Rosemary Thorn is finally about to achieve her dream of opening a chocolate shop in the magical village of Myrtlewood...
In the lead-up to the Lughnasa festival, trouble is brewing in Bermuda...
Rosemary has her hands full with the launch of her much anticipated magical chocolate shop. She's enjoying the peace and quiet of Myrtlewood and the last thing she wants to do is get involved in Bermuda witching politics.
Athena, on the other hand, is dying for a tropical escape, especially when things take a turn for the strange and unusual where her powers are concerned leading to terrible embarrassment.
Peculiar threats and unwanted visitors drive Rosemary to rise to the challenge of visiting the witching parliament to protect her daughter and salvage her dreams.
I wish I could rate it higher but it needs editing. There were instances of missing words and misspellings. Now off to the next book because the story is that good.
Bit half baked... there's a weird jumping around thing again... the whole Bermuda set up and witches council stuff is all a bit contrived and unrealistic, and yes I do see the irony when we're talking about fiction but it has to be believable and I just can't get on board with the lack of information, the fact that Glastonbury is supposed to be the "seat of UK power" and yet everyone of any importance magically comes from a village that's now suddenly sprouted a castle full of vampires that no one seems to know about...
Village is a small place, this one has a whole array of shops, a high school, a castle of vampires, and just everything else besides including a pharmacy and hospital... usually a village would be lucky to have a "village shop" and a pub... all these people live in huge posh houses, it's just doesn't add up... magical or not...
When I read something dark, something long, or something that is a combination of both, I yearn for something short, that doesn't take itself too seriously, is funny, cozy and feelgood. Myrtlewood Mysteries by Iris Beaglehole is that series for me. As you read this series, you get to become intimately close with all of the residents of Myrtlewood, as our main character interacts with everyone - whether they are naughty or nice, young or old.
This series follows a mother and daughter power duo - Rosemary and Athena. As the series goes on, they bloom into understanding their various magical powers, but they also get to live and learn as humans do. Learning to not run away from ambition, learning trust and boundaries, learning to not be scared of love and commitment, and learning how to be part of a relationship. Despite the emphasis on magic, our main characters learn very human lessons.
In each book, a new mystery presents itself, and it's up to Rosemary and Athena to get to the bottom of it, after all, they are Myrtlewood's most powerful witches.
Without spoiling what the mystery of what his book is about, I want to talk about the good and the bad. The relentless pacing is for the most part good, but I feel like Iris Beaglehole wanted to get this book out, and didn't pause at the most interesting parts of the book and flesh them out as she could have. The mystery in this book is interesting, but I think so far it is the weakest out of all of the rest of the books, including the climax. The climax in the last few books was built up really well, and we got a few chapters with some stakes. In this one, the build up isn't as exciting as in the others and it's over too quickly. With how quickly it fizzled out, I also feel it isn't as interesting, bizarre or creative as the others.
I still love this series for the cozy aspect, and out of the cozy fantasy books/series I have read (which is not that many tbf), I rank this one as the best one. It's seriously underrated. I mainly think this was the worst book so far - but hey, every book in a series is bound to have a "worst one", or the author is too consistent.
I'll definitely still continue this series, it's just what I need sometimes.
I can’t take anymore. One of the reasons I started reading this series was because it’s about an adult. Only it’s not. If not for the sex I’d say this was definitely a YA book. I can’t handle anymore of Rosemary and her self absorbed, whining, immaturity. Athena is more of an adult than her mother is. Not only is Rosemary extremely childish, she’s also very self absorbed and has absolutely no clue (or care) how her behavior and actions affect others. It wasn’t cute when she had a reason (the memory spell) but it was almost understandable. Now it’s just rude and obnoxious. I’ve kept on because I find the world and the other characters interesting but they don’t balance anymore. And seriously, can someone tell me, what on earth a character like Burke could ever find interesting and attractive about Rosemary and her behavior?!?! The situations were overdone, the only plot Rosemary being nosey, and the errors and writing getting worse. I need my fantasy to have believable characters with appropriate responses, conversations, and actions. This reads like a Harry Potter wannabe written by and for teenagers. Oh and last bit of my rant. It’s WAY too American for something supposedly taking place in England.
I don’t feel like I can give star reviews at this point because I’m clearly enjoying the story telling but there’s so many errors in the books that it’s a bit frustrating. Also the books started off trying really hard to seem English, but there’s been quite a lot of Americanisms slipped in. Plus, rosemary is still fucking annoying and if she says “snobby witches” one more time I’m gonna lose it. Athena is a good character, as are so many of the side characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I adore the Myrtlewood books. I unfortunately began with the Drone series, which isn't finished, so I'll need to re-read them when it is. I'll begin with what needs work. Iris, I adore your writing ( more on that shortly), but darlin', you REALLY need a good proofreader. If you are already using one, they're missing a LOT of errors. Generally missing words, like of, the, to, and the like. It's distracting. Not nearly bad enough to make me stop reading, but enough to pull me out of the story frequently. If you're proofing your own work, that's generally not a good idea, as we usually read ( or somehow see) what we intended to write, rather than what we actually did write. I do proofreading, so perhaps I'm just more sensitive to errors. But the distracting nature of them doesn't do any author a favor. That's it for criticisms. On the compliments side of things.... Iris is fantastic at point of view. She has a fabulous grasp of generational differences; the emotions, and behaviors of teenagers, adults, and older women. I find that very rare, and really compelling. While many authors can pull off one or two; I don't think I've read anyone else who so deftly does it like Ms. Beaglehole. It isn't easy for older people to remember what it was like to go through puberty, and all the angst of that period, as well as nailing approaching middle age, and being elderly. Kudos in spades for this! I'm moving toward 70, and having never had children ( no offense meant to parents. I've simply noticed that people with kids tend to forget what it was like to BE one... probably because of the necessity of discipline), can recall my past experiences, and emotions of those past times fairly well. But not as well as this author. The stories are so fun. Lots of adventure, excitement, emotion, and just life...not to mention, MAGIC! A big cast of characters, each very well fleshed out, distinctive, and complex. Just like actual people... with magical abilities, that is. Things, and places are very well described. I think in pictures, so this is something I really notice in a book....are the descriptions written well enough for me to actually picture the scene. The far realm was so interesting, and well described that I could clearly see that magical, very different world. And everything of this world (,along with all the magical goings on) paints a perfect picture in my mind. Can she describe!!! A resounding... 'Perfectly' for all of Iris's Myrtlewood books. On to the next!!
The fifth installment in Iris Beaglehole’s Myrtlewood series is every bit as enchanting as its predecessors—perhaps even more so. Delectable Magic sweeps us back into the whimsical yet perilous world of Rosemary and Athena, who seem to be thriving in Myrtlewood. Athena’s coming of age in both the Fae and Witch magical abilities is a joy to witness; she’s truly coming into her own, and it adds a rich depth to the story.
Still, not all is rosy in Myrtlewood. Grandma Aine raises my suspicions—there’s an undeniable sense she could become a serious problem. And Rosemary’s eccentric, overly religious parents? Let’s just say I wouldn’t turn my back on them.
The world-building remains as captivating as ever, blending cozy charm with a thread of danger. I’m particularly intrigued by the hints about Papa Jack and his family, and I’m hoping future books will delve into that mystery. And of course, the looming question remains: will the many magical creatures of Myrtlewood manage to forge a peace treaty before tensions boil over?
A fantastic read from start to finish—equal parts heartwarming, magical, and suspenseful. Beaglehole has a knack for making you feel right at home in Myrtlewood while keeping you on edge for what’s to come.
This series is so much fun to read, book 5 actually had me LOL . However, the one detail or lack there of where chapters felt rushed or lacking involved Rosemary during her most intimate moments. Rosemary normally gets so descriptive with every aspect of her life but when she finally gets things steamy with her supernatural beaux the details fall flat. Now I wasn't looking for a romance novel level throbbing & grinding, what I was looking for was Rosemary taking note of the unique experience of this beaux, not to give up any spoilers but there were more details about their first handshake than there are about their snogging & there is 100% bound to be so much difference between this new intimacy compared to her X... Seriously where's the comparison as well! I want the 411, spill the beans girl friend! What was it like with all his, um, years of experience? Internal processing dialog that Rosemary does about every other aspect of her life & this oh so important moment of character growth is rushed right past, again not looking for the dirty details of his every inch but something more than nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more (any Python fans in the room?).
A great installment in the series but geez I need this author to get a proofreader, for such a great story the proofreading being not up to par really does not do it justice.
I digress but I hope that eventually the editing will be on point.
The premise of this story was good and I am seeing how things are coming full circle for the series as a whole. Rosemary is somewhat growing as a character but she's still kind of awful, she has some redeeming qualities but the character in general needs work. I also wonder what was the point of her familiar being introduced now for at least 2 books and we hardly see the poor cat and she has no interest in him.
Still no differentiation between whose story telling between Athena or Rosemary so it's anyone's guess until you read a couple words.
The last chapter gave a clue as to what we can expect, it was sort of a cliff hanger but i didn't mind it because the whole story was thoroughly told with all details. Let's see what's in store.
I really enjoy this series! I particularly loved the development of the main character’s business dream coming to fruition (a sign of the main character’s general growth) as well as her daughter exploring a sapphic relationship. There are so many different types of magical/fantasy characters in this story - it is a cozy fantasy, but don’t let it fool you - it has a very diverse character cast! We also have the setting of a magic academic setting which is a trope many fantasy readers enjoy. While these books would be okay YA books, this one definitely leaned more towards adult, but I also think could pass for YA as well. The only concern I had about this book was the editing: there were many misspelled and missing words in this book (which I am not sure how that happened - that is my biggest reason for the 4 star rating). However, aside from that, the story is an enjoyable one to follow as the characters grow and develop.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I just finished this fifth book in the Myrtlewood Mysteries, and I am so in love with this series. As I was reading this, I tried to fit this into a mold, and I really can’t. It’s a mixture of so many genres: family, paranormal, romance, mystery, comedy. I love both the mother and daughter in this series, and we get to see how their lives are changing with them, their friends, their family, and how those changes affect each other. AND, there is usually a mystery in there somewhere. This isn’t perfect, but it is perfectly wonderful. This is such an endearing series, and I can’t wait to read more about everyone’s lives. Highly recommend. I was provided with a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
This book disappointed me. The first 4 were much better with one or two standouts But this one fell a little flat for me. It didn't seem to have a real plot and was a bit all over the shop. I feel like I still don't really know what happened, it was difficult to follow. However there were some redeeming qualities. I enjoyed the progression of burk and Rosemary's relationship and I loved his crazy vampire family, they made me laugh. The whole teen drama of Elise and Athena is boring me now also and I feel that the wiccan festivals was scarcely mentioned in this book but I will continue to finish the series as I'm invested now. But this book was a bit of a flop for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Rosemary and Athena are both growing their magical skills, the chocolate shop is doing well, and a certain vampire has finally convinced Rosemary to give them a try. There is talk of a peace accord between all the magical beings, but not everyone is on board. The question is, who is causing all the problems that occur and how are all the bad beings getting into Myrtlewood? This installment kept me reading straight through trying to solve the mystery. The ending was a surprise that I didn't see coming. Loved it!
Another enjoyable romp with Rosemary, Athena and friends as they open the shop, travel to Bermuda, and have a coming of age. There are explosions & battles, murder, mysteries, and missing people, treaties & betrayals, love lost & found, as they explore their new relationships, as well as wonderful friendships with a variety of peoples and species ... and even a visit from Rosemary's parents! Recommend to fans of the series this 5th book set around Lughnasa / lammas. Enjoy!
this time out the series leaves myrtlewood for Bermuda though the trip is cut short due to terrorism this is also a coming of age story which is very well handled and shows a interesting level of compassion for the author's characters. another compelling story , well told, i have the next book in the series ready to read, its the idea that the tale keeps growing and changing its focus that has made me enjoy these Adventures.
Sometimes when you’re reading a book that’s part of a series, you find that the writer has begun following the same path through each book, making it predictable and I lose interest at some point. Not true for this author/book series - this is a great series and I enjoy each individual book very much and highly recommend them!!!
this unfortunate development from a fun magical storyline to romance and relationship problems and teenage angst started slowly already in the previous two books, but now it is more or less all about the dating problems of Rosemary and the teenage love(?) problems of Athena. not for me, so I'll just give up reading
The stories immerse you in a different realms of magic that allows your mind to wander & at the same time trying to solve the mystery that is happening. I knew straight away about Papa Jacks missing son, I was just waiting for them to return to home. A heartwarming tale.
It’s as if Gilmore Girls and Stars Hollow became enchanted my magical beings. These books are so much fun, entertaining, full of laughs; my family can’t figure out why I keep laughing aloud while reading…books can’t be that good…or can they?! This series is. You won’t be disappointed.
I am really enjoying this series, however, what I don't enjoy is lack of proper editing. The misspelling of words, the misuse of words, etc. really affects my enjoyment of a book. Book 4 was full of a number of editing failures and book 5 had its share. The storyline is often quite banal but still an enjoyable respite from other genres.
Chocolates, Magic and Mystery what else do you need!
Rosemary is doing really well with her chocolate opening. They go out to celebrate and dance to a minstral. Athena starts feeling strange. Rosemary gets invited to the Witch Parliament and doesn't know why. Mysteries all around them and they don't know why? Read and find out what's happening!
Literally, start with the Myrtlewood Mysteries and continue with the Crones. Full of very real characters (emotionally and behaviorally) and it is soooo very nice to see an author writing of herb use who actually KNOWS a thing or two about them! Fun reading!
Book 5 allows the reader to get to know the characters in much more depth. The ladies of Thorn Manor dip a toe into and out of relationships, and then jump in head first. That’s the romantic side of things. On the family side things get more and more complicated. Many challenges are faced, and life in Myrtlewood progresses - much like a good soap opera!
I’m so thrilled that your series of Myrtlewood Mysteries found me! The mayhem and characters have bound me to reading almost non-stop! Book 5 awaits to wrap its next story around me. Thank you for creating a delightful world of magic for this 76 years young woman! Blessed be!
Wow! Hit it out of the park again! I wasn’t sure how this one was going to play out. It took longer to get to the fighting then in past books, but boy was I excited! Great book, and I highly recommend!
Thoroughly enjoyable, love the mix of characters But one question, it's Iris Beaglehole a pen name? It seems a bit more like a pseudonym than a someone's true name!!