Title: The Sisters Grimm Author: Menna van Praag Publisher: Harper Voyager Publication date: March 31, 2020 Genre: Fantasy Summary: When a demon seeks to dominate humanity and spread darkness, he fathers a string of sons and daughters, pitting them against each other once his daughters turn 18 before giving them the choice of joining his side. Goldie, Scarlet, Bea, and Liyana are four such daughters. As children they discovered the unique link between them, their powers, and a magical place called Everwhere that can only be accessed in dreams at certain points in their lives, and specific gates. When they turned 13, Everwhere became lost to them, as well as their memories of the place and…
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Book Review: Realm of Ash by Tasha Suri
Title: Realm of Ash Author: Tasha Suri Publisher: Orbit Publication date: November 12, 2019 Genre: Fantasy Summary: The Ambhan Empire has been plagued by a curse, which seems to have become worse since the death of the Maha. Now that the Emperor lies near death, it becomes gravely apparent to young widow Arwa, who hides the true lineage of her blood and the curse it carries, and bastard prince Zahir they must find the answers from their ancestors in the treacherous realm of ash. This is the second book in the Books of Ambha series. I did not know that going in, but I don’t feel like I necessarily needed to have read the first book.…
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Book Review: Pricked by Scott Mooney
Title: Pricked Author: Scott Mooney Publisher: Bleeding Ink Publishing Publication date: August 13, 2019 Genre: Fantasy Summary: Briar is summoned to meet with Count Grimmour and hired to find his daughter’s boyfriend, a Know Not that doesn’t know about the fairy tale world hidden from view in New York City. The boyfriend, Rick, has been kidnapped, and Briar is tasked with using her unique magic to find him as all the wizards have failed. At her side is the knight Antoine, who both protects her and divulges important information about the Royals. With time working against them (they only have three days to find Rick, and it’s actually less than that as some of that…
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Book Review: If Only by Melanie Murphy
Title: If Only Author: Melanie Murphy Publisher: Hatchette Books Ireland Publication date: June 6, 2019 Genre: Fiction, Women’s fiction Summary: Erin has just broken up with her fiance, has a job she hates, and is jealous of her new flatmate who is basically everything she isn’t. On the bright side, she has a fantastic friend in Reid, has just discovered her childhood friend Finn has moved to the same building, and is about to celebrate her thirtieth birthday with her beloved grandmother in Ireland. But her granny has a surprise for her: a special pendant that can give her the opportunity to briefly live a life she could have had that will…
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The Weekly Question #3
Do you believe in magic? Since I’m taking this blog in a magical direction, I’m curious to know how many people believe in magic. I don’t remember what first introduced me to fantasy and magic, but I had fallen into fantasy books by the time I was 10. A lot of my memories are of magic, witches, and dragons. I spent a lot of my free time devouring them, or trying desperately to make magic work. I tried writing my own spells and reciting the words given to me in the books I read. This was years before Harry Potter, though I tried those, too. I used to wish on…
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Motherhood is Magical: Redefining The Lily Cafe
Lately, I’ve been struggling with my motherhood posts. I’ve gotten caught in wanting to both fit in with other mom bloggers even though motherhood is only one focus of The Lily Cafe and with trying to talk about the kind of mom I am, which sometimes is at odds with what other mom bloggers write about. I adore reading mom blogs. I’ve found honesty, funny stories, encouragement, and a plethora of ideas. But the more and longer I read them, the more I feel out of place. After trying to fit in last year, I decided to focus on my mom truths and write about how I raise my kids,…
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Gates to Asphodel, Chapter 23
Recap: Corey’s parents had an argument about her and were found dead the next morning. Corey then meets Detective Skylar Adams. She is later adopted by Helen and Andy. Two years later, Corey is in school and meets a friend, Terese, and the class bully, Sandra. One day, two students are found dead and Corey meets Detective Adams again. Corey starts 2nd grade, which brings her face to face with a terrifying new teacher. As you can expect, her teacher does not last long. And then neither do her adopted parents, but things look up as Corey may have found a forever family. Corey moves in with Detective Adams and his…
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Gates to Asphodel, Chapter 20
Recap: Corey’s parents had an argument about her and were found dead the next morning. Corey then meets Detective Skylar Adams. She is later adopted by Helen and Andy. Two years later, Corey is in school and meets a friend, Terese, and the class bully, Sandra. One day, two students are found dead and Corey meets Detective Adams again. Corey starts 2nd grade, which brings her face to face with a terrifying new teacher. As you can expect, her teacher does not last long. And then neither do her adopted parents, but things look up as Corey may have found a forever family. Corey moves in with Detective Adams and his…
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Gates to Asphodel, Chapter 19
Recap: Corey’s parents had an argument about her and were found dead the next morning. Corey then meets Detective Skylar Adams. She is later adopted by Helen and Andy. Two years later, Corey is in school and meets a friend, Terese, and the class bully, Sandra. One day, two students are found dead and Corey meets Detective Adams again. Corey starts 2nd grade, which brings her face to face with a terrifying new teacher. As you can expect, her teacher does not last long. And then neither do her adopted parents, but things look up as Corey may have found a forever family. Corey moves in with Detective Adams and his…
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Gates to Asphodel, Chapter 18
Recap: Corey’s parents had an argument about her and were found dead the next morning. Corey then meets Detective Skylar Adams. She is later adopted by Helen and Andy. Two years later, Corey is in school and meets a friend, Terese, and the class bully, Sandra. One day, two students are found dead and Corey meets Detective Adams again. Corey starts 2nd grade, which brings her face to face with a terrifying new teacher. As you can expect, her teacher does not last long. And then neither do her adopted parents, but things look up as Corey may have found a forever family. Corey moves in with Detective Adams and his…
