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Morgan Sheppard (1037 KP) created a post

Jun 8, 2026  
I've been thinking about swans again, which probably means I'm deep enough into the Brodyr Alarch world that it's starting to think back at me.

Swans in Welsh and Celtic mythology are rarely what they appear. They carry enchantments, wear transformations like second skins, and move between worlds with a grace that makes the crossing look easy when it never is. The Mabinogion is full of creatures that belong to two states at once — neither fully one thing nor the other — and swans embody that ambiguity more completely than almost anything else in the tradition.

There's something about that liminality that feels endlessly useful for storytelling. A character who exists between worlds is a character with a particular kind of loneliness and a particular kind of power. 🦢

#WelshFolklore #FolkloreFantasy #TalesFromWales #BrodyrAlarch #FantasyRomance
      
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Morgan Sheppard (1037 KP) created a post

Jul 17, 2026  
It's #FolkloreFriday 🐱

This week's folklore Friday explores the cat in Celtic and Welsh mythology — a creature the tradition never quite trusted to be simply domestic.

The Cath Palug of Welsh legend began as an ordinary kitten and grew into a creature of monstrous destructive power, which reflects something the broader Celtic tradition understood instinctively about cats. They were threshold guardians, Otherworld creatures that chose to sit beside human fires without ever fully relinquishing where they'd come from. They watched things invisible to everyone else. They knew things by means that didn't bear close examination.

The Celtic animal month of the Cat is running alongside the tree month of Holly right now — both of them quietly liminal, both of them more formidable than they first appear.

#FolkloreFriday #WelshFolklore #CelticMythology #TalesFromWales
      
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Morgan Sheppard (1037 KP) created a post

Sep 6, 2026  
The September issue of my monthly newsletter is out now, and it's very much a month of turning points.

This issue covers the cover reveal for my upcoming contemporary romance, Only in Fairy Tales (due December 2026), the opening of the ARC list, early news of a new novel in progress, and a round-up of Welsh cultural dates including Gŵyl Canol Hydref and the Abergavenny Food Festival.

There are also four free book giveaways for anyone looking to discover new authors in romantic fantasy, cosy mystery, mythology-inspired fiction, and sweet romance.

If you write, read, or simply love stories rooted in place and folklore, I'd love to have you along for the journey.

https://morgan-sheppard-author.kit.com/posts/where-the-mist-begins-september-2026
#WelshFolklore #FolkloreFantasy #MythAndMoonlight #TalesFromWales #IndieAuthor #Bookish
      
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Sophia (Bookwyrming Thoughts) (530 KP) rated The Prophecy of Shadows (Elementals, #1) in Books

Jan 23, 2020  
TP
The Prophecy of Shadows (Elementals, #1)
Michelle Madow | 2016
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
<b><i>I received this book for free from Netgalley/Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i></b>
Well, then. This is going to be one of the harder reviews to write, isn't it. (And it'll probably come out a little choppy, but um... bear with me.)

Okay, so how about I start with this: <i>The Prophecy of Shadows</i> is great, but the only thing working against the book is the instalove between Nicole and Blake. But even the instalove isn't much of a bother – Nicole is attracted to Blake from the get go, but she's not as <em>obsessed</em> as Danielle, who would threaten anyone in Blake's proximity. Yet?

Anyways, the first book in the <i>Elementals</i> series brings yet a new idea to the <a title="Mythology" href="http://www.bookwyrmingthoughts.com/search/label/Mythology"; target="_blank" rel="noopener">mythology</a> genre, sort of following in <a title="Raye Wagner" href="http://www.bookwyrmingthoughts.com/search/label/Raye%20Wagner"; target="_blank" rel="noopener">Raye Wagner's</a> footsteps. When Nicole first moves to a new school, she is quickly thrown into the world of witches, people who are descended from Greek gods but not exactly demigods. Witches in Madow's newest series are those not directly descended from a Greek god (basically, a generation or two later...?) and their powers are mostly based off of color theory (definitely not getting into the specifics of that one). Nicole is weirded out and dismisses the entire idea at first, but quickly has a change of heart.

The book is also a little slow on the pacing side, especially for those who like constant action. Madow spends approximately half the book setting up the plot and introducing the world of witches, and I personally think that in itself is good enough without being overwhelming. Even though the witches in the <i>Elementals</i> series are similar to witches in general, I enjoyed learning how each color corresponds to a particular emotion or talent. Any particular legendary creature fighting comes later on in the book.

It'll be interesting to see how Madow takes the series with the sequels, and I'll be looking forward to the sequels (which, by the way, have extremely interesting and adventurous titles).

<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/arc-review-the-prophecy-of-shadows-by-michelle-madow/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
  
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Kyera (8 KP) rated The Ship of the Dead (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, #3) in Books

Feb 1, 2018  
The Ship of the Dead (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, #3)
The Ship of the Dead (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, #3)
Rick Riordan | 2017 | Children
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Magnus Chase: Ship of the Dead is the final book in the series that blends Norse mythology with the modern world. Rick Riordan writes in his typical humourous fashion and makes learning fun (even if it’s not always entirely accurate.) As this is the third and final book in the series, there isn’t too much to say that wouldn’t spoil the first two books if you have not read them so I would recommend doing so before reading this review. You can also read my review of the first book as it is spoiler-free.

Our heroes continue their journey to postpone Ragnarok and defeat Loki. Magnus is joined by Samirah the Valkyrie, Hearthstone the Elf, Blitzen the Dwarf and his fellow Einherjar Alex, Mallory, TJ and Halfborn. They must battle giants, outwit guardians, and save the world from utter destruction. Just your average Tuesday.

I really enjoyed how diversity was represented in this series as we have main characters with different sexualities or orientations, religions, ethnicities, and disabilities. Since I am not most of the ones that were represented in the book, I can't speak to how accurate the portrayal was but I am glad that they were included. As a casual reader, the representation felt informative and not condescending or demeaning.

Rick continues his world building by sending our heroes off on adventures in the nine realms while simultaneously teaching us a bit about Norse mythology. His books are a very approachable way to tackle the topic and perhaps foster a sense of curiosity that will lead readers to want to discover more. There isn't much else to say without spoilers, so I would recommend this series to middle grade, young adult or teen readers who enjoy fantasy. It is a fun, easy read that I hope you won't regret picking up.