Drinking Tea and Doing Battle With the Gods




The first time I met author Eva Vanrell was in New Orleans at Wizard World. She arrived in style, dressed in a kimono, ready to sign her books. Some time later, we connected and became close friends and sisters. Her first book, The Butterfly Crest, is one that will stay with you for a very long time. Partially because of the characters, partially because of the plot, but mostly for the detailed descriptions of everything in this book's "universe". She makes you feel as though you are truly within her book and not just a passing spectator. The story is thus: attorney Elena Vicens in New Orleans lives a somewhat interesting and quiet life, until everything changes when she receives a message regarding a safety deposit box that belonged to her deceased mother. Elena, not expecting anything in particular, travels to Japan with her friend and "family" member Cataline to learn more about this item. Japan is a second home to Elena, and so she settles into the Japanese way of life once more like someone putting on a favourite pair of socks. Thanks to her mother, Elena is gifted a beautiful necklace . . . and the heavy responsibility that goes with it. Soon, Elena goes from simple attorney to the possible saviour of a world in the middle of a war of the gods. Literally.

The Butterfly Crest is the first book in the Protogenoi Series (Eva is currently working on the second book!) and reading it was like stepping through the Veil to see that yes, the Otherworld is very real. Deities live among us and do battle against themselves - the sky deities vs. the earthbound and underground deities. After Elena survives an attack by Helios disguised as a mild manner, ponytail sporting, good looking guy named Alexander, she comes to rely upon the one man and deity she didn't think was possible - Death himself, also known as Eiry. There's more to the story, but I'll leave it up to you folks to read the book and find out what happens next!

I will warn you - be prepared to take notes. The Butterfly Crest has a roster of deities that you will want to write down to keep straight. This book takes the reader through the realms of the Japanese Shinto spirits and other deities,  the pantheon of Greek gods, the Underworlds and all things Death, and the realm of Faerie. Eva gives the reader detailed descriptions of the characters, right down to the colour of their hair, as well as the myriad of locations that Elena visits. You also learn about Elena's father and I have to say that that bit of knowledge was pretty cool.

So, why this book review in a tea blog?! Well.... Eva is a devout tea drinker and Japanophile, plus Elena enjoys her cups of green and other kinds of tea throughout the book. And, my tea company created the Aisa Tea Blend, as inspired by one of the characters. Although tea and books go really well together, this book seems to be made for several cups of green tea!

You can find copies of The Butterfly Crest at Tubby and Coo's Mid-City Bookshop in New Orleans, through the author online or at events that she attends, or through me (you can send an email to teagoddess74@gmail.com for details) I will also have the Aisa Tea Blend back in stock very soon, so be on the lookout for it on the Viridian Tea Company Etsy site! I have to say that the character Aisa truly deserved a tea blend. Eva and I are also in talks to do a full Protogenoi Tea Series, so stay tuned!

Much thanks to Eva for this book and I look forward to book two!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Crows

Image
  (tea leaves photo by me) The old crow flew down from the skies and perched next to me. Of all the times when I flew, he said in a gravelly voice, I wished to be on the ground. He cocked his head at me and waited for my reply. Instead, I set a small tin cup before him and filled it with my morning Tea. He cawed once, then lowered his beak into the warm liquid. Conversations are always important, I replied while he drank. That's why we are lost without them. The crow continued to drink the Tea. Just then, a woman with red hair and dressed in all black, walked up to us and sat down on the other side of me. I've forgotten how to think, she said in a singsong voice. The crow raised his head and cawed - then how are you talking now? His black beady eyes focused on her crooked smile. She closed her eyes and transformed into another crow. I stared off at the clouds and wondered if our thoughts betray us, or if we are the result of them. I then poured Tea into another cup and gave it
Read more

Choices - Flash Fiction

Image
  A young woman walked into the room, glanced around at the plethora of books for sale, and then noticed the older man assisting a customer as he stood behind the checkout table. He must be a volunteer, she thought as she began to slowly peruse the titles ready to be purchased and carted off to their new home. She flipped through a box of Fiction titles, only to wander to another box filled with graphic novels. She pulled out several books in a non-committal manner, then walked up to the man and set the books before him. Oliver offered her a smile that spoke - Welcome to the library book sale. So glad to see you here! Can you help me, she asked him, as his smile faltered just a little. I'm not sure which book to purchase, so could you read through them and let me know which ones sound interesting? The man resumed his regular smile as he replied - sure, glad to do it. The two other volunteers watched with careful eyes as he gently flipped through each book and read their dust jacket
Read more

Tea Is A Good Friend of Mine - Celia Carmen Aceae

Image
Here's another great interview - meet Celia Carmen Aceae! What’s your name and what part of the world do you live in? Hi! My name is Celia Carmen Aceae and I live in Montreal, QC, Canada How long have you been drinking tea? What’s the story, morning glory? I’ve been drinking tea since I can remember. In my house, we never drank water and there was no rule against children consuming caffeine at all! I’ve only recently realized that the reason my sister and I were always labeled as crazy, wild and hyper at school, was probably because my mom sent us to class every day with a giant jug of tea. We were constantly caffeinated! Tea also means more than just Camellia sinensis for me. I’ve been reading about medicinal herbs since I was eight. My mother forbade all forms of medication in our household, so I learned at a young age how to cure small ailments with plants and tisanes. My sister was very prone to headaches and anytime she started to get one, I would hop on my
Read more