Off the Bookshelf: EVEN TREE NYMPHS GET THE BLUES, by Molly Harper

Audible Original

I already downloaded another audiobook by this author -- does that tell you how much I liked this one?

It's a standalone novella in the Mystic Bayou series -- which I have to look further into.

The heroine is a tree nymph named Ingrid who has decided to move to a town in Louisiana where other mythological and magical people have found sanctuary and formed a community. In this far-too-short story, she arrives with plans to buy a farm, raise cows, and make and sell ice cream. Sounds like a good plan to me, and a way to become instantly popular!

Of course, there are hiccups in the plan, starting with bureaucrats and scientists and a sad part of her history when another handsome scientist tried to take advantage of her -- so when the resident handsome scientists falls for Ingrid, she and he are in for a hard time.

Since this is a romance, need I bother to assure you there is a happily ever after?

This was an interesting presentation, because the chapters went back and forth between the POV of the heroine and hero, with a female narrator and a male narrator. Took a little getting used to, but what does that matter? It was a fun book, and over way too fast. I hope the author tells more stories about Ingrid in the next Mystic Bayou book I get. Because I certainly will!

Off the Bookshelf: CIRCE, by Madeline Miller

Audiobook

This is one of those books you don't want to put down -- or in this case, turn off. I chose it as my entertainment on a long (8-plus hours each way) trip, and I was almost upset to arrive at the hotel, turn off the book, and get out of the car!

CIRCE is the story, in her own words, her own pain and hopes and thoughts, of a figure from Greek mythology. I knew Circe only as one of the characters Odysseus met on his long journey home from Troy, but her pedigree goes far back and spreads wide to encompass so much of the familiar in mythology.

I was impressed. I wished I had written this book! Loved it immensely. Captivating -- and made those hours of driving go fast. I was really ticked when some torrential rain grew so loud, I couldn't hear the narrator, so I had turn off the book!

Circe is born to a scheming nymph and one of the Titans who still retained some power after siding with Zeus in the rebellion that brought the familiar Greek gods to power. Her siblings are more beautiful and powerful (and nasty) than she is, and she literally has no one to depend on when the revelation that she does have power after all makes the Olympians fear her. Exiled to an island, she makes her own life and struggles for her own purpose and happiness. A woman alone must take drastic, cruel actions to protect herself. If you know the legends, then you know what I'm talking about. I won't give anything away here. Then Odysseus stops at her island and she changes her mind, and makes several decisions that put a new spin on several Greek legends.

Put simply, you GOTTA listen to this book, or read it, whichever is most convenient for you. I was hooked from the first few minutes.