Countdown to 2026: Day 9 – Fairy Lights – something magical
9 December 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Countdown to 2026, Day 9, Fairy Lights, Louisa Morgan, Something Magical, The Faerie Morgana
Once again I am counting down to the New Year, as with the previous years I shall be highlighting at least one book per day to fit the prompt on that given day. The main aim for this countdown is to highlight some of my reads during the past year and to shine the spotlight on them once again (although some of the prompts relate to forthcoming reads).
Today is Day 9 of the countdown to 2026 and a list of prompts can be found here if you wish to join me in counting down to 2026 and casting a spotlight on some of your favourite books.
Today’s Prompt : Fairy Lights – something magical:
The Faerie Morgana by Louisa Morgan
Beautifully written and full of magic. I’ve taken a quote from my review which demonstrates not only just how much I loved this but also how well it fits today’s prompt – the author ‘managed to transport me to a mythical world full of magic and superstition, court politics and intrigue’. A story to be savoured.
22 Days Remaining
Tomorrow’s prompt: Under the Tree – a book you forgot you owned
Review: The Faerie Morgana by Louisa Morgan
8 September 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, Books, Fantasy, fiction, Louisa Morgan, Review, The Faerie Morgana
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Beautifully written reimagining of Morgana
The Faerie Morgana is a book that I hesitated over requesting initially purely based on the fact that there have been so many different versions and adaptations of King Arthur over the years, but what swayed me is that I really like the way this author writes and I was fascinated that Morgana would be the main focus of the story. And, this doesn’t disappoint.
Morgan brings to us a refreshing take on the myth of Morgana and I thoroughly enjoyed her take on the story and the small found family members that she is eventually surrounded by.
At a very young age Morgana is given over into the service of the Lady and is taken to the temple on an Isle shrouded in trees, mist and mystery. From this point her life’s work is to assist ‘the one true king’ and she takes her responsibility very seriously.
I’m not going to go over the full story here because some of the paths chosen follow a well trod path whilst others bring a new light to bear on some of the characters, particularly reversing the tables on former villains, etc.
What I really enjoyed about this.
First and foremost, the writing. This is a beautifully told story and I can genuinely say I enjoyed every aspect. The settings come to life, veering between the castle and the temple and the characters are all perfectly formed. I have such a lot of respect for this author, she managed to transport me to a mythical world full of magic and superstition, court politics and intrigue.
Second, the characters are spot on. Morgana is frankly wonderful. Here she is Arthur’s half sister, sworn to his service and the most gifted Priestess of the Lady. She is tall, graceful and willowy and quickly becomes a favourite with those who visit the isle in search of potions and remedies. Some people, of course, fear her and believe her to be a witch but in fact she has a strict moral code and never veers from it (and let’s face it, over time, any woman who knew the smallest thing about healing or herbs was basically named witch). Her friend and handmaiden is Braithe, with little (or no) magic Braithe knows she will not become one of the Nine (Priestesses) and instead dedicates her service to Morgana. Braithe is such a breath of fresh air, fresh faced and rosy cheeked she captures the attention of a young Arthur who captures her heart. Then we have the Blackbird (Merlin by another name) greatly revered, he’s not above making mistakes himself, he keeps many secrets, even from Morgana who is his chosen one and firm favourite. Now, in this rendering Gwenvere is a scheming manipulator who seems to capture the hearts and minds of those she focuses on – including Arthur and Lancelin. Literally, these characters are all fascinating to read about, although Morgana clearly steals the show it was refreshing to have a great supporting cast.
Finally, the settings were all so easy to imagine and frankly lovely to spend time in. Arthur is a much loved character and his interactions with Morgana were intriguing and enjoyable. Gwenvere is cunning and dangerous, not to be trusted but definitely worth keeping close to.
In case I wasn’t clear above. I really enjoyed The Faerie Morgana and have no hesitation in recommending it – but I would also point out that this isn’t the sort of novel that you will blast through, and although there is plenty of action going on with skirmishes with the Saxons and battles with the Romans, this takes place off page. This is a more gentle, magical tale. Also, if you’re familiar with the Arthurian tales you’ll know how this ends and in that respect this is no different.
In conclusion, absolutely beautiful reimagining of Morgana that paints her in a new light.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 4.5 of 5 stars.
Best of the Best
1 January 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Best of 2023, Best of the Best, Danielle Valentine, Elodie Harper, Josiah Bancroft, Laura Purcell, Louisa Morgan, Mark Lawrence, Richard swan, Robert Dinsdale, T Kingfisher, Tananarive Due
As with previous years at the start of each year I take a look back over the past twelve months and choose my top ten books. This year, without dwelling too much upon things, was something of a shocker for me due to family matters and my reading and blogging was forced to take a back seat. I didn’t read for probably about three months and my blogging came to a complete stop. Fortunately, later in the year I got myself back on board. This past year I’ve read just shy of 80 books – which is probably the least amount of books I’ve read for years – but, I’ve had some fantastic reads and so choosing ten books was still difficult. But here goes:
***
The Whispering Muse by Laura Purcell
I love Laura Purcell’s writing, she is the queen of all things gothic and The Whispering Muse is another great novel in which she comes into her own.
Set in the theatre this is a dark and atmospheric read. It revolves around five key plays that reflect the story as it progresses. It’s a tale involving plenty of drama, unholy deals that come at a price, jealousy, ambition and tragedy.
***
A House With Good Bones by T Kingfisher
T Kingfisher is a relatively new to me author but I’m enjoying her work very much. In fact Nettle and Bone was on my ‘best of’ list last year.
This is a Southern Gothic horror that manages to temper the creepy horror elements with a good dose of humour and brings us a wonderful central character who has a great outlook on life.
***
The Tyranny of Faith by Richard Swan
This is the second book in the Empire of the Wolf series. The Justice of the Kings is the first book in the series and is a fantastic start. Fortunately, this second in series doesn’t suffer from middle book syndrome. This is a rollercoaster of a ride emotionally, the characters continue to impress and the story is packed with treachery and surprise. I highly recommend this series and can’t wait to jump into the third instalment.
***
The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence
Mark Lawrence is one of my favourite authors. I’ve read all of his series and it’s absolutely astonishing to me that he keeps on producing such amazing books. To be honest I’d be hard pressed to pick a favourite book or series but I would say that The Book that Wouldn’t Burn is a serious contender for the crown.
This first in series is without doubt a masterpiece. It blew me away. The whole story is so overwhelmingly clever and gripping. The tension is off the charts and the long story in play is just brilliant.
***
Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine
Delicate Condition is a psychological thriller with a surprise twist. I was a little bit hesitant about picking this one up initially and so I’m really happy that I made the right choice – it would have been such a shame to miss out on this one.
This really was a very absorbing read. The main protagonist seems to suffer a constant string of ‘things’ or mishaps that for the most part seem coincidental or imaginary. The author throws in plenty of red herrings along the way and the tension is really cranked up as the conclusion goes into complete overdrive. A compelling read with a twisted ending.
***
The Hexologist by Josiah Bancroft
My first book by this author – and definitely the kick in the pants I need to go back and pick up his Babel series!
The Hexologists is a Victorian inspired world bursting with invention but at the same time still playing host to some wonderfully fantastical creatures. The imagination at play is superb and the writing – I am speechless. This is a book for lovers of intricate and exquisite writing. The detail is almost decadent and the style has clever flourishes and little snippets that make you want to wallow around and reread the page you’ve just read. I couldn’t tear my eyes away. It’s heartwarmingly cosy in parts, fiendishly clever in others and full of wonderful concepts that lovers of fantasy will be able to soak themselves in.
***
Once a Monster by Robert Dinsdale
I absolutely loved this book – of course I did (doh), otherwise it wouldn’t be on my list!
The story is exquisite, the writing is mesmerising, the characters are amazing. It gave me the goosebumps (good goosebumps these!), it filled my eyes with tears and the ending was magical.
Seriously, when I read the description for Once a Monster I was a little unsure, I do like a good period story, especially anything Victorian, on top of that I am loving my greek mythology retellings – but, you know, the two seemed to make unlikely playmates. How wrong I was. Put simply I requested this because I’ve read and enjoyed two books already by the author and so I just thought ‘what’s the worst that can happen, really? Maybe I won’t like it, it’s not the end of the world.’ As it happens, not only was it not the end of the world but I adored this book. Dickens meets the Minotaur. A story filled with good and evil, bravery and villainy sitting cheek by jowl with the impossible search for answers and finding oneself all whilst holding such fragile hopes alive and kicking. This is a story where actual monsters might not necessarily be the real monsters of the piece.
***
Temple of Fortuna by Elodie Harper
Temple of Fortuna is the stunning conclusion to the Wolf Den series. I absolutely loved this series and I have my fingers and toes crossed that this is a world that the author will return to (perhaps from a different pov). One can but hope.
What a journey Elodie Harper has taken us on here, every book has contained different aspects from the tense start in the infamous Wolf’s Den where we first met Amara to her precarious rise in fortune that eventually sees her escape the Den to this final episode where she has become established as a courtesan in Rome with an influential patron.
***
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
The Reformatory is without doubt one of the most powerful stories that I’ve read so far this year. An absolute tempest of shock, horror, unbridled emotions and abject terror. And then, there’s also the ghostly elements of the story to take into account. Yes, for me, the most horrifying aspect to this particular story was not the haints of tortured boys but the historical facts that this tale is grounded upon. What a story. I mean, literally this story made me want to cry, it made me feel outraged and the final chapters had my pulse racing imagining all the many disasters that felt inevitable. A difficult but totally absorbing read.
***
The Ghosts of Beatrice Bird by Louisa Morgan
The Ghosts of Beatrice Bird is a beautifully told mystery circulating around the lives of two women who are both trying to escape something. An unusual ghost story that took me in a direction that I didn’t expect and was emotionally incredibly satisfying. I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
Countdown to 2024 Day 29: A roaring fire – a book that was heartwarming
29 December 2023
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: A book that was heartwarming, A Roaring Fire, Countdown to 2024, Day 29, Louisa Morgan, The Ghosts of Beatrice Bird
Today is day 29 of my countdown to 2024. Using a series of prompts each day I will post a book title that I believe fits the prompt. The aim is to highlight as many books as possible that I read from 2023 and shine the spotlight on them once again (although for some prompts I will be looking at future reads). A list of prompts can be found here if you wish to join me in counting down to 2024.
Today’s prompt: A roaring fire – a book that was heartwarming
For today’s prompt I’ve chosen a book that was full of hope, friendship and was genuinely heartwarming not to mention excellently narrated. The Ghosts of Beatrice Bird by Louisa Morgan.
2 Days Remaining
The Ghosts of Beatrice Bird by Louisa Morgan
23 November 2023
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Louisa Morgan, The Ghosts of Beatrice Bird
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Emotionally satisfying tale of friendship
The Ghosts of Beatrice Bird is a beautifully told mystery circulating around the lives of two women who are both trying to escape something.
The story is told through three POVs, Beatrice Bird, Anne Iredale and her pre-school age son Benjamin.
Beatrice is the driving force for the story. During her chapters we cast back and forth and pretty soon discover that since being a small child, and for as long as Beatrice can remember, she has had ‘feelings’, I suppose premonitions really although she doesn’t ‘see’ anything specific, more that she just understands that something may go wrong, or someone is upset, etc. As she grows into a young woman she moves into the role of therapy, and although her ability sometimes leads her to become too emotionally attached and anxious for her patients her life overall is happy. She has a partner, a doctor called Mitch and they have a respectful and well rounded and loving relationship. That is until Beatrice dabbles with drugs and this opens up her ‘gift’ making it much more real. Beatrice can see shades or forms that are attached to people and this sight eventually leads her to flee her home and seek sanctuary on a small, island where the inhabitants are few and Beatrice spends more of her time in the company of the two cows that were attached to the property she bought.
Anne then enters the scene. She has run away from an abusive relationship and one in which the husband carried a lot of sway and was forcing her into a sanatorium, leaving their 4/5 year old son Benjamin alone with his father. Anne was a trophy wife. With stunning looks and a fantastic figure her husband chose her to look good in front of his friends but has no love for her and no respect for anything she thinks or does. For a while Anne tries to be happy, her parents are proud of the marriage and wealth that she has achieved and have no time for her grumbling about her husband’s little whims (as they see them). She has no friends to speak of and is completely isolated. She eventually runs away and seeks sanctuary within a nunnery, before winding up on the small island where Beatrice now lives. The two are thrown together, just for one night at first, but from there a tentative friendship begins to grow and although Beatrice can see the same shades attached to Anne, and in fact can see something that seems a lot more threatening, she takes the decision to try and help this young woman.
Finally, we have Benjamin. Anne’s lovely little boy. Benjamin has been traumatised by his father and can barely speak in his presence having now developed a stutter. His storyline is lovely and much as you would imagine a small boy’s pov to be. This particular pov allows us a view about what’s going on in the background of Anne’s life, an element that we would otherwise lose sight of and I very much appreciated that the author chose Anne’s son (and not her husband) as the third narrator. Benjamin’s presence brings a lovely innocence to the story.
Now, it may be that you don’t like ghost stories or perhaps you’re worried that this might be too creepy. For me, this was more about the mystery involved. We get to understand and learn more about Beatrice’s abilities and it soon becomes clear that these are not ghosts that she sees attached to people. They’re more akin to burdens and unresolved emotional issues that people carry around with them. However, there is a ghost in the story and this is something that both Beatrice and Benjamin can both see – in quite different ways. But, this isn’t really scary, this is a ghost with a story and, well, unresolved issues of it’s own.
The writing is lovely and well paced. The island and cottage in which Beatrice now lives have a lovely cosy feel and in fact in some respects the setting is idyllic – remote and perhaps a little bit lonely – but also peaceful and perfect in many ways for reflection.
The last third becomes quite tense as the action picks up and certain characters try to take desperate action but the author manages to pull everything together in a very satisfactory way.
I really enjoyed this story. I felt a strong emotional attachment and I loved the way the story develops plus the resolution is really pleasing.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 4.5 of 5 stars
Books and travelling with Lynn 