Okay, historical paranormal fantasy romance fans, this one’s for you. I picked up Tanaquill as a free offering on Amazon. The description and cover kind of intrigued me, as well as the author’s name. Akalle. That’s it. Very mysterious. Me being who I am, I was determined to learn more about the enigmatic Akalle before writing my review. He or she obviously writes under a pseudonym, and I figured with a little digging on my friend Internet I’d probably come up with the true talent behind Tanaquill. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Zero. In the realm of the ethernet Akalle is simply Akalle. The name on his or her blog is, yep, you guessed it, just Akalle, and the posts are beautiful pictures and art. Amazon, Goodreads, and Smashwords author profiles consist of a couple of simple, generic sentences and give no clue as to the author’s true identity. I was frustrated. I always find what I’m searching for on the internet. ALWAYS. I was about to say, “Touche Akalle, you win. I grudgingly surrender,” when I hit paydirt. Or at least I’m pretty sure I did. All that being said, after some thought I felt bad for all my obsessive digging. This very talented author obviously has their reasons for writing under a pseudonym. I suspect it is a hobby, something they enjoy, and they’re not looking for anything more than that except maybe some good reviews from people who enjoy their work. No, it isn’t anyone you’ve ever heard of. I’ll just leave it at that.
So, to the book. Tanaquill is a beautifully written novel with elements of magic, witchcraft, fantasy, mythology, and the world of the Fae. First and foremost, though, it is a story of love and romance. Tanaquill is a princess of the Fae, set free into the world of humans for the first time in her life as a little “vacation” before she is married. She visits her cousins, who happen to be witches, in 1800’s London, where she meets and gives her heart to shapeshifter Gavin. When I say, “gives her heart to,” I mean it. It’s complicated. Read the story. 😉 Tanaquill and Gavin, each on separate quests, embark on an adventure together that tears them apart while irrevocably binding them at the same time.
Akalle has such talent. With prose as smooth as silk, the author enchants readers with an almost old-fashioned style. That’s not a bad thing. It’s a little more formal but it fits the story and the characters well, making for a magical journey for the reader. I liked the storyline, loved the characters, and adored being whisked away to the world of the fae. The author obviously has a very strong grip on the subject matter of this book, as well as an impressive depth of knowledge of the time period. The elements of mythology, period dress and etiquette, and history are incorporated into the story flawlessly, educating the reader while entertaining at the same time.
The author does an excellent job with characterization and dialogue, which flowed smoothly and appropriately for the time period. I loved the relationship between the sisters, and the developing chemistry of Tanaquill and Gavin. Lord Fairbain was a delightful addition, the perfect touch to the cast.
This book isn’t for everyone. I know I’ve said it before, probably several times, but the love or dislike of a particular book or genre is a very personal journey. The enjoyment of literature and art is about as subjective as it gets. If you’re not interested in fairies, witches and magic, this tale will probably not draw you in. An interest in the time period would also help. There are some semi-graphic sexual scenes also, which tends to cause readers to react negatively. So if you’re into the genre and that is something that bothers you, I’d suggest you pick it up anyway and skip those parts. The rest of the novel is definitely worth it.
I highly recommend Tanaquill for lovers of historical romance, fantasy, or readers who enjoy a trip into the world of the fae. Akalle is a mystical writer, writing about mystical things. What more could you ask for? Stories about the land of the fairy always leave me a little wistful, being a favorite subject of mine when I was a girl.
You can follow Akaelle at: http://akalle.tumblr.com/
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