First things first -- how gorgeous is the cover of this book?! The rich cover art alone will draw many reades right into this one!
While fantasy and the supernatural aren’t typically my favorite types of fiction, this magical book is one that I immediately added to my TBR list.
The novel begins with a bit of back story. In the late 1800s there was an ancient inn nestled in the village of Radcot on the bank of the Thames River, called The Swan. Although there were many inns along the river, each known for its own devices, this particular inn is where patrons went for “storytelling” -- the spellbinding kind. Margot Ockwell and her husband Joe Bliss were the owners of the The Swan, and Joe Bliss was a masterful storyteller.
The real story begins on a dark, wintry night. A variety of regular drinkers are gathered in the inn, and are retelling the Battle of Radcot Bridge. As Joe Bliss begins another round of his infamous, “Once upon a time….,” in walks a monstrosity of a man, drenched with river water and carrying a puppet of a young girl -- or is it the body of a young girl?
This novel promises history, mystery, and full-on gothic suspense, as readers can sink right into this artfully woven story. I see this one being a huge hit this winter!
While fantasy and the supernatural aren’t typically my favorite types of fiction, this magical book is one that I immediately added to my TBR list.
The novel begins with a bit of back story. In the late 1800s there was an ancient inn nestled in the village of Radcot on the bank of the Thames River, called The Swan. Although there were many inns along the river, each known for its own devices, this particular inn is where patrons went for “storytelling” -- the spellbinding kind. Margot Ockwell and her husband Joe Bliss were the owners of the The Swan, and Joe Bliss was a masterful storyteller.
The real story begins on a dark, wintry night. A variety of regular drinkers are gathered in the inn, and are retelling the Battle of Radcot Bridge. As Joe Bliss begins another round of his infamous, “Once upon a time….,” in walks a monstrosity of a man, drenched with river water and carrying a puppet of a young girl -- or is it the body of a young girl?
This novel promises history, mystery, and full-on gothic suspense, as readers can sink right into this artfully woven story. I see this one being a huge hit this winter!