I really wanted to love this book. I was in a slump and this was the only book that I really wanted to read.. A dark weird fairytale. Needed to read it! I already knew this author from 'Winter Harvest', which I loved! But this one was just not for me. I think I would have stil liked this book more but for the thing with the kids (and the mother). Couldn't like our FMC anymore after that one.

A wonderful fantasy take written by a new author under my Radar. She wrote the characters beautifully and the plot, while slow to start ended up being a well told interesting story. I recommend this to anyone who loves fantasy and myth.

Overall I liked this book though I don’t think it is one I’ll read again. I really liked the beginning and middle of this book. I loved learning about the Floating Forest and how it operates. I also really enjoyed reading about Nefele’s struggles of being isolated and forced to take on the persona of the witch. I liked reading about her internal struggle of being the witch and her desire to protect her island while also still trying to be herself. I loved reading about Nefele's story. The romance fell a bit flat for me though. I didn’t really care about Simon and his relationship with Nefele. I wish we got to know more about him and got more insight into his perspective. I also wish that their romance had more yearning, connection, and build up. Other than that I also really enjoyed reading about the Elk and the other witches' experiences and perspectives. In conclusion I loved the beautifully crafted world and atmosphere of this book the most and would recommend it to others if you are looking for a retelling of Circe's island in Greek mythology or just want a short story about a witch.

A fantasy novella examining the duality of what fairytales represent.

Oh how I wish this became a full-blown novel! Following along as Nefele discovers and embodies the mythos of the witch fairytale, I enjoyed the slower-paced plot. Far removed from reality, we (as readers) are emprisioned on the same mythical island as Nefele finds herself on as a castaway.

The characters are intriguing and full of life - flaws and all. The prose takes its time to examine the big and small moments between the characters, allowing breathing room for readers to contemplate, reflect, or predict the changes occurring.

The plot definitely pays homage to the story of Odysseus and his visit to the mythical island of Circe the sorceress. I do wish, however, that there were more glimpses into Nefele learning the magic of being a witch, including the actual magic itself.

Overall, a thought-provoking examination of the struggle of escapism from reality.

Thank you to the author, Ghost Orchid Press, and NetGalley for an e-ARC.

I feel like this book took a bit too long to get to the point of anything. In the beginning you're throne right into the middle of the story but it was pretty slow and explained a bit too much. I like the idea behind the story.

Tras un naufragio, la pequeña Nefele queda varada en una misteriosa isla cubierta por un denso bosque y custodiada por extrañas criaturas similares a alces. Pronto descubre una solitaria casa construida en el interior de un gigantesco árbol, repleta de libros, ventanas de vitrales y secretos olvidados. Sin nadie más que la acompañe, Nefele debe aprender a sobrevivir, enfrentando el hambre, la soledad y los ecos de un pasado que se desvanece.

A medida que pasan los años, la isla conocida en leyendas como el Bosque Flotante, prisión y reino de una temida bruja va moldeando a Nefele, hasta que ella misma empieza a ocupar ese papel. Entre encuentros con forasteros, decisiones crueles y el descubrimiento de un libro prohibido que guarda el corazón de la magia, Nefele se debatirá entre su humanidad y el poder que la isla le exige.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

It's a good story but I'm being told more than shown the events. There's also not enough information about the characters for me to be very invested.