Ivy and her sisters have a secret: their reclusive Great-Aunt is actually Adela Martin, inspired author of the fantasy classic, Ivory Apples. Generations of obsessive fans have searched for Adela, poring over her letters, sharing their theories online, and gathering at book conventions. It is just a matter of time before one fan gets too close.
So when the seemingly-perfect Kate Burden appears at the local park, Ivy knows that something isn't right. Kate has charmed the entire family, but she is suspiciously curious about Ivory Apples. And Ivy must protect what she and her Great-Aunt share: magic that is real, untameable, and-despite anyone's desire-always prefers choosing its own vessel.
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[THERE WERE A LOT of things I didn't understand about Great-aunt Maeve when I was growing up]***
(@TachyonPub, 17 September 2019, 288 pages, ebook, ARC from @TachyonPub and voluntarily reviewed)
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I'm a big fan of fantasy novels and had high hopes for this book. I hoped I was going to love it. While I didn't love it completely, I enjoyed reading it and am glad I gave it a chance. It's a mixed sort of book; some stuff works really well but other stuff just falls a little short. It's an uneven read. There are moments that just don't have the impact they should have. For example, Ivory is visiting her Aunt and stumbles across something quite shocking. Ivory does not really react to this and seems to take it in her stride as something quite ordinary when it's not. This didn't sit well with me. There are some good things in the book, some enjoyable moment where I started to fall in love a little. However, these moments are ruined by the fact that so many things are just accepted and glossed over which made the book uneven.
