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Once Upon a Wave of Witches: A Beatrice & Amelia Adventure
Amelia Arrowheart is a homebody. Beatrice Buttons most decidedly is not.
When these two ladies of a certain age meet and become fast friends, neither expects the extraordinary challenges they will face together and apart.
Welcome to Lichen, a place like no other, where fungi are revered, cloud creatures crowd the skies, and sea witches wield their power for the good of all. Two mischievous little boys, a space pirate, and a monster that reaches out from the depths of the ocean will change their lives forever. Join Beatrice and Amelia on the adventure of a lifetime as they take to the skies and plunge into the depths of the sea to save a friend and break a curse!
A unique and uplifting fantasy tale celebrating friendship, loyalty, and love. Includes 33 original illustrations!
When these two ladies of a certain age meet and become fast friends, neither expects the extraordinary challenges they will face together and apart.
Welcome to Lichen, a place like no other, where fungi are revered, cloud creatures crowd the skies, and sea witches wield their power for the good of all. Two mischievous little boys, a space pirate, and a monster that reaches out from the depths of the ocean will change their lives forever. Join Beatrice and Amelia on the adventure of a lifetime as they take to the skies and plunge into the depths of the sea to save a friend and break a curse!
A unique and uplifting fantasy tale celebrating friendship, loyalty, and love. Includes 33 original illustrations!
239 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2023
1 person is currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Helen Whistberry
31 books69 followersHelen Whistberry (they/she) is the pen name for an indie author and artist who began writing after retiring from a long career working in libraries. They have published numerous books as well as contributing horror and fantasy stories to anthologies. Helen’s writing often explores their own experiences with gender, asexuality, alienation, and autism. Their whimsical digital artwork focuses on the natural world. Helen also loves to read and review books by fellow indie and small press authors. You can find out more by visiting their website at https://www.helenwhistberry.com/ for a complete list of publications and links.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
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October 1, 2023First of all, I must mention the fabulous cover and also give a shout out to Helen Whistberry for creating the interior illustrations. I love seeing artwork in books. It really adds something to the tale, and Helen did it beautifully.
I've read several books by Helen Whistberry in the past and have always loved her whimsical style, so when I saw that ARCs were available I jumped at the chance. I am fascinated by authors who are able to co-write a long piece of fiction such as this. I know for a fact I could never do it.
The writing is beautifully descriptive throughout. An adult version of my childhood favourite, The Magic Faraway Tree. I read it during quite a stressful week, and it provided the pure escapism I needed.
So what do we have here? Talking tattoos, fungi and foraging, sea witches, fantastic world-building, a sapphic tale of love, the spirit of Gaia, friendship, tender passion...I could go on and on, but instead I will post a little quote from around the halfway point in the story which, for me, sums up the essence of the tale:
"In the beginning, there was rock and there was water and there was a sprinkling of spores; cinnamon-coloured dust that fell from the stars bringing new life."
If that sentence speaks to you, like it did to me, then I suggest you jump on board.
My thanks to the authors for providing an ARC of this hallucinogenic trip of a novel.
I've read several books by Helen Whistberry in the past and have always loved her whimsical style, so when I saw that ARCs were available I jumped at the chance. I am fascinated by authors who are able to co-write a long piece of fiction such as this. I know for a fact I could never do it.
The writing is beautifully descriptive throughout. An adult version of my childhood favourite, The Magic Faraway Tree. I read it during quite a stressful week, and it provided the pure escapism I needed.
So what do we have here? Talking tattoos, fungi and foraging, sea witches, fantastic world-building, a sapphic tale of love, the spirit of Gaia, friendship, tender passion...I could go on and on, but instead I will post a little quote from around the halfway point in the story which, for me, sums up the essence of the tale:
"In the beginning, there was rock and there was water and there was a sprinkling of spores; cinnamon-coloured dust that fell from the stars bringing new life."
If that sentence speaks to you, like it did to me, then I suggest you jump on board.
My thanks to the authors for providing an ARC of this hallucinogenic trip of a novel.
January 5, 2024
An absolutely wonderful whimsical fantasy adventure full of feeling and loveable characters!
I loved the dynamic between Beatrice's adventurous spirit and Amelia's hermit life. The worldbuilding was amazing and incredibly creative, from sloth-like mounts and talking tattoos to a dragonfly sky boat and wise fungi at the center of the world - and of course not-your-typical-witches.
The wonderful illustrations for each chapter and the cover design are the last icing on the cake.
Highly recommended for lovers of non-traditional fantasy who need a bit of a break from the real world.
I loved the dynamic between Beatrice's adventurous spirit and Amelia's hermit life. The worldbuilding was amazing and incredibly creative, from sloth-like mounts and talking tattoos to a dragonfly sky boat and wise fungi at the center of the world - and of course not-your-typical-witches.
The wonderful illustrations for each chapter and the cover design are the last icing on the cake.
Highly recommended for lovers of non-traditional fantasy who need a bit of a break from the real world.
August 2, 2024
Captivating read. Cottage-core cozy fantasy with aging, unwarlike female leads isn't exactly my comfort zone, but to hell with my comfort zone: this book is wonderful. I was drawn in from the first page by the whimsey of a world called Lichen, a small, strange place overshadowed by benevolent fungal titans.
The MCs meet by chance when one of them relocates to a new home as per her annual ritual; it's typical in Lichen that people are transient. They want for little and move homes as the mood takes them. Not so her new neighbor, who has never budged from the house she's arranged to her liking over decades, kept company by a wealth of sentient tattoos that talk to her.
This is about the extent of what you ever learn about the people(s?) of Lichen, but that isn't to say this book is sparse on worldbuilding. It's just not human-centric. We learn more about the history of the immensely-powerful sea-witches, created by the Fungus Gods themselves, and other denizens of the sea like shape-shifters. Every scene is as brightly-colored as an explosion at a dye-factory; there's as much weird tea and home-brewed craftsmanship as you can handle. The witch's spells are dirty, visceral, original, and detailed. You travel quite a lot in this story but are left with the sense that absolutely anything might lie hidden around the next corner.
The MCs are a nice balance. Amelia's agoraphobia and fretful nature could have been cloying, just as her counterpart Beatrice might have been overbearing on her own. Her confidence, wanderlust, and reckless impatience are constantly being tempered by her affection for her friend and her desire not to leave worry-wart Amelia behind. If you just went 'Burnell, wait: friends?!' actually yes. Restless, adventurous Beatrice is married to the sea-witch Coral, who was cursed in her youth to be bound to a lighthouse by the enigmatic, rage-fueled kraken Myriad.
See? Tragic romance, giant mushrooms, and a kraken: it's got everything.
I'm just left with the one complaint: WHERE ARE THE PENGUINS GOING?
The MCs meet by chance when one of them relocates to a new home as per her annual ritual; it's typical in Lichen that people are transient. They want for little and move homes as the mood takes them. Not so her new neighbor, who has never budged from the house she's arranged to her liking over decades, kept company by a wealth of sentient tattoos that talk to her.
This is about the extent of what you ever learn about the people(s?) of Lichen, but that isn't to say this book is sparse on worldbuilding. It's just not human-centric. We learn more about the history of the immensely-powerful sea-witches, created by the Fungus Gods themselves, and other denizens of the sea like shape-shifters. Every scene is as brightly-colored as an explosion at a dye-factory; there's as much weird tea and home-brewed craftsmanship as you can handle. The witch's spells are dirty, visceral, original, and detailed. You travel quite a lot in this story but are left with the sense that absolutely anything might lie hidden around the next corner.
The MCs are a nice balance. Amelia's agoraphobia and fretful nature could have been cloying, just as her counterpart Beatrice might have been overbearing on her own. Her confidence, wanderlust, and reckless impatience are constantly being tempered by her affection for her friend and her desire not to leave worry-wart Amelia behind. If you just went 'Burnell, wait: friends?!' actually yes. Restless, adventurous Beatrice is married to the sea-witch Coral, who was cursed in her youth to be bound to a lighthouse by the enigmatic, rage-fueled kraken Myriad.
See? Tragic romance, giant mushrooms, and a kraken: it's got everything.
I'm just left with the one complaint: WHERE ARE THE PENGUINS GOING?
March 17, 2025
Once Upon a Wave of Witches is such a charming whimsical read that dipping into it at the end of a long day was just the perfect way to wind down and relax. The world of Lichen in the book was an endless source of magical creatures and exciting adventures and I could easily imagine that there are more books to come that are set in this world. Personally I really hope that is the case and that we are reunited with the wonderful characters of Amelia Arrowheart and Beatrice Buttons that are introduced in this book. Two very different women who become friends serendipitously, this pair are the occasionally reluctant heroines of a certain age that I did not know I needed in my life, and now I am sad that their adventures are over, at least for the time being. This is absolutely a feel good book but that does not mean that there are not some important messages, most notably about the importance of loyalty and the need to respect the world around us. I also have to shout out the strikingly beautiful cover and the gorgeous illustrations throughout by Helen Whistberry, there is something really nostalgic about reading an illustrated book like this one, it reminded me in many ways of the books I fell in love with as a child, the ones that made me a reader for life and just like I reach for those favourites time and time again, I know I will be doing the same with this book.
October 2, 2023
This is an absolutely charming and enchanting book about new friends who have a series of adventures involving cloud-dragons and sea-dragons and sky jellies and a sailing boat and doors to other worlds and tattoos that come to life and delicious food that will make you want to eat your way through the book. And as the title promises, it's got lots and lots of wonderful witches, wise and funny and devoted and clever. The illustrations too are delightful (I would like to make needlework patterns out of them) and I recommend it highly for all readers.
October 24, 2023
Wonderful Tale of Love and Wanderlust
Beatrice Buttons is curious about the world she lives in and loves adventures. Unfortunately, her wife, who is a witch, was cursed and must stay at the lighthouse to which she has a psychic tether.
In Beatrice’s travels she comes upon a floating observatory, and a new and perilous adventure begins.
The authors create a vibrant, appealing fantasy world, and the illustrations are fabulous too. Highly recommend.
Beatrice Buttons is curious about the world she lives in and loves adventures. Unfortunately, her wife, who is a witch, was cursed and must stay at the lighthouse to which she has a psychic tether.
In Beatrice’s travels she comes upon a floating observatory, and a new and perilous adventure begins.
The authors create a vibrant, appealing fantasy world, and the illustrations are fabulous too. Highly recommend.
September 17, 2024
A friend mentioned reading this, so I looked it up, found it hard to put down from the preview, and bought it right up. I'm so glad I did.
This book was an amazing, often cozy adventure, with just enough dark spots to highlight the bright. I quite loved it.
This book was an amazing, often cozy adventure, with just enough dark spots to highlight the bright. I quite loved it.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews