Author: cherylmahoney

I'm a book review blogger and writer. I have published four novels, The Wanderers; The Storyteller and Her Sisters; and The People the Fairies Forget; and The Lioness and the Spellspinners. All can be found on Amazon as an ebook and paperback. In my day job, I'm a Marketing Specialist. Find me on Twitter (@MarvelousTales) and GoodReads (MarvelousTales).

Blog Waltz: Guest Post with A Library Mama

On By cherylmahoneyIn Novel NewsLeave a comment

Storyteller Cover 1 - SmallToday we’re onto our second dance for The Storyteller and Her Sisters’ Blog Waltz, with a guest post on A Library Mama, blog of Katy, “public librarian, bookworm and mother of two, among other things.” You may remember she guest-posted here a few months ago, sharing some of her favorite fairy tale retellings.  I took that as my inspiration to send her a guest post about my favorite retellings of “The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces,” the Brothers Grimm story that inspired Storyteller.

I recommend all the books in my guest post, and I recommend Katy’s blog too. 🙂 We have similar reading taste, with a fondness for fantasy and historical fiction, and for kids books that adults will enjoy too.

Read my guest post on favorite retellings!

Classic Review: Song of the Lioness Quartet

On By cherylmahoneyIn Fantasy, Juvenile, Reviews, Young Adult2 Comments

I feel like I talk about Tamora Pierce and her wonderful Song of the Lioness Quartet fairly often…but it was a long time ago that I actually reviewed the books!  Since I’m a little occupied this week with releasing my new novel (which happens to be about a strong heroine in a magical world), it seems like an appropriate time to dust off this review about one my favorite strong fantasy heroines!

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I’m going to try–I really am–not to wax too enthusiastic today.  But it’s hard when I’m talking about a favorite series–when it would actually not be inaccurate to use phrases like “changed my life” and “favorite character ever.”

Am I talking about some great inspirational work?  Well…not a traditional one.  I’m talking about the Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce.

The first book is Alanna: The First Adventure.  Alanna is a girl who wants to become a knight, except that girls aren’t allowed to become knights.  So she disguises herself as a boy and sets out to become one anyway.  Alanna is an incredible character.  When I was younger, I basically wanted to be her when I grew up.  She’s stubborn, determined, and incredibly brave, but also human–she makes mistakes, she has struggles, and she’s not always sure of herself.  She was my favorite character when I was a kid, out of any book I’d read. Continue reading “Classic Review: Song of the Lioness Quartet” →

Blog Waltz: Interview on Little Lion Lynnet’s

On By cherylmahoneyIn Novel News2 Comments

Storyteller Cover 1 - SmallToday I’m happy to announce the first stop on my blog tour for The Storyteller and Her Sisters–or Blog Waltz, as I feel a tour for a book about dancing princesses should be called!  We’re stepping off with an interview with the lovely Lynn E. O’Connacht, who blogs at Little Lion Lynnet’s.  We discussed some of the inspiration for the novel, how it relates to the first book, and also a peek at the next book in the series!

Lynn “hails from the wonderful wilds of Europe,” blogs about books, movies, games, and bookish and writerly topics (lately I’ve been stealing memes from her!)  She’s also a fellow writer, who had her own novella out last week, Tales of the Little Engine.  I have my copy 😉 and keep an eye out for an interview with her in a month or so.

But today, go check out my interview about Storyteller!

 

Book Review: Rivers of London/Midnight Riot

On By cherylmahoneyIn Fantasy, Reviews5 Comments

Despite the double title, I’m only reviewing one book today, by Ben Aaronovitch–in England it’s Rivers of London, in the American printing it’s Midnight Riot, and if I hadn’t first heard of it by the British title, I might not have picked it up.  Because let’s be honest–you had me at London!  Since the plot involves ghosts and murder, it’s also a perfect read for R.I.P.

Peter Grant is a rookie cop in London, who one night finds himself taking a witness statement from a ghost in Covent Gardens.  This eventually lands him as an apprentice wizard to Detective Nightingale, tasked with investigating supernatural crimes.  The book centers around a string of brutal murders with an apparently ghostly cause, and a tense stand-off between Mama Thames and Father Thames, warring gods of the river. Continue reading “Book Review: Rivers of London/Midnight Riot” →

Imaginary Illustrations #6

On By cherylmahoneyIn Novel News5 Comments

Release Day for The Storyteller and Her Sisters was yesterday!  The book features a Fairy Godmother, and in my series, Good Fairies preach a lot about spreading goodness and light…and travel around in a cloud of sparkles everywhere they go.  Inspiring this week’s Imaginary Illustration!

Extra sweeping up