E J says…
Another realm cohabits much the same spaces as our own, but it has little industry and is populated by creatures of our myths. There are thin spaces between the realms, and occasionally people fall into their world, and creatures like unicorns and dragons fall into ours, giving rise to our myths.
Thin places between realms are created where something terrible has happened — like a mass murder or a bunch of hangings. If you use one of these passages, you feel the residual horrible emotions, and if you are not careful, you can get stuck.
In the alternative realm, the supernatural creatures do not get along any better than humans in our world. The main character, Penny White, is an Episcopal priest (like the author) who tries to bring about peace and harmony while battling her own internal demons, which in one book leads to a serious alcohol problem.
In addition to traditional mythic folk and creatures, (Dwarves, vampires, werewolves) I believe the author has come up with some of her own variations such as snail sharks, werepuffins and werepenguins. I must not forget flying rats who are intelligent and talk. They are the messenger service of the magical realm and seem to know everything. Be prepared for talking dragons along with other magical creatures.
For me, her creatures and the way they behave and interact is just so astonishing, that I keep reading. But I believe that people who object to Biblical passages and prayers in a story will not relate to this series. For me, the juxtaposition of creatures of the imagination against traditional Protestant theology creates some of the extreme strangeness of the series. Penny adopts a snail shark who later wants to become ordained as a minister. Other creatures fear this being and object. When it turns on its side, it can open its foot into a huge mouth with sharp, pointy teeth. Members of this aggressive species have eaten the young of other creatures.
This series is such a strong statement in favor of tolerance that I was a little surprised when the author depicted the magical realm associated with the United States as mainly populated by large talking insects and birds. This was a reminder that the author is British.
I don’t know if I have ever read such a strong and vividly expressed appeal for tolerance. As a female priest, the author no doubt has faced intolerance within her religious order. I suspect her desire for truth and justice is part and parcel of why she is a priest. Many of her conflicts in her books come about because the magical community does not approve of interspecies relationships. Churches espouse high ideals, and the author wants these institutions to live up to them as well as church members.
You can find the whole series on Amazon at https://amzn.to/3nWo86q
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Tags: Book review, book recommendation, magical creatures, dragon, unicorn, vampire, priest, Episcopal priest,
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