This is an old fashioned story. Each word is captured mid air – then savored. Each word draws a picture. A picture-story about two middle-aged women with a secret to keep and the children who help them keep it.
The cast of characters do not work one without the other: inevitable that Lydia Larkin and the Widow Marvell were fated to meet and forge an alliance; especially simpatico is the relationship between Lydia and Dion, a rather large black cat; and not surprising that the three of them go to the mat to save one small boy. In the house where Ms. Lydia lives, *“….is a parallel domain, where the spirits of imagination, truth and beauty are given free reign — and just as well, for darker shades are drawing in on the inhabitants of Croyd Terrace.” *(in part – back cover)
**“So in general, the Mystic Arts remain the twilight Province of silly young Goths in cheap crushed velvet costumes and big shoes, or patiently ridiculous older women in quasi-robes and stiffly hennaed hair selling ‘magical’ trinkets in tiny, incense-smelling over-priced New Age Boutiques.” **(in part – pg 1, Prologue)
Funny thing, I actually remember those Goth girls and their ‘big shoes’, and having met my share of those older women, who in retrospect weren‘t that old, I can attest to the truth of the matter. Oh, and by the way? Just the thought of Patchouli sets my memory afire!
After I finished, I had to randomly re-read this book. I like that I liked these characters. They got inside my head. My only too-bad-so-sad critique about this book is that it should have been longer. Some parts left me wishing that Denby would have taken care to expand some of the scenes as they felt a little too rushed to me.
You’ll do yourself a favor by leaving your analytical cap in the closet when you read this one. Sit back, sip Darjeeling tea, burn some incense, light a few of those fairy lights you have over there in front of your book shelves, and keep a keen eye on Dion.
This is a mythological fantasy and begs the question:
What happens to Gods and Goddesses once mortals stop believing in them?
Ignite Books 2010
printed and bound by Bell & Bain Ltd – Glasgow
Fantasy/soft cover 117 pages
WORDMAN 
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