Fairies are a sensitive, but intriguing subject. I come from a background of spell casting, fairy seeking, séances, horned gods/goddesses, priestess', and a mountain of metaphysics.

Crone

I describe that because I want you to hear that I studied fairies. My senior project in college was about fairy folklore and the Celts. I was VERY interested in being a high priestess in the occult, and according to many whom I spent my time with, I was well on my way.

Then Jesus grasped my heart and pulled me up for air. To my surprise, this was a very quick, rather simple and easy transition. Except for a few bumps. One was my belief in fairies.

Now where did the fairy stand? This is what I paint, what I love to paint. What do I believe about them now? What do YOU believe about them?

Brian and I were talking about the origins of fairies this past Saturday during a small road trip. I forgot how excited and interested I am in their history, and I hadn't really looked into it again since college. Re-reading about them has sparked my interest as a Christian, and as a professional artist of the fairytale.

This is part one. How many parts will this discussion have? I don't know. Yet I'm so mystified by being a Christian, painting fairies, and all of the gray in the middle, that I can't leave it be.

Here's where we start, the origin of the fairy.

Dictionary.com: fairies.

Fairies in Christianity

One Christian belief held that fairies were a class of "demoted" angels.[25] One popular story described how, when the angels revolted, God ordered the gates of heaven shut: those still in heaven remained angels, those in hell became demons, and those caught in between became fairies.[26] Others suggested that the fairies, not being good enough, had been thrown out of heaven, but they were not evil enough for hell.[27] This may explain the tradition that they had to pay a "teind" or tithe to hell: as fallen angels, though not quite devils, they could be seen as subjects of the devil.[28] For a similar concept in Persian mythology, see Peri. 

A third, related belief was the fairies were demons entirely.[29] This belief became much more popular with the growth of Puritanism.[30] The hobgoblin, once a friendly household spirit, became a wicked goblin.[31] Dealing with fairies was in some cases considered a form of witchcraft and punished as such in this era.[32] Disassociating himself from such evils may be why Oberon, in A Midsummer Night's Dream, carefully observed that neither he nor his court feared the church bells.[33] 

The belief in their angelic nature was less common than that they were the dead, but still found popularity, especially in Theosophist circles.[34][35] Informants who described their nature sometimes held aspects of both the third and the fourth belief, or observed that the matter was disputed.[34]

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Category: Young Adult Fantasy
Keywords: Family, Fae, Missing Siblings, Fairy Queen
Format: Hardcover, ebook
Source: Borrowed ARC


Kimberly's synopsis and review:

The trees swallowed her brother whole. Now Jenny, seven years later, goes back to the place where it happened. To the place she lost her brother, to where she lost her family, to say goodbye. But instead, she hears a mysterious song, reminding her of her brother Tom, and before she knows it, she's in a dangerous world. And she swears she won't leave without her brother.

I'll be honest--this book caught my eye because of the cover. Did you see it? Pretty. And I like a good fairy tale as much as the next girl so I was really looking forward to reading this book.

This is more of a traditional fairy tale. A missing sibling, a family torn apart, and the sister who is the only one who can find him. Jenny wanders through the forest, with a guide named Jack who has his own intentions. Evading the evil queen, ignorant of the rules of this land, Jenny finds herself in scary and dangerous situations. I love the danger that looms on every page. I enjoy the betrayals and dark nature of the characters. There is some beautifully descriptive writing and a couple of fun twists.

Unfortunately, I am not a fan of Jenny. She's supposed to be seventeen, but she seems younger. I'm told she has a pure, good heart, but she falls into the group of uninteresting, bland main characters. She's too good, there's little fire. Oh sure, her guide Jack sees the fire, the stubbornness, the flame. But as a reader, I really didn't see it. I was told. She seemed a rather tame teenager, honestly.

Jack is the most interesting character by far. Conflicted, with multiple allegiances, Jack's motivations are clouded and he has more depth than any of the other characters by far. By the time we meet Tom, Jenny's brother, who has been in the fairy world for seven years, even he is still too vanilla. You'd think being brainwashed, held captive, and possibly going to be a ritual sacrifice would make Tom into a more layered young man, but alas, no. And the other characters don't do fair well either. The motivations behind the kind and queen are thin, but if you look past it, you'll find a fun story and a fast moving plot.


Overall, I liked the story for the plot, for the creepiness and the world. But I couldn't identify with any of the characters. If you like more traditional fairy tales, you'll like this book!

---

Find out more about the author at rflong.com and follow her on Twitter @RFLong.

You can find more of Kimberly's reviews at The Windy Pages.

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It's fun writing a series where you have a lot of characters interconnected. In the past, Alicia and Deveron have had their issues over Micala, Deveron's cousin, who can't give up the human girl, Cassie, Alicia's best friend.

Dragon Fae, Ena, has to come to Alicia's rescue when fae seers are on the hunt. But it doesn't end there when Micala does what his queen forbids and takes Cassie into the world of the fae.

Now, they are all in trouble in Dragon Fae, where some dragon fae are not what they seem.

I'm over halfway finished writing the book and hope to have it done in the next couple of weeks!

Terry
www.terryspear.com

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I thought this was a fun way to show a little branding and have some fun with it. It's free at imikimi.com and this one shows just where I'm at--floating in the clouds as usual while the wolf is fully grounded!

Could be that the wolf is part of my pack and he's thinking about me. You never know. 

Someone said I was having too much fun now that I am writing full time. You better believe it! I'm writing, of course. 3-4,000 words per day with the fast approaching deadline of Jaguar Fever, and then A SEAL Wolf Christmas after that. But getting creative is what it's all about when writing and promoting.


imikimi - sharing creativity
imikimi - sharing creativity




I write in a fae world. Or...about a fae world, but here, if you just use your imagination a tiny bit, this is how the fae see me!

I had no idea the fae has an eye on me. Maybe wondering if I really do know something about them?
That can be dangerous, you see. The fae are tricksters visiting our world to amuse themselves at the expense of humans. So anyone who can see the fae are a danger to them.

That's how it all begins. Making up stories, that is. We have to feel them. Be the characters. Share their experiences. The more conflict they have, the more conflict we have. We don't just send our characters out into the big, bad world and let them take care of it all on their own. Not when we made up that big, bad world in the beginning.

It's just not fair. So WE have to experience all the joys and the downers, all the good stuff and the bad.Too.


 

 






























 












Whatever you endeavor to do, make it fun. Life is too short not to!

 Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy IS reality!"
www.terryspear.com

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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to enter a fae world? Dark and mysterious? Light and majestic? Awe-inspiring? Terrifying?


Like humans, they all have their own interests, agendas, likes and dislikes.
The Dark Fae


They're not Tinker Bell-tiny, or make funny little tinkling bell sounds to get someone's attention.
The Deadly Fae



They don't always get what they want but it doesn't deter them from trying.
The Winged Fae


They have human desires but magical powers.
The Ancient Fae


They can be devilishly fun and devilishly bad.
The Dragon Fae --coming

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Title: Blood Before Sunrise   Author: Amanda Bonilla   Publisher: Signet

May Contain Spoilers

From Amazon:

Review:

Blood Before Sunrise is another action-packed entry in the Shaede Assassin series, and it features a kick-ass heroine and her sexy as hell lover.  Darian is self-assured, cocky, and ruthless, and she doesn’t hesitate to let other people know how deadly she can be.  Once a victim of domestic abuse, she is bound and determined that no one will brutalize her again.  Instead, she strikes first and asks questions later.  While I like a strong heroine, there are times when Darian takes things too far, and that makes it hard to like her.  She is the product of violence.  After being freed from her husband’s abuses, she becomes one with the night.  A trained killer, she does not shirk from bloodshed or pain.  She is proud of what she has made herself, and she hates having to depend on anyone.  This gets her into so much trouble, and made me question her common sense more than once.  It made me hard to relate to her.  There are times when you just have to ask for help; it doesn’t make you less of a person for it, but Darian is carrying so much baggage that she doesn’t understand that yet.

In this outing, Darian is determined to find Raif’s missing daughter.  Delilah, the Oracle, knows where she is, but she’s not spilling the information Darian needs to track Brakae down.  Even after Raif tells  her to drop it, Darian vows to find Brakae and reunite father and daughter.  This is a character trait of Darian’s that drove me nuts.  She doesn’t care what anyone else wants, and regardless of how often she is told to leave things be, she just can’t.  It’s not in her personality to give up.  Not only does this almost get her killed numerous times, it almost causes the end of the world!  Like asking for assistance, there are times when you need to just give up, especially if your continued persistence is going to cause the death of every one you know and love.

While I like Tyler, Darian’s lover, a lot, I also like Raif, and wonder if he wouldn’t make a better match for Darian.  Tyler is bound to her, and until someone starts messing with his mind, he worsh

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List Price: $7.99

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The Winged Fae

The World of Fae

Authored by Terry Spear, Terry Spear

Serena, a royal member of the Mabara winged fae, has one goal in mind. Stop an impending marriage with a dark fae. As the fae are known to do, she stirs up trouble that she hopes will make her point and get her off the hook. Only nothing goes as she plans.

Niall, a royal member of the Denkar, aka the dark fae, is visiting South Padre Island when he catches a winged fae painting graffiti on a wall on the island claimed by his people. He is at once fascinated with the lovely girl and intrigued by her audacity, but as one of the Denkar, he must take her to task. Yet she's armed with a sleeping potion that makes his life intolerable. Between freeing her from his people's dungeon, her own tower, and fighting a knight in her honor, he wonders if he's lost his mind over one beautiful winged fae--when she's betrothed to his cousin!

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Title: A Brush of Darkness Author: Allison Pang Publisher: Pocket Star ISBN: 978-1439198322 Abby Sinclair #1

 

May Contain Spoilers

From Amazon:

Review:

When I read that protagonist Abby had a miniature unicorn that slept in her underwear drawer, I added A Brush of Darkness to my TBR.  I mean, who doesn’t want a teeny tiny unicorn living in their apartment?  Assuming it didn’t trot about, pooping all over the place.  I was hoping that Phineas would be like Sparky from Laura Bickle’s Embers; a magical creature that both kept Abby out of danger, but also caused trouble for her at the same time.  Phineas turned out to be a fun secondary character, who, despite his small size, manages to pack an incredible amount of attitude into his gleaming silvery hide.

I liked Abby, too, though I have serious concerns about her recklessness and lack of common sense.  She has managed to get herself caught up in a very dangerous situation, one that could easily cost her her life.  Not that she puts much value in that, though, as she is still reeling from the death of her mother, who died in the same gruesome car accident that robbed Abby of her dream of being a professional dancer.  Now she works in a rickety bookstore that stinks like cat piss and cabbages (or maybe dirty feet), and she’s signed a Contract with Moira, one of the OtherFolk.  Moira is not just any Fae, mind you, she’s the Protectorate, and she helps keep the peace between all of the different and dangerous OtherFolk.  When she goes missing, it starts to look like Abby has something to do with her disappearance, and that does not bode well for a mortal woman who is suffering from PTSD.

Sexy incubus Brystion shatters whatever small amount of peace Abby has managed to find for herself.  Barging into the bookstore, he’s hoping that Moira can help him find his missing sister.  When Abby accidently links herself to him, her life will never be the same.  OtherFolk want her dead, she’s under suspicion because Moira is missing, and the incubus causes her heart to race every time she thinks about him.  And she’s having some of the most satisfying sexual dreams of her life.  That is, when she’s not having nightmares about being torn apart by sharks. Talk about disturbing.

For the most part, A Brush of Darkness kept me engaged in the story, right up until near the end, which I found a bit slow and very abrupt.  I loved the mystery, though, and the run up to

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Title: Shadowlander Author: Theresa Meyers Publisher: Entangled Publishing ISBN: B0061GHXYI

 

May Contain Spoilers

From Amazon:

Review:

This novella starts out strong and never backs down in terms of pacing and tension.  Cate is an instantly compelling protagonist; she can see the fae who cross the barrier between the Shadowland and the our own world.  Her whole family can.  Her family rules dictate that she never let them know that she can see them.  She can never speak with them.  She can never, ever follow them.  So when Cate’s best friend is kidnapped by one of the fae, she is propelled into action and she breaks every rule she’s ever lived by.  Time is running out, and if she doesn’t save her friend before the end of Mid-Summer’s Eve, they will both be trapped in the Shadowland.  Forever!

I really enjoyed this novella, even given a few “ick” moments when it’s revealed that Rook, the prince of the fae, has been stalking Cate since she was a young girl.  I mean, that’s just yuck!  At least he never tried to make a move on her, but still – yuck!  That would intimidate the heck out of me, and not leave me with any romantic inclination towards him.  Setting that one little sticking point aside – I kept telling myself, “It’s a fantasy, it’s a fantasy, and she’s 30 now!” – I thought this was a very well developed story despite the short length.

After revealing to Rook that she can see him, Cate is swept up in the adventure of a lifetime.  The fae are at war with the Wyldwood.  Once they subdue them,  they will set their attentions to conquering the human realm.  With Cate in their ranks, their victory is assured.  She is a sought after weapon, one that can open doors between the Shadowland and the human world.  As such. she is both a pawn and a highly regarded personage in the Shadow Court.  Despite the attraction she and Rook share, and the promises he made to help her free Maya, Rook is really powerless to protect her from the king.  I liked that Cate had to rely on herself to get out of the d

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Because of popular demand, I'm working on The Winged Fae, sequel to The Dark Fae. Oftentimes, I get a lot of fan requests for certain characters, which prompt me to write a sequel about those characters. But this time, the sales are just so phenomenal for The Dark Fae, I'm inspired to write another story in the fae kingdoms.

We're back to South Padre Island in the opening...and one mischievous fae...

What fae would ever be bold enough to enter another fae-claimed territory (although humans think they own it), and believe she would not have to face the consequences of her actions?

An assassin royal winged fae of the Mabara Fae kingdom.

With a message.

***
I've written sequels to books and then not sold the original, so I stopped writing sequels! What about you? Do you like to read series where you can't wait for the next book to come out even if it takes a couple of years, or do you like to read stand-alone titles?

Actually, even though this is another story in the fae series, it's a stand alone title. I like to be able to read books out of order myself, so I try to write my stories that way also. :)

Off to work on The Winged Fae!

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

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The blurb:
A man damned by suspicion and innuendo. Dreadful rumors swirl around the impoverished Irish lord known as the "Devil Earl."  But Faelan Savigar hides a dark secret for even he doesn't know what dreadful deeds he may be capable of. . .

A woman cursed by the gift of "sight" Roderica Delamore fears no man will ever want a wife who can read his every thought and emotion, until she encounters Faelan.  As the two find their way to each other against all odds, Roddy becomes determined to save Faelan from his terrifying and mysterious ailment.  But will their lover end up saving him...or destroying her?

Review:
Uncertain Magic is a fun regency romance with a full complement of villains. The romantic lead, Faelan Savigar, the "Devil Earl," has a dangerous reputation and dark moods.  While his reputation would lead most women to avoid him, Roderica Delamore isn't like most other women. She has a gift of being able to see what is actually there - she isn't tempted away or fooled by the fae.  Somehow she sees the good in the Devil Earl and she's able to draw out his better nature.

Not everyone is happy for the two lovers.  They come across danger and opposition soon enough.  When Roderica and the Earl try to stand true to each other and their love,  it seems like everything will work against them.

Uncertain Magic is a lovely historical romance -- full of ups and downs,  excitement and romance.  It's the sort of historical romance that's perfect for a lazy day in the park or a rainy day at home.

ISBN-10: 1402237022 - Mass Market Paperback $7.99
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (May 4, 2010), 385 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.

About the Author, courtesy of Amazon:

Laura Kinsale is a New York Times bestselling author and both winner and multiple nominee for the Best Book of the Year award given by the Romance Writers of America. Her novel Flowers from the Storm was chosen by readers of Glamour Magazine and the Washington Post as one of the Greatest Love Stories of All Time.

Laura believes that a rom

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Review of Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr
by Terry Spear


In Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr, Leslie has a horribly dysfunctional family--an alcoholic gambler for a father, a drug abuser for a brother who sells her to his drugged-up friends, and a runaway mom. She’s desperate to have normalcy in her life and drawn to a shop to get a tattoo. Not any tattoo, but one that will bind her to the Dark King of the fey. An intriguing tale of courtly angst and the concept that we all make choices, right or wrong, the story is full of twists and turns, forbidden desire, and lots of conflict that kept me reading until the end, and wanting more!


Terry Spear, Author of The Vampire...In My Dreams
www.terrywildeteenbooks.com

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Don't hold me back, I'm on a roll! Last night I finished Book Two. Spiderwick Chronicles: The Seeing Stone. I thoroughly enjoyed "The Field Guide" as it was a nice place to start, but book two really got the old adrenaline pumping. Getting better acquainted with the Grace Children, and getting nose to toes with the goblins was quite an adventure. I'm not quite sure what to think of Hogsqueal, but I don't think we've seen the last of him.

After finishing books one and two I've still got two thumbs up and am holding back hitting book three as I need to pace myself. And don't think that because I am a grownup that I don't appreciate the important things in life. After finishing "The Seeing Stone" I immediately went online to hit the Spiderwick site. I am now a proud member of the International Sprite League. Some things are just too important to ignore!

Harry who?

Spiderwick Chronicles: The Seeing Stone
ISBN: 0689859376
Authors: Tony DiTerlizzi, Holly Black,

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It's now Thursday and I still am without a computer. I am devoting the rest of this day to tracking it down in Edinburgh, which is no small task when you don't have a phone. If I am unsuccessful, I think there is a fair chance I'll be institutionalized.

However. One of the benefits of being without my true love is the forced hiatus its absence has caused me. This break has provided me some room to think on some of the books I've read recently. *

Take, for example, Deborah Davis' Not Like You, out July 16 from Clarion. On the surface of things, Not Like You is like many a Young Adult novel--the protagonist, 15-year-old Kayla, has grown up with no known father and an alcoholic mother who keeps them on the move after each bender lands her in trouble. The novel opens with one such move--to a hardscrabble town in New Mexico.

Kayla doesn't expect much from Rio Blanco, New Mexico, and she's not disappointed. Mom falls in with an organization called New Horizons and promises a new start. Rio Blanco has little to offer in terms of entertainment and Mom has rented an awful, tiny trailer as their new home. The trailer is owned by a lazy landlord named Redbone, who not only does not fix their water heater, but also plies Mom with booze each time he drops by the trailer. Despite such inauspicious beginnings, Kayla, an industrious girl, gets her dog-watching business up and running within a week of arriving to Rio Blanco. Soon, she's earning 10-15 dollars an hour training and caring for ill-behaved canines during her summer days.

During one such training gig, Kayla meets the 24-year-old son of her wealthy boss. The young man is a rock musician named Remy, a boy as full of promises as Kayla's wreck of a mother. Over time, Kayla turns to Remy instead of her mother for emotional support and follows him to Denver--stealing money from another set of employers in the process. Once in Denver, Kayla discovers that Remy isn't as interested in her as she thought.

Not Like You easily could have been a cliched novel based on easy redemption and radical character transformation. But, it's not. Instead, Kayla, despite her thievery and inclination for falling for the wrong guys, carries on bravely and with spirit. While Kayla never realizes that Remy is just like her mother, in his propensity for "borrowing" money and making easy promises, the reader knows Kayla will figure this out and soon. Why? Because Kayla is the type of person who learns from her mistakes and strives to do right by herself and others. Kayla's mother, Marilyn, doesn't become a saintly, abashed character--pure in a new sobriety. Rather, she remains a wounded, immature woman who is determined to stay clean and help her daughter grow up.

Deborah Davis' straightforward, clean prose suits the world and characters it portrays in Not Like You. This is a novel that makes you think--days after you've read it--about what will become of its characters and about the amazingly real world it depicts. Not Like You is highly recommended for readers ages 14 and up.
====================
* I did handwrite this review. If I ever receive my computer, I'll take a photo of the scribbled pages so you can see what I'm working with.

Speaking of handwriting--your comments yesterday on longhand vs. computer were so very interesting! I'll reply as soon as I'm able.

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