Enchanting New Releases: Perilous Enchantment and Enchanted Village

20 Oct
Cover of Perilous Enchantment: The True History of Faeries by Sarah Clegg. Illustrations depicts a group of men in robes and women in dresses some of whom have wings and one wearing a crown is riding a horse. It is night and above them fly birds and in two trees sit a figure in a red cap with pointed ears and a woman with an apron and a broom.
Cover of Enchanted Village by Lily Starling. Illustration of snow covered village with a castle in the background on a steep hill. The buildings are decorated for Christmas. Two small dragons fly overhead.

Perilous Enchantment: The True History of Faeries
by Sarah Clegg
Perilous Enchantment: The True History of Faeries is Sarah Clegg’s intriguing new nonfiction work about faeries and how their stories have evolved throughout European history. She also looks at various figures like elves and nymphs whose legends merged with those of fairies available on 10/27. Clegg visits various fairy related sights throughout the world and recounts legends and myths related to them. This brings alive what otherwise could have been a more dry scholarly account. It was a bit like reading the actual Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries if it were a nonfiction and not a fantasy work. Fans of Heather Fawcett’s novel and other fairy fantasy works will definitely want to check this out, but be warned Clegg looks at some of the darker aspects of faerie legends that can be intense. It gave me a greater appreciation of contemporary faerie fantasy novels such as urban fantasies and romantasies, and how they are a part of a larger storytelling history of faeries. A must read for Faerie fans!

Enchanted Village
by Lily Starling
Enchanted Village is the fun new grumpy/sunshine romance from Lily Starling. Margaret is from a magical family, but has no magical abilities herself, yet she continues to run the family’s tavern The Toasty Owl in the charming village of Hex Hollow. Margaret has a prickly disposition, but is still well thought of by her neighbors and can charm any magical creature and create the perfect cup of hot chocolate. When a new handsome Science teacher arrives from the non-magical world to teach at the nearby wizarding school, he attempts to help save Margaret’s business from the new competition, but he also might be the perfect match for her. The story alternates between the two love interests’ perspectives, something I enjoy since it gives a richer picture of their relationship. This is perfect if you were a Harry Potter fan as a child and as an adult now wonder what it would be like to teach at Hogswarts or live in the Hogsmeade. Fans of Travis Baldree’s Legends and Lattes and Sarah Beth Durst’s The Spellshop will enjoy this story.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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Quirky Whodunits: Jay to the World & Death and Fromage

15 Oct
Cover of Jay to the World: A Meg Langslow Mystery by New York Times Bestselling Author of Five Golden Wings, Donna Andrews. Features a drawing of six jays with Santa hats and red scarfs surrounding and pulling wrapped packages out of a mailbox decorated with Christmas lights and garland.
Cover of Death and Fromage: A Novel by Ian Moore. Features a blue cover with red white and blue stripes around the edge. There is a red hand print and a spilled glass of red wine depicted.

Jay to the World
by Donna Andrews
Jay to the World is the newest book in my favorite Meg Langslow mystery series by Donna Andrews. This story is set during Christmas season, but the mystery has appeal beyond the holiday season. When Meg’s mother is attacked, Meg learns that she has been receiving threatening letters. There are plenty of red herrings and this one of the more action-packed stories of series. Of course, it is still full of the cozy charm long term readers like myself expect such as a sweet storyline about Meg’s blue jay loving niece. The story also involves the local woman’s shelter and though nothing is particularly graphic in the story, those who are particularly triggered by violence against women should be aware. If you haven’t previously read this mysteries series and love mysteries with quirky characters than this is one you should definitely check out.

Death and Fromage
by Ian Moore
Death and Fromage is the second in Ian Moore’s Follet Valley Mystery series about a British ex-pat who is running a B&B in France. Richard is enjoying a gourmet tasting menu at a restaurant in a nearby village when controversy erupts over the use of vegan goat cheese in the chef’s signature dish. When the cheese supplier turns up dead in one of the pasteurization tanks it leads to speculation over whether he chose to end his life or he was murdered. This had been in my tbr list for a while after enjoying the previous novel in the series Death and Croissants. I found this story to also be a funny whodunnit and it will delight fans of humorous mysteries as well as fans of stories about British expats such as Peter Mayle’s memoirs set in Provence.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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