Book Review (XLIV) Serving the Serpent

Join me, please, in congratulating Daisy Banks, British author and cyber friend. She has just had her fourth release, this year. She was kind to offer me the ARC of the novel so, here is the review on:

                                    Serving the Serpent

Blurb

In Wales, Ceridwyn takes up her inherited duty to care for the dragons in the mountains. Awed by them and the huge book about them, she is determined to prove her worth.

Far away in Norway, Leif has growing concerns for his sick dragon. He discovers only one cure will stop his dragon’s suffering. The mighty Herensuge must journey to find his bonded mate.

When they meet, Ceri and Leif make combined efforts to aid the dragons and discover an astonishing surprise. The great lore book each of them protects tells they have a responsibility to the future. At this rare and magical time, not only the dragon pairing must occur.

Join Ceri and Leif as they work to keep the sworn silence and keep the dragons safe. Friendship is growing between them, but will it be enough? Can love blossom between two chosen to serve the serpent?

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My review

This book is in a class of its own. A cute and sweet fantasy. A  fantasy epic that explores themes of faith, and loyalty amidst artfully developed characters. Daisy Banks gives the reader an engaging,  sweet story.  Serving the Serpent is an epic that doesn't bog you down with a hundred different point of views or side story arcs. Anyway, I loathe spoilers so I'll try to stay away from anything major. In fact, I'm not going to go into plot specifics at all. I found Ceri and Leif’s story interesting and strangely compelling. Once I got halfway I could feel the subtle draw of the story and became resolved to go ahead and finish it up, but by the end I was held spellbound. The action is two-leveled: the humans and the dragons. The problems are similar.

Just a few words on the dragon characters- I so much enjoyed  Annabelinda and her friends the rebellious Tanith and the gluttony Malinda.  Imagine they wanted a nail job. And Ceri did it as “Hers was not the kind of employment you might see adverts for in the newspaper or on the computer, but nonetheless, the task was hers, same as it had been Mam’s and Gran’s and Great-Gran’s…” Dragon Maid.

As about Herensuge, he’s the perfect embodiment of prince charming. Oh, forgive me, I mean dragon charming!

Fans of fantasy will gobble Serving the Serpent! 
My rating 

Book Reviews (XXXIII) Mind Your Goddess

                                          Mind Your Goddess
                                           by Flossie Benton Rogers
Blurb
Razzle dazzle -- cool jazz and hot kisses…
The Goddess Epona is breathless over a lover’s tryst with Eshigel, the dark Guardian of the Between. Before she can meet him, she must hear the pleas of her Dark of the Moon supplicants. Strange requests originate from a captive little girl and a succubus seeking revenge. Then, Epona is attacked and abducted.
Epona awakens stranded in the human realm in the Roaring 20’s. With her powers nullified, she assumes the guise of a flapper in a speakeasy. Knowing the little girl is nearby, Epona seeks to save her.
Eshigel rushes to find his missing Goddess. To gain information he undergoes a dangerous rite involving a half woman and half serpent Lamia. After locating Epona, he vows to protect his flapper Goddess from the demons set on her destruction. Can a Goddess and her dark Guardian overcome misfortune and reclaim their love?
 Buy link: Amazon.com
My Review
 Mind Your Goddess is a delightful read for fans of fantasy. And for anyone who loves a rich, original story. Suspense, romance, and humor -- this book has a heart of pure gold. Ms. Benton’s writing is a joy to read. The flow and description take you away from real world monotony, and submerge you in a magical fiction land. A strong voice in fantasy. Definitely an author I intend to follow. Mind Your Goddess is well paced and had me captivated from the beginning. I was surprised by how much I felt while reading. If you love magic and romance, faeries and mortals mingling together in the Roaring 20’s setting, then read this book, it's fantastic! The writing style was so easy to follow- the entire story just flowed so easily!
I loved Epona character. Goddess Epona, the beautiful Goddess of fruitfulness behaves like any ordinary young woman preparing to meet her lover: She hummed, flitting about her bedchamber like a hummingbird near the sweet nectar as she prepared for her visit with Eshigel. Fussing over which outfits to pack, a naughty giggle escaped her lips. But instead of the date she is preparing for, she finds herself thrown into the human realm, among fluttery people dressed in beads and shiny clothes, who laughed and danced on fast, peppy music. What is worse, she no longer possesses her magic powers. Will Eshigel, the dark Guardian of the Between, her lover, manage to find and save Eppie? Will Darla’s vengeful scheme manage to thwart Eshigel’s attempt? I hate spoilers so I won’t give more details. The author creates a world that enthralls readers and you find yourself turning the pages and somehow you can't get enough.The ending made my heart sing. My rating:

 

 Buy link: Amazon.com