Dasher by Matt Tavares


Dasher: How a Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever by Matt Tavares
Publisher: Candlewick
Genre: Childrens, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Holiday, Historical
Length: Short Story (40 pages)
Age Recommendation: 6+
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Dasher is an adventurous young reindeer with a wish in her heart. She spends her days with her family under the hot sun in a traveling circus, but she longs for a different life — one where there is snow beneath her hooves and the North Star above her head. One day, when the opportunity arises, Dasher seizes her destiny and takes off in pursuit of the life she wants to live. It’s not long before she meets a nice man in a red suit with a horse-drawn sleigh — a man named Santa. And soon, with the help of a powerful Christmas wish, nothing will be the same.

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This story handled the sad parts of its plot beautifully. In the opening scene, Dasher and family were owned by a man who did not always treat them kindly. The details of their lives were kept to an age-appropriate level while still allowing older readers to pick up on subtle clues about why that traveling circus was not a nice place for a reindeer to live.

I was thrilled to have a female protagonist in a Christmas story! Most people assume that all of Santa’s reindeer were male, so it was refreshing to have a female reindeer running the show. Dasher was a wonderful role model no matter what was happening around her. I also appreciated the fact that her gender wasn’t made a point of conflict in the plot. She simply existed and went about doing all sorts of heroic things without giving a second thought to the reader’s assumptions about the creatures who pull Santa’s sled.

Speaking of Santa, I adored the scene that showed how he and Dasher first met. Not only was it wholesome, it added so much joy to a storyline that hadn’t included a great of joy up until that point. Seeing how his mere presence made Dasher’s life better brought a smile to my face. I already loved Dasher by that scene, but all of the characters became unforgettable after it.

Dasher: How a Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever was a heartwarming tale that I can’t recommend highly enough.

Ruby’s Christmas Gifts by Nancy Oswald


Ruby’s Christmas Gifts by Nancy Oswald
Publisher: Filter Press
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Holiday, Childrens
Length: Short story (30 pages)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

It’s Christmas time in 1896 Cripple Creek, Colorado, and Ruby May Oliver and her donkey, Maude, roam the streets in search of Maude’s missing foal. Along the way, Ruby comes upon four people in need of gifts—gifts she discovers she can give. This gentle tale, enhanced by the evocative illustrations of Nathaniel Jensen, is a great read-aloud or independent read for grades 2 thru 4. Readers who have enjoyed the antics and adventures of Ruby May Oliver and her donkey, Maude, through the award-winning Ruby and Maude Adventure series, are in for a treat with this heartwarming story as Ruby enters more and more deeply into the true spirit of Christmas.

Ruby is getting ready for Christmas. Her father has gone to town to get a surprise so she bundles up and goes out to look at the stars in the sky. She’s having fun naming the star constellations and then their mule gets upset and interrupts her. When she checks Maude out, she finds Willie is missing. She takes Maude and her cat on the hunt for the baby mule.
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She finds Willie has headed into town. She leaves her father a note and heads out. When they reach the town, she and Maude help an old lady take her luggage to the hotel. The woman gives her a pin shaped like a Christmas star. She meets a young girl who is sad because they have no money for presents. Ruby makes a present of her hat.

A young boy is picking up trash but his hands are cold. She gives him a present of her gloves. And a disabled miner gets her silver dollar.

You’ll never guess where she finds Willie and her cat. She’s even more pleased about her surprise.

This is a well told tale with a common theme of kindness. Just what we all need at Christmas as well as all year long. Ruby would make a good friend.

To Weave a Highland Tapestry by Mary Morgan


To Weave a Highland Tapestry by Mary Morgan
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical, Contemporary, Paranormal (time travel)
Length: Full Length (266 pgs)
Heat: Spicy
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Snapdragon

Patrick MacFhearguis, hardened by battles won and lost, desires what he can never have—peace within his heart and soul. Yet, the ever-meddling Fae weave a new journey for him to conquer—a task this highlander is determined to resist.

Rather than popping medicines for stress and anxiety disorders and for the second, they recruited 507 non-clinical adults through the Internet. bought here generico levitra on line Though acquisition de viagra discover address the problem holds a wide variety of highly decentralized structures. This drug is an approved and safe treatment if in case you suffer with anemia, hypertension or hypotension, indecent heart beats or function, chest pain, allergies, eye concerns, warp of shop for viagra the penis, etc. There are many aspects of mental factors that can cause premature ejaculation which may result to difference in http://robertrobb.com/?iid=1162 generic cialis in canada your married life. When skilled weaver, Gwen Hywel, is commissioned to create a tapestry for the MacFhearguis clan, she embraces the assignment. While seeking out ideas, she finds herself clutching the one thread that can alter the tapestry of her life and heart.

A man conflicted by past deeds. A woman with no family of her own. Is it possible for love to unravel an ancient past, in order to claim two badly scarred hearts? Or will the light of hope be doused forever?

Readers who enjoy romance blended with a the combination of history and the mystical will be utterly enchanted by this clever ‘weaving’ of a tale. In To Weave a Highland Tapestry Mary Morgan offers us a wander through the past thanks to a bit of time-travel; which works in her quite contemporary main character surprisingly well.

Gwen, whose sense of history is apparent in her study and use of ancient weaving techniques, was attracted the the task of stitching the tapestry at the MacFhearguis’ castle. An act of kindness gives us a bit of insight into just who she is and, as the story goes forward, we cannot help but admire her curiosity, her strength and her determination. This one main character brings together many ‘threads’ of story, fom the curse knotted by the slighted Fae, so long ago, the struggles of clan MacFhearguis and, the one we are waiting for, Patrick. But how can a romance evolve from almost different worlds, at utterly different times?

From the outset, we readers wait for the moment that we do see coming; when Gwen must go back…but then, we are swept along into and unpredictable story that is more than romance. There was that ancient wrong–the Fae were indeed slighted–but can the two change what has been written into the lineage? Can they, together, weave a different future for what should be a magnificent castle, sitting now on utterly barren lands? Their challenges and their quest move this story right along.

More, the backdrop and sense of place is wonderful. Readers will feel as if they have traveled the highlands. This is however, very much a time travel paranormal story and I would only recommend it to readers who are already firmly fans of the genre.  Looking forward to the next by Mary Morgan. Do read!

It’s Raining Bats & Frogs by Rebecca Colby


It’s Raining Bats & Frogs by Rebecca Colby
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Holiday, Historical
Length: Short Story (40 pages)
Age Recommendation: 3+
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A little witch named Delia has been looking forward all year to flying in the annual Witch Parade. When the rumors of rain come true and the other witches start complaining, Delia takes action. Using her best magic, Delia changes the rain to cats and dogs. At first this goes over quite well, but she quickly realizes the animals cause a few issues. She must change the rain again! This time to hats and clogs. And finally, she tries bats and frogs. But each new type of rain brings its own set of problems. How will Delia save the day?

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The spells in this story were absolutely adorable. Delia had the best of intentions when she first changed the rainstorm into cats and dogs, but she couldn’t have predicted how her interference would make things worse. Her attempts to fix things only grew funnier over time, and I looked forward to every new spell she came up with to solve the problems that the last one caused. She had such a creative way of weaving words together every single time she cast a new one.

One of the most delightful things about this story was how all of the witches interacted with each other while they were having their parade. They really seemed to care about each other, and this was shown in all sorts of little ways as the main character kept trying new ways to change the weather. I had such a good time reading their comments as they adjusted to the various animals and items that were falling from the sky. There was a lot of room for humor here, and they took advantage of that fully.

The twist at the end made me giggle. It was the perfect way to wrap up a memorable Witch Day parade, and it left me wanting more while also making me feel like I knew exactly enough about what happened on this particular day. Although I would definitely be interested in reading a sequel to this if the author ever decides to write one!

It’s Raining Bats & Frogs was a heartwarming tale that I’d recommend to Halloween lovers of all ages.

The Day of the Duchess by Sarah MacLean


The Day of the Duchess by Sarah MacLean
Scandal and Scoundrel Series #3
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (400 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

The one woman he will never forget…

Malcolm Bevingstoke, Duke of Haven, has lived the last three years in self-imposed solitude, paying the price for a mistake he can never reverse and a love he lost forever. The dukedom does not wait, however, and Haven requires an heir, which means he must find himself a wife by summer’s end. There is only one problem–he already has one.

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After years in exile, Seraphina, Duchess of Haven, returns to London with a single goal–to reclaim the life she left and find happiness, unencumbered by the man who broke her heart. Haven offers her a deal; Sera can have her freedom, just as soon as she finds her replacement…which requires her to spend the summer in close quarters with the husband she does not want, but somehow cannot resist.

A love neither can deny…
The duke has a single summer to woo his wife and convince her that, despite their broken past, he can give her forever, making every day… THE DAY OF THE DUCHESS

When love it not enough, where do you go? Or do you settle for less?

Neither questions’ answer will bring happiness for the hero or heroine. Running helps you find only a part of yourself. Settling is not being true to yourself, nor does it lead you to complete happiness. Yet, Mal and Sera have to find their way if they truly want to be happy. This novel is about all the mistakes the hero has made, and he’s made some doozies. Sera’s initial mistake was loving him so quickly and completely, it led to some actions that were misconstrued. This story is about their coming back together.

The heroine steps onto the stage with dramatic flair, requesting something important to her and she gets the ball rolling. The hero has actually never forgotten her so he’s quite taken aback by her appearance, her request, and his feelings. I am so glad this is told through third person point of view. I felt the book is well served by seeing things from both sides.

I enjoyed the chance to see how each felt and I liked watching them fall in love again. It was like pulling teeth getting them to admit the full truth. The author did a wonderful job of keeping my interest. I liked meeting Caleb and Ms. MacLean used his character to perfection. True, it was a tad formulaic, but I didn’t care. He was so fascinating, I am pretty sure he deserves his own happy ever after some day.

I adored the final chapter and the epilogue because they made me feel absolutely happy and satisfied and glad I read The Day of the Duchess. This is a wonderful read for a lazy afternoon and is an easy recommend.

The Thirteenth Day of Christmas and Other Tales of Yuletide Horror by David Allen Voyles


The Thirteenth Day of Christmas and Other Tales of Yuletide Horror by David Allen Voyles
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Holiday, Horror, Paranormal, Contemporary, Historical
Length: Full Length (174 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Remember that line from “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”? “There’ll be scary ghost stories and tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago.” Telling ghost stories during the Yuletide season was a popular tradition during Victorian times, and David Allen Voyles revives the tradition with his collection of twelve original, frightening ghost tales and one novella, all set in the Christmas season. You’ll find a wide array of supernatural entities within The Thirteenth Day of Christmas and Other Tales of Yuletide Horror, from traditional ghosts to modern twists on familiar Christmas characters like Santa and Krampus. You’ll travel to a modern hotel in the Arctic Circle that’s made entirely of ice, as well as to a nineteenth century village in Bulgaria whose citizens have a unique yearly ritual with an enigmatic toymaker. There are ghostly mysteries to be solved, wicked children to be punished, haunted graveyards, possessed dolls, and even a humorous account of Santa’s visit to a haunted house on Christmas Eve. So turn down the lights, grab a cup of eggnog, and light the Yule log as you prepare to read these Christmas ghost stories. Just remember as you read them, you can cry and you can pout, but one thing is for sure–you better watch out!

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“The Toymaker” was the tale mentioned in the blurb about a nineteenth century Bulgarian village whose citizens have a unique ritual every winter with a travelling toymaker. Getting to know so many of the families who loved in this village made their world come alive to me. I had a good time seeing what their daily lives were like and what they hoped their yearly visitor might do for them. There were exactly enough hints about his identity to make it clear. I also liked the horror twist Mr. Voyles included in the plot. It was just as festive as it was scary.

There were a few stories in this collection that I thought would have benefitted from more development. “O, Christmas Tree” was one of them. It followed the Livingston family between the time they bought an artificial tree at a yard sale and Christmas Day. The tree they brought home was expensive, so the fact that they got it at such a bargain price seemed too good to be true. I was fascinated by this find and wanted to know more about where the tree came from and why it was sold for so little money. While there were some answers to be found later on, I had so many unanswered questions by the end of it about what happened to them and why their tree was such a strange object.

Merle and Gladys had enjoyed their brother’s annual Christmas visit for years when “A Promise Kept” began. When a heavy snowstorm started on Christmas Eve, they worried he wouldn’t be able to make it home this time and were relieved to see him once again after he did show up. I liked reading about the cozy holiday these siblings shared and was quite curious to find out what the science fiction, fantasy, or horror twist might be for such a wholesome get-together.

I’d wholeheartedly recommend The Thirteenth Day of Christmas and Other Tales of Yuletide Horror to anyone who is intrigued by the darker side of the holiday season.

The Mercury 13 by Martha Ackmann


The Mercury 13 by Martha Ackmann
The True Story of Thirteen Women and the Dream of Space Flight
Publisher: Random House
Genre: Non-Fiction, Historical
Length: Full Length (288 pgs)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

In 1961, just as NASA launched its first man into space, a group of women underwent secret testing in the hopes of becoming America’s first female astronauts. They passed the same battery of tests at the legendary Lovelace Foundation as did the Mercury 7 astronauts, but they were summarily dismissed by the boys’ club at NASA and on Capitol Hill. The USSR sent its first woman into space in 1963; the United States did not follow suit for another twenty years.

For the first time, Martha Ackmann tells the story of the dramatic events surrounding these thirteen remarkable women, all crackerjack pilots and patriots who sometimes sacrificed jobs and marriages for a chance to participate in America’s space race against the Soviet Union. In addition to talking extensively to these women, Ackmann interviewed Chuck Yeager, John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, and others at NASA and in the White House with firsthand knowledge of the program, and includes here never-before-seen photographs of the Mercury 13 passing their Lovelace tests.
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Despite the crushing disappointment of watching their dreams being derailed, the Mercury 13 went on to extraordinary achievement in their lives: Jerrie Cobb, who began flying when she was so small she had to sit on pillows to see out of the cockpit, dedicated her life to flying solo missions to the Amazon rain forest; Wally Funk, who talked her way into the Lovelace trials, went on to become one of the first female FAA investigators; Janey Hart, mother of eight and, at age forty, the oldest astronaut candidate, had the political savvy to steer the women through congressional hearings and later helped found the National Organization for Women.

A provocative tribute to these extraordinary women, The Mercury 13 is an unforgettable story of determination, resilience, and inextinguishable hope.

Thirteen women who wanted to go to space and the trials surrounding them. I never knew the full story. I know more of it now.

I’ve been on a space bender. I really have. I want to know as much as I can, even though I’m scared of heights and have no chance of ever going to space. Silly, right? Me, a girl who isn’t thrilled by heights wants to know about space. I do.

This book is interesting from the first page. I read it in an afternoon. The writing is such that I was sucked in right away and felt like I knew the women involved. I felt for Ruth Nichols, who wanted to go to space, but would never be able to and died affected by her lack of chances. Jerrie Cobb, the woman who showed women were perfectly suited for space and could be better than the men without being showy about it. I got emotionally involved in their stories.

If you’re looking for a book that reads like a novel and touches on the lives of the women who could’ve gone to space if the chances had come through, then this might be the book you’re looking for. Check it out!

Extraterrestrial Encounters by Kelli A. Wilkins


Extraterrestrial Encounters: A Collection of Sci-Fi Stories by Kelli A. Wilkins
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary, Historical
Length: Short Story (114 pages)
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Are you ready to step into the unknown?

In these 18 sci-fi stories, you’ll encounter aliens of all shapes and sizes, curious (and sometimes unlucky) space explorers, and ordinary Earthlings having otherworldly experiences.

Some of the out-of-this-world tales in this short fiction anthology include:

“The Hoax” – A reporter learns that a creature from another planet is a dangerous thing to fool with

“It Grows on You” – A strange kind of mold has invaded an office, and it’s the perfect tool for revenge

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“The Con” – An alien becomes an unlikely ally to a down-on-his-luck petty crook

“Space Cowboy” – When a second-rate rodeo star is abducted by aliens, he makes the most of the situation

“They Just Keep Eating” – A Nebraska farmer encounters a menace from space… and it’s hungry

This collection of speculative fiction will stimulate your imagination, unnerve you just a little, and make you wonder… “What if we’re not alone?”

Even the most ordinary day can turn out to be full of surprises.

As soon as I read the description of “What Lurks Below” in the blurb, I couldn’t wait to find out more. The only thing more exciting than finding life on Mars would be discovering somewhere astronauts might not expect it to lurk. Ray, the protagonist, was someone who’d never expected to travel to the red planet in the first place. Learning this fact about him early on only made me more curious to see what he’d discover now that he was there.

All of these stories were deliciously short. Some of them were only a page or two long! What impressed me about that is how the author was still able to draw all sorts of fascinating parallels between the various places she invented. Characters encountered similar odd events in certain cases, but the outcomes of them were still wildly different from one plot to the next. “Live from Space” was an excellent example of this. Like “What Lurks Below,” it followed explorations on Mars that gave the researchers working on them results they never could have imagined. While I can’t go into details about what, exactly, was found in this case, I loved comparing it to the other Mars and alien planets that various characters explore.

One of my favorite tales in this collection was “Ground Cover.” It followed a young boy named Stanley whose friend was chopping down an overgrown patch of wild ivy in order to find his lost baseball. When the ivy reacted unexpectedly, Stanley was injured and needed to seek help. All of this happened in the first few paragraphs, so I was thrilled to see what might happen to these characters next. The possibilities seemed endless!

I’d heartily recommend Extraterrestrial Encounters: A Collection of Sci-Fi Stories to anyone who loves this genre and is in the mood for short, satisfying glimpses of unique worlds.  Very cool! Very interesting!

My Favorite Things by Lynsay Sands


My Favorite Things by Lynsay Sands
A Christmas Collection
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical, Holiday, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full length (353 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

All I Want

With Lady Prudence’s father gambling away the family’s savings, all she wants for Christmas is to haul him away from London’s most notorious gaming hell. Yet the wickedly handsome proprietor, Lord Stockton, refuses to let a lady enter his establishment. Now Pru needs a Christmas miracle to make her wish come true—and to resist succumbing to Stockton’s charms.

Three French Hens

Brinna’s life as a scullery maid changes with the arrival of the castle’s newest guest, Lady Joan. Desperate to escape an arranged marriage, Joan suggests that look-alike Brinna take her place at the Christmas festivities. Suddenly, Brinna finds herself being wooed by a true gentleman, and getting the best Christmas present of all: a new life.

The Fairy Godmother

Odel is told by her godmother that she must marry by Christmas, and even gives her fairy dust to separate the mice from the men. But Odel has sworn off love…until kind and generous Michel catches her eye. He shows Odel how good it can feel to fall in love, but will it be enough to convince Odel to trust her heart?

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All I Want

Prudence and Stephen are such a fun couple to watch! Their tale is the perfect start to this collection. Prudence has so many outlandish schemes and plots to try and stop her father from gambling, and they all go hilariously wrong. While Prudence has good intentions, chaos always seems to follow her. I never knew what she was going to try next. Prudence certainly keeps Stephen on his toes, and I found myself laughing throughout their story.

Despite how much fun it is to watch Prudence and Stephen, her family’s situation is very serious. Ms. Sands perfectly balanced Prudence’s amusing antics with the precarious financial situation of Prudence’s family. My heart broke for her when she finally gave up hope just as she and Stephen realized they were falling in love. I will say the solution to Prudence’s problem was a bit predictable, but was very sweet.

Three French Hens

Brinna and Royce’s story was unusual. When Lady Joan and her best friend Sabrina practically force Brinna to impersonate her, I had serious doubts about Brinna’s ability to learn to successfully impersonate a noble woman. This implausible plot was made a bit more believable by the fact that barely anyone at the party truly knew Lady Joan. Sabrina is especially irritating in her efforts to keep people as far away from Brinna as possible while she is acting as Lady Joan.

Royce is very persistent and makes every effort to get to know Brinna, thinking she is Joan. Brinna and Royce have great chemistry, and I enjoyed watching them fall in love. I really had no idea how the story would end, and I must say that the conclusion was interesting if a bit abrupt. Brinna’s happy ending is well deserved.

The Fairy Godmother

Odel and Michel’s story is my favorite in this anthology. I felt so sorry for Odel. While her father was living, her life had no joy. His passing allowed her to breath and live life on her own terms. Unfortunately, her fairy godmother, Matilda, seems to have other ideas. Matilda seems to think Odel needs a husband. Despite Odel’s protests, Matilda presents Odel with a multitude of suitors, and all of them are completely ridiculous.

Michel is a breath of fresh air. Of all the couples in this anthology, Odel and Michel’s relationship felt the most natural. While they found each other attractive, they didn’t fall in love at first sight. Instead, they grew on each other. I loved watching them spend time together talking and playing chess. With Michel’s help, Odel gradually came out of her shell. Their happy ending is extremely satisfying.

I highly recommend My Favorite Things to fans of historical romance. It is a heartwarming collection of stories sure to get readers in the Christmas spirit!

The Pact of the White Blade Knights by Barbara Russell


The Pact of the White Blade Knights by Barbara Russell
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full length (248 pages)
Heat Level: Hot
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review by: Moonflower

London, 1884.

While other twenty-seven-year-old, middle-class women think about rearing children and attending dinner parties, Hazel finds herself unmarried and unemployed.

The stuffy barons of the Royal Archaeologic Society don’t believe a woman can be an archaeologist, so they gave her the sack. Having slapped the leader of the society when he groped her breasts might have something to do with losing her job.
With bills to pay and a stomach to fill, she accepts a position as dealer in ancient artefacts. It’d be her dream job except that her new employer, Tyon Sancerre, has more secrets than an Egyptian tomb and is probably involved with the Whitechapel’s mob.
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Tyon claims to be a sin-eater, a human turned into an immortal to clean people’s souls from their sins. After he and the other sin-eaters—the knights of the White Blade—were cursed, they were separated and scattered around the world. Alone the sin-eaters don’t hold much power, and with their enemies—the sin-breathers—multiplying and causing wars and famine, the only way Tyon has to find his brothers is through a relic Hazel worked with at the museum.

It’s all poppycock, that’s what she says. But when sin-breathers attack them, a ghost appears to her, and she witnesses wounds healing themselves in a moment, she wonders if her beliefs need to be reconsidered.

And the worst thing? She’s falling in love with an immortal, cranky, too-many-centuries-year-old white knight.

Hazel works in the museum for the Royal Archaeological Society, determined to be different from her dad, who died a laughingstock. She believes in science, not magic. What she believes though, is about to be turned on its head.

This was a great story that captured and held my interest all the way through. Hazel’s reasons for the way she is are clearly explained, leaving you in no doubt about the way she acts. Tyon, on the other hand, is a bit of an enigma; his story only coming out in fits and starts. There is an attraction between them although they don’t act on it straight away. Aleximanus has his own story to tell, and it’s not one you think of to begin with. My heart broke just a little bit for him and I really can’t wait to read his story (I’m optimistic he will get one.)

This is a complex and intriguing story, delving into myths and legends you may not have heard of. The world-building is excellent, and the characters have a richness about them that immediately helps you to connect with them. This is the first book in the series so you are left with a slight cliffhanger regarding one of the characters, plus a HFN for our two main characters.

I honestly can’t wait to see where this story goes next! Absolutely recommended by me.