5+ stars for The Lady of the Mirrored Lake by @bohemienneivy #fantasyromance #fairytale #bookreview
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  • N. N. Light
    • Jan 30, 2023
    • 3 min read

5+ stars for The Lady of the Mirrored Lake by @bohemienneivy #fantasyromance #fairytale #bookreview



Title: The Lady of the Mirrored Lake

Author: Jennifer Ivy Walker

Genre: Paranormal fantasy medieval romance


Book Blurb:


Hunted by the Black Widow Queen, Issylte--a healer with the verdant magic of the forest--must flee Avalon with the two finest knights in the Celtic realm, both wrongly accused of treason. The trio travels to Bretagne, where Issylte heals a critically injured wolf and obtains fiercely loyal, shapeshifting allies.


In mystical Brocéliande, Issylte becomes a warrior priestess of the Tribe of Dana and otherworldly mate of the Blue Knight of Cornwall, discovering with Tristan a passion that transcends all bounds. When she becomes the Lady of the Mirrored Lake, sworn to defend the sacred waters of the Goddess, Issylte must undertake a perilous quest to discover what priceless object lies hidden in its murky depths.


As a nascent evil emerges in a fetid cave, Issylte and Tristan must face a diabolical trio that threatens their lives, their love, and their kingdoms.


Enchanted. Enflamed. Entwined. Can their passion and power prevail?


My Review:


Are you ready to venture forth into a world unlike any you’ve encountered? In the continuation of the story of this French fairy tale, we discover a love that knows no bounds, an evil trio threatening all they hold dear, and a quest to find what lies beneath the lake’s surface. Are you hooked yet?


This book has everything you want in a fairy tale: descriptive narration, imaginative plot, intricate world-building, expressive characters, and a love strong enough to overcome the greatest odds.


It all starts with the descriptive narration and world-building. Jennifer Ivy Walker is recreating a well-known French fairy tale. In order to make this story her own, she also blends Celtic mythology and Arthurian legend. As a reader, I have high expectations, especially after book one. Jennifer Ivy Walker surpasses my expectations with ease. Her world-building is top-notch with incredible detail. Every aspect of the world-building is believable. The narration dovetails nicely with the world-building, allowing the reader to be immersed in the story unabated.


The plot progression is even with plenty to keep the reader entertained. Using classic fairy tale writing techniques, the story unfolds with precision. The stakes, tension, and drama all play a role in this plot, along with intricate action scenes and emotional love scenes.


The characters continue to weave their magic and I connected with them on many levels. Even the minor characters are portrayed with depth of feeling.


Is this book better than book one? It’s hard for me to answer that question. If you take into consideration how emotional I became as I read, then yes, this book is better. But at the same time, it’s on equal footing with book one. An incredible read, The Lady of the Mirrored Lake will sweep you away. Romance readers will love this book, as I do.


My Rating: 5+ stars


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Author Biography:


As a high school French teacher, I used puppets to illustrate the medieval legend of "Tristan et Yseult" to my French IV students as part of our study of the Middle Ages. We always read the novel in French, listened to the soundtrack from the French musical--doing medieval Breton dances to the Celtic music--and watched the French version of the film with James Franco and Sophia Myles.


I always took my students to the state competition where they performed a French I play I had written, "Yseult la Belle et Tristan la Bête"--a combination of the medieval French legend of "Tristan et Yseult" (Tristan and Isolde in English) with the fairy tale, "Beauty and the Beast".


Last summer, I had an epiphany--to incorporate that play into a trilogy. A retelling of the classic French tragedy of "Tristan et Yseult", blended with my love of medieval knights, Arthurian legends, and dark fairy tales from the enchanted Forest of Brocéliande in la Bretagne (Brittany in English), birthplace of Merlin the Magician, Viviane, the Lady of the Lake, and Lancelot du Lac.


My debut novel, "The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven", and “The Lady of the Mirrored Lake”—book 2 of the trilogy--are a compilation of my years of studying French literature, my numerous trips to France-- exploring troglodyte caves, medieval pilgrimage sites, châteaux of the Loire Valley, Normandy, Bretagne, and Provence--and my love for myths and legends.


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Reviewed by: Nancy

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