Betsy Snow White Bibliophile

Tag: fiction

  • Betsy’s Book Report: Untethering Dark by Desiree M. Niccoli

    Betsy’s Book Report: Untethering Dark by Desiree M. Niccoli

    Set in the Black Forest (der Schwarzwald) in Germany we are introduced to Astrid a Hexe, a witch with aspirations to become a hag like her adopted mother, Mutter Perchta. Every Night for years Astrid has left out an offering to Altes Geweih, Old Antlers, an ancient forest protector who lives with her in the forest.

    Then one night a group of hikers come to Astrid’s home causing chaos, releasing her goats, and destroying her nightly offering to Altes Geweih. Realizing he has come and accepting her fate she brings a plate of cookies, and comes face to face with the monster in the woods. Expecting to be eaten, instead he allows her to live and accepts her offer of cookies.

    Soon she is flirting with him, and he is flirting back? He reveals his true name to her, Gudariks. And, Astrid begins to feel true attraction and affection for her unlikely new friend. The two of them have a burgeoning relationship that develops alongside the two also working together to attempt to rid the forest of a group of poachers who seem to be plaguing the forest.

    The characters in the book may be monsters, but they are beautifully developed and nuanced. The relationships also feel so real, including those between Astrid and her human friends. The inclusion of lore, history, and traditions of the area just adds to the richness of the story. I can believe that in this world there are mysteries in the dark woods that we cannot comprehend, set to protect the natural world from human corruption. In fact, I want to believe.

    I gave the book five stars and would recommend highly to monster romance lovers, and to those curious about the genre. I will warn you, though, that you may come out the other side with a longing for German Christmas Cookies.

    Untethering Dark by Desiree M. Niccoli is the first Monster Romance to be released by Harlequin books, a publisher every romance reader probably knows, and I was lucky enough to get approved to receive an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy). The book will be available February 4, 2025 as an ebook only at https://shop2.harlequin.com/shop/books/9780369762214_untethering-dark.html

  • Writing Challenge – Day 25

    Writing Challenge – Day 25

    Day 25: Think of any word. Search it on google images. Write something inspired by the 11th image.

    I asked my husband to give me a random word and he gave me golem.

    Golem_Screenshot_04-1920x1080-9e4bd58adafc482a87f4d14236aa2e20

    The townspeople saw them coming, the two creatures; one coming from the coastal mountains and the other from the frozen North. Houses were boarded and the streets emptied, as they braced themselves for the arrival.

    One is made of metamorphic rock with eyes like fire. He was forged by a magician of skill to be his messenger and protector. For thousands of years he has been serving, and today he is on a mission.

    One is made of ice with eyes like a blizzard. He was forged by a sorcerer who was seeking assistance and company. He has served him faithfully for years, and now he has been sent to this place.

    The two meet in the middle of town; the eyes of the hiding occupants watching their every move. The two stop, and speak in tones too low for the townspeople to hear. Then they turn and head back the way they came. After a couple of hours, it is clear that the golems are not set to return.

    To this day that town tells stories of the day the golems came. The rumors of their conversation abounds. They were exchanging messages from their makers, or recipes, or they are the last of their kind and they were looking for a connection. No one knows for sure, but no one will ever forget.