stay with estranged relatives she’s never met; and there’s something odd about some of the people she’s been meeting at school:

They’re dead.

Aided by Tia, her neurotic roommate, and Dr. David Pierce, a ghost-hunting professor, Jess must unravel the mystery behind her hauntings. But the closer she gets to the truth, the more danger shadows her every move. An ancient secret, long-buried, is about to claw its way to the surface, and nothing can prepare Jess for one harrowing truth... her encounters with the world of the dead are only just beginning.

Spirit Legacy: Book 1 of the Gateway Trilogy is the first installment in the thrilling paranormal series "The World of the Gateway" by E.E. Holmes.
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    The Gateway Trilogy
  2. Print length
    271 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    June 28, 2013
  6. File size
    1466 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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From the Publisher

E.E. Holmes' World of the Gateway series

Editorial Reviews

Review

"E.E. Holmes' tale starts out strong and just keeps getting stronger..." - Chanticleer Book Reviews & Media

From the Author

THE WORLD OF THE GATEWAY:

The Gateway Trilogy (Series 1)
1. Spirit Legacy - B00DPN1SNW
2. Spirit Prophecy - B00MKAL836
3. Spirit Ascendancy - B01804FUGG

The Gateway Trackers (Series 2)
1. Whispers of the Walker - B0776L58WM
2. Plague of the Shattered - B06Y6K4RCC
3. Awakening of the Seer - B0776L58WM
4. Portraits of the Forsaken - B07CJ29X1M
5. Heart of the Rebellion - B07H9LH7N7
6. Soul of the Sentinel - B07QCCVLFF
7. Gift of the Darkness - B07WZ4DZ5M
BONUS Tales from the Gateway - B084KWXKJW

THE RIFTMAGIC SAGA:
1. What the Lady's Maid Knew - B081LQPCLR

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00DPN1SNW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lily Faire Publishing; 1st edition (June 28, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 28, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1466 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 271 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 13,918 ratings

About the author

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E. E. Holmes

E. E. Holmes

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E.E. Holmes is the internationally best-selling author of "The Gateway Trilogy", "The Gateway Trackers", and "The Riftmagic Saga" series. Her first novel, Spirit Legacy, was named a first-place category winner in both the Paranormal Awards and the Dante Rossetti Awards for YA Fiction by Chanticleer Book Reviews and Media.

Connect with E.E. Holmes on most social media platforms @authoreeholmes

Sign up for the E.E. Holmes VIP newsletter for exclusive content, new release announcements, and more at eeholmes.com

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
13,918 global ratings
One of THE BEST Ghost Themed Paranormal Books I've Ever Read!
5 Stars
One of THE BEST Ghost Themed Paranormal Books I've Ever Read!
I bought this book on a whim. It was on sale for $.0.99 I believe as a daily deal, and it sounded interesting, so I thought, "Why the heck not?"Holy crow, was I in for a shock of an adventure! It was a little scary at first, when I started reading because ... all of the names in this book are either my name (Jess is the MC, and I'm also named Jess), She has purple hair (just like me), and my husband is named Matt (She goes to a University called St. Matt's) and her Uncle is named Noah (my step son is Noah) and just a lot of what happened in the beginning was eerily related to me...I even think her mother's name might have been the same as my mother, but I don't remember for sure... {I was worried Ms. Holmes was somehow inside my head... }You never really know what to expect when you buy "indie" books because some of them are amazing and others are ... not. I think - and I could be totally wrong, so please correct me if I am - this book started off as "indie" but was picked up by a super smart publishing company, Lily Faire - much thanks to them for that! - because this book is incredible! If you're into the paranormal, like ghosts, ghost hunting, ghost stories, crossing over, Gaelic folklore, dark secrets, plot twists that I didn't even see coming (and I am a writer myself!) and even a little magic, you should definitely read this book, and the two that come after. It's not "scary", but more suspenseful, leaving you wondering what will happen next, and having a really hard time putting it down. Once I was finished with book one on my kindle, I went to the authors website and ordered all 3 books in paperback, with each one signed! (She is also really awesome, and always replies and chats with you on Twitter!)I just started reading book 3 (Spirit Ascendancy) today, and I've been really busy, but I don't want to stop reading! Thank the stars for the invention of the Crockpot, so dinner will be ready and I can read the rest of the night!I highly recommend this book!(Note: It is a little more YA, than adult, but the MC is 19 - 20 years old, so it's kind of on the edge... it's not horribly YA as they are in college.)
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Top reviews from the United States

Amy Armstrong
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book! Go ahead and read it!!
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2024
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Really enjoyed how this book kept your attention! Well written and lots of adventure! Great read!! You won’t be disappointed!!
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Calista
4.0 out of 5 stars A light and entertaining read
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2013
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I would give this book 3.5 stars - but 4 is more accurate overall than 3.

If I ever write a book I hope that Facebook decides to post it on random people's walls because you just can't buy that kind of exposure. That's how I found this book and I know I'm alone.

The first three sentences of the book felt a bit clumsy to me but I was quickly drawn in to the easy language style the author uses. There is nothing complicated or "high brow" about it - which I think is exactly what Ms Holmes intended. As she writes you know that she always has her target audience (young adults who "don't like to read") in mind. For example, there aren't any long descriptive passages or wordy conversations and the reader doesn't have to turn many pages before something new happens. Jess is a likeable teen, there are dorm room parties with plenty of alcohol and the characters aren't afraid to swear.

As many people have said - once I started the book - I couldn't put it down. Overall though - I preferred the first three quarters.

General (minor) Spoilers ahead.

After the death of her mother - Jess can see and hear ghosts. She goes to live with her sisters non-identical twin sister before going to college and moving into the dorm - sharing a room with a girl named Tia (who turns out to be very easily accepting of her new friends paranormal abilities). As luck would have it the college happens to have a class in Everything Paranormal and the man who teaches it has a host of paranormal investigator buddies (including a gypsy psychic). Jess comes to learn the reason for her abilities and the path which destiny has chosen for her.
End Spoilers.

I realized when I was halfway through the book that every time a new character is introduced I was examining them critically - looking for something which I assumed the book WOULD have - but strangely didnt. An antagonist. In other words - I was looking for the "bad guy". It is fairly rare (think about all the books you've read) to NOT have an antagonist for the "hero" to overcome. A person, an organisation, a zombie plague - even his or her own flaws - SOMETHING. Perhaps the antagonist will be introduced in the next book? I hope so - because it is only through adveristy in a novel that a character can develop and grow. Without it - the plot will eventually drift along into nothingness.

The second book has the opportunity to delve more deeply into the world in which Jess has been born. To flesh out the lore and rituals associated with it - to expand the fantasy aspects of the story into something which is detailed and believable. If this happens - and there is the introduction of a suitable antagonistic character or scenario - then it will certainly be worth a read.
Hopefully it will also be a bit longer :)
27 people found this helpful
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Corey Beth
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Series Opener!!! Highly Recommended!
Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2023
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I just finished reading Spirit Legacy for the second time, after deciding to reread all the Gateway books before picking up the 2 new ones just released this year (2023). The fact that I am rereading a 10 (now 12) book series should tell you something, but I'll go ahead & start things off by stating the obvious: this series is GOOD.

I love books about ghosts & the paranormal, but a lot of times I feel like that type of story crosses the line from spooky to silly. The ghost stuff ends up feeling cheesy, or the final reveal of a gripping mystery leaves you sighing with disappointment. Well, those things are definitely NOT true about Spirit Legacy (or the books to follow)... not even a little bit. Despite a number of eerie experiences & a heavy presence of ghosts, everything that happens comes across as perfectly believable. Author E. E. Holmes does an incredible job of blending the elements of a true ghost story with the sharpest edge of reality, making all the events that occur seem, maybe not PROBABLE, but certainly POSSIBLE.

In general, Holmes is an incredibly gifted author. Every character rings true, from the background characters, to the supporting cast, & particularly with regard to our protagonist, Jess Ballard. Every character has a distinct personality & voice; having previously read the book, I can pick out where a character growth arc is just beginning.

And while this book only scratches the surface of the Durupinin lore that is to come, I can guarantee you that the world building is every bit as immersive & fascinating as any fantasy novel you've ever read. Again, everything within the supernatural side of things comes across as believable. None of it feels forced or crosses a line into eye rolling silliness.

Knowing how the Gateway Trilogy & it's Gateway Trackers sister series (aside from the 2 new ones) turn out also allowed me to pick up on character traits, plot foreshadowing, & worldbuilding elements that I missed the first time around. Honestly, that is one of my favorite aspects of rereading a good book: knowing that you learn something new, or perceive something differently, EVERY TIME you read it! I am very excited to continue rereading the series.

Bottom line, I loved this book (& the world it opens up) the first time I read it, & I still love it now. Holmes writes lovely, detailed, occasionally flowery (but never over the top) prose that easily invokes Jess's feelings & experiences as she learns about her heritage & how it ties her to the paranormal. The story sucks you in immediately & you will find yourself eagerly tearing through pages to find out what happens next. It starts & never stops; be prepared for late nights saying, "just one more chapter..."

TL;DR
If you're on the fence, I STRONGLY urge you to pick up this book. You will be sucked into a flawlessly created paranormal adventure that you don't want to miss!
10 people found this helpful
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Roberto Mattos
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent entertaining reading
Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2015
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This is a very intense book, very well written, with a rich plot and characters very well developed. Jessica Ballard is not a normal teenager. After the death of her mother, he ended up living with her aunt for a few weeks during the process of moving into college. When in college, strange things start to happen and she asks for a professor (Dr. Pierce) that teaches paranormal classes to help her understanding what is going on. Her roommate Tia is wonderful. I simply love her. Always there to support Jess and to help however she can. Jess sees and interacts with dead people. But soon things get out of control and the only person who can explain what is going on is her aunt, twin sister of her mother. And then, many family secrets come to the surface and Jess needs to get ready to embrace her destiny.
I loved everything about this story. The writing style is wonderful, very well revised and edited, plot flows smoothly and there is plenty of action that makes you read the book in one weekend, at the edge of your chair. I really recommend this book to the permanent library of any reader that likes action with paranormal activity. I can hardly wait until I put my hands on the second book (Spirit Prophecy) of this trilogy (The Gateway Trilogy).
One person found this helpful
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Mrs Patricia J Dau
5.0 out of 5 stars no words ...
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2024
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Amazing storyline. Not what I was expecting. Can’t wait for book 2. I have it in que and will begin reading in a few minutes.
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Top reviews from other countries

JP McLean
5.0 out of 5 stars Deadly Intentions
Reviewed in Canada on June 26, 2021
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The cover and description of Spirit Legacy drew me in, and the protagonist, Jess Ballard, and her story kept my interest throughout. Holmes has created in Jess Ballard a unique and funny character who you want to cheer for all the way. Her roommate, Tia, is the perfect pairing for her, ultra organized and unconditionally supportive. I love these two together. The intrigue just kept building with unanswered questions, dubious motives, and strange phenomena. Is it the ghosts who have deadly intentions? Or her friends, her family? Holmes kept me guessing right to the end. Paranormal and Urban Fantasy fans will love Spirit Legacy. Thankfully, this is a series, so I have more books to enjoy.
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Saravana priyan K
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Reviewed in India on November 10, 2022
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Starts as normal young adult novel. But later becomes very interesting. Especially last few pages beautifully set up for the sequels. Can't wait
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Client d'Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Non stopping reading
Reviewed in France on February 13, 2019
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This first book of the trilogy is awesome. You don’t know where the writer is leading you. There is always something unexpected to happen.
Look forward to read book 2
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Smileyrie
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent book
Reviewed in Australia on March 12, 2022
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This was really good. As soon as I started this, I was barely able to put it down. The mixing of the spirt world & the mundane is done masterfully & unfolds just as if you were really experiencing an awakening without answers. Makes you wonder how many people who experience hallucinations are just more tuned in to all things possible.
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Abbie
5.0 out of 5 stars Now that is exactly the type of book that I like to read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 28, 2016
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I fell for a Facebook advert when I bought this book by E. E. Holmes. The advert said; 'don't read this book on a work night as you can't put it down'. Now that is exactly the type of book that I like to read. I usually judge books on whether I can stop reading or not, and I have to say his book was genuinely captivating. I devoured it all in one night - hiding under the duvet to stop my husband moaning about the light from my kindle.
We meet Jess on the night that her mother dies, from that day on strange things start happening and it begins with awful nightmares. Throughout the beginning of the book we can sense that it is something paranormal that is happening to her but the clues were so subtle that when the shocking revelation happens, I was stunned. The writing in this book was really clever. Previously, I have read books that are about the paranormal and they just don't engage me but the way in which the paranormal is woven into this book is really good. It was also really creepy as well. It has been a while since I have actually been scared by a book. There were some very chilling scenes in this book and very well executed. They had me turning on the light to check there were no ghosts in my room.
As much as I love the fantasy New Adult genre, I have begun to see a lot of repetition. This book is no exception. As it uses a college as it's setting, there is a 'hot' perfect love interest (can't go into that -spoilers), the female protagonist is the hero, from a troubled background and she is gifted. But this book did have enough unique qualities to make you not think 'oh not again'. First of all, the character although she seems strong and together, she does have flaws and she is blatantly terrified in this book which made her character much more realistic and a lot less stereotypical. The other difference is that we also learn that...oh wait...darn spoilers. Never mind, just take my word for it, this not just a normal, been there, rip off of twilight but a well thought out interesting look at the world of ghosts.
Although I really enjoyed this book and the many twists and turns that it had, there was one fundamental flaw I felt in this book. The thing that annoyed me, not enough to spoilt the book, was that people in the book believed so easily. It was her room-mate Tia that I found most frustrating. They hadn't known each other long enough for her to believe Jess that quickly. There wasn't even a flicker of doubt from her and I found that unrealistic. It was also nicely convenient that their was a paranormal lecturer on campus. But despite this I was gripped by the plot and characters and I am really looking forward to the second book. I think the second book is going to be better as it is set in the UK! YAY! And it is going to have more depth in it to it, now that we have more characters to get to know and a clearer idea of what the situation is. This book was mostly about Jess and her journey in discovering her birthright.
I recommend this for people that like paranormal fantasy, that is not the traditional vampires and werewolves, but rather spirits (ghosts). It has a strong female lead and a gripping plot that is thrilling but also terrifying in parts.
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