Book Review: The Wishing Well by Elena Shelest

On the midsummer celebration of Ivana Kupala, the villagers know to stay away from the water. Danger lurks in the rivers and lakes as myths come to life.

But for Luyba, her father's well is the only source of comfort. There she makes a desperate wish to save her childhood friend Danylo from certain death.

Will the magic of this day help or take them deeper into troubled waters? How far would they go for each other?

GENRE: Fantasy Short Story / Ukrainian Folklore

PURCHASE LINK: Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Elena Shelest immigrated to the U.S. from Ukraine at the age 15. She currently resides in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her family and pets.

Elena is an artist and a motivational blogger. Her works of fiction are filled with fantasy, romance, self-actualization, and lots of hope. She wishes to encourage her readers to look beyond what's possible and believe in everyday miracles. www.fiveminutediscovery.com

Review

This is my second Elena Shelest story — the first being The Fern Flower, which is currently part of the Enchanted Forests charity anthology (but soon to be released as a standalone novella) and turns out to actually be a standalone sequel to this one. (Not me being all giddy upon recognizing the character in question, haha!)

Some people might not read prologues and author's notes and all that, but I really appreciated Elena's introduction to the book, which laid out the Ukrainian elements behind it, as well as the glossary. I just love learning about other cultures from those who are actually from those cultures. And the illustrations are gorgeous! Did you know Elena did them as well?

This was a quick, satisfying read, as could be expected from an Elena Shelest story. I enjoyed the setting and the characters, and the story was short but sweet. I highly recommend this for readers of fantasy and folklore, and for those who want a little romance in their life.

"Water always finds a way through the obstacles, and I will too."

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️️

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Hi! I'm Marie, a Filipino fantasy author and book reviewer currently based in the UK. I’m the co-author of The Prophecies of Ragnarok, a Norse myth new adult urban fantasy trilogy, and I also have several short stories published in anthologies and literary journals.

You can find more info about me and my books, and also subscribe to my newsletter for more content, here. And if you like what I do, please also consider supporting me on Ko-fi! 🩷 https://ko-fi.com/mariesinadjan

Also check out my upcoming release, Among Thorns and Stardust ✨

Here is a short excerpt from my story, Just A Byte, a cyberpunk Snow White retelling:

Nothing here was real.

Here was a world between worlds, which never appeared the same to two people at the same time.

Blanche saw rolling green hills and a sky so blue it made her heart ache with longing for a world she’d never experienced. She shuffled forward with care, holding her breath as she planted her foot on the ground in front of her. With a single step, everything had the chance to change.

But the image held.

Then, without rhyme or reason, it warped. The once flat surface transformed into a steep incline. The sudden shift in her perception caused her to lose her balance and fall.

This is just a simulation, she thought with gritted teeth as she pushed herself back to her feet. She closed her eyes, envisioning the room she previously occupied before the program engulfed her completely.