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Thank you to Beaton for his thoughtful review of Golden Healer, Book 2 in my ya fantasy The Curse of Time.
A review of Golden Healer The Curse Of Time Book 2 The Good | The Bad | The ugly
I was just thinking how nice it would be to have a new review and then like magic… that’s what happened! Thank you to Beaton for his review of Golden Healer, book 2 in my ya fantasy series. More about it via the link below…
Source: Of Golden Healer: The Curse Of Time Book 2 – Becoming The Muse
Synopsis
Brave or foolhardy?
That is the question Dawne asks herself when she stubbornly pursues her goal
of trekking in the Sahara Desert to raise funds for Thrombosis UK.
As she battles excruciating back pain and slogs across the unforgiving desert
landscape in boots held together with gaffer tape, will her determination to
educate others to the perils of thrombosis drive her to achieve one of the
toughest challenges of her life. Or will trekking in the Sahara prove a step too
far?
All profits from book sales will be donated to the charity Thrombosis UK which
works to educate the public and health professionals to ‘Spot the Clots’.
Knowing what to look out for might save your life or that of someone close to you.
My review
Thank you to author Dawne Archer for a copy of her memoir Trekker Girl – Morroco Bound which I won. Here are my thoughts:
This is an inspiring memoir based on the author’s experiences with thrombosis, (and with reference to her father’s,) and her life long commitment to fundraising for Thrombosis UK.
Commendable, heart-warming and full of camaraderie and human spirit. Dawne’s memoir takes us along with her on her brave trek with fellow trekkers, including her mate Sarah. There are many health obstacles to overcome, added issues such as backache and stomach problems, and mirages!
Read this wonderful memoir to find out more about Dawne’s and fellow trekkers determination, and to understand the implications of thrombosis and meet her fellow trekkers.
The memoir also includes some lovely photos.
Highly recommended.
Thank you so much to Sally Cronin for dipping into her archives and resharing her previous review of my poetry collection: The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet. How kind. I really appreciate 🙂
My review for the collection This is a poetry and flash fiction collection seeped in nature and illustrates the love the author has for the environment, particular the forests. The first pages share the delightful love story of the Hedge Witch and the Musical Poet, bringing two solitary characters together in the sanctuary of a magical forest far from the human world. This story is followed by poems and flash fiction, some of which are poignant such as the tribute to a ginger cat in Chester, Don & I, and bewilderment voiced in The Network of Trees as they stand in danger from the human need for progress. There is also the sad reflection that much of the beauty and adventures to be found in the forests are being missed as children find themselves engrossed in the online world instead. The author makes sure to include the fun they could be enjoying instead. The Teddy in the Woods probably should come with a tissue alert. There are some reminders of poems from another collection which I also enjoyed Mr. Sagittarius Poetry; one of my favourites being Rainbow – Parasol of Light. In the second section of the collection there is a series of poems inspired by other writers.
Writing Through the Soul is a collection of poetry your soul can’t ignore. Author Brenda Marie Fluharty has put together a group of poems speaking to the souls of all mankind. These poems will make you laugh, cry, smile and even wonder why. The poems cover many aspects of the soul; from the questions, we all ask to the heartbreak of the loss of loved ones. Writing Through the Soul has poems giving you a better understanding of spiritual awakenings, growth, and meditation. There are even poems covering the many trials of having a writer’s soul.
Writing Through the Soul A poetry Collection by Brenda Fluharty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Brenda Fluharty’s, Writing Through The Soul, an inspiring book of poetry, explores the human condition, our soul’s journey, how we strive for happiness, love, completeness and growth in life.
There are poems about her son, her mother in law, mother, husband, family, birds and nature, friends and strangers, Monday morning chaos and her great love of night time poetry crafting. And.. believing in yourself and your writing self!
It is a personal, spiritual and at times religious collection, where Brenda refers to her angels and love for her dear departed grandfather.
Favourite poem titles include: love yourself, the crow, birds following me, the forest heals my soul, writing helps you heal, through the eyes of a child, he and she, the stranger in the street, mother, mother-in-law!
A short excerpt of this lovely poem.
I can see things
No one else can see.
Hear spoken words
No one else can hear.
Spirits from other places
Come to me.
I can see and talk to them.
If I tell anyone,
They will think I am crazy.
Maybe I am.
No one else
I know does this.
I am different
I can see the land’s past.
I can see the future for some.
I am a medium!
View all my reviews
Recommended for poetry readers who like spiritual, religious and personal collections. And writers who understand what it is to write, with the trials, tribulations and all!
More reviews coming soon!
Bye for now…
Free Kindle Book Promotion – Tuesday, August 29, 2023, 12:00 AM PDT until Thursday, August 31, 2023, 11:59 PM PDT
Synopsis
The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet is a collection of poetry and flash fiction celebrating the beauty and the vulnerability of the forest kingdom. It begins with the poetic tale of the kind-hearted Hedge Witch, Fern, who discovers an injured stranger in desperate need of her woodland spells and magic.The sweet pairing learn from each other and through Fern’s guidance, Devin embraces the power of magic to leave behind his troubled past to become The Musical Poet.
Poetry/flash fiction titles in section one of the collection include: The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet, Rain Forest Love, A Forest Baby Boy, A Forest Baby Girl, A Modern Witch, Rock of Mine, Chester Don & I, The Network of Trees, More Trees Not Less, Two Boys Watching War, Mum Climbing Trees, Let’s Play, The Scorched Tree, Owl’s Holiday Home, A Man’s Holiday Home, A Child’s Excitement, The Teddy In The Woods, Run! The Organutans, All Hallow’s Eve Candy Girl The Forest Bash, Dreaming At Halloween, A Face on Bark, Golden Willow Tree, Rainbow – Parasol of Light, Lollipop Sunshine Tree,
In Section two I pay tribute to the following poets:Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Evangeline, Ruby Archer, King Forest, Bliss Carman, Woodland Rain, Emily Dickinson, Who Robbed the Woods, Rupert Blake, Stopping by The Woods on A Winter Evening,Oscar Wilde, In the Forest.With my poetry inspired by their works:The Forest Weeps, The Forest King, Raindrops and Childhood Dreams, The Woodland Treasures, Winter Woodland Moon, Child Me.
A 5 star review to tempt you from Kim Rigby:
I’m a big fan of Marjorie Mallon’s poetry and flash fiction, and The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet doesn’t disappoint. Clearly, the author is a Dendrophile (like me!) and the early part of the book builds a picture of a magical forest. There is a pervading lament, a cry for a bygone era, a desire to return to lost times that is mournful yet beautiful. Later poems, such as All Hallows Eve Candy Girl are marvellously imaginative, with clever alliteration. There is also a certain poignancy in two poems that feature the author’s parents, which I found immensely touching.
Overall, a stunning collection. Highly recommended!
Kim’s website: Website: https://kimrigby.com/
A 5 star review to tempt you more from Rosemary Mairs!
An enchanting collection of poetry and short fiction about the natural world and mankind’s relationship with it. I especially liked the title piece, which epitomises a longing I have, to live a simple pared back life in harmony with nature. I love trees, marvel at their beauty and splendour, and the author’s similar appreciation comes across in these pages, is apparent in the vivid imagery in poems such ‘Winter Woodland Moon’. Forest destruction and the effects of global warming are lamented in ‘The Network of Trees’ and ‘The Scorched Tree’.
There is a haunting, melancholic tone to several of the poems, such as ‘A Face on Bark’. One describes an old ruin, in which a vase on a table is “filled with muddy water where fresh flowers once bloomed”. My favourite is ‘A Modern Witch’, who “often sits alone in whimsy, in crowded places, remembering ancient times”.
I shall revisit this collection, can picture myself doing so in summertime, at my favourite spot, sitting beneath the horse chestnut in my garden, its magnificent canopy overhead, sunlight filtering through the leaves, savouring this magical ode to trees.
Rosemary Mairs website: https://rosemarymairs.com/
The kindle offer is on from…
| Tuesday, August 29, 2023, 12:00 AM PDT | Thursday, August 31, 2023, 11:59 PM PDT |
Links:
The Hedge Witch And The Musical Poet https://books2read.com/u/mv1OeV
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61376179-the-hedge-witch-the-musical-poet
“Grudova is Angela Carter’s natural inheritor. Her style is effortlessly spare and wonderfully seductive. Read her! Love her! She is sincerely strange.” —Nicola Barker, author, Darkmans
Following Grudova’s critically acclaimed collection The Doll’s Alphabet , this surreal, discomforting debut novel charts the fates of a ragtag group of cinema workers who are spat out by corporate takeover.
When Holly applies for a job at the Paradise – one of the city’s oldest cinemas, squashed into the ground floor of a block of flats – she thinks it will be like any other shift work. She cleans toilets, sweeps popcorn, avoids the belligerent old owner, Iris, and is ignored by her aloof but tight-knit colleagues who seem as much a part of the building as its fraying carpets and endless dirt. Dreadful, lonely weeks pass while she longs for their approval, a silent voyeur.
So when she finally gains the trust of this cryptic band of oddballs, Holly transforms from silent drudge to rebellious insider and gradually she too becomes part of the Paradise – unearthing its secrets, learning its history and haunting its corridors after hours with the other ushers. It is no surprise when violence strikes, tempers change and the group, eyes still affixed to the screen, starts to rapidly go awry…
I listened to this on audible. My audiobook short review:
It’s unlike anything I’ve listened to before. Weird, disturbing, claustrophobic, wildly imaginative, sordid, cinematic.
Full review:
It’s unlike anything I have heard, or read before. It’s dark humour set in a dingy cinema, narrated by a female employee who tells the tale of the ailing Paradise. The misfit employees who work there live and breathe films. Their lives play out within the cinema’s walls and even when they do meet outside in a similar manner they watch films too. There is no escaping! The tale has a claustrophobic aspect to it as there is no release from the cinematic aspect of their lives. There are sexual encounters, grotesque happenings and even deaths in the cinema. Also there are some stunningly imaginative passages. All the characters who inhabit the cinema, (both the misfit employees and the cinema goers,) are at times sordid, disgusting and grotesque. So, this won’t be for everyone!
Triggers/other aspects: sex, filth, unwanted pregnancy.
A difficult one to rate. I don’t think I will forget it in a hurry. Did I like it? In truth, I wouldn’t have chosen to read this normally but it was book club pick at Edinburgh Stockbridge book club so I gave it a go. On the whole, I did. I appreciated it for being different, for its wild imagination, and strange weirdness.
My rating 4 stars.
Author Bio
Camilla Grudova lives in Edinburgh, Scotland. She holds a degree in art history and German from McGill University, Montreal. Her fiction has appeared in the White Review and Granta.
Grudova originally posted stories on her Tumblr blog before being spotted by an editor from The White Review.
Her story, “Waxy” (Granta 136), was nominated for a British Fantasy Award for short fiction and won the Shirley Jackson Award for best novelette.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16282088.Camilla_Grudova
Thank you so much to Kaye Lynn Booth for her wonderful review of Bloodstone.
Source: Book Review: Bloodstone | Writing to be Read
I didn’t think my life could get weirder, but I was wrong…
Fifteen-year-old Amelina Scott lives in Cambridge with her dysfunctional family, a mysterious black cat, and an unusual girl who is imprisoned within the mirrors located in her house.
When an unexpected message arrives inviting her to visit the Crystal Cottage, she sets off on a forbidden path where she encounters Ryder: a charismatic, perplexing stranger.
With the help of a magical paint set and some crystal wizard stones, can Amelina discover the truth about her family?
A unique, imaginative mystery full of magic-wielding and dark elements, Bloodstone is a riveting adventure for anyone interested in fantasy, mythology or the world of the paranormal.
TRIGGER WARNING: this book contains mention of self-harm, mental health issues and alludes to the potential dangers of sexual attraction, which may trigger younger/sensitive readers.INSPIRED BY: The World Famous Corpus Christi Chronophage Clock, created by Dr. John C Taylor, OBE, and artist Anya Gallaccio’s Crystal Grotto, in Juniper Artland, Scotland.
Bloodstone is Book 1 in M.J. Mallon’s The Curse of Time series. I’m not sure what I expected when Ipicked up this book. I’m a sucker for time-travel stories, and the subject of time and parallel worlds perplex me, so I suppose I expected something along those lines given the clock on the cover and the series title. But that is not at all what this book is. But, Bloodstone may be just as enchanting.This tale is a young adult novel dealing with the issues of a fifteen-year-old girl who has a very strange life. While her home life may be disfunctional, other parts of her life are magical in this delightful tale of magical realism. Things happen which may seem odd or unusual, but they seem to be everyday occurances in the fantastical world which Mallon has created.The result is a paranormal fantasy that deals with real adolecent issues like friends and boyfriends, peer pressure, depression, self-harm, and betrayal, in a manor that raises awareness, and still entertains.Another unexpected touch the author offers up in this story is a syllabic poem as the heading of each chapter, which offers a hint to the events in the chapter to come. I found this to be a clever way to clue readers in and creative way to add to the magicalfeel of the story.A refreshing surprise, Bloodstone captured my attention and my heart. I give it five quills.
___________________________________________________________________Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review here.
The free kindle promotion is on from Thursday, August 17, 2023, 12:00 AM PDT until Saturday, August 19, 2023, 11:59 PM PDT
Download It Now:
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BKLC9DYY/
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/What-You-love-Fragility-Photography-ebook/dp/B0BKLC9DYY/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63114445-do-what-you-love
Thank you to Smitha for this recent review: https://smithavpennings.com/2023/05/22/book-review-do-what-you-love-by-mj-mallon/
A quick read that will make you want to write, too!
Do What You Love by MJ Mallon is a quick read of 58 pages. It’s a sweet reminder to live life, look back to see how far you’ve come, appreciate all that’s got you this far and look forward to the future.
I could read the book in an hour and a half’s time. I’m sure it’ll take others lesser time, but that’s its USP. You feel good at the end of it that you’ve completed a book, which will most certainly make you look back and ahead at your own life. Who knows, it might even turn you into a writer and make you come out with a book of your own similar to MJ Mallon’s book. It definitely made me want to.
The author begins the book with an explanation of ‘The Fates’. As per Greek mythology, the three sisters of fate were personified as three old women who spin the thread of human destiny- Clotho (Spinner), Lachesis (Allotter), and Atropos (Inflexible). The author says, ‘The usual interpretation of the fates is harsh with the eldest Atropos choosing the manner of death by cutting the threads of an individual’s life with her dreaded shears’, ‘Clotho spinning the threads of life on her spindle’, and Lachesis, the allotter, measuring the length of life. However, the author has used artistic license and made them ‘friendly, jovial creatures’ who have a conversation with her. I found this manner of narration novel and refreshing.
And many thanks to Dan Costinas, contributor to Tomorrow Magazine, a great supporter of authors, who I have had the pleasure of connecting with via my Portugal travels. He has kindly read and reviewed Do What You Love. I appreciate his 5 star review! “A Perfectly balanced florilegium of verse, photos and other inscriptions!”
Dan runs many facebook groups including:
Authors for the Algarve: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3522447591319276
Authors for Hispania: https://www.facebook.com/groups/7012396018786814/
Mr. Sagittarius
Buy it Now: http://mybook.to/MrSagittarius
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51004313-mr-sagittarius
https://www.bookbub.com/books/mr-sagittarius-poetry-and-prose-by-m-j-mallon
Thank you to Patricia Furstenberg for this recent 5 star review:
An interesting read.
The author takes us into a magical world through a tale about two aged siblings, confronted with the grief brought by their departed brother.
Their chat takes place on a bench under the Golden Weeping Willow tree-where nature reveals messages.
Mr Sagittarius unravels as a book full of pleasing poems and short stories. Appealing photographs highlight them.
This is a book that lovers of poetry, mystery, and whimsy will enjoy.
Patricia’s blog: http://alluringcreations.co.za/wp
A 5 star review from Robbie Cheadle:
Mr Sagittarius is a beautiful collection of poems and short stories, set in the lovely gardens of Cambridge and linked by the visits and experiences of a family of twin brothers and their younger sister.
The story starts with William visiting the weeping willow tree in the garden, a place that was special to his twin brother, Harold, who has recently passed away. William sees Harold’s spirit in a dragonfly that he chats to and finds solace in their one-sided communication.
This is a few lines from a poem about the dragonfly:
“Ancient, sweet fellow
Sacred magic bestower,
Change tumbling on fragile wings.”
When William returns home, he has an altercation with his sister, Annette. During their spat Annette reveals that she has always felt left out and overlooked by her twin brothers. This revelation leads to William and Annette becoming closer and visiting the garden together. Not long after, William passes on and Annette is left alone. She visits the garden and communicates with the spirits of both her brothers over the course of the rest of her long life.
The visits of the siblings to the garden are captured in lovely verse. This is an example I really enjoyed:
“I dream in colour
But now everything is dark
Where has the light gone?
Oh, cruel leafy canopy,
No green meadow, just blue thoughts.”
My favourite of the short stories was The Old Man of Snow and The Snow Snake. This is a story about making good choices in life and rejecting greed. I enjoyed the tale and the descriptive writing.
Mr Sagittarius is a gorgeous book full of delightfully depictive poems and short stories and decorated with striking photographs. This is a book that lovers of poetry, mystery, and wonder will love.
The free kindle promotion is on from Thursday, August 17, 2023, 12:00 AM PDT until Saturday, August 19, 2023, 11:59 PM PDT
Title: Golden Healer: The Curse of Time, Book 2 Author: M. J. Mallon Narrator: Kerri Hiebert Genre: Coming of Age, YA Fantasy, YA
Book Blurb:
I didn’t think my life could get any weirder, until the dreaded rollercoaster….
Amelina Scott’s destiny is to be a Krystallos: a magician of light, chosen to learn the ways of crystal magic on her 16th birthday. Located on a river pathway in a mysterious part of Cambridge, the Crystal Cottage is guarded by mythical beings.
Unfortunately, there are those who seek to harm this haven of light. Learning of Ryder, a Shadow Sorcerer with hypnotic powers, Amelina discovers that her own magic is now threatened, and that the Curse of Time might be unleashed again.
As secrets abound and the creatures of the Chronophage come alive, can Amelina become the true magician she needs to be?
A unique, imaginative mystery full of magic-wielding and dark elements, Golden Healer is a riveting adventure for anyone interested in fantasy, mythology or the world of the paranormal.
NOTE: this book contains mention of self-harm, mental health issues, and alludes to the potential dangers of sexual attraction, which may trigger younger/sensitive listeners.
N. N. Light’s Review:
Story Impressions –The author is a magician with words. She crafts scenes of sublime fantasy that are clear and easily pictured in the mind of the reader. The gift of description is also present. The scenes are very easy to understand, and the reader is swept into the story.
Narrator’s overall voice – Kerri Hiebert’s voice has a personality all her own which she applies to the various character voices. It has a smoothness and lilt I thoroughly enjoyed.
Does the narrator fit the characters? Yes, Kerri Hiebert fits the characters. I’m astonished at how well she evokes the different characters.
Narrator’s reading style –Kerri Hiebert has an relaxed reading style but with enough dramatic flair to keep the listener entranced.
Narrator’s impact on reading experience –Kerri Hiebert has an intrinsic ability to draw a listener/reader in without any effort. The scenes are so well narrated, I had to stop what I was doing to focus on the story.
Narrator’s pacing –Kerri Hiebert’s pacing is flawless, blending fantasy, mythology, coming of age themes with ease.
Audiobook flow – Kerri Hiebert lets the audiobook develop naturally through the use of dialogue, action, and world-building.
What makes this audiobook unique –Kerri Hiebert and M.J. Mallon partner up to bring readers/listeners an engrossing YA fantasy adventure. The plot is full of intrigue which adds to the enjoyment while listening. Kerri’s narration brings Golden Healer to life.
Would I recommend this audiobook – YES! One-click this audiobook right now.
Since Golden Healer got five stars or better in their review, I received N. N. Light’s Book Heaven Five Star Award Seal. And Bloodstone also received the seal as it was also rated 5+ stars. https://mjmallon.com/2023/07/23/audiobook-reviews-bloodstone-audiobook-review-ya-fantasy/
N.N. Light’s Rating: 5+ stars
Buy it Now: Audible US https://www.audible.com/pd/Golden-Healer-Audiobook/B0BX7FJYJK
Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Healer-Curse-Time-Book/dp/B0BX7DWK37
Audible CA https://www.audible.ca/pd/Golden-Healer-Audiobook/B0BX7FMSN1
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60216858-golden-healer
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/books/golden-healer-the-curse-of-time-book-2-by-m-j-mallon
N.N. Light’s Review: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/post/golden-healer-abr
Many thanks to Sally Cronin for featuring myself, Colleen and Robbie in this post. Here is some of the detail from her blog:
This year in the second part of the Summer Book Fair, I (Sally,) will be sharing my recommended books from the last 12 months and sharing either my review or one of their top reviews.The first author today is M.J. Mallon and her collection that I can highly recommend Do What You love: Fragility Of Your Flame Poems, Photography and Flash Fiction
About the collection Do What You Love is a personal poetry collection celebrating how the fates may have a part in all that we do.With special poems and short reflective moments inspired by family, flowers and nature, love, scrumptious morsels, places I’ve visited, lived and intend to live in, the friendships and hopes I have for the future.The overarching theme is to live a life well lived… And to do what you love.One of the reviews for the collection
Sheila 5.0 out of 5 stars Prose, poetry and images: poignant, sensitive, playful: a lovely collection Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧I’ve read this author’s work before: young adult novels, poetry and flash fiction, and I love her imaginative handling of the magical, the phantasmagorical and surreal. This short book is no exception to the quality of MJ Mallon’s output. I found her exploration of her past life captivating.We may consider that the inclusion of often very personal material in a compilation of this sort would make it difficult for the outside reader to find a way in. This is not true at all of MJ Mallon’s poetry and prose: in many places, I related so much to what she writes, especially about a daughter ‘flying the nest’ to a faraway country. I particularly loved the device MJ Mallon uses to draw all this together: she presents it as a conversation with Atropos, one of the three Fates in Greek mythology: the Morai.Atropos presides over the past. I thought this worked extremely well as a central metaphor. It had me googling the three Fates, and reading all about them: Clotho, who spins the threads of life, guardian of the present; Lachesis, who measures the length of life with her measuring rod, and is guardian of the future: and Atropos, who is the guardian of fate and destiny, and who chooses the manner of death by snipping the threads of an individual’s life.MJ Mallon has had a fascinating and varied life experience: born in Singapore, she spent her childhood in Hong Kong and her teens in Edinburgh. She now lives in Cambridge. Every culture she has lived in, I believe, has influenced her imagination, her interests and her approach as a writer. In this book, we find a compilation of words and images which draw us in: poignant, sensitive, delicate, playful, as she opens up for us her past and present relationships, the places she has loved and spent time in, and her thoughts and feelings about it all.A highly recommended book for you.Read the reviews and buy the collection: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US – Amazon Ca
Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US –And: Amazon UK – Website: M.J. Mallon – Goodreads: Goodreads – Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon
The next book that I recommended last year is by Colleen M. Chesebro and her collection Fairies, Myths & MagicII. A Winter Celebration
About the bookIn this second book in the Fairies, Myths, & Magic series, step into a world where dark fairies and other magical beings converge in a collection of poetry and short stories inspired by winter and the celebration of the winter solstice.From autumn’s scary fairies to the forgotten female characters of Yule, prepare to embrace the magical winter solstice myths from around the world. Meet Frau Holle in the Wild Hunt, Befana—the Christmas Witch of Italy, and the Japanese goddess Ameratasu who controls the springtime. Prepare to embrace the Scottish trows, the Irish Goddess of Winter—the Cailleach Béara, and Snegurochka—the Snow Girl.Learn how to make Yuletide rituals part of your celebration by embracing the symbols of Yule by decorating with evergreens and crystals.
One of the reviews for the collection
Jacqui Murray VINE VOICE 5.0 out of 5 stars An extraordinary introduction to mystical topics Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸75 pieces on a myriad of topics, all themed to fairies, pagan mysteries, and the winter solstice. I know little about those so for me, this was a literary banquet to be relished. I picked this book up because I was impressed with the posts on Colleen’s blog, then read it cover to cover because her wordsmithing is entrancing. If you like me haven’t spent much time thinking about the meaning of fairies and magic, rest assured you will enjoy this book. The entries cover so many topics and emotions, so many mischievous beings, there is going to be something for everyone.One of the reviewers called this an “extraordinary handbook as well as a captivating read.” I would have to agree. Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK
Head over to discover more about Colleen Chesebro and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Goodreads: Colleen at Goodreads – Website Wordcraft poetry – Author website and blog: Colleen M. Chesebro – LinkedIn: Colleen M. Chesebro – Facebook: Colleen M. Chesebro Poet and Author
The final book today is by Robbie Cheadle’s. A stunning syllabic poetry collection in celebration of Africa’s wildlife. Lion Scream: Syllabic Poetry About Southern African Wildlife
About the collection
Do you rely on Earth for your survival?Lion Scream is a graphic collection of poetry and prose. The book portrays the author’s experiences with South African wildlife and the growing impact of the Sixth Mass Extinction and Climate Change on the natural environment.
Lion Scream
There is no jungle
Only acres of smooth stumps
There is no jungle
No habitat, no food source
Hopeless lion screams tonight
A review for the collection
Lauren Scott 5.0 out of 5 stars An beautiful, effective poetry collection conveying a vital message. Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸While I turned the pages of Robbie Cheadle’s new book, I became enlightened. I absorbed the information she includes about South African wildlife and the vital message that flows seamlessly from beginning to end. Lion Scream is a unique and touching collection of poetry that takes the reader on a journey to learn about the wildlife in South Africa from Robbie’s personal experiences in the bush, but not to omit “their plight in the face of the Sixth Mass Extinction.” Her passion for wildlife is surely felt throughout the pages.A wide variety of animals are highlighted in this collection with stunning, color photos. Animals range from lions, tigers, cheetahs, hippos, and elephants to the Hadeda bird that I had never heard of before. Robbie profoundly expresses how the habitats of these incredible animals have been lost due to global warming, and how the animals’ safety has been compromised due to the evil actions of humans, all because of greed. Robbie’s emotions are palpable through her powerful and sometimes distressing poems. The book takes a detour in the end with a short story that touches on mental health, but the story ties into the initial issue of global warming and the lost habitats.Robbie’s poem entitled, “Lion Scream” may be short, but its message is concise and effective:There is no jungle/Only acres of smooth stumps/There is no jungle/No habitat, no food source/Hopeless lion screams tonight And below is a verse from the heartbreaking poem “Rhino Dilemma” –Savage men move quickly/Hack out valued horn/Animal left bleeding; awakes to sure death/Tears of pain and anguish/Slide from fading eyes. Years ago, I read two non-fiction books about elephants, and I instantly fell in love with them. So, reading Robbie’s poems about these amazing animals and the poaching horrors they endure is beyond heart wrenching. But a few poems are playful, painting a delightful picture:Now it’s time for some fun/Trunk draws in water/Up it comes, spraying a fountain overhead/Cool drops sprinkle downward/She trumpets with joy. A few of Robbie’s poems made me smile, but most tugged at my heart because of the serious issues of extinction, human actions that result in the animals’ suffering, and climate change. Anyone who wishes to become educated on these issues or who wishes to foster a solution where humans and animals can contentedly coexist should read Lion Scream. Highly recommended. Head over to buy the book: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US
Read the reviews and Buy the books :Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow Robbie : Goodreads – blog: Robbie’s Inspiration- Twitter: @bakeandwrite
Please do pop over to Sally’s fabulous blog to read the full blog link below: