Tag Archives: fantasy

Artful Fantasy: A Portrait of a Witch Undone and The Art of Charming a Changeling

25 Aug


A Portrait of a Witch Undone
by Kate Shay
Dark fantasy fans will want to check out Portrait of a Witch Undone, the new novel by Kate Shay, a suspenseful tale of a young witch who must discover her true power in order to save her best friend and the coven that has rejected her.  Shay has created an intriguing alternate Boston, along with the surrounding marshes, that are painted with great verisimilitude with details such as the Gardner Museum and its artwork. Having lived there for two years and recently revisited on my last summer vacation I loved seeing all the details that make Boston unique. For those of you in the Hoboken area, the marshes will also remind you of those in the nearby meadowlands. Warning: you’ll be looking for mysterious witch lights there when you pass by after reading this since these real world details are infused with magical unique moments that set this apart from other witch fictions. If you enjoyed A Discovery of Witches, Practical Magic, and Kim Harrison’s Shadow Age series, then Portrait of a Witch Undone will have you spellbound.

The Art of Charming a Changeling
by Sylvie Cathral
The Art of Charming a Changeling is a sweet cozy fantasy set in a magical and more diverse Regency world where fairies are real and live in a world revolving around art. Florrie Hyverfell is a conservator, who on her first day working for a prince realizes that not only is a famous portrait a fake, but there is a trapped fairy, Vern, inside the painting. She has to find the original to keep her job and rescue Vern from captivity. Fans of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels will enjoy the clever humor and fantastic spin on historic fiction. This is also a great pick if you are looking for a fun, light fantasy romance beach read this summer. I was truly charmed by the world Cathral created which had as much whimsy of Alice in Wonderland including a giant butterfly who survives by sipping colors, which may be my new favorite animal sidekick. If you also enjoy The Art of Charming a Changeling, you can also check out Cathral’s Sunken Archives series.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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Quirky Fantasies: The Moonsingers & That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon

14 Jul

The Moonsingers
by Robyn J Pritzker
Ismay Beghart has never felt like she fits in, while her sister is content with attending balls and a life of leisure, Ismay wants to feel useful, but her efforts at becoming a teacher have not gone as planned and when she leaves her last post humiliated, she takes a position in a far away village tutoring three very unusual girls. I found The Moonsingers to be a fresh and unusual take on the typical fairy tale. Ismay is an interesting protagonist, she makes mistakes and often feels awkward but still manages to charm with her compassion. Neurodivergent readers may especially find her relatable, but she will will appeal to anyone looking for a unique and not stereotypical heroine. If you like The Moonsingers you may also enjoy The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna.

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon
by Kimberly Lemming
That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon is a very silly story filled with absurd situations that manages to be uniquely original while still satirizing some of the popular tropes of fantasy cozies and steamy romantasies including modern language as well as culinary creations one would not expect to find in a medievalesque world. I felt the story would have been stronger if the author had not relied so heavily on cliched language in her descriptions, but her humor was well timed and kept me reading. If you are looking for something light and funny to bring with you to the beach or for a plane trip, than this would be a good pick. There are additional volumes in Mead Mishaps series and Lemming also has a series of equally ridiculous Science Fiction Series: Cosmic Chaos.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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