but I have a deep love of folklore and mythology
938570
I have never read any of Terry Pratchett's books, but I have a deep love of folklore and mythology.  And after reading this book, I am most definitely going to look into his books.  The book is entertaining, full of interesting facts, and gives you a taste of Pratchett's Discworld.  If you love mythology, folklore, or the Discworld universe, I recommend this book.
1417353
The Gatekeeper's Sons by Eva Pohler is a fascinating read that manages to entwine Greek mythology and modern life.  I have always been a fan of mythology and I love reading about the gods and goddesses.  This book impressed me because it was well researched and gave a lot of respect to mythology.
The story follows Therese, a 15 year old girl, who witnesses her parents' deaths and dreams about two young men, Hip and Than.  She later comes to learn that Hip (short for Hypnos) and Than (short for Thanatos) are the sons of Hades.  Therese and Than have an instant connection and Than reaches out to Therese in the mortal world, hoping to make her his wife.
I loved the characters that Ms. Pohler created.  Therese was such a strong character and a wonderful protagonist.  Than was so serious and sweet and devoted to Therese.  I loved seeing how Than grew to understand humans as he spent time with Therese in the mortal world.
I also loved the personalities that Ms. Pohler gave each of the gods and goddesses.  I've always loved Poseidon and I loved his interactions with Therese.
The ending definitely left me wanting to read more about Than and Therese and I am ready to start reading The Gatekeeper's Challenge as soon as I finish writing this review.
If you enjoy romance and action, mythology and magic, then you should definitely read this book.
2300262
I love the little parts of life that create closely held myths. For each tooth lost, for each inch grown, I long to have special memories and celebrations. My sons have hundreds of books on their shelves, but this one gets picked out and enjoyed time and time again. As I try to pry their eyes away from screens, I am so excited to have a book that they will grab with delight and sit down with me to read. I think that this story resonates so well with all of us because it is so very relatable and so well told.
Each of our families have tales new and old that create our traditions. I love that the Stitches fairy is now a part of my family's tradition. With two boys who have had dozens of stitches, The Stitches Fairy encourages them to be brave, and to find the wonder in what might otherwise be a traumatic experience.
The illustrations are darling, but never twee. The writing is clear, and treats the child and adult reader with respect as it pushes into complex ideas that will give adult and child many things to talk about together. This book is a lovely collaboration with lots of meaning and powerful ethos.
The words and pictures clearly come from adventurous hearts. I love the main character, Claire, and her spirit. Boys and girls alike will want to have a bedroom, and imagination, and a friend just like her!
This book has so many lovely encouragements for children and adults alike: Be imaginative, be adventurous, be grateful and be courageous! Patricia Long has crafted a modern myth that is an instant classic.
1319215
A touching dark fantasy in more ways than one, I've had my own experiences with the paranormal and this touched me deeply.
4630598
After losing her father Signe Pike went through a protracted period, familiar to many of us in similar circumstances, of sorrow, bitterness, confusion, and doubt.  To deal with this and other issues in her life she began to study folklore and the legends dealing with faeries.  Eventually she travelled to Mexico, England, Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man in order to meet others interested in faeries and see sites associated with them.  The result is this enchanting book which is part travelogue, part folklore study, and part voyage of self discovery and reconciliation.

I picked this book up because I have a long held interest in folklore and the faery mythologies.  I enjoyed Signe's (I grew to feel comfortable enough with her to call her by her first name) stories of her travels and her experiences in various places which are believed to be faery areas.  As an Anglophile I enjoyed her descriptions of the peoples and landscapes in the British Isles.  And finally as one who is still dealing with the after effects of losing both my parents I felt sympathetic to and drew strength and understanding from her difficulties over the death of her own father.

I will not go so far as to say I believe in faeries (particularly not in the cloying Disneyfied versions that so often spring to mind), but I do believe that Signe saw and heard some remarkable things and that her story may help us better understand our wider world.
3170997
I realized just now, how mutch I love fairy-tales.
2534888
When i was 7 years old after Disney's Hercules came out, my father read this book to my brother, sister, and me. Ever since then, i've been in love with greek mythlogy. I finally got my own copy of this about a year ago, and it's still as magical as i remembered. Sure, the stories are watered down a little, but they tell the myths so that in a way that you can imagine being there. Every time we studied mythology in school, i was ahead of the class because of this book. And with modern adaptations on Greek Myths coming out (Percy Jackson and others), i find it important to go back to a source where you can find out where these stories really come from. I love this book and i'm happy to have a copy of it at last.
3433236
This new story in the Spookshow series had me all over the place. By the end of the read I was emotionally drained but I love absolutely every minute of it.

The surprising part was, I found my self less invested in the love story, which I may have tuned out a bit, and more interested in the back story of Half-Boy and Gantry. To see them gain layers of depth as characters is what has pulled me into this series to begin with. I can't wait to see more of both of them.

That isn't to say I did not enjoy Billy and Mockler's dynamic change. I truly did, but it is the history and mythology of the underling story that just won't leave me alone.
1951394
If there is one thing to be said about this book, Patricks story telling ability is as beautiful as it is complex and breathtakingly unique. A great find for lovers of dark fantasy!

The story is told in three alternating narratives; the first being our main character Lonan, folklore excerpts, and Lonans dream about a strange man named Adahy and a mysterious man with extraordinary powers that goes by the name of The Magpie King.  We begin the journey with Lonan, a current outcast in his society due to a horrible incident that happened in his village long ago that the local villagers have blamed Lonan for causing. Lonan struggles to find his knack, a special talent or ability that that everyone in Lonans world has that makes them especially good at accomplishing certain tasks. Knacks can be for just about anything: cooking, black smithing, music, medicine, dancing, story-telling, leadership, and even lying. The villagers do not leave their houses after dark due to the presence of creatures that, wouldnt you know, mostly come out at night and that are dangerous and known for killing anyone who may unfortunately find themselves outdoors.

Upon reading this book, I immediately fell in love with the story. The folklore excerpts were expertly used to not only contribute to the storyline but as a smart world building technique that gave authenticity and insight into Lonans world, much in the same way that our own fables, folklore, fairy tales, and legends speak loudly of our cultures. Patricks story creates a world easy for us to explore, a smooth sail on a calm sea to fall into as we are led down this rabbit hole of adventure. I couldn't help but identify with Lonan as his search to find happiness and his own place in his world echoes my own questions about what my knack would be. With each turn of the page, we are drawn further and further in, each paper thin layer of story telling carefully crafted until we get to the end of our journey. A delightful plot twist reveals just how each of those layers came together in a seamless reveal and readers will be able to look back and marvel at the journey that brought them there.

So, if you're in the need of a great story, a wonderful fast-paced adventure stuffed with some everyday magic, a good dose of legend, and stitched together with a little bit of darkness, grab this book!
2416654
One of my favorites, comedy, adventure, romance, drama, it has it all- and surprisingly a chunk of the Mythology is accurate.
2585272
Fantastic folk lore from Iceland that has a uniqueness of its own. I highly recommend it to anyone who ardently seeks after folk tales from around the world, or who loves this stuff in general. Not really for the general reader, however. Folk tales are like poetry, people either like it or don't. But yes, this book is very good.
3181902
I admit when I first started The Dark Levy it was more due to curiosity, having seen the ads on Facebook, but I am so glad that I did. This is an outstanding mixture of myth and fantasy and I plan on starting the second book tonight. A+
3294360
A Forest of Stories is a wonderful collection of folktales and myths about that which most of us see every day, perhaps without even thinking much about them: trees. First of all, what pulls me into the story is the art work. It is colorful, detailed and full of variety. The illustrations are vivid and full of imagination. The stories then are free to be woven into a volume that introduces different peoples with each chapter. The tales are, of course, likely meant for children, though I believe anyone could enjoy them.

I bought this because of research I was doing for my own projects, and I am glad I did, as I found myself caught up in the wonder of the book. The only thing I might suggest would be to change the font to a more artistic style and design--and perhaps a slightly larger font. The typeface that I read looks too formal and rather out of place for such a colorful project such as this. But the stories themselves are as well-written as the pictures are beautiful.

<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/A-Forest-Of-Stories/dp/1841488828/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">A Forest Of Stories</a>
3931977
I'm not the biggest fan of romance, but I do love tales of beings from other realms, such as faeries and goblins. I am a big fan of the esoteric and mystical and this book has plenty of it--from the force fields the fae use to crystal energy, the descriptions of the other realms and dimensions and the thread of inter-connectedness that binds all living creatures.
You can't help but rout for Pandimora and Drew--hoping they find both those who are lost and the answers to the questions that have overshadowed Pandimora's life.
If you are a fan of paranormal romance, then this book is for you.
459849
Web of Frost will immerse you in a world of mysticism and folklore. With its elegant prose, and vivid imagery, it feels like a dream. For those who love enchanting stories full of Russian folklore and stunning twists, you will not be disappointed.

I was absolutely stunned at how much I enjoyed this one. Lindsay Smith enchanted me right from the start. I could see everything in my mind so clearly as if I was watching a movie set in a fantasy world.

Web of Frost introduced me to an incredible world cloaked in folklore and magic. I never felt lost or confused. The world was highly developed and I loved the flow of the story and the way the saints were incorporated in to the every day life of the characters.

I loved the fact that Katza was not the typical strong willed ya character. She was actually quite gullible, and weak at times. But, she fit the story and emanated grief at having suffered loss while her kingdom was on the bring of falling from a rebellion. She also had powerful moments of fierceness when using her gifts.

Ravin was dark and mysterious. It was no surprise as to the role he played in tempting Katza's heart. He was a tempestuous influence on Katza and he added intrigue to the story.

This story felt like a Russian folk tale. It had a mildly slow pace, but was fascinating as far as its development and depth. With the amount of world building Lindsay did, I was quite surprised to learn that the saints were, in fact, fiction. The mythology and folklore entwined in the tale felt genuine and captivated my mind and my heart. This one had me so entranced that I have already decided to pre-order book two the minute it is announced!
2246965
Being a Yorkshire lass, who is also half Irish, and having believed in fairies pretty much all my life, even before getting a tiny postage stamp sized letter from Fiona the tooth fairy when I was nine years old, I felt this book was made for me.

I imagine many readers will at least be aware of the old photographs of the Cottingley fairies. I remember seeing those photos from quite a young age, and have certainly seen a television programme or two about them. I loved how this story brought those photos to life.

This is not a quick thrill, fast paced kind of a book, but an atmospheric and magical character led story filled with deep emotions and the need to believe in something to give people hope. I will keep a part of this book with me in my heart.

P.S. I still believe in fairies!
601402
I have always been fascinated with the studies of mythology, Greek being the top of my favorites! I find it so compelling and so exciting to discover books such as this; living fictionally and vicariously in the eyes of a modern day girl who experiences every geek-girls dream and is given reality of her most wished desire!

I have to start off by saying, Rosanna Leo certainly is charming, and it shines through her writing radiantly! Her characters are full of SO much life, and the dialogue between characters will have you in giggling fits. And I know I am not the first to say, but I undoubtedly identified with Maia, (our lead character) and that bond/connection is one of the best affairs for a reader to experience. She's pretty awkward, but she's deeply passionate about the things and people she keeps close, has her own sense of style of clothing choice and not a care what people think of it, and just so much more, I adore her!

Maia works as a conservator and expert in the Ancient Greek department of a Museum she grew up in as her father had worked there. Ever since she was five years old, she had a strange infatuation for a particular statue, her favorite piece which began her peculiar crush on the mythical Greek God of love, Eryx. She even swore it would wink at her at times and found herself speaking to the statue as if it were an actual person. Maia grows up to be an intelligent and devoted woman, a true expert on everything Greek. The story takes an interesting turn for Maia when the new Museum director, Lord Eric, arrives and has a striking semblance to the man of her dreams. (Literally)

She thinks she must be going crazy, it couldn't possibly be him. He's only myth...right? As soon as he arrives, the department is being turned upside down, and layoffs are happening left and right. Maia fears she may be next, but Lord Eric begins to act strange around her. Almost as if this insanely gorgeous man... was attracted to her? Maia feels like she really must be going insane. She's so clouded by her insecurities she can't comprehend the fantasy becoming reality, and as we find out Lord Eric can't even explain why he's so drawn to her. He proves to her his identity and romance buds right before our eyes, but when we the reader least expect it, the plot really thickens.

A sick and deranged Goddess has it out for Eryx, beholding an ancient grudge. She will do whatever it takes to separate the lovers to leave Eryx's heart in shambles forever. The thrill is edge-of-your-seat intense, leaving you rooting and praying for everything to turn out alright between the star-crossed lovers.

As a lover of mythology and romantic affairs, Leo did not disappoint. It's everything I imagined for a modern day woman who lives with her head in the clouds, who ever had a wish for something she so desired to come true. Oh, if only we could all have our own Greek God.

I really rather not spoil the greatness of this book, so the cryptic last paragraph will just have to do for you till you read it! Believe me when I tell you, fellow mythology nerds, if you love romance with spice and lore, this charismatic book is something you do NOT want to miss. What are you waiting for, buy it!