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Queen Hazel and Beloved Beverly
What if your favorite childhood video transported you to a real magical kingdom -- and an old friend who never forgot you?
Beverly is struggling to pack up her grandmother's house after her death when she stumbles upon an old VHS tape labeled "The Princess and the Raccoon." She remembers watching it as a child and pops the tape into the VCR, hoping to relive happy memories. But when Beverly touches the TV screen, she's transported into the fantasy world on the tape. There she begins a dangerous journey to find her childhood friend, Princess Hazy, now the Queen of a strange kingdom.
Though Beverly longs to be reunited with Hazel, she must first brave a land filled with peril. Led by a talking raccoon and wolf, Beverly evades the queen's sinister knights addicted to strange candies and visits with friendly animals along the way. She wonders whether Hazel has become as cruel as the knights in her service. Beverly's only hope of returning home lies with the queen, but can their childhood friendship survive the passing of years and the responsibilities of the crown?
A story of grief and wonder, "Queen Hazel and Beloved Beverly" shows us that imagination and childhood friendships leave a lasting legacy. Beverly's journey reminds us that we never completely lose our pasts, even when they exist in other worlds.
Beverly is struggling to pack up her grandmother's house after her death when she stumbles upon an old VHS tape labeled "The Princess and the Raccoon." She remembers watching it as a child and pops the tape into the VCR, hoping to relive happy memories. But when Beverly touches the TV screen, she's transported into the fantasy world on the tape. There she begins a dangerous journey to find her childhood friend, Princess Hazy, now the Queen of a strange kingdom.
Though Beverly longs to be reunited with Hazel, she must first brave a land filled with peril. Led by a talking raccoon and wolf, Beverly evades the queen's sinister knights addicted to strange candies and visits with friendly animals along the way. She wonders whether Hazel has become as cruel as the knights in her service. Beverly's only hope of returning home lies with the queen, but can their childhood friendship survive the passing of years and the responsibilities of the crown?
A story of grief and wonder, "Queen Hazel and Beloved Beverly" shows us that imagination and childhood friendships leave a lasting legacy. Beverly's journey reminds us that we never completely lose our pasts, even when they exist in other worlds.
- GenresFantasy
110 pages, Hardcover
Published December 8, 2023
4 people want to read
About the author
Mary E. Lowd
173 books57 followersMary E. Lowd is a prolific science-fiction and furry writer in Oregon. She's had more than 180 short stories and a half dozen novels published, always with more on the way. Her work has won numerous awards, and she's been nominated for the Ursa Major Awards more than any other individual. She is also the founder and editor of Zooscape. She lives in a crashed spaceship, disguised as a house and hidden behind a rose garden, with a large collection of animals, both real and imaginary, who collectively serve as her muse.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 20, 2024
A cozy portal fantasy with special attention to family bonds and childhood memories and letting go. I could see this being okay for any age group but feels directed at an adult who misses reading piles of middle grade portal fantasy books, who grew up expecting to be transported into some other world but never had that quite happen yet...
Recommended. Easy read with a good pace. The metaphors are excellent, especially the extended one about threads and memories. The story hooks surprisingly well, perhaps due to careful balance between emotion and more grounding emotion. A bunch of nostalgic tie-ins to the 80s-90s
The opening was pretty bland for me, but the story quickly moved past that into the story itself. After that, the story dropped us into the fantastical without letting up, which was great. The raccoon and her wolf companion were awesome, and I wanted more of them. I would love to read more in that realm, or wherever those two go, whether Beverly joins them or not...
Once we got into the fantasy, I wanted the author to slow down more and give us more description of these fantastical characters and locations that we rush through. It's fitting due to the protagonist's distrust of their reality, but still, it was often frustrating at how quickly I was pulled through the reading experience. I'm one of those readers that always complain about a lack of deeper language and description, so this is an inevitable comment I'd make on many stories out there. But essential moments, like meeting the queen and saying farewell, and other such, rush by so fast, that I can't help but feel there was more depth and story I needed there to be fully satisfied.
That criticism aside, I was curled up on my couch, glued to this read, and pumped up on nostalgia for 80s-90s life and longing for fantasies come real. Such a primary mesh of emotions driving the story that I loved it by the end. This was such a light read but had me begging for more.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks to Book Sirens and Mary E. Lowd for allowing me the opportunity to get drawn into this novella's portal.
Recommended. Easy read with a good pace. The metaphors are excellent, especially the extended one about threads and memories. The story hooks surprisingly well, perhaps due to careful balance between emotion and more grounding emotion. A bunch of nostalgic tie-ins to the 80s-90s
The opening was pretty bland for me, but the story quickly moved past that into the story itself. After that, the story dropped us into the fantastical without letting up, which was great. The raccoon and her wolf companion were awesome, and I wanted more of them. I would love to read more in that realm, or wherever those two go, whether Beverly joins them or not...
Once we got into the fantasy, I wanted the author to slow down more and give us more description of these fantastical characters and locations that we rush through. It's fitting due to the protagonist's distrust of their reality, but still, it was often frustrating at how quickly I was pulled through the reading experience. I'm one of those readers that always complain about a lack of deeper language and description, so this is an inevitable comment I'd make on many stories out there. But essential moments, like meeting the queen and saying farewell, and other such, rush by so fast, that I can't help but feel there was more depth and story I needed there to be fully satisfied.
That criticism aside, I was curled up on my couch, glued to this read, and pumped up on nostalgia for 80s-90s life and longing for fantasies come real. Such a primary mesh of emotions driving the story that I loved it by the end. This was such a light read but had me begging for more.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks to Book Sirens and Mary E. Lowd for allowing me the opportunity to get drawn into this novella's portal.
January 6, 2024
Before I begin, thank you to BookSiren for providing me with an advanced copy of this novella. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Here are some things I loved about Lowe’s writing:
* I felt a certain level of kinship with Beverly. It was nice to read a book about someone around my age experiencing this larger-than-life adventure. So many times, these books are written about children or teens. This was refreshing.
* I don’t know how old the author is, but we are probably around the same age because I understood and loved all of the pop culture references, notably “Tinkerbell in the movie Hook” (win!), as well as references to Mickey Mouse and Gulliver’s Travels (those are just to name a few). I think these references were also spot on because if I found myself in the same situation as Beverly, I would probably mentally draw from these fantastical worlds that I have known to make sense of the one that I would now find myself in.
*There is an extended thread-metaphor woven (pun intended) organically throughout the narrative that was incredibly well done. Every time the concept was revisited, I took a moment to enjoy it and highlight it on my kindle to revisit collectively at the end.
Room for improvement:
* There was enough explanation from Rocky of Beverly’s connection to Queen Hazel for the “secret” Beverly tried to draw out of Rocky to prove Beverly was who they suspected she was to feel superfluous and a slightly unsuccessful attempt at being progressive. It didn’t really fit the narrative and wasn’t very relevant to the story. It felt forced.
*At first, I felt this story was written with me (the 30ish crowd) as the audience, but then as soon as Beverly started her quest, it felt like the writing changed for an audience that was much younger.
*There were several opportunities for moments that could haven been more successful at drawing the reader into this new world had they not been told, but shown (specifically related to run-ins with the knights, interactions with other magical creatures, and in a big way, Beverly and Hazel’s interactions).
*Neither the origins of the candies, nor the use of them, was never explained
*The ending felt rushed and the revelation related to Rocky and Ginny felt cursory and could have been more closely related to Beverly’s grandmother related revelation. This was another missed opportunity.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I guess, overall, I just wanted more of it.
Here are some things I loved about Lowe’s writing:
* I felt a certain level of kinship with Beverly. It was nice to read a book about someone around my age experiencing this larger-than-life adventure. So many times, these books are written about children or teens. This was refreshing.
* I don’t know how old the author is, but we are probably around the same age because I understood and loved all of the pop culture references, notably “Tinkerbell in the movie Hook” (win!), as well as references to Mickey Mouse and Gulliver’s Travels (those are just to name a few). I think these references were also spot on because if I found myself in the same situation as Beverly, I would probably mentally draw from these fantastical worlds that I have known to make sense of the one that I would now find myself in.
*There is an extended thread-metaphor woven (pun intended) organically throughout the narrative that was incredibly well done. Every time the concept was revisited, I took a moment to enjoy it and highlight it on my kindle to revisit collectively at the end.
Room for improvement:
* There was enough explanation from Rocky of Beverly’s connection to Queen Hazel for the “secret” Beverly tried to draw out of Rocky to prove Beverly was who they suspected she was to feel superfluous and a slightly unsuccessful attempt at being progressive. It didn’t really fit the narrative and wasn’t very relevant to the story. It felt forced.
*At first, I felt this story was written with me (the 30ish crowd) as the audience, but then as soon as Beverly started her quest, it felt like the writing changed for an audience that was much younger.
*There were several opportunities for moments that could haven been more successful at drawing the reader into this new world had they not been told, but shown (specifically related to run-ins with the knights, interactions with other magical creatures, and in a big way, Beverly and Hazel’s interactions).
*Neither the origins of the candies, nor the use of them, was never explained
*The ending felt rushed and the revelation related to Rocky and Ginny felt cursory and could have been more closely related to Beverly’s grandmother related revelation. This was another missed opportunity.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I guess, overall, I just wanted more of it.
April 27, 2024
Beverly is at her Grand-Annie's home where she has fond childhood memories. Flashes of memories come by as she attempts to recall a long-lost friend. Playing a VHS tape and the appearance of a racoon sends more memories flooding back and she remembers her Princess friend – now Queen. She's transported into the fantastical world and she hopes Rocky will take her to see Hazel. As an adult, Beverly finds it odd every now and then that she is in a world other than her own but as the journey isn't as clean-cut as she'd hoped, she learns a lot of life lessons along the way. This is an extremely short story with illustrations.
I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Thank you to Hidden Gems Books and author.
I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Thank you to Hidden Gems Books and author.
February 7, 2024
I had a chance to read this as an ARC.
It was a wonderfully nostalgic story both because of all of the references to various movies, commercials and more, but also Hazel's world captured the imagination of being a child. It's a story about friendship, but it's also a story about processing grief and loss. I enjoyed Beverly's internal dialogue as an adult as she tries to process the world she finds herself in. And I loved the cast of animal characters!
It's a very short read and I'd recommend!
It was a wonderfully nostalgic story both because of all of the references to various movies, commercials and more, but also Hazel's world captured the imagination of being a child. It's a story about friendship, but it's also a story about processing grief and loss. I enjoyed Beverly's internal dialogue as an adult as she tries to process the world she finds herself in. And I loved the cast of animal characters!
It's a very short read and I'd recommend!
April 12, 2024
While packing up her grandmother’s house after her passing, Beverly is transported to a magical kingdom where she is eventually reunited with her childhood friend.
I think this is a wonderful quick read with some fascinating characters. It reminded me of the fact that even though we may be separated by time and miles, or even death, that the people we love will always live on in our hearts and memories.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
I think this is a wonderful quick read with some fascinating characters. It reminded me of the fact that even though we may be separated by time and miles, or even death, that the people we love will always live on in our hearts and memories.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
April 11, 2024
She is cleaning up her grandmother home after their death when she finds an old video. She puts it in so she can relive the memory and she touches the screen. She is pulled into the world on the screen where she will try to find her old friend. How will she get on? Can she get back home? See how she gets on
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I want to review
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I want to review
Did Not Finish
March 27, 2026Quite woke.
March 31, 2024
3.5 stars for me.
What if your favorite childhood video transported you to a real magical kingdom -- and an old friend who never forgot you?
Speculative blurb with more than a hint of promise in the book. This is a fairly short story novella.
The experience of reading this book was delightfully different. Having read books by Mary deep into sci-fi territory this fantasy book was different. On occasions the story meandered and slowed but at all times it seemed firmly pushing the limits of the envelope of believability.
I could have done with a little more clear ending which would have made the story one to remember. The story seems complicated although a lot of information was packed into the 80 odd pages.
What if your favorite childhood video transported you to a real magical kingdom -- and an old friend who never forgot you?
Speculative blurb with more than a hint of promise in the book. This is a fairly short story novella.
The experience of reading this book was delightfully different. Having read books by Mary deep into sci-fi territory this fantasy book was different. On occasions the story meandered and slowed but at all times it seemed firmly pushing the limits of the envelope of believability.
I could have done with a little more clear ending which would have made the story one to remember. The story seems complicated although a lot of information was packed into the 80 odd pages.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews