Pelzmantel And Other Tales of Medieval Magic by K. A. Laity

THE PAGAN & THE PEN BOOK REVIEWS

Title: Pelzmantel And Other Tales of Medieval Magic

Author: K. A. Laity  

Author Site

Buy Link

Publisher: Immanion Press

Genre: Fantasy

Length: 264 pgs.

RATINGS FOR:

Cover: 4

Presentation: 4

Editing: 4

Story: 4

Writing Ability: 5

Overall Card Rating

Reviewed by: Gabrielle

About The Book: Excerpt: A woman who's a fox—a kitchen maid who's a princess—and a walnut with a
wardrobe!

Princess Hallgerd hides where no one will be likely to find her: working as a cook's dogsbody, lighting fires, peeling potatoes, and toting kettles. Her only friend is Nanna, her family's longtime caregiver. On the plus side, she's found out that 'Nanna' is really Carae Mná, a centuries-old Irish witch.

On the minus side, they're both in hiding from the witch's oldest enemy, a mage who has taken over Hallgerd's father and her land. How can Hallgerd win back her home and Nanna her human skin?

And what about that wardrobe in the walnut?

Pelzmantel spins a tale of medieval magic where people and things are seldom what they seem to be on the surface. Infused with genuine magical lore and history, this inspired retelling of the Grimm Brothers' "Allerleirau" uncovers the seldom-glimpsed world behind the glitz: the hard work that keeps a castle running and the secrets lives of women in the Middle Ages. This edition includes three additional magical stories (one never before published) and an essay on medieval magic.

The Review:

K. A. Laity is a wonderful storyteller. She does a great job of immersing the reader into the world that she has built. I truly enjoyed losing myself in the lives of these characters making me feel like a young child again listening to the fantastical bedtime Fairy tales of witches and castles and dreaming of being a Princess myself.

As we watch the princess Hallgerd grow up and blossom under the care of Nanna she endears herself to the reader.  Showing what a strong and smart woman she has become. Willing to fight for her people and what is right. We cheer the princess on as she races to find her champion and hope that she and Nanna will triumph over the evil that has taken over her land. Their adventure is filled with magic and lore. Along the way they make many friends as Nanna teaches the Princess that it is more important to be fair and care for others making the reader remembers the old saying, “ Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.

This is a story that is well written and full of emotion and it should not be missed. Included with this story are three other shorts just as engrossing and an essay, which is just as interesting as the stories.

Pagan Elements: Yes this book is full of magic and song. This book also contains many related beliefs and ides as well.

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Disclaimer: Due to FTC regulations, any book reviewed on this site was sent for free by the author to The Pagan & The Pen. We are not paid to give reviews by Author or Publisher. Once review has been made, said books are deleted.

Apocalypse Woman by Tyree Q. Kimber

THE PAGAN & THE PEN BOOK REVIEWS

Title: Apocalypse Woman
Author: Tyree Q. Kimber 

Author Site

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Publisher: Dark Roast Press

Genre: Dark Fantasy/Erotica

Length: 386 pgs.
Other: 

BDSM * M/F * M/F/M * M/F/F * F/F * F/M/M * Ménage * Multiple Partners * Voyeurism

Pagan & Pagan Elements: Yes

Reviewed by: yadkny

About The Book: Selkines Ondine, a minor noblewoman without the means to fulfill her hunger for knowledge and power, faces a lonely life in service to the Aratriconian Church. To avoid this fate she makes a pact with Abryax, a fallen angel who defied the god Aratricon at the dawn of time. In exchange for bearing the demon’s child she will receive one wish for anything her heart desires. Selkines plans to use this wish to gain the wealth and power that society denies her.

But the archbishop of the Church has a secret agenda: an interest in Selkines that goes far beyond the religious. And the servants of Heaven will do anything to keep a soul they have set their sights on from Hell’s grasp.

Meanwhile Selkines’ long suffering admirer, the poet Erasmus, sets out to win her hand as well, unaware that his competition is a creature of ancient and terrible power. Abryax’s motto is that Hell gives us exactly what we want. But Selkines learns that what we want may come in a form we never expected or desired. Heaven and Hell ultimately gather for a showdown with Selkines’ body as the battlefield, but Selkines is shocked at the depth of her own capacity to love when Erasmus selflessly enters the conflict for her sake.

The Review: This story is listed in the dark fantasy erotica genre and I couldn’t agree more with that description. Small warning to those that find certain sexual situations objectionable as there are no boundaries in this story and it can be very graphic. That being said, Tyree Q. Kimber did a fantastic job of creating a riveting medieval world where the characters in the story work together AND against each other as they secretly, and not so secretly, manipulate, scheme, and plot for their own selfish agendas.

Selkines is a very learned woman who, in order to stay out of a life of servitude to the church, takes her fate into her own hands by performing a demon summoning. Her actions after that initial decision proved that she is the epitome of both the bad and good that can be found in everyone, only magnified. Her decisions bring about a domino like effect of results to those around her. Just when you think it can’t get any worse, it does. It is easy to see why Selkines would feel the need to turn to witchcraft and I am a fan of a woman who wants to be independent, but she is also blind. Erasmus understands her completely and would give her anything she desires, but Selkines doesn’t see him as worthy and finds his attentions annoying until they aren’t there anymore. Only after things become increasingly out of control does she realize what she had right in front of her all along.

After many mistakes, Selkines’ path to redemption is commendable and the author did a wonderful job of portraying a slightly twisted happily ever after. There is also a glimpse into what life for Selkines would have been like had she not chosen a different path. This alternate ending may actually appeal to some readers and I actually felt it was more believable.

Overall this is exactly the type of story that once you read it, you’re likely to not soon forget it. It is definitely not a light read and requires much focus to make certain that things don’t become too confusing.

Pagan Elements: Spell casting, demon summoning, charms, rune carving and covens are just to name a few of the pagan elements that are in this book and there is a strong Heaven versus Hell theme.

Cover Art Rating: 5-The cover was average as far as design quality. Although, if I had seen it on a bookshelf I would have picked it up to find out what the story was about since the image doesn’t automatically give the reader any insight. In this case, the mysterious cover served its purpose to capture my attention.

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Disclaimer: Due to FTC regulations, any book reviewed on this site was sent for free by the author to The Pagan & The Pen. We are not paid to give reviews by Author or Publisher. Once review has been made, said books are deleted.