Blood of the Lily: A Review
My thoughts and reflections on S.D. Huston's debut novel
About the Novel
In S.D. Huston's debut novel Blood of the Lily, the last-born of triplet sisters, Lily, has to come to terms with the death of Marigold in order to stop the same from happening to Rose. Huston brings the world of folklore alive, with vengeful goddesses and mischievous leprechauns that Lily must face in order to get her sister back. Along the way, Lily discovers allies and enemies alike but perseveres to see her mission through. This is an intricate tale uniting Irish and Greek mythology into one elaborate story of loss and grief; will the sisters get the happy ending they deserve? Clash of Goddesses is a series set in three exciting instalments; you can purchase Blood of the Lily, Soul of a Rose, and Tears of the Marigold on Amazon now.
From the very start, Blood of the Lily invites you into an intricate world of folklore and fairy tales. All of the myths Lily's mother told her growing up, they're all real. Lily has to learn to accept that reality, when, of all the magical and wonderful beings that have apparently existed all along, none of them saved her sister's life. And none of them will help save her other sister now. Lily has to stand against the world of magic, in order to save her sister from it.
My Reflections
This story is filled with exciting hooks and interesting snatches of mythology that drive the story forward to a satisfying ending. Overall, everything seemed to fit well together, and the story contained interesting developments that kept me reading. I would have liked to see a bigger struggle with Lily's muteness, and a bit more mystery surrounding Lily's other triplet, but all in all, it had some nice elements that came together in an intriguing way. I am looking forward to seeing how the rest of the series holds up to the premise that Blood of the Lily set. I'm very excited to see how the other two sisters factor into the next books, being named after them; Tears of the Marigold perhaps the most, as I'm interested to see how Marigold is brought in when she is supposed to be dead!
I finished the first book in a little under a week, so it's a great place to start for those who perhaps struggle to commit to longer books, all the while pulling you into the exciting world of Irish folklore, with a sprinkling of Greek myths as well. I liken this story to the Percy Jackson series, in its ability to educate you about mythology in a fun and exciting way. I found myself wanting to know more; never before have I sought out Irish mythology but this story opened up a fascination within me that I'll place right alongside my longstanding fascination with Greek Mythology (as opened by the Percy Jackson series). It's a great story to get kids asking questions, but it's also great for adults wanting to relax and unwind. Dive into the calming culture of ancient Ireland, and let the lore come to life in your mind!
In Closing
In closing, this story proved entertaining to read. I gave it four out of five stars for its ability to capture my fascination and make me want to know more. Had it dived deeper into what makes its characters unique, or maybe sprinkled a little more mystery here and there, perhaps I may have given it five stars. But all books come with their own faults and that is perhaps what makes them interesting (just like characters). Indeed, considering that this is S.D. Huston's debut novel, I'd say it's a job well done, and I'm excited to see their writing style grow and change as they grace us with more and more books.
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