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Tag Archives: fantasy

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries (Emily Wilde, #1) by Heather Fawcett – Review

23 Friday Dec 2022

Posted by WWMB in Book Review

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

5 stars, academia, Book Review, cold, fairies, fantasy, Heather Fawcett, historical, humor, ice, mystery, romance, series, snow


Review of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries

The setting for Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, is a Hrafnsvik, a small town that lies far to the north where cold, snow and ice are ever present.  Emily Wilde has travelled to this frigid, wild place to study and classify the local faery folk for inclusion in her important Encyclopaedia of Faeries which she plans to publish in the near future. 

Emily’s introverted nature makes it hard for her to connect with the locals.  Combing that with the intensely cold environment and the reader is left with an acute sense of isolation for Emily.  She struggles with everyday life because the people of Hrafnsvik are not helpful.  Cold and hunger may doom her mission before she even gets started.

Then Wendell Bambleby arrives.  Emily’s friend and academic rival is the complete opposite of her.  Outgoing and charming, he soon has the townsfolk eating out of his hand.  The house Emily was renting goes from cold and stark to warm and cozy overnight.

The difference between the two researchers is so extreme that it becomes charming.  The phrase “opposites attract” is colorfully and precisely depicted. The romance is understated and perfect. 

Just when one thinks the story is about the relationship between Emily and Wendell, the author throws in complications.  Malicious faeries harassing the locals in various ways become ever more threatening.  When they ask the scholars for help, Wendell is not interested.  But Emily believes helping these people will also help her in her search for knowledge. 

Exploring faerie worlds to help the village folk proves to be academically enriching but it also proves to be mortally dangerous.  For Emily and Wendell, these adventures will require every bit of knowledge they have acquired throughout their years of faery research. I was enchanted by Emily, Wendell and the people of Hrafnsvik.  I was captivated by the story of their adventures and thrilled with how they conquered the evil faery folk.  This is book one of the Emily Wilde series, but rest assured, this is a complete story with a satisfying ending.

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book. My review is my honest opinion.

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About Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world’s first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people. She could never make small talk at a party–or even get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, Shadow, and the Fair Folk to other people.

So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, get in the middle of Emily’s research, and utterly confound and frustrate her.

But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones–the most elusive of all faeries–lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she’ll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all–her own heart.

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Links

Add Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries to your Goodreads shelf:

Pre-order Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries (releases January 10, 2023):

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‘Tis the Season – Wednesday

21 Wednesday Dec 2022

Posted by WWMB in Book Review

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

5 stars, Amanda Bouchet, Book Review, Darynda Jones, fantasy, Glynnis Campbell, Grace Draven, historical romance, ice, Jeffe Kennedy, Laurin Wittig, Linnea Sinclair, Nita Round, romance, snow, Steampunk, Tanya Anne Crosby, Tiffany Roberts, winter

This week I am featuring books that reflect the season. Christmas or winter (for those in the northern hemisphere). Books with these themes abound! Are there any seasonal favorites you want so share?  I invite you to share your favorite seasonal stories in the comments.

Today, I am sharing reviews of books that have a cold, wintery or icy setting. Brrr! Newly read this year is the midwinter holiday fantasy romance anthology Fire of the Frost.

Review of Fire of the Frost

5 stars

I’m going to start with Darynda Jones, who is really the reason I wanted to read this book.  I think of her as the queen of urban/paranormal fantasy.  She is one of my favorite laugh-out-loud authors.  In A Winter Fyre, the classic fantasy setting means coffee quips are absent.  But that does not mean that Winter and Gareth don’t exchange the familiar snarky banter!  Or is it flirting.  Either way, it is fun to read!  As the couple get to know each other, they plot to take down an evil queen.  A marvelous tale!

Amanda Bouchet’s Of Fate and Fire features Piers, the bad boy from her Kingmaker Chronicles.  This time the setting is modern-day, holiday time, New York City where he meets Sophie who is in possession of a powerful artifact.  Keeping it way from the bad guys and getting it to the good guys leads to an adventure.  And a romance!  Is Piers about to get his happy ending?!  If you have read Bouchet’s Kingmaker Chronicles, you will have a deeper understanding of Piers and his past.  But it is not necessary to know the back story in to find this story delightful.

Grace Daven is one of my favorite fantasy romance writers.  In The King of Hel, the cursed king, reigns over a country frozen in cold and ice. He is obligated to marry for politics but loves a woman who could never be queen.  Star-crossed lovers at the beginning, Castil and Doranis pine over each other but sad circumstance will bring them together again.   In the author’s note, she writes that the story is based on real-life historical figures of Louis XIV of France and Francoise d’Aubigné, marquise de Maintenon – which makes the story even more moving.

The collection ends with Jeffe Kennedy’s Familiar Winter Magic.  It takes place in a school of magic where familiars are winnowed from wizards.  Kids start out as friends and become adversarial when the oracle head categorizes them.  Bullying begins and friendships are destroyed.  Okay, there is more to the story than that, but that is what I got out of it.  School/academy settings are among my least appreciated tropes, which made this story my least favorite of the four.  However, Jeffe is a fantastic storyteller and I have a feeling that readers of Jeffe’s Bonds of Magic Trilogy are going to enjoy this one.

In Fire of the Frost, you will find four tales, told by exceptional storytellers.  Enjoy with a warm beverage and a comfy seat!

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About Fire of the Frost by Darynda Jones, Amanda Bouchet, Grace Draven, and Jeffe Kennedy

A Winter Fyre by Darynda Jones

From Darynda Jones, a standalone novella set in a world where vampyres are hunted for sport. The only thing standing between them and total annihilation is Winter, a warrior bred to save them from extinction. Forbidden to fall in love, Winter cares only about her oaths… until she meets the devilish prince of the underworld.

Of Fate and Fire by Amanda Bouchet

The Kingmaker Chronicles meets modern-day New York City! Piers, an exiled warrior from Thalyria, finds himself in the Big Apple just before the holidays. The world and everything in it might be utterly foreign to him, but that won’t stop Piers from helping to complete a vital mission for Athena and protect Sophie, a French teacher from Connecticut who’s suddenly knee-deep in inexplicable phenomena, danger, and henchmen after an Olympian treasure that should never have ended up in her hands—or remained on Earth after the Greek gods abandoned it.

The King of Hel by Grace Draven

A novella-length expansion of a stand-alone short story in which a cursed mage-king from a frozen kingdom is obligated to marry a woman of high-ranking nobility but meets his soulmate in a lowly scribe.

Familiar Winter Magic by Jeffe Kennedy

It’s holiday time at Convocation Academy, but best friends Han and Iliana are finding it hard to celebrate. As a familiar, Iliana is facing her assignment to a life of servitude to a wizard, very soon. And Han… despite being tested by the oracle daily, he is still uncategorized. As Iliana and Han face being separated forever, they at last find the courage—or desperation—to break the rules and acknowledge their deeper feelings for each other. But it will take more than true love to save them from the laws of the Convocation…

Links

Add Fire of the Frost to your Goodreads shelf:

Purchase Fire of the Frost:

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In the past, I have reviewed other books with a wintery theme. Here, I will share all or part of my original review. Some of these I purchased for myself and some were provided to me by the author or publisher. All of my reviews are my honest option. If you are interested in purchasing any of these books, please click on the book cover or other link to go to Amazon. Note: Use of these links supports this blog and is very much appreciated.

Wintertide by Linnea Sinclair

Khamsin’s story is a wonderful magical tale of adventure and realization. The child, Khamsin, was born during a dark magical storm and claimed by the powerful Sorcerer. She was raised by the wise old healer, lovingly called Tante Bronya. Bronya would devote herself to preparing Khamsin to face her destiny, though Khamsin has no idea what that will be.

Wintertide is the ages-past prequel to the SciFi romance An Accidental Goddess. Each stands alone, but it fun to read both in order appreciate the evolution of this mythology from its very beginnings in Wintertide to its futuristic representation in An Accidental Goddess. These are two very different stories and both are recommended.

If you are expecting typical Linnea Sinclair military SciFi romance when you read Wintertide, you will be disappointed. If you are open to historical fantasy romance, you will be pleased. And if you also like cats and/or horses you will really like Wintertide! Wintertide is a fairy-tale complete with a quest, danger, adventure, magic and a happily ever after.

The Winter Stone by Tanya Anne Crosby, Glynnis Campbell, and Laurin Wittig

This is a lovely collection of stories from three different authors and one central theme. The Winter Stone is an ancient relic with magical properties. The magic in this stone brings people together, whether they like it nor not, so they can fulfill their destiny. I enjoyed all three stories. Each was unique and beguiling. I recommend any of the stories to warm your heart – regardless of the season! The anthology is out of print, but all three stories are available individually: Once Upon a Highland Legend by Tanya Anne Crosby, Macalister’s Hope by Lauren Wittig, and The Outcast by Glynnis Campbell

Ice Bound by Tiffany Roberts

A blizzard brings a stranger to Anna’s door. After having lived a solitary life, Anna listens to his compelling tales. And his heated kisses have Anna fearing she hasn’t only opened her home to him, but also her heart.

You can absolutely feel the cold wind whipping through the air as you read Ice Bound. Luckily, there is more to the short story than weather. I also enjoyed the tension filled romance between Anna and the stranger. The bonus story, The Winter King, is a storyteller’s continuation of the story of Ice Bound’s heroine and hero — plus a little more. At only 45 pages, Ice Bound perfect way to relax on a winter afternoon.

A Touch of Ice by Nita Round

With A Touch of Ice, we travel to Magda’s frozen homeland and learn about her past and her amazing future.  Previous books have hinted at Magda’s unusual talents and her past.  I was pleased to get this glimpse into the world that Magda was pushed out of.  As with any character that you have come to love, any detail about what makes them tick is soaked up.

In the far north, Magda must defend her honor and birth right.  The fate of Raven, Fire, and Ice depends on Magda, so failure is unthinkable. More of the Trinity, more danger, more intrigue and more reasons to read this series!

‘Tis the Season – Tuesday

20 Tuesday Dec 2022

Posted by WWMB in Featuring....

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Christmas, Erica Ridley, fairy tales, fantasy, historical romance, Jodi Taylor, Melanie Karsak, romance, scifi, Steampunk, time travel

This week I am featuring books that reflect the season. Christmas or winter (for those in the northern hemisphere) themes in books are easy to find. Yesterday’s post was about books I have reviewed. Today I will share a list of books I have read, but did not review. I enjoyed every one of them, so I guess that is my recommendation for you.  Are there any seasonal favorites you want so share? Let me know in the comments.

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I’ve included the Amazon link for each book here – click on the book cover. Note: Use of these links supports this blog and is very much appreciated.

Peppermint and Pentacles by Melanie Karsak

Up on the housetop werewolves howl
Out jumps good old Agent Louvel
Down through the chimney chasing monsters quick
Feeling far less jolly than Old Saint Nick

Red Cape Society Agent Clemeny Louvel is used to chasing werewolves across London. But when she’s reassigned to a special case just days before Christmas, she learns that she’ll need more than a silver bullet to keep everyone on the nice list.

Peppermint and Pentacles is a retelling of the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale set in Melanie Karsak’s bestselling steampunk universe. This Christmas-themed tale can be read as a standalone but is best enjoyed as book 3 in the Steampunk Red Riding Hood series. The story is also a part of Frostbitten Fairy Tales which is a great collection including several Melanie Karsak seasonal stories.

12 Dukes of Christmas by Erica Ridley

The 12 Dukes of Christmas is a series of heartwarming Regency romps nestled in a picturesque snow-covered village. After all, nothing heats up a winter night quite like finding oneself in the arms of a duke! I have read 3 of the books in the series and have a couple more on my Kindle to read at my first opportunity. Erica Ridley can always be counted on for a heartwarming story filled with charming characters, humor and romance.

The Viscount’s Christmas Temptation by Erica Ridley

Alternately titled The Viscount’s Tempting Minx. Another Christmas story from Erica Ridley that is just as charming as the 12 Dukes of Christmas.

Certain individuals might consider Lady Amelia Pembroke a managing sort of female, but truly, most people would be lost without her help. Why, the latest on-dit is that rakish Viscount Sheffield is canceling the fête of the year because he hasn’t time for silly soirees. He doesn’t need time—he needs her!

When a flash of lightning destroys the venue for his family’s annual Christmas ball, Lord Benedict Sheffield intends to enjoy a relaxing holiday for once. But after twelve days of beguiling Lady Amelia’s guerrilla tactics, he’s up to his cravat with tinsel . . . and tumbling head over heels in love.

The Chronicles of St. Mary’s Christmas Shorts – by Jodi Taylor

The Chronicles of St. Mary’s is one of my all-time favorite series. In between the most of the annual additions to this series, the author has put out a short tale that typically takes place around Christmas. If you are a fan of this series, I’m sure you will love these shorter tales of the time travelling disaster magnet crew from St. Mary’s. What could possibly go wrong? If you have not read the series, one of these shorter (and less pricey) stories might be a great way to jump in. Hidden among these stories is the only St. Mary’s adventure that took place off-world.

This year the author is turning to her latest time travel series The Time Police to enhance with a Christmas story. Santa Grint will be released on Christmas day.

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