Ellen Read

There were so many elements I enjoyed in this story; mystery, a hint of the supernatural, myth, history and a little romance, all masterfully woven together. The novel's action takes place in the 1920's on a grand estate outside Melbourne, where twenty-one year old Alexandra Thornton lives with her father. The house is full of rare antiques collected by the Thornton family over the years but when a Ming dragon statue is added to the collection, drama ensues, with tragic consequences. show more Alexandra delves into the past to find out the history of the family’s draconic connection, hunting for clues to the mystery at hand.

Penned in an unhurried style, with careful attention to prose, the novel has a real Downton Abbey feel to it. Perfect for readers who like history, mystery and romance. show less

As someone who has been interested in the Celts and Celtic mythology for many years, this book appealed to me immediately. The author has a love of Irish myths and legends which comes across right away. Bree is a young woman of eighteen who has been raised by her aunt in a very confined environment: the interior of a cave. Her aunt, Áine, has educated her to a point using books about the gods, goddesses and heroes, of the Tuatha Dé Danann, Bree’s people. In this reimagining, they had to show more leave their original homeland and split into three companies. One went to Ireland, one to Tir Na Nog, and another seems to have disappeared. But Áinewill not answer a lot of Bree’s questions. She does, however, emphasise that it is Bree’s duty to guard the ancient flame in a little cauldron in a room in their cave home, and the reason becomes clear when an earthquake occurs, which Áine confesses means that Bree’s mother, the Triple Goddess, has died. Bree is thus able to bond with the flame as her mother did. Then the god Lu (whose name I’m more used to seeing as Lugh) arrives to bring them out of exile.

I liked the development of the main character from naïve young woman to one who gradually gains in confidence and is able to take on a leadership role. Also her relationship with Lu starts off prickly but it is obvious there is a mutual attraction despite Bree’s belief that Lu dislikes her or even that he is jealous of her position. There were plenty of mythical characters included, some taken from Greek mythology or other legends, such as centaurs and unicorns, and I especially liked Niamh, the fairy who befriends Bree. I did think that Áine’s role as Queen of the Fairies could have been expanded a bit, as it wasn’t really clear how she, a seemingly ordinary woman, related to tiny creatures which glow and fly. But perhaps that will be explored in a later volume.

Every story requires an antagonist of some kind for the main character to struggle against and prove themselves in the process and in this, Mor, a creepy character with great power, loosely based on the Morrigan of Celtic myth, is Bree’s opponent.

The book has low key romance and fantasy violence but nothing too graphic in either respect, and I think suits a young adult audience. The plotline is linear and very straightforward. There was some repetition when Bree spoke her incantation, naming her various aspects, which could have been covered later on by just saying that she did just that rather than repeating it all each time, but that was a minor niggle. Bree and Lu were my favourite characters, and I found it an enjoyable read.

Thanks to the author for an ARC of this. I am rating it as 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. show less

It's the 1920s and Thomas Thornton, antiques dealer, is hosting a weekend party at his home, Thornton Park, near Melbourne, with his twenty-one year old daughter, Alexandra, as hostess. But the atmosphere seems strained even while the guests view the priceless artefacts on display in the house, and heighten when a body is discovered in the orchard. Theft and threats continue, but will more bodies be discovered.
An entertaining historical cozy mystery with just the right amount of romance. A show more well-written story and a good start to the series with its cast of well-defined and interesting characters.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only show less

Alexandra Thornton, while working at his father's antique shop, becomes suspicious of a customer. Will her actions result in success or embarrassment for Alexandra and her friend Edith Blackburn
An enjoyable short story