At first glance, white tea appears soft and delicate, and one doesn’t expect any surprises from this subtle blend. However, once brewed the White Peony tea takes on another character entirely, as if its true strength is only emboldened when tested with hot water. It gives off a floral aroma, but a rich taste of … Continue reading
Tagged with history and lore …
Baba Yaga and the Skulls of Her Enemies by Isabelle Melançon
Isabelle Melançon (aka Secondlina) posted this amazing image she created on her blog recently; I would love to read about this character. Such a great idea: One of my favorite fairy tale figures is Baba Yaga, an old witch who lives in an enchanted forest, rides a mortar instead of a broom, lives in a … Continue reading
Haunted by Ghosts of Every Description by Valin Mattheis
Maid of Secrets by Jennifer McGowan
Maid of Secrets comes out today, and I’m thrilled to share my thoughts on this engaging, historical tale that captured my imagination and made me long for a sequel. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC a few months ago, and as a dyed-in-the-wool history nerd, always on the alert for original perspectives from … Continue reading
The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton
I started reading The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton, while I was hunkered down during an epic storm. It was the perfect book for the occasion, because it completely transported me from the howling winds and darkening rain clouds of modern day New York, to 19th century London, where a secret truce kept fairies and … Continue reading
Happy Santa Lucia Day!
Growing up with a Swedish mother, my sister and I celebrated this quaint, Scandinavian holiday every year on December 13th. To us, Santa Lucia Day meant feasting on breakfast bread laced with cardamom and saffron, dressing up our American Girl doll, Kirsten, in her special Lucia outfit and parading her about the house, all whilst … Continue reading
On the Power of Witch Women
“a Witch is born out of the true hungers of her time (…) I am a child of the poisonous wind that copulated with the River on an oil-slick, garbage infested midnight. I turn about on my own parentage. I inoculate against those very biles that brought me to light. I am a serum born … Continue reading
Russian Fairy Tale by Raquel Aparicio
On Starlight…
“Stars are beautiful, but they must not take an active part in anything, they must just look on forever. It is a punishment put on them for something they did so long ago that no star now knows what it was.” – J.M. Barrie