Tag: Teagan Geneviene

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Book review Book reviews Tuesday Book Blog

#TuesdayBookBlog DEAD OF WINTER: JOURNEY 11, The Sumelazon Escarpment and JOURNEY 12, Goddesses by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene (@teagangeneviene) Wonderful new characters and a dark threat closing in #fantasy #bookreview

Hi all:

I’m not going to try to introduce the reviews of the two next journeys in the popular series Dead of Winter. Those who read my blog regularly know I’ve been following it for a year now, so, without further ado…

Author Teagan Geneviene

About the author:

Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene lives in a “high desert” town in the Southwest of the USA.

Teagan had always devoured fantasy novels of every type. Then one day there was no new book readily at hand for reading — so she decided to write one. And she hasn’t stopped writing since.

Her work is colored by her experiences from living in the southern states and the desert southwest. Teagan most often writes in the fantasy genre, but she also writes cozy mysteries. Whether it’s a 1920s mystery, a steampunk adventure, or urban fantasy, her stories have a strong element of whimsy.

Founder of the Three Things method of storytelling, her blog “Teagan’s Books” contains serial stories written according to “things” from viewers. http://www.teagansbooks.com


Major influences include Agatha Christie, Terry Brooks, David Eddings, Robert Jordan, and Charlaine Harris.

See book trailer videos here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoM-z7_iH5t2_7aNpy3vG-Q?

https://www.amazon.com/Teagan-Riordain-Geneviene/e/B00HHDXHVM/

Dead of Winter: Journey 11, the Sumelazon Escarpment by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

Dead of Winter: Journey 11, the Sumelazon Escarpment. 

Meet a new character in this Journey of Dead of Winter. She is a Deae Matres whose encounter with Gethin Gwilym has an unexpected result. Next in Pergesca, we get better acquainted with a noblewoman or a “HaDritak,” who is an old friend of Zasha. She has a few tricks up her sleeves.

 Emlyn sees and experiences places, customs, and foods that are foreign to her. One of her gifts is growing.

 As the conclusion of Emlyn’s “Journeys” draws near, we see that our heroes are underdogs. They are out-manned, “out-spirited,” and under-powered — physically, magically, and politically. With no other recourse, they make use of deception and manipulation. Although, how can that possibly be enough?
 Universal Purchase Links

Kindle:  relinks.me/B09M7Q19XT

Paperback:  relinks.me/B09M4QWDYK

My review:

What to say? Teagan Geneviene has managed to hook a non-high-fantasy reader like me, into this story, which I have followed since the first instalment, and now I have been reading it for over a year. The fact that it is divided up into short and manageable bits, and that it builds up slowly without dumping huge doses of backstory and never-ending descriptions of complex worlds into the readers laps, demanding absolute attention and devotion, has helped me stay the course so far, and I have to admit that I will miss it when it is over (and I know the end is approaching).

For those readers who might leave some time between one instalment (or Journey) and the next, the author includes a cast of characters and locations at the end, which is continuously updated with all the new information, and allows us to catch up or refresh our memories of what went before.

Although the central character and main protagonist of the story is Emlyn, we get the opportunity to see the world from some of the other characters’ perspectives as well, and in this journey —which is one of those where we get a chance to catch our breath, digest what has come before and get ready for what is to come— we meet some new characters as well.

A Deae Matres from ancient times finds one of the male characters (Gethin), tells him a few things aboout himself and his ancestors, and brings him a magical object as well. History is never quite past and gone in this story, and destiny, fate, family lines and legacy all play fundamental roles in the events.

Zasha comes into her own and shows us (and Emlyn and Osabide) that she has learned a lot about the inner workings of her world and the Deae Matres Society. HaDritak Baki, a friend of Zasha’s, is quickly becoming a new favourite of mine (she is a character!), and Lucetius, one of the most fascinating beings in a story full of them, comes back and proves that Emlyn was right in her feelings about being somehow connected to him. We meet a military man as well (and I do like him already), and Emlyn and Luce manage to do something quite extraordinary.

As I don’t want to spoil the story, I won’t give you any further details, but if I had to highlight something from this chapter, it would have to be the richness of the language and the beautiful descriptions of places, smells, foods, and most of all, clothes, which play a very important part in this Journey, especially for Emlyn. Oh, and there are some surprises in store about the Deae Matres Society, their membership, and their politics.

So, yes, don’t hesitate if you’ve already been following Dead of Winter and carry on reading it. The story keeps getting better and better and this journey is proof of that. If you haven´t started yet, you should, but do it in the right order, and begin reading Journey one immediately. You won’t regret it.

Dead of Winter: Journey 12, Goddesses by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

Dead of Winter: Journey 12, Goddesses by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene  

So far in previous Journeys of “Dead of Winter,” we’ve encountered villagers and city folk, religions, armies, and societies. We learned of terrifying beasts, nightwalkers, and the enigmatic Listeners. The final battle is at hand. Journey 12, brings us yet another type of extraordinary being – goddesses. Yet are they salvation? Or another complication… or even a threat.

Universal Purchase Links

Kindle:  relinks.me/B09P5LJY13

Paperback:  relinks.me/B09NTTZ9J8

My review:

You know you are hooked onto a series when you see or hear something and you wonder what the characters would say, see a piece of clothing and it reminds you of a dress one of them wears, or think about what might be happening there even when you are not reading it. And that is definitely what is happening to me with this series. I was watching TV and some of the things I saw in the news made me wonder what the Brethern of Un’Naf would have said if they had seen it, and I am sure I often stare at people because they remind me of one of the characters in Dead of Winter. Irrespective of the genre and how often you read it, if the story and the characters become alive for you and you care for them, you’ve found a new favourite.

I don’t want to reveal too much of the story for those who haven’t been following the series (you need to read the journeys in the right order, as the story builds up as it goes, and each journey is carefully designed to fit in neatly into the overall narrative), but things are coming to a head. Winter is no longer coming. It is here with a vengeance.

In this particular journey, as the blurb suggests, we have new beings that make an appearance, and it seems that they will play a big part in the events to come, at least some of them. The Goddesses of the title appear in the prologue already, and their magic spreads throughout the journey, where we also renew our acquaintance with other characters and get to see what is happening elsewhere, back where the first journey started.

Emlyn is happy to be joined again by a character she has become very fond of (sometimes the families we create are a much better fit than the ones we happen to be born into, as is the case here), and she even wonders about a possible romance (no, not for her, don’t fret); there are apologies and we get a new understanding of some past events, and other characters we have met before come bearing information and warnings.

I thoroughly enjoyed this journey, but some of the highlights for me were: the opportunity to see Emlyn become more independent, daring, and introspective; the way some characters got a chance to learn about new inventions and build up their knowledge by sharing it with others; our new insight into the feelings of one of the male characters (I am sure I wasn’t the only one wondering about this); the opportunity to learn a bit more about the World of the Dead and how thing work there; and especially the joy, playfulness, and sense of humour of one of the beings that comes into the story and makes quite an impression. Yes, she is a Goddess, and I love her already. Well, being a Goddess, I guess I adore her.

Although I haven’t been sharing samples, to avoid spoilers, I couldn’t resist including this one, because it made me laugh, and it shows how much more relaxed and at home Emlyn is now.

Here, Emlyn is talking about a character she met before, who suddenly turns up again:

She was the picture of everything Emlyn had always imagined a well-to-do young lady should be. Well, except of course for being dead.

We are coming close to the (final?) battle, and the preparations are in haste, so I recommend anybody who enjoys creative stories, wonderful characters, and colour worlds and hasn’t yet started reading this series to start now, as I’m sure you’ll want to be ready for the ending, which I have the feeling will be quite spectacular. I can’t wait, although, at the same time, I don’t want it to end. I’m sure you know what I mean.

Thanks to the author for these journeys, thanks to all of you for reading, and remember to stay safe and take care, to keep smiling and reading, and to enjoy every minute. 

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Book review Book reviews Tuesday Book Blog

#TuesdayBookBlog DEAD OF WINTER. Journey 9, Doors of Attunement and Journey 10, Pergesca by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene (@teagangeneviene) The pace is quickening and wonders don’t cease. Get ready for the ride of your lives!

Hi all:

I bring you two more of the Journeys in the Dead of Winter serial, and wow, we are getting close now…

I have been following author Ríordáin Geneviene for a number of years now, down many of the paths her imagination has travelled, from her blog, where she has created a number of serials with the participation of her readers (incorporating the items they propose into her stories), in many genres (steampunk, historical fiction, fantasy…) always with a seamless weaving of research (into artefacts of a historical period, language and fashionable expressions of an era, music, and recipes of bygone times, names and mythology and their link to specific places and meanings…), a wonderful playfulness in her use of language, and a penchant for flights of fancy and whimsy. It doesn’t matter how closely you are following the events and how well you think you know her characters, there are surprises waiting when you turn the next page, and you’re always left wanting more.

Author Teagan Geneviene 

About the author:

Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene lives in a “high desert” town in the Southwest of the USA.

Teagan had always devoured fantasy novels of every type. Then one day there was no new book readily at hand for reading — so she decided to write one. And she hasn’t stopped writing since.

Her work is colored by her experiences from living in the southern states and the desert southwest. Teagan most often writes in the fantasy genre, but she also writes cozy mysteries. Whether it’s a 1920s mystery, a steampunk adventure, or urban fantasy, her stories have a strong element of whimsy.

Founder of the Three Things method of storytelling, her blog “Teagan’s Books” contains serial stories written according to “things” from viewers. Http://www.teagansbooks.com


Major influences include Agatha Christie, Terry Brooks, David Eddings, Robert Jordan, and Charlaine Harris.

See book trailer videos here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoM-z7_iH5t2_7aNpy3vG-Q?

https://www.amazon.com/Teagan-Riordain-Geneviene/e/B00HHDXHVM/

Dead of Winter. Journey 9, Doors of Attunement by Teagan Ríodáin Geneviene

Dead of Winter: Journey 9, Doors of Attunement by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene 

In this ninth installment Emlyn, Osabide, and Fotia (in Zasha’s body) traveled to a third world, so little known that it is only called the Other Realm. They hope to restore Zasha. Will Fotia willingly relinquish her new life in a young body? There the trio meet unpredictable, but vastly powerful beings known as the Listeners. One of them is a new enemy. Another might be friend or foe. Either way, he is dangerous.

Arawn has grown stronger. An army of the dead gathers near the Lost Library. Hallgeir faces one of the biggest decisions of his life.

Journey with our travelers. Adventure awaits.

 https://relinks.me/B09F8Y5DML

 My review:

Fantasy is a bit of a hit-and-miss for me, but based on my previous experience reading this author, I knew I had to try her new (although originally written as a single novel a number of years ago) serial, Dead of Winter. And, as usual, she has surpassed herself. I’ve come to eagerly await the next journey, to celebrate every monthly publication, and it has become a highlight in my reading schedule.

In Journey 9, we have Emlyn, the main protagonist of the story, and two of her friends (although one is not quite herself, and that is one of the reasons for their quest), journey through the “Other” realm. It is an strange and wondrous place, and they are soon confronted with decisions (if you love game shows, the fact that they have to choose one of three doors will bring all kinds of connections to your mind) that require not only courage, but also intuition, trust in each other and belief in themselves.

Emlyn uncovers new powers/abilities she didn’t know she possessed, and we find out that the “Listeners” can take many forms and are as puzzling,enchanting, and unnerving as most of the other creatures we’ve come across in these journeys. Readers travel beyond the Other realm, there are more magical objects to be retrieved, and although they achieve their goal, they also confirm that risks and dangers are getting closer and closer.

There is a touch of Alice through the Looking Glass in this journey (although in this case, through a painting), and we get to hear from Luce, one of the most enigmatic characters in this serial (and that is saying something!), who, for the first time, allows us to peep into his mind.

As this journey ends, Hallgeir —one of the men travelling with the Deae Matres and protecting them— finds his loyalty put to the test. Or his loyalties, because, should one always put family before everything else, or are other callings stronger than blood? It is a particularly tense moment, and I am relieved to already have Journey 10 waiting to be read, as it would have felt like a very long wait otherwise.

Those who are following the story already know the author includes a cast of characters and locations at the end, to ensure readers don’t lose track and don’t miss any of the details. This keeps being updated with each new journey, to avoid spoilers.

I loved the descriptions of the new characters, the places the protagonists visit, and, in particular, the insight we are given into their innermost thoughts, doubts, and feelings. A journey full of wonder and adventure, and an ending that pulsates with excitement and expectation.

Don’t forget to read the journeys in the right order, and go on, keep reading Dead of Winter.

Dead of Winter. Journey 10, Pergesca by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

 

Dead of Winter: Journey 10, Pergesca by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene 

“Dead of Winter: Journey 10, Pergesca” resumes outside the Lost Library, where Hallgeir was faced with a decision that could impact the entire world.

Lucetius is gravely wounded when he attempts to deliver a message. Emlyn, Zasha, and Osabide are again separated from all their friends. The Three must continue their journey without assistance or protection from the other travelers. They must reach the faraway city of Pergesca. That is also the seat of power of the ancient Society of Deae Matres. Will the companions eventually be reunited?

A vicious enemy returns, displaying unexpected strength.

An important character dies in this novelette. The death of a character is a rare thing in stories written by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene.

https://relinks.me/B09J6TH8TD

 My review:

What to say! We’ve reached Journey 10 in Dead of Winter, and for me, it has definitely been a big journey into a realm I rarely visit, that of high fantasy. I’m not a reader lacking in imagination or preoccupied with productivity and getting the most out of any lecture time. My love for fiction was born when I was a child, and although I’ve read (and still read) a lot of factual and non-fiction books (for professional and personal reasons), my preference for my downtime is fiction. I read realistic fiction, but I’m quite fond of fairy tales and horror as well. My problem with high fantasy, I think, is not so much with the fantasy side of things, but with the build-up to the stories, the large number of characters, often with strange and somewhat similar names (I have the same issue with some spy novels, although those I find dry at times), and the huge amounts of backstory and telling usually required to explain the worlds where the stories are taking place. As much as I love a well-written plot, I have also been more of a character reader, and in some cases, those seem to get lost among all the scaffolding in some of the big fantasy sagas. So, reaching Journey 10 of this serial is an achievement, for me and one that shows the skill of the author.

In Dead of Winter, Ríordáin Geneviene manages to combine a weird, wonderful, scary, terrible, and beautiful world, with different realms and with a cast of characters that although not always “human” and/or “alive” we can easily connect with. Emlyn, the main protagonist, is a credible normal child (only twelve years old) but also gifted, unique, and the perfect hero to guide us on this quest. And I am sure every reader will have his/her own favourite among the many characters (creatures included).

This Journey is pretty special, as the author explains because one of the characters dies. I’m going to avoid any spoilers, although I was not surprised by the event. When I thought about the author’s prologue, I imagined who it could be; it is well done, makes perfect sense, and brings some sense of completion to that character.

There are many other adventures and magical events in this journey: we have characters surprising everybody with changes of heart (possibly); the three women with a most delicate mission (Emlyn, Osabide, and Zasha) are placed in great danger due to a mean and vengeful character trying to get revenge; a new favourite of mine puts in a star appearance; we have further “through the looking glass” moments; Emlyn finds herself in a city for the first time and doesn’t quite know what to think; Zasha —who is slowly recovering her old self, but with some changes— is back home and playing guide; there is further evidence of the breach(chasm in the veil separating the world of the living from that of the dead; we meet new characters and old characters who leave mysterious messages and warnings, and the future appears very uncertain.

The writing is immaculate as usual, with truly emotional moments, vivid descriptions of action and battle scenes where we can feel the danger jumping at the protagonists, and some reflective and quiet moments when we are privy to the thoughts, reflections, and doubts of the protagonists (mostly from Emlyn’s point of view, but we get some insights into Zasha’s thoughts and feelings as well). The pace of the story and the narration is quickening, and things are coming to a head. I will be sorry to see this story end, but, at this point, I’m also eager to know what will happen. Winter seems to have arrived already, and time is of the essence.

I’ve recommended this story to all and sundry, and other than people who only read non-fiction and cannot stand fantasy in any shape, I cannot imagine many who would not enjoy it. The serial format works beautifully to ensure that no reader gets overwhelmed by the story building and the number of characters and settings, and the author also includes a cast of characters at the end, which she updates as required, to help those who might have a doubt or want to remind themselves of some stray detail. Read the serial in the right order, and be prepared for the journey. It is a wild and magical ride.

Thanks to the author for this wonderful serial, thanks to all of you for reading, and remember to stay safe and take care above all, and to like, share, comment, click, and, always keep smiling. 

Categories
Book review Book reviews

#Bookreview DEAD OF WINTER: Journey 7, Revenant Pass and Journey 8, The Lost Library by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene (@teagangeneviene) Powers, new and old, connections, and a quest.

Hi all: Today I bring you the review of two more of the Journeys that comprise Dead of Winter. Hold on to your seats, because things are getting wild!

I am a fan of multi-talented Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene, follow her blog (where she creates wonderful serials, with the participation of her readers), and have read several of her novels and novellas. She writes in a variety of genres (and she likes to experiment and combine those, rather than stick to the rules), but there are always elements of fancy, wonder, and magic weaved into her stories. Although I don’t usually read fantasy, I have no hesitation reading or recommending this series, even to people who aren’t that keen on the genre. I love the way she combines some unlikely and beautifully described settings with wonderful characters, playful dialogues (her love of research is legendary, and she always finds historically accurate words and long-forgotten expressions that delight readers), and highly imaginative storylines. No matter how many of her books you read, you’re bound to be surprised by her stories.

Author Teagan Geneviene

About the author:

Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene lives in a “high desert” town in the Southwest of the USA.

Teagan had always devoured fantasy novels of every type. Then one day there was no new book readily at hand for reading — so she decided to write one. And she hasn’t stopped writing since.

Her work is colored by her experiences from living in the southern states and the desert southwest. Teagan most often writes in the fantasy genre, but she also writes cozy mysteries. Whether it’s a 1920s mystery, a steampunk adventure, or urban fantasy, her stories have a strong element of whimsy.

Founder of the Three Things method of storytelling, her blog “Teagan’s Books” contains serial stories written according to “things” from viewers. Http://www.teagansbooks.com


Major influences include Agatha Christie, Terry Brooks, David Eddings, Robert Jordan, and Charlaine Harris.

See book trailer videos here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoM-z7_iH5t2_7aNpy3vG-Q?

https://www.amazon.com/Teagan-Riordain-Geneviene/e/B00HHDXHVM/

Dead of Winter Journey 7. Revenant Pass by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

Dead of Winter: Journey 7, Revenant Pass by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene 

Dead of Winter: Journey 7, Revenant Pass begins with the ancient watcher’s memory of the Library of the Society of Deae Matres — and its fall. We also get a look into the thought process of treacherous Arawn. Then the story picks up where we left Emlyn and company, trapped in the Realm of the Dead.
This Journey is shorter than some, but adventure abounds. Some characters go missing. You’ll have to read to learn more.
Come, be a part of the Journeys.

Kindle:  relinks.me/B098MS8P48

Paperback:  relinks.me/B098GV1G5V

 

My review:

I was provided an early ARC copy of this book, which I freely chose to review.

I am a fan of the author, I have read all the journeys in Dead of Winter so far and think the serial format suits the story well, because it builds up the characters, and the connections between them are revealed slowly, without overwhelming the readers. People who don’t have a lot of time to read don’t need to worry about getting too caught up in the story and not being able to stop. The author has chosen the length of the episodes and the perfect point to split up the novel, and we come to the end of each journey both satisfied with what happens and left wanting more.

This episode, although short, is very important, as we get to understand who Haldis —whom we knew as the Watcher in the early journeys— is (although we might have had our suspicions), and how her story links to that of the Deae Matres. It hints at what is to come, and it drags us even deeper into the story. Some of the connections and the links that we might have suspected are coming to the fore, and some of the questions we might have had are slowly getting answered.

We see things from the perspective of several characters (even the baddy), and we also get deeper into Emlyn’s thoughts, her doubts, her sensations, and that makes us empathise even more with her. She is quickly getting out of her shell and learning about other cultures and lifestyles, although she still doubts herself at times and wonders what her right place is and what the future holds in stock for her.

This journey includes some wonderful descriptions, as usual, and action scenes and scary moments aplenty. We are getting closer than ever to learning what happened in the past and discovering how that history is linked to the protagonists and the present. The warnings and the threats feel more urgent as well, and events seem to be speeding up. Characters disappear, mysteries abound, and there are many questions left answered.

I loved this journey, and I felt as if things were falling into place. I am in awe at the way everything is interconnected, and I can’t wait to learn what happens next. Thankfully, I won’t have to wait long.

Just a reminder that this is a complete story split up into journeys, and readers need to read them in order to be able to follow the plot and fully appreciate its complexity. The author includes a list of characters and locations at the end, so even if it’s been some time since you read the previous journey, you can easily refresh your memory and pick up the story where you left off.

Recommended to anybody who loves great characters, beautiful writing (whatever their thoughts on fantasy), and imaginative stories, especially to those who appreciate shorter reads but like the idea of a serial.

Dead of Winter Journey 8. The Lost Library by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

Dead of Winter: Journey 8, The Lost Library by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

Throughout the previous volumes the fantasy aspect of this epic has gradually built. In Journey 8, that fantastical element comes to the fore.
Emlyn and her companions search for the fabled Lost Library. The entire world is at risk, so they hope answers will be there. However, a new complication arises and the fate of one Deae Matres hangs in the balance.
Meanwhile Arawn, who tore the Veil between the worlds of the living and dead, tries to make an evil alliance with a long dead king who was known for his ruthlessness.
Remove the limits from your imagination and join Emlyn and company on this extraordinary adventure. 

Kindle:  relinks.me/B09C6MPTYT

Paperback:  relinks.me/B09C34XR7P

My review:

Journey 8 is a gripping one, as there are plenty of adventures, and we gain some fascinating insights into some of the characters’ backgrounds (already hinted at in Journey 7) and learn more about the history of the Deae Matres and the lost library of the title.

As the author tells us in her preface, this journey is slightly different in structure, as Haldis, the Watcher, has now become part of the action, and she is intriguing, to say the least. She becomes a guide to the rest of the characters, but she is unreliable, partly because she is old, and her memory is far from perfect, and partly, perhaps, because there are things she is keeping to herself.

Arawn, the baddiest of the bad, makes an appearance that puts an even darker spin on things, and although the Deae Matres are together again, things are not as they were before. Haldis promises there is a solution, but not everybody is convinced by her suggestion.

Three of the protagonists of the story embark on a quest, becoming seekers (I’m trying to avoid any spoilers), and what they find reminded me of some of the most imaginative and wonderful stories the author has come up with in her blog and in previous novels. She definitely delivers in her promise of fantastic elements. Her descriptions are eye-poppingly incredible and beautiful, and I can’t wait to see what else the trio will find.

Just a quick reminder that you need to read all the journeys in order, and it is easy to catch up on previous adventures as the author includes a list of characters and settings at the end that is updated with each installment, as relevant.

A magical read that is becoming more intense and intriguing as it goes. Unmissable.

Thanks to the author for keeping the story coming (it has become something to look forward to, and reliable as well), thanks to all of you for reading, and remember to like, share, comment, click, review, keep reading, and about all, take care and stay safe. 

 

Categories
Book review Book reviews

#Bookreview Dead of Winter, Journey 4, The Old Road by Teagan Riordain Geneviene (@teagangeneviene) Adventures, scares, legends, and stories. A monthly appointment I always look forward to #fantasy

Hi all:

I bring a big favourite of all my readers. We’ve reached Journey 4 in Teagan Geneviene’s Dead of Winter Serial.

Dead of Winter. Journey 4. The Old Road by Teagan Geneviene

Dead of Winter. Journey 4. The Old Road by Teagan Geneviene

Previously, Journey 3, The Fever Field left Emlyn on the run. Will the Society of Deae Matres be willing to help? After all, in Journey 1, they rejected her father’s plea to take her away. Journey 4, The Old Road features Boabhan, the Society’s most enigmatic adherent. Emlyn finds herself in another kind of danger when the archvillain from the prologue of Journey 1, Forlorn Peak returns to the story in this installment. Plus, she still has not outrun the Brethren. Meanwhile, Emlyn isn’t the only one at risk. This Journey finds many of our friends in harm’s way. This Journey is notably longer than the others. Some parts of the story needed to be told together, in one volume. Come, be a part of the Journeys of Dead of Winter.

https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Winter-Journey-Old-Road-ebook/dp/B092G5LB7R/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Winter-Journey-Old-Road-ebook/dp/B092G5LB7R/

https://www.amazon.es/Dead-Winter-Journey-Old-Road-ebook/dp/B092G5LB7R/

Author Teagan Geneviene

About the author:
Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene lives in a “high desert” town in the Southwest of the USA.

Teagan had always devoured fantasy novels of every type. Then one day there was no new book readily at hand for reading — so she decided to write one. And she hasn’t stopped writing since.

Her work is colored by her experiences from living in the southern states and the desert southwest. Teagan most often writes in the fantasy genre, but she also writes cozy mysteries. Whether it’s a 1920s mystery, a steampunk adventure, or urban fantasy, her stories have a strong element of whimsy.

Founder of the Three Things method of storytelling, her blog “Teagan’s Books” contains serial stories written according to “things” from viewers. www.teagansbooks.com

Major influences include Agatha Christie, Terry Brooks, David Eddings, Robert Jordan, and Charlaine Harris.

See book trailer videos here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoM-z7_iH5t2_7aNpy3vG-Q?
My review:
I’ve read all the previous journeys in the Dead of Winter serial and loved them (check my latest review here), as I have all the novels I’ve read by Teagan Riordáin Geneviene and also her blog. I’m always amazed by her imagination and her ability to bring to life all kinds of whimsical and wonderful characters and make the readers not only believe in them, but also care deeply for them. That is definitely my case with this story and its characters, and that is despite not being a big fan of fantasy. I usually don’t have the patience for high fantasy, because I like to jump straight into a story rather than have to spend a lot of time getting to understand the rules of the world the author has built. This serial obviates those problems. Not only we get bite-size instalments of the story once a month, but the author has created characters and situations we feel comfortable and familiar with from the start, while he keeps pulling us into an increasingly complex world.
Emlyn, the young protagonist, has a gift (although at first, it seems a curse to her, as it puts her in immediate danger and causes her to be the butt of abuse and prejudice), but despite the help of her friend and mentor, Osabide, there are many things about the world (the worlds) she doesn’t know about because knowledge is frown upon by the religious leaders in her town. Knowledge gives you freedom, and freedom is something they abhor. Following her adventures gives readers a great opportunity to learn about many wonders and to experience the excitement and the risk of the larger world through her eyes.
In the fourth journey, Emlyn gets a taste of what life is like travelling with the Society of Deae Matres, makes some new friends, and realises that many of her intuitions were right. She goes through a terrifying experience that introduces a dark character (that we’ll hear more about in the future, it seems), Arawn, one of the nightwalkers. We also learn about some of the stories and legends (or perhaps true stories?) of heroes, the binding (that seems intrinsically linked to Emlyn’s family), old goddesses, and I have to admit to being fascinated by the new information we gain about Boabhan, who although is one of the Deae Matres, is quite unique (no spoilers) and much older than all of them (it seems).
This is a journey full of adventures, very dynamic, with several lucky escapes and scrapes, unexplained and inexplicable moments, signs of things to come, rumours and questions, gathering of new information, and we also catch up with Emlyn’s trusted teacher, Osabide, whose safety is put to the test. And, Haldis, the watcher, opens the chapter with more and more memories that feed some new information into the story but leave us with more doubts and questions than before.
As has been the case throughout the serial, I enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of places, people, animals, clothes, and especially the way the author brings in songs, objects, nature, animals, and even smells into the story, creating a tapestry of characters and setting that crystallise into a three-dimensional story. If I’d liked Emlyn and Osabide from the very beginning, I’m quickly becoming fond of many of the more recent characters, no matter how different from the norm they are.
Although we can’t help feeling frustrated by the end of the journey, as we’d like to keep reading, the author again chooses what feels like a natural pausing point to stop her narration and keep us eager for more.
Her introduction to the new journey gives us enough to keep us thinking, and I am signed into this journey until the very end, I can assure you that.
I can’t recommend this serial highly enough. Even if you’re not a reader of high-fantasy, as long as you enjoy great characters, plenty of imagination, and are a fan of stories that keep getting wilder, more creative, and fantastic as they go along, you can’t go wrong with it. And it will become a monthly appointment on your diary you’ll be eager to keep.

Thanks to Teagan for the new installment (and I can’t wait to read the next), thanks to all of you for reading, and remember to like, share, comment, click, and especially, to keep safe and keep smiling. 

Categories
Book review Book reviews Tuesday Book Blog

#TuesdayBookBlog Dead of Winter: Journey 3, The Fever Field by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene (@teagangeneviene) Mysteries and magic come to the fore #Fantasy

Hi all:

Today, I bring you the review of the third Journey of a series I’ve been following with growing interest. If you haven’t, yet, I hope you give it a try. And you don’t need to be all-out fantasy fans to enjoy it. I am not.

Dead of Winter Journey 3, The Fever Field by Teagan Geneviene

Dead of Winter: Journey 3, The Fever Field by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene 

The Fever Field is burial ground that is far older than the inhabitants of the Flowing Lands realize. We first saw it in the prologue of Journey 1, Forlorn Peak. Now we learn more about the place where ancient evil was buried and forgotten, until that moment in the prologue when it broke free.
On the cover of Journey 3, The Fever Field, Emlyn has turned to look toward Zasha. Much of this third installment is told from Zasha’s point of view. We’ll get better acquainted with the sisters in the Society of Deae Matres who traveled with Zasha. Also, we meet a tall, intriguing north-man and the most mysterious adherent of the Deae Matres.
The youngest of all the Society, Zasha encounters some resistance from the other sisters traveling with her. She also runs into trouble of her own.
Meanwhile, Emlyn’s uncertain situation with her family combines with the threat posed by the Brethren of Un’Naf. What is the greater danger, her loved ones, or the fanatics? In Journey 3, Emlyn’s circumstances reach a tipping point. There seems to be no good choice for her. How can she survive?

 https://www.amazon.es/gp/product/B08XTNZ9M8/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08XTNZ9M8/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08XTNZ9M8/

Author Teagan Geneviene

About the author:

Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene lives in a “high desert” town in the Southwest of the USA.

Teagan had always devoured fantasy novels of every type. Then one day there was no new book readily at hand for reading — so she decided to write one. And she hasn’t stopped writing since.

Her work is colored by her experiences from living in the southern states and the desert southwest. Teagan most often writes in the fantasy genre, but she also writes cozy mysteries. Whether it’s a 1920s mystery, a steampunk adventure, or urban fantasy, her stories have a strong element of whimsy.

Founder of the Three Things method of storytelling, her blog “Teagan’s Books” contains serial stories written according to “things” from viewers. www.teagansbooks.com

Major influences include Agatha Christie, Terry Brooks, David Eddings, Robert Jordan, and Charlaine Harris.

See book trailer videos here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoM-z7_iH5t2_7aNpy3vG-Q?

My review:

I received an ARC copy of this instalment of the serial, which I freely chose to review.

I’ve been following Dead of Winter since its first journey, and despite my usual reluctance to commit to series or long-winded sagas, I’ve been surprised by how quickly it has grabbed my attention and how easy it is to adapt to the format. The length of each journey is such that it gives readers an opportunity to re-engage with the characters and learn more about them, while at the same time moving forward with the adventures and the overall story. The author’s skill is evident in the way she chooses where to pause the story —always managing to give us a sense of completion while leaving us with unanswered questions— and also in her inclusion of a list of characters and settings which allows readers to get their bearings quickly if they have taken a long break in between reading the different journeys.

As per this specific journey… Well, I’ll try not to reveal any spoilers, but I can say that Emlyn is faced with her worst fears; she discovers (as do we) that her gifts/powers go beyond what she had realised until now; her hopes and dreams become real in more ways than one, and she makes some new acquaintances (and I won’t say anything else).

We also learn more about the Deæ Matres, especially from Zasha’s point of view, and realise that not everything is harmony and good cheer. Although it is not surprising, as this group of women come from different regions, cultures, and have been brought up in different traditions, we get to experience some of the tensions, doubts, and to have a peek behind the united front they offer to the outside world.

Magic and mystery are at the heart of this journey, and we get some intriguing clues about objects and characters that have made flitting appearances before but haven’t quite come to the fore yet. We also learn about some of the beliefs and the layers of existence in this universe. The plot thickens, indeed, and the 4th Journey promises to bring even more revelations and eerie happenings.

I also wanted to highlight the quality of the writing. The third person narration from the main characters’ point of view (Emlyn and Zasha in this journey) allows us to witness their internal thoughts and feel closer to the protagonists, while at the same time offering us beautiful (but succinct) descriptions of settings, objects, and people. We also get to experience the feelings, doubts, worries, and sense of wonder they live through.

I can’t but recommend this journey and, of course, remind everybody this is a serial that must be read in the right order. So, if you haven’t started on the Dead of Winter journey yet, do yourself a favour, and get going. And remember, Winter is Coming.

You can check the reviews for Journey 1 here and Journey 2 here.

Thanks to the author for keeping the momentum going, thanks to all of you for reading, and remember to stay safe, and to keep smiling, reading, reviewing, and hoping. Big hugs!

Categories
Book review Book reviews

#Bookreview DEAD OF WINTER: JOURNEY 2, PENLLYN by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene (@teagangeneviene) A must-read serial #fantasy

Hi all:

I bring you the second journey in the new serial by one of my favourite authors and bloggers, Teagan Geneviene.

Dead of Winter Journey 2. Penllyn by Teagan Geneviene

Dead of Winter: Journey 2, Penllyn by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

Journey 2, Penllyn picks up where the first installment, Dead of Winter: Journey 1, Forlorn Peak stopped. The supernatural warning, “Winter is coming!” continues to haunt Emlyn. Her father has heard her utter those words, and he is displeased to say the least. In fact, her family situation in general is becoming more perilous.

As if visitations from ghosts weren’t enough, another entity has started coming to her. She isn’t sure whether he is a spirit or something else, but he gives her the same prophetic warning.

Now Emlyn’s father has begun to behave strangely.

Join Emlyn on this strange journey to the neighboring village of Penllyn. Try not to look over your shoulder…

https://www.amazon.es/gp/product/B08VMNSF97/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08VMNSF97/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08VMNSF97/

Author Teagan Geneviene

About the author:

Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene lives in a “high desert” town in the Southwest of the USA.

Teagan had always devoured fantasy novels of every type. Then one day there was no new book readily at hand for reading — so she decided to write one. And she hasn’t stopped writing since.

Her work is colored by her experiences from living in the southern states and the desert southwest. Teagan most often writes in the fantasy genre, but she also writes cozy mysteries. Whether it’s a 1920s mystery, a steampunk adventure, or urban fantasy, her stories have a strong element of whimsy.

Founder of the Three Things method of storytelling, her blog “Teagan’s Books” contains serial stories written according to “things” from viewers. www.teagansbooks.com

Major influences include Agatha Christie, Terry Brooks, David Eddings, Robert Jordan, and Charlaine Harris.

See book trailer videos here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoM-z7_iH5t2_7aNpy3vG-Q?

My review:

Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene is one of the authors whose novels, novellas, blog posts, and serials —as is the case here— I’d put on my TBR list as soon as I hear about them. Sometimes I’ll even reserve a slot before they are published, because I know I’ll be in for a treat. Even when she publishes a work in a genre I don’t usually read, as is the case here, I don’t hesitate, because I know her characters and their adventures will capture my imagination, and she always takes good care of her readers, making sure that nobody can get lost or miss an important element of the story because of the way it is told.

After reading and reviewing Journey 1. Forlorn Peak in her serial Dead of Winter (you can check my review here), I had been eagerly waiting to read more of Emlyn’s story. Here, the young protagonist (only twelve years old) experiences further strange happenings (even for a girl who can see spirits), and goes through hopeful and exciting moments (visiting Penllyn, a much bigger village sounds promising, and at first she imagines her father might finally acknowledge all she had learned and want her help with the business), but also scary and disappointing ones (when she observes her father’s strange behaviour, she starts to wonder if he might be planning something quite different).

The trip to Penllyn introduces some interesting characters (I love the cook at the inn and her young helper), highlighting, at the same time, that not everybody is fond of the Brethern or particularly taken with their religion and rules, especially when it comes to their attitude towards women.

We also follow Zasha, Osabide’s niece and one of the Deae Matres’s members, and her protector/travelling companion, Tajín, and learn a bit more about them and the Deae Matres in the process, although this insight contrasts with Emlyn’s own —none too positive— brief second-hand experience of this intriguing group of women.

I enjoyed the narrative style, the way the plot is developing and adding more narratives and points of view to the story, layering the connections between the characters, the events, and the supernatural elements. There are compelling descriptions of people and places and numerous signs of wonders to come. The characters are growing in importance and complexity as well, as we get to know more about Emlyn’s world, a place fraught with danger and magic in equal measure.

The author has also included a cast of characters and locations, which she will keep adding on as the story progresses, which greatly assists readers in clarifying any possible doubts about who is who and how the different people and places are connected.

The only thing I don’t like is the fact that we’ll have to wait for a bit to get Journey three, but the advantage of getting the story in instalments is that it’s easy to fit it into our reading schedule, between two longer books, or even as a break from other activities. It is incredibly easy to get lost in this world, and I recommend this serial to anybody who enjoys a story beautifully told, with a dark and menacing undertone, and characters you’ll feel compelled to follow. Even if you’re not a big fan of fantasy, I recommend that you give it a try. I’m sure you won’t regret it.

Thanks to the author for her story, thanks to all of you for reading, and remember to like, share, comment, click, review, keep smiling, and above all, keep safe.

Categories
Book review Book reviews Tuesday Book Blog

#TuesdayBookBlog DEAD OF WINTER: JOURNEY 1, FORLORN PEAK by Teagan Geneviene (@teagangeneviene) A great start to a beautiful and compelling fantasy serial

Hi all:

I bring you the review for a new story, or rather, the first “journey” of a new story by an author and blogger I’ve been following and reading for a while now, and whose work I’ve reviewed here on quite a few occasions. When she announced she’d be publishing Dead of Winter, I offered to share the news. I remembered she had mentioned the story to me (although I didn’t know the title or the ins and outs of it) years back and had told me she’d had to put it aside when she realised there was a central element to her story that also appeared in another series that had suddenly become very well-known and popular. She hadn’t been aware of it at the time of writing, and the stories were totally different, but she felt people might still question it. But, as a writer, and I’m sure many of you have experienced the same with personal projects, sometimes we can’t let go of certain things, because they keep haunting us, and Teagan has finally decided to publish it in instalments called “journeys” in this case.

I share my review of the first Journey, but I thought I’d borrow from her own presentation of the book, as she knows much more about it than I do. So first I share some of her own introduction and then follows my review.

Here, in Teagan’s own words:

Dead of Winter. Journey 1, Forlorn Peak by Teagan Geneviene

Dead of Winter: Journey 1, Forlorn Peak!

Dead of Winter will be a serial/series available through Amazon. (Maybe other sites as well, for the anti-Amazon among us.  If those sites cooperate, that is.  I have little patience for their shenanigans).

I call the installments Journeys, because the characters travel across the complex world I built, experiencing new cultures and meeting new people. These journeys will publish approximately monthly.  Length will range from 30 to 60 pages, or so.

This is the new video trailer for Journey 1
Here’s the Blurb

Dead of Winter takes place in a fantasy world that resembles some countries in the past of our own world.  In this monthly series we travel through many lands, each with a distinct culture.  The series begins in the Flowing Lands at Forlorn Peak (Journey 1).

The Brethren are fanatics who gradually took over the Flowing Lands.  They say all beliefs but theirs are heresy.  Women are little more than property.  Emlyn is only twelve, but to the Brethren she is an abomination.  Why?  She can see ghosts and other entities.  That’s a secret she can admit only to her teacher, Osabide.

The stronger Emlyn’s ability gets, the harder it is for her to hide it.  Now she has also gotten a supernatural warning that she knows is not about the weather, “Winter is coming!”

As the veil separating the world of the living from the realm of the dead deteriorates, the danger accelerates.  Journey with Emlyn as she explores her world and its many cultures in Dead of Winter.

Universal Purchase Links

Kindle:  relinks.me/B08RBBVRGX

Paperback:  relinks.me/B08R7RH4F5

Some of you have seen this video with me narrating the prologue, and thank you so much for listening.  It took half a bottle of throat spray, but I did it.  The recording lasts fewer than three minutes and there are lovely images to entertain you. If you haven’t already, then I hope you will stop to listen.

Just in case you don’t know Teagan, here is a bit more information about her:

About the author:

Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene lives in a major east coast city, but she calls the desert southwest home. She longs to return to those magical lands.

Teagan had always devoured fantasy novels of every type. Then one day there was no new book readily at hand for reading — so she decided to write one. And she hasn’t stopped writing since.

Her work is colored by her experiences from living in the southern states and the southwest. Teagan most often writes in the fantasy genre, but she also writes cozy mysteries. Her blog “Teagan’s Books” contains serial stories written according to “things” from viewers.

Major influences include Agatha Christie, Terry Brooks, David Eddings, Robert Jordan, and Charlaine Harris.

See book trailer videos here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoM-z7_iH5t2_7aNpy3vG-Q?

And check her own blog here:

https://teagansbooks.com/

Here is a list of the blogs that are sharing the news as well, so you might want to visit them (not only because of that, but because they are more than worth a visit or many).
Pat Alderman at e-Quips

Wallace Peach at Myths of the Mirror

Robbie Cheadle at Roberta Writes

Dan Antion at No Facilities

John W. Howell at Fiction Favorites

Gwen Plano at Blog Reflections… From the Desk of Gwen Plano

Mark Bierman at Adventures on Writing

And now, my review:

I have followed the author’s blog and the writing she shares there for a few years, and have also read and reviewed her novels, and I love her imagination and the beauty of her writing, so I am grateful for the ARC copy of this first instalment (journey) of her new serial, which I freely and eagerly chose to review.

I am not a big reader of fantasy, especially “high fantasy”, because I don’t have the patience for the laborious world building involved, the huge amounts of description, and because I need a quick connection with a character, and characters I can relate to (I don’t have to like them, and they don’t have to be anything like me, but there has to be something that pulls me towards them and makes me want to follow their adventures). But I’ve read some fantasy set in worlds that felt fairly familiar or recognisable to me, and where the main characters grabbed my attention straight away. And this was the case here.

Emlyn is a young girl who doesn’t fit in the very narrow and limited definition of womanhood the Brethern have imposed over the Flowing Lands, where she lives. Although in this first journey there isn’t a lot of detail about that world order or the setting, it is clear that the Brethern are some kind of religious fanatics with extreme views (especially where women are concerned), and women are not allowed to learn anything other than how to look after the house, their husbands and their children, are supposed to wear only subdued colours and to hide their hair. Healers or other women suspected of having access to knowledge or who’ve behaved in a manner unbecoming, according to them, get banished or worse.

The society seems to be a pre-industrial one, but not all places are ruled the same, and we get glimpses at what might be a different way of life, although it’s very early days in the story.

I liked Emlyn, who is special in many ways as the blurb hints at, and whose coming-of-age journey seems to play a big part in the story (or so I hope), and I also liked Osabide, her teacher, who hides depths Emlyn is only now beginning to discover. She lives an alternative lifestyle and guides Emlyn through a difficult life, where her family is less than understanding, and there seem to be dangers even under her own roof.

The author’s writing is beautiful, and although I’m not a fan of description per se, she manages to conjure up the natural world surrounding Emlyn, as well as her own experiences, that have more than a touch of the magical and the mystical about them. Even though the story is written in the third person, we see things from the point of view of the protagonist, and we experience her wonder, her fear, and also her excitement at being in the company of women who have a different and less limiting view of the world.

There are characters I dislike already, like Emlyn’s sister and her brother-in-law (he’s a creep!), but I’m sure there will be plenty more, as the second journey promises to offer us a closer view at how things work in Emlyn’s world.

I enjoyed the writing, the characters, the setting of the story, and I’m already hooked onto the imaginary world Emlyn inhabits. There’s nothing I disliked about it, other than I’ll have to wait until the next journey is published to read more. This early in the serial I don’t want to mention other stories that it might put people in mind of (I’m looking at you, The Handmaid’s Tale), but I think most readers are likely to be reminded of past events and historical periods and also about more recent developments in certain societies when they read this journey. A great start to the serial, recommended to all who love fantasy, strong female characters, anybody looking for a short read, and also those who enjoy beautiful writing and want to be transported to an imaginary world where anything might be possible. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Teagan for taking me along on this journey, thanks to all of you for reading, and remember to like, share, comment, click, review, and always keep safe, keep smiling (from behind the mask), and come back soon!

Categories
Book launch

#TuesdayBookBlog HULLABA LULU Book Launch. Dieselpunk in the Jazz Age by Teagan R. Geneviene (@teagangeneviene)

Hi all:

Today I bring you a treat. I know many of you are fans of Teagan Geneviene’s blog and her books. For those who don’t know her yet, she is a true magician! She starts with the germ of an idea for a story (sometimes a character and a historical era, a scene, a song) and then asks the readers of her blog to participate and suggest objects, ingredients… whatever might be relevant, and “Abracadabra” the magic is served and an incredible story is born.

Many of her readers (I included) had been asking her to turn these stories into books, to be able to enjoy them more fully and keep them in our collections. After some insistence, she finally agreed, and now some of her stories have become books. And she has done it again! Here she brings us a fantastic (in more ways than one) story with some of my favourite characters (not all human either)! So, you’re all invited to the book launch party!

Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

Oh, and she asked me to choose one of the Real World things, and being a psychiatrist, I could not resist and had to choose Carl Jung’s mysterious Red Notebook. Jung was a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst born in the XIX century (1875). At first, he was a close ally of Freud but later he moved away from psychoanalysis and founded analytical psychology, which caused a rift between them. He introduced many psychological concepts that have become well-known, like archetypes, the collective unconscious, introversion and extraversion, synchronicity, and the notion of the psychological complex.  And that’s enough from me. Here comes Teagan Geneviene and Hullaba Lulu.

Lulu and Friends by Teagan R Geneviene

Lulu and Friends by Teagan R Geneviene

Hi, Olga – it’s wonderful of you to host me to announce my novella, Hullaba Lulu, a Dieselpunk Adventure.

Since you followed this story in the serial version, you know this is a “dieselpunk” story. It has a 1920s aesthetic with retro futuristic technology, a dash of magic, and some creepy settings, along with a crew of misfit characters. Lulu is a snarky, but good-hearted flapper. She and her friends get into all sorts of trouble (often due to Lulu’s clumsiness). They travel on a magical train to a lot of “sideways” places.

At the back of the novella, I included a list of Real-World Things. You chose Carl Jung’s Red Notebook. So, I’m sharing that entry and a related snippet from the novella.

Real-World Thing

Carl Jung’s Red Notebook, also known as The Red Book, is a red leather‐bound folio manuscript written by the Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung between 1915 and 1930. It comments on his psychological experiments and is based on manuscripts first drafted by Jung in 1914–15 and 1917. Despite being nominated as the central piece in Jung’s body of work, it was not published or made otherwise accessible for study until 2009.

Jung's Red Notebook displayed on his desk. Wikipedia
Jung’s Red Notebook displayed on his desk. Wikipedia

Snippet

The Red Notebook comes into the story not long after Lulu meets the mysterious Valentino. Here’s a snippet:

The right-side page bore a hand drawn map. I gazed at it in sudden inspiration. I grabbed the notepad where I penciled the letters of the Ouija board to which the planchette pointed moments before, Y, T, I, C, C, I, T, N, A, L, T, A. My eyes went back to the map. I spat out the piece of saltwater taffy that as still in my mouth.

Valentino reached the desk in a single step. He didn’t even flinch at putting his hand into the aura. He picked up his travelogue. He snapped it shut and the nimbus burst. The noise of tiny pops repeatedly assailed my ears, like a string of lady finger firecrackers. Bits of ectoplasm showered down in sparks.

I tried to take the book from him, but he held it tightly to his chest. He gave me a derisive look that was probably meant to make me stop. I desperately wanted to get another look at that page. The only thing I had been able to make out in the handwriting was a name. Lauren.

“Lauren was my mother’s name,” I hissed into his ear, not wanting Gramps to hear.

“I know, but save it for later,” he whispered back as he twisted away from my hands.

***

Video Book Trailer

Olga, thanks again for letting me visit. You’re the kitten’s ankles!

Here’s the rest of the information for Hullaba Lulu.

Cover and Blurb

Hullaba Lulu cover by Teagan R. Geneviene
Hullaba Lulu cover by Teagan R. Geneviene

Hullaba Lulu, a Dieselpunk Adventure is a wild and wooly 1920s fantasy story. Lulu, the heroine is inspired by the song, “Don’t Bring Lulu,” from 1925 ― so are her pals, Pearl and Rose. My Lulu loves to dance, and freely indulges in giggle water. She snores and burps and says whatever she wants. Lulu is a snarky but good-hearted flapper. The song’s inspiration stops there, but the story is just beginning.

Travel with Lulu and her friends on a magical, dieselpunk train that belongs to the smolderingly handsome and enigmatic man known only as Valentino. They get into all sorts of trouble, usually due to Lulu’s clumsiness. It’s an intense ride through a number of pos-i-lutely creepy settings, including “sideways” versions of Atlantic City and the Cotton Club. At every stop and in between, Lulu ends up creating chaos. There’s no telling where they’ll end up. No, Lulu! Don’t touch that!

Lulu’s the kind of smarty, breaks up every party,

Hullabaloo loo, don’t bring Lulu,

I’ll bring her myself!

Purchase Links

Throughout October, Hullaba Lulu is at an introductory price. The eBooks are only 99¢. For those who boycott Amazon I made a Kobo eBook too.

Kindle: Click this universal link

Paperback: Click this universal link

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/hullaba-lulu

Hullaba Lulu promo image by Teagan R. Geneviene

Hullaba Lulu promo image by Teagan R. Geneviene

Also…

While it is not exactly a companion volume to any of my Roaring Twenties stories, I’ve written a 1920s slang dictionary. I’m careful to use slang in a context that makes it understandable, but you might enjoy having Speak Flapper. It debuted at #1 in its category at Amazon. Here’s a review from Annika Perry at Goodreads.

Speak Flapper, Slang of the 1920s by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene
Speak Flapper, Slang of the 1920s by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

Author Bio

Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene’s work is colored by her experiences from living in the southern states and the desert southwest (of the USA). Teagan most often writes one kind of fantasy or another, including the “Punk” genres, like steampunk, dieselpunk, and atompunk. Whether it’s a 1920s mystery, a steampunk adventure, or an urban fantasy, her stories have a strong element of whimsy. There are no extremes in violence, sex, or profanity.

Her talents also include book covers and promotional images. She makes all of her own. Teagan is currently exploring the idea of offering that service to others.

All of the books by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene are available at her Amazon Author Page.

Amazon Author Page Universal Link

Her latest release is from the punk genres, Hullaba Lulu, a Dieselpunk Adventure.

Social Media Links

You can also visit me at:

Blog: www.teagansbooks.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Teagan-Riordain-Geneviene/e/B00HHDXHVM
Twitter: https://twitter.com/teagangeneviene
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeagansBooks
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/teagangeneviene/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoM-z7_iH5t2_7aNpy3vG-Q
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teagangeneviene/

The whole tour has been wonderful, so I recommend it to check the rest of the posts, but just in case you’ve missed them, I’m including here Robbie Cheadle’s post as it also includes her fantastic review (and as I belong to one of her review groups, I know how good her review are). Thanks, Robbie!

Hullaba Lulu Launch – Ouija Board and book review

Thanks so much, Teagan, for this opportunity and for this wonderful post! Good luck with the launch! And of course, thanks to all of you for reading, liking, sharing, clicking (you have no idea what you’ll be missing if you don’t), reviewing, and remember to keep smiling and, above all, to keep safe!

Oh, and don’t forget to have a bit of cake!

Photo by Thomas AE on Unsplash
Categories
Book launch book promo

#BookLaunch THISTLEDOWN – MIDSUMMER BEDLAM with River Mindshadow #NewBook — Thistledown Character: River Mindshadow

Hi all:

When Teagan Geneviene, blogger and writer extraordinaire, announced she was launching her new book (another one of her serials that finally becomes a full-fledged book), I had to join in the launch. I won’t say this book is one of my favorites (it is!), because I love them all, but Thistledown — Midsummer Bedlam goes beyond the three objects contribution of bloggers and readers, and many of the readers of the blog have become characters! Yes, I am one of them, but I’ve been sworn to secrecy, and will leave it to Teagan herself to explain it all.

December, 2019

Thistledown — Midsummer Bedlam is ready to fly to your shelves!

Thistledown 2019 cover
Thistledown – Midsummer Bedlam, cover design by Teagan Geneviene

Thistledown — Midsummer Bedlam by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene is now available in book form (Kindle and paperback). If you think you’re too old for a tale about faeries, it also has a dark side. For those who read the serial version at Teagan’s Books (blog), she added a little something to the ending that you haven’t seen.

Here’s Teagan to tell you a little about the story, as promised.

Olga, thanks so much for hosting the launch of my launch of Thistledown — Midsummer Bedlam. It is a tale of faeries written for whimsical grownups, but suitable for children ages 8 and up.

In 2017, readers of my blog, Teagan’s Books, named many of the fairies (or faeries, as I prefer to call them). The characters are not based on the real people. They are just a way for me to recognize the people who followed Thistledown. Many people used a “fairy name key” based on their initial and month of birth. I remember completely discarding the chart to name River Mindshadow in honor of you.

Fairies Looking Through A Gothic Arch John Anster Fitzgerald 1823-1906
Fairies Looking Through A Gothic Arch John Anster Fitzgerald 1823-1906. Wikimedia

Thank you, thank you. I am humbled and honored! And it was such fun!

River Mindshadow is a young faery who speaks her mind, and she’s loyal to her friends. That ended up getting her expelled from school, along with her friend, Bedlam Thunder. River has a knack for understanding how people think. She also has a counterpart who lives in a dark, colorless world that is parallel to bright and beautiful Thistledown. Her name is Rotten Soulfire. Although River and Rotten look alike, but their attitudes are at once similar and opposite. Also, Rotten Soulfire is part of a rebel group in the colorless world.

Here’s the Book Blurb

Thistledown ― Midsummer Bedlam, by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene is a wildly whimsical tale of faeries. It was originally written for a grownup audience, but it is suitable for children ages eight and over.

Thistledown is a world of color and light. It has faeries, hummingbirds, and ancient books of magic. Bedlam Thunder is a misfit faery who is afraid of heights. She is also a seer who has terrible visions of a parallel world devoid of color and brightness. The hate and darkness of that colorless world is seeping into Thistledown. Will Bedlam and her friends be able to save their home?

Thistledown ― Midsummer Bedlam, with its radiant creatures and faeries will lift your imagination to new heights.

Universal Purchase Links

These links should work to redirect you, no matter what country.

Kindle: relinks.me/1675233632

Paperback: relinks.me/B082RFN9GF

Thanks for visiting.

Hugs on the wing!

Teagan

***

This is a work of fiction. Characters, names, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2017 and 2019 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

All rights reserved.

No part of this work may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

All images are either the property of the author or provided by free sources, unless stated otherwise.

Categories
Book launch book promo

#Booklaunchparty A GHOST IN THE KITCHEN by Teagan Geneviene (@teagangeneviene). Don’t miss this wild ride on a magical trolley through haunted Savannah!

Dear all:

I know this is not one of my usual days to share a post, but a great author and blogosphere friend, Teagan Geneviene, is having a launch party for her new book A Ghost in the Kitchen. In case you don’t know her yet (where have you been hiding?), she has the most amazing imagination and she loves to create stories with the collaboration of her blog readers. She uses “things” or “ingredients” they leave her in the comments, to keep moving the story on, so she’s never sure exactly where the plot might go next. And, after many of us have been asking her to turn some of these stories into books, she’s decided to do it. And here is the latest one. Oh, and, of course, her book launch parties are also pretty special. So, here it is! (Oh, and it was great to meet Christoph in Savannah, even if the circumstances were a bit scary, and we had to make a quick escape!)

Welcome to the launch party for A Ghost in the Kitchen! It’s a wild ride on a magical trolley through haunted Savannah, Georgia.

All the Pip stories by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

All the Pip books by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene. Purchase links: The Three Things Serial Story, Murder at the Bijou, and A Ghost in the Kitchen

Thanks for hosting me for my novel launch and book fair.

Hi everyone. I’m Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene, and I’ve brought a bunch of friends for this shindig on a magical 1920s trolley. First let me tell you a little about my new novel.

When my character, Paisley Idelle Peabody (better known as Pip) came along, I started writing a type of fiction that I never expected. Pip is a flapper. Her stories took me to Savannah, Georgia of the 1920s.

It’s only natural that some ghosts got in on the act. After all, many people say that Savannah is the most haunted city in the USA! Here’s the blurb for this novel.

A Ghost in the Kitchen, Three Ingredients-2 continues the flapper adventures of Paisley Idelle Peabody, aka Pip. It’s a 1920s “pantser” story and a culinary mystery. This time Pip’s pal Andy (from The Three Things Serial Story) returns. Granny Phanny is there too. She’s still trying to teach Pip to cook. Granny is in a lather because of the supernatural goings-on in her kitchen. There’s also one pos-i–lutely potent poltergeist!

New adventures abound as Pip and Andy unravel an old mystery. It’s all spontaneously driven by “ingredients” sent by readers of the blog, Teagan’s Books.

A Ghost in the Kitchen by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene
A Ghost in the Kitchen by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

Did you hear the bell clang? Our magic trolley is here!

There are links galore, so limber up your clicking finger and jump on the trolley. Here’s a map showing some locations. Friends who promised to participate in my launch will be at some of these haunted places. They’ll get on the magical blog party trolley as we tour haunted Savannah!

Map showing haunted locations in Savannah, GA

I just wish this 1920s trolley could move faster… Oh! A brass lamp just clattered to the ground. There’s purple smoke coming out.

“Your wish is my command!”

Aladin Fazel – my favorite magician! Now the trolley can go anywhere.

At the top of the map is the Moon River Brewing Company. That’s a good place to start incase anyone needs some liquid courage for this ghostly adventure!

Blue Moon Brewing Co Savannah
Blue Moon Brewing Co Savannah, GA

There’s Christoph Fischer. Duck! A rowdy, spifflicated ghost just threw a beer bottle. Olga Núñez Miret is helping him Christoph get away from the spirited spirit and onto our trolley. Welcome aboard, Olga and Christoph. You two look darb in your 1920s glad rags.

Magician, those ghosts are going to follow Olga and Christoph all the way to the trolley. Can you please get us to the next stop?

We’ve traveled east, closer to the river. Our trolley is on a bluff above the River Walk. Now we’re at Factor’s Walk. The foundations of some of these buildings date back to the late 1700s. D. L. Finn and Valentina Cirasola should be waiting for us there. Ah, there they are, beside one of the sealed-off tunnel entrances. Love those hats, ladies! Applesauce, hurry to the trolley. There are shadow figures all around us!

Factors Walk, Savannah, GA
Factors Walk, Savannah, GA

Tunnels that originate in this area have been known to send ghastly moans into the still night air. Look out, Dyanna Wyndesong! A tall shadow was sneaking up behind you. Get back on the trolley, quick!

Yes, that’s one of the many tunnels. They make a labyrinth beneath Savannah. Wow, we’re going into the haunted tunnel.

A hidden tunnel in Savannah, GA
A hidden tunnel in Savannah, GA

Magician, why are you slowing the trolley? You must see something ahead in this creepy tunnel… Oh! It’s a poster for Teri Polen’s yearly October event, Bad Moon Rising!

I’ll be there on October, 18th, chatting with Teri about all sorts of Halloween-ish things, as well as my novella, Brother Love — a Crossroad. I hope everyone will join us for the fun.

Bad Moon Rising 2019
Bad Moon Rising, hosted by Teri Polen

Since this is a magical trolley the tunnel will take us directly the Sorrel Weed House where we’ll pick up two more guests. Just beware the lady in black! I hope John W. Howell and Dan Antion know about her. Oh-oh! John and Dan, that’s no damsel in distress, it’s a mean ghost. Hurry over here to the trolley, guys!

The Sorrel Weed House, Savannah, GA
The Sorrel Weed House, Savannah, GA

If you’ll keep the trolley heading south, Magician, we can pick up Michael (from OIKOS Publishing) at the Andrew Low House. I see that Jan Sikes is meeting us there too. Jan don’t go in that room! Through the window I see Juilette Gordon Low lying on the bed – but she died in 1927! Michael, watch out for that butler at the top of the stairs too. His clothes went out of style 150 years ago. Those are ghosts. You two better get on the trolley fast!

Aladin, this is great! You found a magic tunnel to take us north east. Sally Cronin and Jacquie Biggar are waiting for us at the Colonial Park Cemetery. Ladies, I realize that handsome young man invited you to follow him. Don’t bother. He’ll just disappear once he goes inside the gate. He died a long, long time ago.

Colonial Park Cemetery, Savannah, GA, Wikipedia
Colonial Park Cemetery, Savannah, GA, Wikipedia

Applesauce! All these spooky apparitions have given me an appetite. Shall we find a haunted restaurant? Ah, the 17Hundred90 Inn & Restaurant is on our way. Robbie Cheadle and Marje Mallon are already there. Robbie, take care. That little boy is really a ghost. Marje, I know you feel sorry for Anna, but she’s been waiting for her lost love since before any of us were born. She’s a specter too.

That ghostly cook, does not seem nearly as friendly as Maestro Martino, the cursed chef in A Ghost in the Kitchen. She’s banging her pots and pans and making a quite ruckus. What’s our next stop, Magician?

17Hundred90 Inn, Savannah, GA
17Hundred90 Inn, Savannah, GA

Now we’re at The Marshall House. It’s a haunted hotel where we’re picking up Chris Graham, the Story Reading Ape. What’s that dear Ape? You say your “naughty chimp” nephews are in a game of “tag,” chasing the ghosts of children who run up and down the halls there? They’re all having a great time!

Hey, there’s Traci Kenworth too, down at the other end of the building. Come on to the trolley, Traci. Those little ghosts are starting to raise a ruckus.

The Marshall House, Savannah, GA
The Marshall House, Savannah, GA

Thanks to Aladin and our magical trolley, we’ve taken another of those hidden tunnels. Now, we’re almost back where we started, between River Street and Factors Walk. We have one more stop. We need to pick up Resa McConaghy and Jacqui Murray at the Olde Harbour Inn.

Oh! They’re already running to the trolley. I expect the spirit known as Hank tried to crawl into bed with at least one of them. I also smell his cigar smoke. I think I’d run too!

The Olde Harbour Inn, Savannah, GA
The Olde Harbour Inn, Savannah, GA

Alright everyone. Pip and Granny Phanny are waiting for us at the cottage. Granny is eager to start her book fair. She’s a real bearcat, and she won’t like it if we’re late. So let’s get a wiggle on!

***

Granny Phanny’s Book Fair

Welcome to the book fair. All these authors volunteered to help me by sharing this magic trolley tour of haunted Savannah. Their books are all swell. So I put them in pos-i-lutely random order. Hopefully that will lead you to look at some things you might not typically read. You’ll find purchase links below the cover images.

A Ghost in the Kitchen by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

A Ghost in the Kitchen, Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

Ghost book fair 1

Brother Love – a Crossroad, Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene
The Gemini Connection, Teri Polen
Through the Nethergate, Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Tales from the Irish Garden, Sally Cronin

Ghost Book Fair 2

My Girl, Jacquie Biggar
Deadly Quotes, Olga Núñez Miret
The Season of Limbo, Al Fazel (not yet published)
Naked Lemons, Valentina Cirasola

Ghost book fair 3

My Vibrating Vertebrae, Agnes Mae Graham
The Curse of Time, M.J. Mallon
Circumstances of Childhood, John W. Howell
Over My Dead Body, Christoph Fischer

Ghost Book fair 4

The Glowing Pigs, Snort Stories of Atonement, Tennessee, Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene
Jewel, Jan Sikes
Nine Black Lives, Resa McConaghy
Just Her Poetry, D. L. Finn

Universal link to my Amazon Author Page

Sheiks and Shebas, thanks so very much for getting on the magical trolley for this tour. Ya’ll are pos-i-lutely the berries!

***

This is a work of fiction. Characters, names, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2019 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

All rights reserved.

No part of this work may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

All images are either the property of the author or provided by free sources, unless stated otherwise.

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