You can listen to this post in English or Afrikaans at the end of this post.

Introduction to Water Fae

Water. It is the element of life. It is the source of all life on earth. It is also a source of destruction.

Water has a life of its own. A whole world exists within water that land dwellers can only dream of. Various water kingdoms ruled by more than just undines – water spirits, nymphs and fae of various kinds.

Wherever there’s water, water fae are sure to be found. Grindylows lurking in the depths of a pond, water spirits riding the crests of waves or dancing on the surface of lakes, mermaids on rocks combing their hair, selkies sunning themselves close to shore… The world of the water fae is seemingly endless as the ocean.

For the most part, water fae are thought to be beautiful and entrancing to humans. It is well-established that they play with emotions. There is a commonly held misconception that they are sweet and gentle – and they are, until they drown you. Most all water fae can change their shape – and those who can’t, can use a glamour so strong to make humans believe that they have. Though they are bound to their water source, they have ways to move freely through the world through interconnected waterways. Most have a great love of music and use it to lure humans in. Some are in the habit of bestowing magical gifts on humans, though most are more interested in eating them.

Water is the most travelled route in the fae realm. The points where land and water meet are doorways between worlds. Thus islands, lakeshores, riverbanks, the edges of wells, and beaches are places where the mortal realm intersects with Faerie. It is why people have been warned since forever not to rest or sleep near the edges of streams: they could accidentally enter the fae realm or fall under the enchantment of the water fae living there. Falling in a tidal pool can be like falling through a doorway between realms…

There are so many water fae, that I had to combine some with similar traits. For the next couple of months, we’ll be looking at these fae in folklore and how I reimagined them for my writing.

Remember that you are always welcome to ask questions – and if you have a specific creature in mind, let me know!

Let’s do this thing.

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About the Book

The Ninja Librarian by Rebecca M Douglass

Skunk Corners is a pretty miserable place when the Ninja Librarian moves in. It's just a dusty, tough town in the dusty, tough hills. Folks there aren't too friendly, and they don't see much need for high-falutin' nonsense like schools--or libraries. But from the moment the unassuming, white-haired gentleman steps off the train and into these tall tales, the changes begin. The Ninja Librarian uses wisdom, patience, book-learning, and a few well-placed kicks and jabs to change the town forever.

About the Book

Return to Skunk Corners by Rebecca M Douglass

Things have been changing in Skunk Corners, and Big Al isn’t sure she likes it. Unless it means a hot bath. Twenty-one new stories bring you closer than ever to Skunk Corners with its humor, love of books, and Ninja wisdom (sometimes accompanied by a kick where it will do the most good). This second book in the Ninja Librarian series shows the continuing struggles as the town becomes a community and as Al finds new ways to accept responsibilities she never thought she wanted.

About the Book

The Problem With Peggy by Rebecca M Douglass

The Ninja Librarian’s back in town, school’s out, and all’s right with the world…or is it? Big Al may be looking forward to spending her time swimming in the creek and wandering the hills, but Peggy’s looking forward to a life of drudgery. If Al can’t find a way to sway her pa, the brightest kid in Skunk Corners is going to take drastic action.

With a mystery from the past haunting one of the houses and creating the biggest threat yet to the town, Big Al’s going to be kept busy this summer, and not just with practicing her moves for the Ninja Librarian.

Rebecca M Douglass' Instagram

My Review

The Ninja Librarian

An interesting collection of tales regarding the Ninja Librarian who decided to make Skunk Corners his home – and Big Al (Alice), the school teacher who wears men’s clothes and teaches the little hooligans of this uncivilized town. With each story, Alice becomes a better teacher and becomes more involved with the children and town.
I really enjoyed the stories, characters and setting.

Return to Skunk Corners

It’s soothing to read. There’s something about Skunk Corners, even amid a disaster, that calms and centres a soul.

“And without coffee, who could work? Now we had a real crisis.” I second that!

A couple of great adventures with a bit of a Wild West feel and a good dose of logic and feminism.

The Problem With Peggy

A delightful read about frontier life with women learning about math and science while cooking and sewing – and bad guys wanting to steal land and gold.

Another great story about Al and the Ninja Librarian.

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I’m not interested in getting paid for my podcasts. I feel like it’s about sharing my passion for folklore and books. If you like what I do and prefer buying me a coffee over buying my books, you can do that, too. All links on my website, Ronel the Mythmaker.

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You can listen to this post in English or Afrikaans at the end of this post.

Foklore in a Nutshell

I’m enchanted by the old lore of the world – especially the Celtic goddesses.

The Cailleach is one of the most fascinating, powerful and terrifying of the Celtic goddesses. It is said that she is ancient.

According to legend, the Cailleach can transform herself from a terrifying hag in the winter half of the year and into a beautiful young maiden in the summer half. She is an elemental power of winter, the cold, the wind, and tempests. She comes into power as the days shorten and the sun courses low in the skies. She carries a wand of power with which she shapes the land and controls the weather.

In some accounts, she’s a withered hag with a vicious tempter who walks around with a wand or staff, freezing the earth and keeping all vegetation from growing, to the determent of man and beast. Once spring comes, she goes into a terrible rage and flings her staff or wand beneath a Hawthorne tree and disappears until the next winter.

In other tales, she disappears to an island where it is always summer, to drink form the Well of Youth on the last day of her reign as Queen of Winter. She returns to Scotland and falls into a magic sleep. Once she wakes up in bright sunshine, she is a beautiful young girl. But as the days go past, she grows older: By midsummer she’s a fully grown woman; by autumn, her brows are wrinkled and her beauty has faded. When winter returns, she’s an old withered hag and reigns again as the fierce Queen Beira.

The Cailleach is the one who decides who will live and who will perish in the storms of winter, and this is why she is also known as the Hag of Storms.

In yet another tale, she is the personification of winter and has been demoted from goddess to fairy. She is known to be solitary and is described as an old woman wearing blue or black tattered clothes with a crow sitting on her shoulder. In this tale, she carries a holly staff that kills instantaneously with the merest touch and she flies, dropping stones on people’s heads. On May Eve, she’ll throw her staff under a holly bush and shape-shift into a grey stone until the next winter when she’ll continue her task of blighting the earth and calling down snow storms.

In all tales, though, she’s seen tending to the land, forcing all to take time to rest, and taking care of wild creatures as her storms rage.

There’s clearly an underlying theme of yearning for youth and beauty, yet only having power as an old crone – and freedom from societal restrictions at this advanced age. I think, though, we can all agree that she’s super powerful and temperamental.

Origin of the Fae

AKA Cailleach Bheur AKA Beira, Queen of Winter

Sacred tree: holly and Gorse bush.

Storm Hags accompany her.

All turn to stone (standing stones) from Beltane to Samhain. According to myth – turning to stone only happens when they do not fulfil their duty to the land, the Dark Court and the Dark King.

The Cailleach has a staff that freezes the earth with each tap. She is also guardian of the animals during winter.

The Cailleach is aligned with the Unseelie (Dark Court) since the Rift for protection and power. Though the Storm Hags accompany her wherever she goes, it is more for their entertainment than her protection.

She holds the power of winter. She can appear as an old woman (thus her name) or at any stage of life; whatever suits her purpose.

She lives in Tir na nÓg – a realm all of her own filled with snow, various fae that either come willingly to her realm or accidentally or by force, a castle that sometimes appears as a cottage, and various animals from the mortal realm that find their way to her for comfort and safety. She sends the cold from her realm to Faerie and the mortal realm as needed.

You can read the full folklore post with references on my blog.

Blog Post: Cailleach

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About the Book

The Price Guide to the Occult by Leslye Walton

From the author of The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender comes a haunting maelstrom of magic and murder in the lush, moody Pacific Northwest.

When Rona Blackburn landed on Anathema Island more than a century ago, her otherworldly skills might have benefited friendlier neighbors. Guilt and fear instead led the island’s original eight settlers to burn “the witch” out of her home. So Rona cursed them. Fast-forward one hundred–some years: All Nor Blackburn wants is to live an unremarkable teenage life. She has reason to hope: First, her supernatural powers, if they can be called that, are unexceptional. Second, her love life is nonexistent, which means she might escape the other perverse side effect of the matriarch’s backfiring curse, too. But then a mysterious book comes out, promising to cast any spell for the right price. Nor senses a storm coming and is pretty sure she’ll be smack in the eye of it.

In her second novel, Leslye Walton spins a dark, mesmerizing tale of a girl stumbling along the path toward self-acceptance and first love, even as the Price Guide’s malevolent author — Nor’s own mother — looms and threatens to strangle any hope for happiness.

Leslye Walton's Website

My Review

Though the prologue might seem unnecessary, it informs a lot of things throughout the book and this information was delivered smartly instead of in an info-dump.

I liked the epigraphs that start each chapter. It was a good way to tie it back to Rona Blackburn in the prologue.

The story quickly moved from the realm of dark fantasy to horror as Nor watches plants armour themselves – daffodils with thorns – and then her mother ritualistically murder people.

I liked that Nor could hear the thoughts of animals and listen to their dreams. I also liked that some of the dogs were over a century old. And, of course, it’s awesome that no animals were harmed in this story.

The mysteries, action and pace keeps one reading far longer than intended. LOL. Vivid descriptions and a close look at Nor’s feelings, making one bond with her instantly, leads to one being immersed in the story until the very end.

Nor is so broken at the beginning, but by confronting her fears, she grows throughout the story into someone darkness fears.

A good story with an ending open to new adventures. A dark story, but filled with hope.

Trigger warnings: self-harm, blood, blood sacrifice, child abuse, language.

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Foklore in a Nutshell

The Faery Queen has always been this powerful, otherworldly beauty cloaked in mystery and whispers. Not a lot can be found in folklore about her, but what is obvious is that she goes by many names and can be found across the globe.

In Irish folklore, Aoibheall, is the queen of the fae. Her name means “beauty” or “burning fire”, depending on how old you think her name is. She is a favourite in Irish literature.

Mab is the faery queen in English folklore and makes her appearance in sixteenth and seventeenth century literature.

Titania is also the faery queen in English folklore thanks to Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.

There are other named faery queens, but most I cannot even fathom how to pronounce – and I daren’t mess it up as faery queens are most volatile where it comes to courtly manners and being respectful of that all-important name, as there is power in a name.

Faerie is almost always said to be ruled by a queen. Though there are many named fairy kings, they only rule small kingdoms, not the entirety of Faerie.

Though faery queens are always beautiful, powerful, and seemingly gracious – they are still fae and still have the propensity for cruelty, and thus their capricious nature should never be forgotten. Even if Faerie seems to favour girl-power.

Origin of the Fae

Formal name: Queen Andromeda (used to seal compacts, curses, etc. There’s power in a name.).

Known as: Mae.

Known love-interest: Jamie MacKinnion, leader of the Galno, laird of clan Kinnion.

Weaknesses: none known.

Mae is the all-powerful queen of the fae. Though she shares the responsibility of Faerie and all fae with the Dark King, it is on her mercy fae (and others) fall when they have transgressed. She makes the rules; she enforces the rules (sending the Assassin or the Seelie Knights after the perpetrators).

Only the Assassin, the Dark King and the Cù Sìth can rival her powers. Even Ankou, King of the Dead, defers to her.

She can be volatile, merciful, caring and careless depending on her mood. The Rift was caused during one of her careless moments.

She is Faerie. Everything lives and dies by her whim. Everything comes into being or disappears at her command. After the Rift that divided Faerie, she no longer has such power over the Dark Lands belonging to the Unseelie Court and the Dark King.

When she decides to interfere in the Mortal Realm it is rarely a whim: she had foreseen something in her waterfall that is the Eye of Time, and it had most likely been confirmed by one of her Seers or even the Fates.

Mae is a powerful, independent woman in charge of a whole race of beings. It is her job to make sure that peace prevails between Man and Fae, to make sure the Dark King doesn’t do more damage than he already did by creating the Rift and the Labyrinth, and that everyone survives the unexpected.

You can read the full folklore post with references on my blog.

Blog Post: The Faery Queen

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About the Book

Alice the Dagger by Ashley McLeo

They call me the dagger.

I’m an indentured assassin, a lone wolf with capabilities that make me desirable on the black market.

Given my reputation, you can imagine that a fluffy white rabbit throwing my world upside-down was the shock of my life. Especially when he told me I was the fae heir to Wonderland. The only surviving heir because the Red Queen had brutally murdered the family that I’d one day hoped to find.

While that was devastating, I could have handled it—eventually—as long as I got revenge.

What I can’t handle is Hatter.

He’s a gorgeous and strange artist who is also working to end the Red Queen.

He makes my heart stop. He infuriates me. He touches my soul in ways no one else ever has. He sings songs in the street like an idiot.

I want to throttle him as much as I want to kiss him.

But first, I want revenge against the Red Queen. And of course, Hatter insists on sticking by my side despite my claims that I work alone.

One thing’s for sure, assassinating the Red Queen will be unlike any other job I’ve ever taken.

About the Book

Alice the Torch by Ashley McLeo

An assassin princess.

A shifty wizard.

A kingdom begging for freedom.

Life in the Wonderland Court is complicated . . .

Seeing as I plan on rescuing my sister from the Dark Court of Faerie, I don’t expect the complications to stop any time soon.

Especially after, Jax, a blast from my past, shows up with his killer smile. He’s persistent, and ruining one of the best things in my life—Henri Hatter.

I’m falling for Hatter, and yet, I can’t deny that I need Jax. Not if I’m going to save my sister from the Dark Court.

As much as I hate to admit it, I need all the help I can get, or else I risk losing the only family I have left.

If you love the whimsy of Alice in Wonderland and the high stakes and romance of the Throne of Glass Series, you'll love adventuring in the Wonderland Court—and beyond!

Ashley McLeo's Instagram

My Review

Alice the Dagger

I listened to the audiobook of this novel.

Alice is a snarky assassin who thought she was only part fae, who turns out to be the true heir to the Wonderland Court in Faerie – and a full-blooded, aether-blessed faery.

I liked the worldbuilding – especially the Enchanted Forest. The quest was good, the fighting okay, and iconic characters such as the Cheshire Cat and Caterpillar were great, and the twist of Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dum as female pixies a fun one. But the various attacks and killing of animals were needlessly horrendous. Especially as Alice went against her gut to do these things.

An interesting take on Faerie and a retelling of Alice in Wonderland.

Alice the Torch

I listened to the audiobook.

The adventure at the Crystal Court feels unfinished, and though I understand why they had to go there before attempting to cross the Rift, there seems to be too many loose ends, despite the story wrapping up much like a duology.

A lot of the book, it felt like Alice was merely reacting to what was going on, instead of taking decisive action. Even what happened at the Dark Court felt inevitable, if done in dramatic fashion.

Jax showing up felt like an extra bit of drama thrown in for the sake of it, but he did turn out to be useful instead of merely irritating.

The sudden love scene between Alice and Hatter felt incongruous with the tone of the rest of the story. An earlier fade to black would have been more appropriate.

And I’m not a fan of how the animals in this book was treated. Especially the conditions they stayed under in the Crystal Court, how Alice kicked her horse into action, and depriving them of water for days during their journey (when they could’ve stopped once they came to court and switched mounts before journeying on).

Great worldbuilding, loads of intrigue and Alice finally choosing herself.

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Foklore in a Nutshell

Who didn’t swoon when Brad Pitt played the role of Death in Meet Joe Black? Okay, maybe that was just me.

The personification of Death has been going on for millennia. The Ancient Greeks even had a god, Thanatos, as Death personified. And it’s been rampant in folklore – even in Aesop’s fables.

The popular depiction of Death is as a skeletal figure with a large scythe, wearing a black cloak with a hood. This came from 15^th century England and has lasted for centuries. Calling this personification of Death the Grim Reaper reportedly started in the mid-18^th century. The Grim Reaper is widely used to symbolise death and fear of the unknown.

In most mythologies, Death comes to collect people he/she marked for death and these people try to bribe or trick Death. Sometimes, though, Death is only there to escort the dying to the next world. Death never judges the dead, only escorts them to where they need to go.

There are many death omens in cultures across the world. Pictures falling off the wall, the cry of the Banshee, a black cat meowing at midnight, bees swarming a house, birds flying into the house, bats entering and then escaping the house, a dog scratching the floor, a mouse running over your foot, and even dreaming of a white horse all foretells misfortune and death. Ahem, that means I’m writing this post from the other side of the Veil because all of the above has happened to me in the last decade. The Banshee might have been me when Callum almost bit my finger off when he was eight weeks old…

All of this leads us to Ankou. He is said to be a spectral figure in Breton folklore, the counterpart to the Greek Thanatos. Sometimes, he is the spirit of the last person who died in the community. Usually Ankou is described as being tall with white hair, wearing a wide hat and a long dark cloak – and being a skeleton. Of course, the Ankou’s head revolves constantly to see everyone everywhere. Creepily, Ankou drives a wagon pulled by black horses and piled high with corpses, stops at a house and just adds more (stopping in front of a house means someone inside is going to die). Ankou is something between the driver of the death coach in Irish folklore and the medieval Grim Reaper.

Origin of the Fae

Ankou can appear as a skeletal being with a scythe and wearing a cloak – just as folklore claims. But he usually dresses smartly, especially when visiting the Faery Queen. He stays bone white, though. He likes the fact that all fae fear him, or are at least uncomfortable with his presence – even those who work for him.

He sometimes collects the souls of the dead in his black cart/carriage. Depending on his mood and the circumstances, he can be quite gentle with the recently dead and take them to his realm himself instead of leaving them to the tender mercies of the dullahans and others in his service.

It is his duty to maintain order between the Otherworld and the land of the living (Faerie and Mortal Realm alike). He has various servants (dullahans, banshees, sirens, etc.) with specific duties to maintain this order. His most trusted lieutenants are the Keeper of the Veil and Dagda, ruler of the Underworld.

During Samhain, when the Veil between Worlds are at its thinnest, he leads a procession of dead fae and some of his servants through the world of the living. When they come across living beings, they are to be appeased with baked goods or dessert. Or they will play cruel tricks on the individual. That is why it is best to stay indoors, hidden in the dark, during Samhain lest you attract the attention of Ankou and his subjects.

You can read the full folklore post with references on my blog.

Blog Post: Ankou

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About the Book

Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden

"If you don't put that ring on this minute, I'm going to take it back," Annie whispered in my ear. She leaned back, looking at me, her hands still on my shoulders, her eyes shining softly at me and snow falling, melting, on her nose. "Buon Natale," she whispered, "amore mio."

"Merry Christmas, my love," I answered.

From the moment Liza Winthrop meets Annie Kenyon at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, she knows there is something special between them. But Liza never knew falling in love could be so wonderful... or so confusing.

Nancy Garden Goodreads

My Review

This book was originally released in 1982, so it took a while for the time and culture to settle in for me (notes, landlines, mostly white suburbs, having to go to the doctor to get piercings, writing letters to communicate, etc.).

The beginning of Liza and Annie’s relationship is quite sweet. This sweet, innocent nature of their relationship endures throughout the book – even as feelings deepen and they fall in love. The hurts, insecurities and newness of first love was well-written. I felt the reception of her sexual orientation to be best received by Liza’s father and brother.

And the ridiculousness of the school to expel her for loving who she loves – infuriating! I can’t believe that a school, teachers and students could behave that way – but only because I can never imagine myself behaving in such an atrocious manner. Reading the interview included at the end of the book, this reaction from the community is exactly what was happening back then. Shameful.

Once settled into the era, this is a good book with loads of high school drama, relationship woes, and the sweetness of first love. It also touches on how others perceive lesbians (and the greater LGBTQ community), stereotypes of lesbians, bias towards lesbians (and the greater LGBTQ community), and literature for and by lesbians. (The interview included at the end is well worth reading – it also includes a couple of books from earlier eras and how gays were portrayed in literature.)

Recommended for those who love sweet romance with a happy ending.

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Foklore in a Nutshell

The closest to a dark faery king I could find was the Erlking, immortalised in verse by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and put to song by Franz Schubert. There’s a translation to English by Sir Walter Scott. Basically, the Erlking is known in Germanic folklore as a dark and sinister elf who lives in the woods, and enjoys stalking and killing children.

A famous faery king, mostly thanks to Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, is Oberon. This faery king was popular in medieval and Renaissance literature. In some tales he helps humans with their quests, in others he is in a love triangle – real and imagined – with Mab and Titania.

After the Tuatha De Dannan were defeated by the Milesians in Ireland, they decided to make their homes beneath the earth. Entrances were caves, springs, cracks, and other clever ways. They were led by Finnbhear/Finvarra, son of Dagda. This faery king loved revels and frequently enticed mortal women to join him – and they usually returned home unscathed after a night of dancing. He also loved horses and rode a flaming-eyed steed.

It’s probably best to stay away from haunted woods.

Origin of the Fae

The Dark King. The Unseelie King. The Faerie King. Ciarán.

He rules the dark fae, the Dark Lands and his own castle within. Even the Unseen Unseelie answer to him.

He prefers to look like the modern depiction of a gorgeous vampire in a paranormal romance novel for reasons unknown.

He likes to sow chaos, especially when it will serve his greater goal of more power.

He follows his own rules and doesn’t care what others think of him.

He prefers to rule with fear.

He is just as powerful as the Faery Queen.

He has moments of kindness, though they are far outweighed by his propensity for cruelty.

You can read the full folklore post with references on my blog.

Blog Post: The Dark King

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About the Book

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A Craig

In a manor by the sea, twelve sisters are cursed.

Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor with her sisters and their father and stepmother. Once there were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls' lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last--the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge--and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods.

Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that her sister's deaths were no accidents. The girls have been sneaking out every night to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and shimmering slippers, and Annaleigh isn't sure whether to try to stop them or to join their forbidden trysts. Because who--or what--are they really dancing with?

When Annaleigh's involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it's a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family--before it claims her next. House of Salt and Sorrows is a spellbinding novel filled with magic and the rustle of gossamer skirts down long, dark hallways. Be careful who you dance with...

About the Book

House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A Craig

A modern masterpiece, this is a classic Gothic thriller-fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Erin A. Craig, about doomed love, menacing ambition, and the ghosts that haunt us forever.

In a manor by the sea, one sister is still cursed.

Despite dreams of adventures far beyond the Salann shores, seventeen-year-old Verity Thaumas has remained at her family’s estate, Highmoor, with her older sister Camille, while their sisters have scattered across Arcannia.

When their sister Mercy sends word that the Duchess of Bloem—wife of a celebrated botanist—is interested in having Verity paint a portrait of her son, Alexander, Verity jumps at the chance, but Camille won’t allow it. Forced to reveal the secret she’s kept for years, Camille tells Verity the truth one day: Verity is still seeing ghosts, she just doesn’t know it.

Stunned, Verity flees Highmoor that night and—with nowhere else to turn—makes her way to Bloem. At first, she is captivated by the lush, luxurious landscape and is quickly drawn to charming, witty, and impossibly handsome Alexander Laurent. And soon, to her surprise, a romance . . . blossoms.

But it’s not long before Verity is plagued with nightmares, and the darker side of Bloem begins to show through its sickly-sweet façade. . . .

Erin A Craig's Instagram

My Review

House of Salt and Sorrows

A friend had recommended this, warning that it’s a bit scary. The first half of the book was delightfully gothic, but nothing really scary. And then the penny dropped… Wow. The worldbuilding, the various twists and turns of the plot, and the horror underlying it all makes for a great novel.

I liked the retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, the magic of the world and how it all skirted the line between dark fantasy and horror.

There’s even a mystery – or several – to be unravelled. Before Annaleigh’s mind unravels. And there’s a romance thread woven through this island tale.

A lot of fun to read, moments of not knowing who to trust, and a fulfilling ending.

House of Roots and Ruin

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book. I had high hopes for this one as it had the most interesting sister (Verity) as the main character. But… The pacing is slow as it’s bogged down by a lot of description of the scenery and repetitive scenes (how many times can Alex be sweet?) – and the big no-no: peacocks screaming her awake every other page. I have peacocks, so I know how they sound. And their cute screeching during mating season isn’t the stuff of nightmares, so each time it’s described as such, I just stopped reading. Which is why it took me over two months to read this book…

There were interesting moments (ghosts, candles, a poison garden, the language of flowers, secret passage ways) which kept me interested enough to keep reading, but it only became interesting as a story about 60% in.

The letters that were strike-through, were difficult to read and didn’t add to the story, only to my irritation (see section on maligning peacocks).

For most of the book Verity is obtuse, bratty and has no agency except when running away from home – or scared of her own mind and every shadow/sound. Not quite a heroine to root for. It was very gothic-heroine of her to go traipsing around in her nightgown in the middle of the night in a (possible) haunted house. And even when she learns of the horrors of the house, is warned to leave by ghosts and Harbingers, not really feeling the same as her fiancé, she stays. Why?

There are action packed scenes, twists, and a very gothic ending – but the story is mired with too much description of the scenery. And unlike the cherished bonds of sisterhood that were so much part of the fabric of the first book, this one threw them off like unwanted shackles. The sisters were almost an afterthought.

I won’t be continuing the series.

Trigger warnings: Eugenics (can’t go into it as it gives away plot points), blood, ghosts, gaslighting, drugging unsuspecting women, abductions, drug-induced hallucinations.

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Foklore in a Nutshell

The Norns, Moirae, Parcae, Hadas, Feés, or whatever you want to call them, the Fates are fate personified. They control the fate of gods and mankind. Usually the Fates are three women who are often portrayed as spinning and cutting the skein of life. The triune figures can be found in Greek, Norse, Lappish, Indian and Irish myth under various names.

The Fates sometimes appear as an old woman (the past), a young woman (the present) and a veiled woman (the future) – though they can all look similar. Depending on the region, the Loom of Fate is woven with either thread or entrails.

Origin of the Fae

The Fates rule the destinies of all Fae and Mankind. They also decide the fate of those not so easily classified. Even the Cù Sìth are wary of them.

They can take on any form. Sometimes they like to be seen as old crones sharing a single eye. Other times they are seen in the passing seasons of life: a young woman, a middle-aged woman and an old woman. They can also appear as formless, hooded entities. Whatever their appearance, they are to be feared and revered.

They have spools of thread made up of Time, Life, Disease, etc. that they use to weave tapestries.

For fun, they watch the reactions of those who believe that they have more power than others (like the Valkyries and the Furies).

You can read the full folklore post with references on my blog.

Blog Post: The Fates

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About the Book

Death Valley by JF Penn

A merciless desert. An unstoppable storm. No way out.The Desert Sanctuary promises an exclusive escape for the ultra-wealthy—a five-star oasis in Death Valley's unforgiving landscape. But when a devastating sandstorm cuts the resort off from civilization, paradise becomes a prison. Then a killing ground.

Eight guests. Eight deadly secrets. A billionaire chasing immortality through illegal treatments. His trophy wife with lethal plans of her own. An eco-saboteur. A survivalist security chief. A guide haunted by the child she couldn't save. And a writer whose hunt for Spanish colonial treasure unearths horrors better left buried.

As flames consume the hotel and the storm strips away all pretense of civilization, each survivor must decide how far they'll go to escape—and who they'll sacrifice along the way.

In Death Valley, the only law is survival. The only way out is through hell itself.

Some secrets are buried for a reason. And some will kill to keep them that way.A standalone action-adventure survival thriller from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, J.F. Penn.

JF Penn's Instagram

My Review

I liked the description of the desert and all it’s made up of. Each of the POV characters had their own agendas, but Casey was the only relatable one. Each character’s motivations are given as you read, leaving nothing to guess at (except who will survive).

The snakes were my favourite.

There were a couple of repetitive sentences and phrases (maybe that’s just me) that drew me from the story. Because there were so many POV characters, I didn’t really get any emotional depth in the story. It’s fun to read, but I won’t be rereading it.

A fast-paced thriller about what humans hide beneath a thin veneer of civility and how nature is the great equaliser.

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Foklore in a Nutshell

Someone in charge of keeping the living and the dead from occupying the same space, making sure everyone is where they should be, and commanding the creatures who keep souls in line has long been the topic of folklore.

The Keeper’s job is most difficult around Samhain when the Veil between worlds are at its thinnest. Some festivities at that time of year, such as Día de los Muertos, is designed to lure souls to visit their living family. Other festivities, though, are designed to keep the souls away – dressing up in costumes and keeping bonfires lit are believed to scare off wandering souls.

In some cultures, the Otherworld kept from the land of the living with the Veil, was also guarded by dogs – most famously Cerberus, the three-headed dog of Hades.

There is a belief in some circles that the Veil is a metaphor for the boundary between the living and the dead, so much so that some call the Veil a hedge, mist or a gate. This, along with ancient beliefs of where the Otherworld exists, confuses people. Is there a veil between the Underworld where you are expected to go down into the earth and where you stand upon it? Is there a veil to cross if you sail west and enter the land of the dead?

Yes.

The Otherworld has many realms, as discussed in another post, and it is the duty of the Keeper of the Veil between worlds to keep the dead in the Otherworld and the living out of it.

In Greek mythology, Charon is the ferryman who takes the dead across the river Styx. But he also took a couple of living there for a fee: Hercules, Odysseus and Theseus to name a few, and they all returned from their adventure in the underworld, alive.

Which means that the Keeper of the Veil has her own agenda at which one can only guess. The Veil, though, has one job and it does it well.

Origin of the Fae

Mistress of the Veil. The Gatekeeper. The Ferryman. She is known by many names in many cultures.

Her job is to keep the Veil between the living and the dead intact, no matter their species.

She resents necromancers as they always chip away at her Veil, making it easier for those who shouldn’t to pass through.

Grimms work for her and act as her protectors and companions.

Though she is affiliated with death, she doesn’t obey anyone and is ruled by none (though Ankou believes she works for him).

Her job also includes making sure that humans hold up their part of the Compact by observing the rites of Samhain, Yule and other festivals.

You can read the full folklore post with references on my blog.

Blog Post: Keeper of the Veil

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About the Book

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

The year is 1926, and Shanghai hums to the tune of debauchery.

A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. At the heart of it all is eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai, a former flapper who has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang—a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. And behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette’s first love…and first betrayal.

But when gangsters on both sides show signs of instability culminating in clawing their own throats out, the people start to whisper. Of a contagion, a madness. Of a monster in the shadows. As the deaths stack up, Juliette and Roma must set their guns—and grudges—aside and work together, for if they can’t stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule.

Perfect for fans of The Last Magician and Descendant of the Crane, this heart-stopping debut is an imaginative Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, with rival gangs and a monster in the depths of the Huangpu River.

About the Book

Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong

Shanghai is under siege in this captivating and searingly romantic sequel to These Violent Delights, which New York Times bestselling author Natasha Ngan calls “deliciously dark.”

The year is 1927, and Shanghai teeters on the edge of revolution.

After sacrificing her relationship with Roma to protect him from the blood feud, Juliette has been a girl on the warpath. One wrong move, and her cousin will step in to usurp her place as the Scarlet Gang’s heir. The only way to save the boy she loves from the wrath of the Scarlets is to have him want her dead for murdering his best friend in cold blood. If Juliette were actually guilty of the crime Roma believes she committed, his rejection might sting less.

Roma is still reeling from Marshall’s death, and his cousin Benedikt will barely speak to him. Roma knows it’s his fault for letting the ruthless Juliette back into his life, and he’s determined to set things right—even if that means killing the girl he hates and loves with equal measure.

Then a new monstrous danger emerges in the city, and though secrets keep them apart, Juliette must secure Roma’s cooperation if they are to end this threat once and for all. Shanghai is already at a boiling point: The Nationalists are marching in, whispers of civil war brew louder every day, and gangster rule faces complete annihilation. Roma and Juliette must put aside their differences to combat monsters and politics, but they aren’t prepared for the biggest threat of all: protecting their hearts from each other.

Chloe Gong's Instagram

My Review

These Violent Delights

Lyrical prose, gruesome deaths, and violence fills the pages of this book. As well as the consuming love between Juliette and Roma amidst a blood feud that might be even worse than the monster and madness that haunts the streets of Shanghai.

I loved the detail of the city, the period, and the social issues faced by Juliette and the others.

Without giving too much away, the push and pull of violence, love, and vengeance in the book keeps one reading far past the mystery and madness of the world.

An intricate plot that keeps one guessing, yet not leaving one too surprised as revelations come. A heavy read, though, that doesn’t make one too keen to read the next book in a hurry despite the cliffhanger. (I couldn’t read anything else, either, for a week while my mind digested the book. But then I dove right into the sequel.)

I had a problem with the italics as it messes with my eyes and head, making it difficult to read and enjoy the book. Authors and publishers: please consider the neurodivergent when making decisions about italics so books are accessible to all.

A lot of French conversation. Which is fine – except when one isn’t fluent and some of the meaning gets lost without explanation either by action/reaction of others or some context.

Trigger warning: people ripping out their own throats, gun violence, blood, knife violence, death, insects.

Our Violent Ends

The obvious star-crossed lovers motif repeating with Rosalind and someone from the White Flowers and how it feeds into the traitor part of what’s going on – and how all that played out – was rather pitiful. And the contrast between Rosalind and what happened to her and Juliette underscores the difference in their places in the Scarlet Gang.

Kathleen – or rather Celia – found her purpose. I think her storyline probably has the one filled most with hope.

Benedikt and Marshall finally figure out what they feel for each other – in a city that would kill them if anyone found out.

Roma and Juliette go from all extremes – physically fighting each other to standing together against the enemy. A lot of what you expect from a Romeo and Juliette retelling happens, just with a lot more violence and blood, with the background of revolution and betrayal. Romeo and Juliette are quite volatile and passionate, making everything else fade in comparison. I like how they finally deal with the monster threat for good.

The ending will leave you with a lump in your throat.

A heavy, yet good story about how love and our choices determine who we truly are.

I had a problem with the italics as it messes with my eyes and head, making it difficult to read and enjoy the book. Authors and publishers: please consider the neurodivergent when making decisions about italics so books are accessible to all.

A lot of conversation in foreign languages (I recognised French and Russian, but there were others). Which is fine – except when one isn’t fluent and some of the meaning gets lost without explanation either by action/reaction of others or some context.

For some reason, the author decided to make unsavoury jokes in this book regarding Christianity and used the Lord’s name as an expletive. Not cool and not in keeping with the style of the first book.

Trigger warning: torture, people ripping out their own throats, gun violence, blood, knife violence, death, insects, monsters, executions, war, language, disowning of family.

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I’m not interested in getting paid for my podcasts. I feel like it’s about sharing my passion for folklore and books. If you like what I do and prefer buying me a coffee over buying my books, you can do that, too. All links on my website, Ronel the Mythmaker.

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Foklore in a Nutshell

The Dagda is a father-figure and protector. Tales about him depicts him as a figure of immense power. Early Celts called him “the good god” because he protected their crops.

He is associated with a magic cauldron of plenty; a huge, magic club, a richly ornamented harp made from oak that he uses to put the seasons in correct order (or command the order of battle); ever-laden fruit trees; and two pigs that he constantly slaughters and eats (they return magically to life just to be roasted and eaten again). His harp, Uaithne, not only causes the seasons to change, but it also plays three types of music: the music of sorrow, of joy and of dreaming.

He was once the High King of the Tuatha Dé Danann (a race of supernatural beings that conquered the Fomorians and fell to the Milesians in Ireland). His cauldron, club and harp were magical items the Tuatha Dé Danann had brought with them when they first conquered Ireland.

After the Tuatha Dé Danann retreated to the earth, Dagda became the Irish-Celtic god of the earth and treaties, and the ruler of life and death.

He is a master of magic, a fearsome warrior, a skilled artisan, and possess the wisdom to know when to interfere in the matters of others.

Origin of the Fae

Dagda is king of the Underworld. He has four castles – all spectacular – in the four corners of the world. He is perfectly toned with tattoos all over.

He possesses powerful magic.

He controls the growth of wheat and grass topside. Even in droughts he can make it grow so people won’t starve.

He is able to grant wishes – that is why he’s known as the Wishmaster. Wishes don’t come cheap: something has to be bargained.

Dagda was once a powerful figure in Faerie, but he overstepped his bounds and the Dark King punished him by making him the king of the Underworld: a place where souls from the Mortal Realm and Faerie have to wait for judgement once Dullahans have delivered them there.

You can read the full folklore post with references on my blog.

Blog Post: Dagda

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About the Book

White Smoke by Tiffany D Jackson

The Haunting of Hill House meets Get Out in this chilling YA psychological thriller and modern take on the classic haunted house story from New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson!

Marigold is running from ghosts. The phantoms of her old life keep haunting her, but a move with her newly blended family from their small California beach town to the embattled Midwestern city of Cedarville might be the fresh start she needs. Her mom has accepted a new job with the Sterling Foundation that comes with a free house, one that Mari now has to share with her bratty ten-year-old stepsister, Piper.

The renovated picture-perfect home on Maple Street, sitting between dilapidated houses, surrounded by wary neighbors has its . . . secrets. That’s only half the problem: household items vanish, doors open on their own, lights turn off, shadows walk past rooms, voices can be heard in the walls, and there’s a foul smell seeping through the vents only Mari seems to notice. Worse: Piper keeps talking about a friend who wants Mari gone.

But “running from ghosts” is just a metaphor, right?

As the house closes in, Mari learns that the danger isn’t limited to Maple Street. Cedarville has its secrets, too. And secrets always find their way through the cracks.

Tiffany D Jackson's Instagram

My Review

It’s scary. But only when the dog is threatened. Left in the car – he could have died. Sleeping in her room – with all the essential oils and other stuff she burns to chill, his allergies (yes, dogs have allergies) will drive him mad if his lungs don’t shut off first. She runs away from the house – and the ghosts – leaving him behind to fend for himself. Okay, now for purposeful scariness involving the dog: the whimpers from the basement were chilling and, of course, the alarms threatening the dog. But the rest? Meh. Perhaps that’s just me and the life experiences I’ve had. And perhaps I care more about an innocent animal than a girl who refuses to deal with her issues except with weed.

It was good until the “twist” where it changed from horror to psychological thriller and fell flat. The underlying psychological thriller aspect where people do horrible things out of fear was good. The horror aspect was meh. And seeing as this was touted as horror: I’m not impressed. The dog is the real hero in this book and the only one who actually knew what was going on and doing something about it.

And the ending? Really, that’s it? Everything on fire, the bad guys getting away with it, the dog safe. Sounds like real life, not horror. Disappointing.

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About the Book

A Song Below Water by Bethany C Morrow

Tavia is already at odds with the world, forced to keep her siren identity under wraps in a society that wants to keep her kind under lock and key. Nevermind she's also stuck in Portland, Oregon, a city with only a handful of black folk and even fewer of those with magical powers. At least she has her bestie Effie by her side as they tackle high school drama, family secrets, and unrequited crushes.

But everything changes in the aftermath of a siren murder trial that rocks the nation; the girls’ favorite Internet fashion icon reveals she's also a siren, and the news rips through their community. Tensions escalate when Effie starts being haunted by demons from her past, and Tavia accidentally lets out her magical voice during a police stop. No secret seems safe anymore—soon Portland won’t be either.

About the Book

A Chorus Rises by Bethany C Morrow

The Hate U Give meets Shadowshaper in Bethany C. Morrow's A Chorus Rises, a brilliant contemporary fantasy set in the world of A Song Below Water.

Teen influencer Naema Bradshaw has it all: she's famous, privileged, has “the good hair”— and she’s an Eloko, a person who’s gifted with a song that woos anyone who hears it. Everyone loves her — well, until she's cast as the awful person who exposed Tavia’s secret siren powers.

Now, she's being dragged by the media. No one understands her side: not her boyfriend, not her friends, nor her Eloko community. But Naema knows the truth and is determined to build herself back up — no matter what.

When a new, flourishing segment of Naema’s online supporters start targeting black girls, however, Naema must discover the true purpose of her magical voice.

Bethany C Morrow's Instagram

My Review

A Song Below Water

The girls – and most of their community – live in a state of constant fear. Though it is Portland (portrayed as forward-thinking and mostly safe), the girls know that they aren’t ever truly safe. Micro-aggressions from others abound – the way the mothers of the non-Black girls treated them on the day of the protest might seem like they were concerned, though it is something that stood out. And our siren heroine being pulled down by the cops – not for anything she did, but for driving while Black. Cringe. Then there’s the true violence, not even just aggression, at the prom when that twit out to destroy other girls wears a siren collar (she’s not a siren, but one of the revered elokos, and the collar won’t do anything to her, but it would silence a siren).

Effie doesn’t know what she is, but the blackouts and peeling skin puts even more fear into her life. And her sister (Tavia) fears anyone finding out that she’s a siren in a world where sirens (only Black girls and women can be a siren) are feared and hated.

But beyond all this fear is an excellent story of love, sisterhood and standing up for what’s right, even when the consequences can be severe. The mythology, all the awesome magical creatures, and the mystery surrounding Effie makes it a magical tale.

I love the gargoyle (no spoilers) and his involvement with the girls. And once Effie’s magical side is revealed… Wow. No spoilers, but it’s a great twist.

The main theme – people fearing Black women with a voice – is handled well and woven through the story without punching you in the face.

A highly enjoyable, thought-provoking book about two young women finding their place in the world – and choosing who they are, instead of accepting how others have chosen for them.

A Chorus Rises

So, the story of the twit who tried to destroy Tavia and Effie in the previous book… There’s probably supposed to be a redemption arc, but the fact that she can’t see what she did wrong, feels victimised because people no longer fear sirens, and try to control everyone around her, just works on my nerves. Not even the mystery of eloko magic can keep me reading. A let-down after the amazing (can totally stand-alone) “A Song Below Water”.
DNF 19%

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Foklore in a Nutshell

There are various notable warriors in folklore, some more powerful than others.

Beawulf, master tactician with unprecedented strength, killed a rampaging monster and its monster mother without much effort, killed a couple of sea serpents while out swimming, and got rid of a dragon terrorising his people. He was a wise king, brought peace, and took out monsters without weapons if the need arose.

Cú Chulainn’s mere presence on the battlefield was enough to make his enemies tremble – so much so that when he died during battle, he tied himself to a rock with his own intestines to keep upright so he would seem alive. Strength, cunning, agility, loyalty, battle rage to rival the Hulk, a spear that can kill anyone and an awesome sword – this guy had it all.

Berserkers worshipped Odin, were unruly warriors who attached themselves to royalty as bodyguards, were savage in battle, and were a contributing factor to the myth of werewolves thanks to their penchant for wearing wolf skins in battle.

Samurai, the warrior nobility, began as imperial guards and continued to be part of the ruling class. They had to keep the peace between the clans and were the only ones who had the right to carry a katana – though this alienated them from other classes. The samurai had an unwritten, unspoken code of honour, discipline and morality. They could fight with spears, bows and arrows, and, of course, the katana.

The Assassins lived in the mountains of Persia. Through covert murder of leaders they considered enemies of their state, they kept peace in their region. These warriors were skilled in espionage, hand-to-hand combat as well as assassination. Their preferred method of killing was by dagger, not arrows or poison. The modern term “assassination” comes from the tactics used by the Assassins.

Many others exist, but to talk about them all would be longer than could fit into a nutshell.

Origin of the Fae

No-one knows where he came from. Everyone knows that he isn’t born from either Court. He is as powerful as the Dark King, the Faery Queen, and the King of the Dead. He walks unhindered between Realms. He is a powerful warrior. He silences those who oppose the monarchs. He prefers spending time in the Seelie Court. He is feared by everyone.

He lives by his own code of honour: when fae are in trouble, he does what is necessary to save them. And when Faerie is in trouble, he does what he thinks is right to keep her safe.

You can read the full folklore post with references on my blog.

Blog Post: The Assassin

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About the Book

Shadow Touched by Heather Marie Adkins

One by one, Senka Hollow residents are falling to the shadows.

Agent Maurelle Nez was hand-picked by the Reina to track down the worst of the shadow touched and bring them in - dead or alive - and she’s good at her job. So good the shadow touched call her “Reaper.” Relle isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty in the name of the Hollow and the sleeping princess she adores.

But all is not well in Senka Hollow - Senka’s power is fading. When someone close to Relle is murdered, an underground infection is exposed: the council is failing, and more than one person in charge has been shadow-touched.

Then Senka rises and death comes to the Hollow.

Seemingly unaffected by the darkness embodied in Senka, Relle must find a way to restore the princess before she destroys the entire population. Her journey will take her deep into her Navajo heritage and make her question everything she knows about being shadow touched.

Fans of Kim Harrison and Divergent won’t want to miss this harsh dystopian with faeries and magick that barrels into a breathless, beautiful conclusion.

Heather Marie Adkins Goodreads

My Review

I liked the blending of technology and magic, of darkness and light, fae and humans, in this dystopian setting where humans and fae alike had nearly destroyed the world in their greed and pursuit of power.

Vivid descriptions, interesting use of Navajo myths (I assume it is the true folklore and not just made up to fit the story – it is the best part!), and great worldbuilding.

Everyone Relle encounters has a purpose in the story. Everything Relle notices has a part to play. The emotional aspects (her relationships) are well crafted.

I like that she’s this badass protector and that she can make it even better through her choices.

The book could have done with a round of proofreading (missing words, typos, spelling mistakes), but it doesn’t distract too much from the gripping story.

The language did get to me a bit (using the f-word twice in a row with nothing in between is a bit too much cursing).

An entertaining dark dystopian faery fantasy with a sassy heroine and a gorgeous guy who makes her see the world in a new light.

Trigger warning: violence, domestic abuse, murder, language

*I read this as part of the Relics and Runes boxset.

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You can listen to this post in English or Afrikaans at the end of this post.

Foklore in a Nutshell

Cats figure in the history and folklore of many nations and are a favourite with artists and writers. Everyone knows that cats have nine lives – and this lore comes from their apparent durability as they survive falls that would be fatal to others, their nonchalant attitude that can be perceived as lack of any instinct for self-preservation, and the way they seem to stare right through you.

Black cats seem to chop off at every corner: since medieval times they’re seen as either witches in disguise or as familiars who work with witches and thus harbingers of black magic, seeing one from behind is a bad omen, if it walks away from you it’s bad luck, if it crosses your path it’s bad luck, and it is even blamed for putting its nose to that of a new-born baby and sucking the life out of it.

Except in the UK: there black cats are held as being good luck and white cats (apparently the colour of ghosts) are held to be unlucky.

In Ancient Egypt, Bast is the goddess of cats. She is portrayed with the head of a cat and as the protector of cats. And she’s usually depicted as a beautiful black cat.

In Norse mythology, Freyja has two black cats who pull her chariot.

Seems not everyone equates black cats with death and darkness…

In Ireland, though, a black cat with a white patch of fur on its chest is known as the King of the Cats, Caìt Sìth or Grimalkin. This cat is indeed a faery. The only way to keep this mischievous cat happy is to leave out a saucer of cream. Even Shakespeare has Gimalkin in one of his plays: Macbeth, Act I, the first witch says “I come, Graymalkin” when her feline familiar calls.

Whether you believe them magical or not, if you stare too deeply into a cat’s eyes, you’ll see visions of a faery world which spies on you through those self-same eyes… or maybe that’s just the pain of getting scratched after challenging the cat!

Origin of the Fae

Faery Cat in Scottish Mythology that usually presents as a black cat with gem colour eyes.

They have no true allegiance, though rarely they do form a strong bond with another Faery.

They use Mindspeak to communicate and are usually cheeky. They speak as they wish.

Normally they bring misfortune on all humans who see them. They are mischievous in nature. Some do have ill-will towards humans.

They can make themselves invisible at will – even to other Fae.

The only known alliance between the Cù Sìth and the Caìt Sìth is that of the Cù Sìth Saphira and the Caìt Sìth Jade.

You can read the full folklore post with references on my blog.

Blog Post: Faery Cats

Thanks for reading/watching/listening. I hope you enjoyed the content. If you don’t want to miss a post, please subscribe.

Subscribe now

Remember that you can also find me on other platforms.

LinkTree

I’m not interested in getting paid for my podcasts. I feel like it’s about sharing my passion for folklore and books. If you like what I do and prefer buying me a coffee over buying my books, you can do that, too. All links on my website, Ronel the Mythmaker.

Ronel the Mythmaker