Blog Archives
The Hedgewitch’s Charm
The Hedgewitch’s Charm is a fantasy novel that follows a spreading, deadly illness sweeping through Colonodona and the people who are desperate to stop it. We meet Gwendolyn, a young hedgewitch trying and failing to save those brought to her door, and Ipsinki, a duke haunted by the suffering of his people as he races to bring news of the mysterious plague to the king. Their paths eventually converge as both realize this sickness may not be natural at all, but something crafted with intent. The story blends magic, politics, and personal grief into a quest to uncover the living force behind the dying.
I kept pausing at moments where the writing leans into the rawness of helplessness, especially in scenes where Ipsinki stays at a dying friend’s bedside or when Gwendolyn works in suffocating heat, hoping for a miracle that never comes. The author’s choice to place us so close to the emotional burden of failure brings a kind of intimacy to the narrative. It hits harder than expected for a fantasy novel, which usually leans more on adventure than emotional weight. Here, the emotion is the adventure, and I found myself sinking into that more than the worldbuilding at times.
The ideas in the book feel grounded in very human fears: disease you can’t stop, the panic of not knowing the cause, and the sudden realization that the danger might not be random at all. When Gwendolyn senses the illness’s true nature, the tension spikes. It’s the moment where the genre shifts from comforting folk-magic fantasy into something more ominous, and the book seems to say: this world is lovely, yes, but it’s not safe. Still, the writing keeps a warmth to it. There’s grief, but also friendship; fear, but also stubborn hope. The rhythm of the storytelling reflects that. Some sentences snap quick like sparks. Others roll out slowly, the way a person talks when they’re trying to make sense of something that still hurts.
I think the book sits in that space between cozy fantasy and dark fantasy. It’s magic, mystery, and emotional stakes all woven together. I’d recommend The Hedgewitch’s Charm to readers who enjoy character-driven fantasy, especially those who like stories where magic comes with consequences and the heroes are driven less by glory and more by compassion. If you like fantasy that feels personal rather than epic, you’ll enjoy this one.
Pages: 221 | ASIN: B0G67H73RH
A Man Driven By Greed
The Kingdom Thief follows Princess Sitnalta as she races to undo a thief’s reality-warping wish, becoming the lone keeper of the truth in a world that no longer remembers who she really is. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The Sitnalta Series finds itself focusing a lot on this coin- its origin, its powers, and the power of wishes. Through the first book, with Sitnalta’s relationship with the troll, Najort, we look into the consequences of wishes done with the right motivation, and by good people. For the sequel, I wanted to look at the reverse. Wilhelm is not Najort. He is not Sitnalta. He is a man driven by greed, and what would that look like, if he were to acquire the coin and make a wish.
Sitnalta and Navor’s relationship holds so much emotional weight. How did you approach balancing romance with the fast-paced plot?
For someone their age, the idea of a budding romance can be what drives a person. In a way, it is the plot. Navor wants to help Sitnalta, and Sitnalta wants her home back. This should be in balance with what is happening outside of their little bubble. For them at least, their feelings are just as important as magic, and politics, and stopping the mad man who has stolen a kingdom. When you look at the world through the lens of two young people and their feelings, one thing is never more important than the other. As a parent of teenagers, I’m surrounded by that on a daily basis, and that was my approach.
If you could expand one section of the story, give readers more time in any particular place or emotional moment, what would it be and why?
I would love to spend a lot more time in Navor’s head. He has a lot on his plate right now. Writing his dreams, his fears, and his hope for the future was a lot of fun, and I would love to have done a lot more of that.
What can readers expect in book three of the Sitnalta Series?
Oh, without giving too much away, I can say that we have tragedy, a very different type of romance, and so many questions about the past get answered. In a way, this is almost a prequel, but still very much Book Three. Sitnalta would not have been ready for these answers before now. I hope that wasn’t too cryptic.
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Facebook | Website
Princess Sitnalta has been living happily ever after with Queen Aud and King Gerald as her adoptive parents, enjoying the peace in her world. Her growing friendship with the mysterious Prince Navor leads her on a journey to visit his island kingdom. While there she receives the horrible news that her kingdom has been conquered and cruel King Wilhelm is responsible.
With King Gerald and Queen Aud imprisoned, Prince Navor and a secretive network of spies as her only allies, Princess Sitnalta feels lost and adrift. Nothing about Colonodona’s takeover seems right, and Sitnalta suspects magic may be to blame.
Far from home and unsure of whom to trust, Sitnalta must find a way to save her kingdom, and return her beloved Aud and Gerald to their rightful thrones.
Who Doesn’t Dream of Escape?
Sitnalta follows a young princess trapped in a kingdom ruled by cruelty and fear, who becomes restless, yearning for freedom, and escapes her captivity to embark on a journey of self-discovery. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Originally, Sitnalta began as a short story written for a school project. So, for all budding writers out there: don’t throw away old stories, and inspiration can strike in the most unlikely of places.
In grade seven, my English teacher put up a tic-tac-toe board on the chalkboard and said to make a line. In the line I chose were the words “coin, princess, escape”. From there, the story I was supposed to write should have been two pages. I handed in twelve. This short story just wouldn’t leave me alone. When I got into university, I pulled it out and reread it. Aside from the fact that I found the writing and some of the characterization a little juvenile (I was thirteen!), I felt that there was something there. I worked at it and eventually had a novel, and plans for five more.
Sitnalta was born at a time when most young people can feel trapped. I myself had issues with a bully at school, I didn’t know where I belonged. My friends and I were all figuring out who we were, who we wanted to be, and the character of Sitnalta was very much an extrapolation of that. Who doesn’t dream of escape?
In many contemporary coming-of-age fiction novels, authors often add their own life experiences to the story. Are there any bits of you in this story?
I am very much all over the story. The character of Aud is in many ways inspired by my grandmother who lived with me while I was growing up. Everyone used to say that she was a second mother to me. Aud’s nature, and her relationship with Sitnalta is very her. Sitnalta herself is an amalgamation of my childhood best friend, and characters from books I loved as a child. I used to say that she is my friend Marilyn superimposed on Anne Shirley. Sitnalta’s relationship with Najort, their time together, and how they speak with one another is something that came from every person’s desire to be seen, to be loved for who they are, and the need to be heard.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I wanted to convey the importance of choice. Sitnalta feels that she has hers taken from her continuously. She looks at the world from a place heavy with loss, however, when her back is to the wall, she finds that there is always a choice to be made. It may not always be the best one possible, but it always exists. Everyone has the ability to take their lives into their own hands and run with it. I found that to be an important theme, how even the smallest person can make a choice and better their world.
Can you tell us more about what’s in store for Sitnalta and the direction of the second book?
Well, I don’t want to give too much away, but that pesky coin still exists, and we see so much more of the world Sitnalta lives in, even beyond the shores of Colonodona. The next book is called The Kingdom Thief, and you can read into that title whatever you want to. It’s an adventure book, and may or may not have some hints at a burgeoning romance.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads | Website
But Sitnalta has other ideas. Before her father can come for her, she sneaks out of her bedroom window, scales the castle walls, and enters the magical forest that surrounds her kingdom. There she meets Najort, a kind-hearted troll, who was tasked by a wizard decades earlier to protect a valuable secret—with his life, if necessary.
But King Supmylo has vowed that nothing will stop him from returning his daughter to Colonodona, and forcing her to go through with the royal wedding. With the help of friends from both kingdoms, Sitnalta and Najort flee ahead of the rabid king. For if they are captured, Supmylo will become so invincible, no one could stand against him
The Song of Hadariah
The Song of Hadariah follows Carrie Eisen, a seventeen-year-old caught between the ordinary pressures of finishing high school and the extraordinary call of magic. When she encounters a talking fox named Adom, her world is turned upside down. Alongside her two best friends, she’s drawn into Hadariah, a realm where music and spirit are one, and darkness has silenced its heart. Together, the girls set out to retrieve enchanted violin strings stolen by the demon king Asmodeus, hoping to restore harmony to a dying world. What starts as a whimsical fantasy quickly becomes a story about friendship, belief, and courage.
Reading this book felt like stepping back into the kind of story I would’ve loved as a teenager. The writing is vivid and heartfelt, full of warmth and charm. Goldenberg’s voice has this nostalgic rhythm to it. It moves like a bedtime story told by someone who truly believes in the power of magic. Sometimes the pacing slows a little, especially in the early chapters, but once the girls enter Hadariah, the world blossoms with texture and wonder. I liked how the author blended Jewish folklore with classic fantasy elements; it made the story feel both familiar and fresh. The dialogue among the girls felt genuine too, full of the easy banter and affection that comes from years of friendship. Their bond grounded the magic, made it feel real.
There were moments when I wanted to see a little more from the story’s darker side. Asmodeus, for instance, comes across as more symbolic than menacing, and the conflict feels gentler than I expected. But the real struggle isn’t only against a demon, it’s about growing up and finding the courage to believe when the world makes it hard to do so. I loved how Carrie wrestled with doubt and faith, logic and wonder. It reminded me that magic isn’t always about spells or creatures, it’s about trust, bravery, and the invisible threads between people. And that hit home for me.
The Song of Hadariah is a lovely, thoughtful fantasy that captures the ache of adolescence and the pull of imagination. It’s ideal for readers who miss the sincerity of early young adult fantasy, those who grew up on Narnia, Inkheart, or His Dark Materials, and still look at the world hoping to find a hidden doorway somewhere.
Pages: 212 | ASIN : B0FR2MLTMR
Sitnalta
Sitnalta tells the story of a young princess trapped in a kingdom ruled by cruelty and fear. From her birth, Sitnalta’s life is shadowed by her father’s tyranny and the tragic death of her mother. As she grows up, she becomes restless, yearning for freedom beyond the walls of her father’s cold castle. The novel follows her journey from captivity to self-discovery, blending elements of fairy tale, adventure, and moral reflection. The book opens with heartbreak and ends with a quiet defiance that feels earned. It’s a story about courage, kindness, and the stubbornness it takes to be yourself when the world insists otherwise.
Reading Sitnalta pulled me in more deeply than I expected. The writing is vivid and easy to fall into. The author paints scenes with the kind of care that makes the air in the story feel real. The story moves between light and dark with an unhurried rhythm. I found myself frustrated at times, mostly because I cared so much. Sitnalta’s innocence, her stubborn streak, her quiet bravery, they resonated with me. Some of the dialogue feels old-fashioned, but that suits the fairy-tale tone. What surprised me most was how layered the “villain” felt. King Supmylo is monstrous, yes, but there’s something broken beneath his cruelty. That complexity made the story more relatable than I expected.
There’s sadness in nearly every chapter, but it’s the kind that lingers gently instead of crushing you. Sitnalta’s world feels unfair, and yet she carries herself with grace and wit. Her friendship with Najort, the kind-hearted troll, was my favorite part. It’s strange and tender, filled with quiet understanding. The writing in those scenes feels softer, almost glowing. I caught myself smiling at moments that shouldn’t have been happy but somehow were. The author doesn’t overcomplicate things. The prose feels clean and honest. You can sense that it was written with love, not just for the story but for what stories can do, for how they let us hope.
I’d recommend Sitnalta to anyone who loves stories about courage, compassion, and freedom. It’s not just a tale for young readers; it’s for anyone who’s ever felt trapped by the life they were born into. It’s a book that made me think about kindness in a world that often rewards cruelty, and about how sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is walk away and begin again.
Pages: 204 | ASIN : B0FWFBQMG3
Turn At the Sheep Farm
The Ghost in the Garden follows a girl from the city of Calgary who moves with her family to a country home, where she encounters a mysterious girl lurking in the family’s garden. What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?
I loved writing for Fitz. His sense of friendship and loyalty, as well as being someone who both loved and was frustrated with living in a smaller city, felt a lot like myself when I was younger. In order to direct my friends to my house growing up, my directions always ended with “just turn right at the sheep farm.” Take this, and throw in a dash of my own boys’ senses of humour, and you have Fitz in a nutshell.
In contrast, Tabitha, being so far removed from what kids are like these days, she presented more of a challenge. Tabitha is more of an ethereal presence in the story, but she still needed to feel grounded in reality; someone Sophie could actually talk to and see as a possible friend. It was a bit of a fine line to walk as a writer.
How did the mystery develop for this story? Did you plan it before writing or did it develop organically?
For this story, I wrote it around a time when my own kids were dealing with a lot of change in their lives. Not only were the three of them all back in in person school, but we had moved twice in short succession, and they were starting a new school, with a whole new peer group. I wanted to look at these challenges, but, on top of that, my daughter asked if I could write her a good ghost story. So, I asked myself, what would it look like if a kid moved to a new town, and into a haunted house? The rest of the story grew organically from there.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out and what can your fans expect in the next story?
Sorry to tell you that, as of right now, Sophie’s story ends with this book. If you want to know how she fared once school starts in the fall, or where she and Fitz go next, maybe, if people ask nicely enough, I can tell you. But I do not have plans for a sequel.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Website
The Ghost in the Garden
Alisse Lee Goldenberg’s recent novel, The Ghost in the Garden, is a compelling middle-grade narrative set against the contemporary backdrop of Canada. The story follows young Sophie Madison, who relocates with her family from the bustling city of Calgary to the quaint town of Stratford, Ontario. In this new setting, Sophie grapples with the challenges of adapting to a century-old house previously inhabited by another girl her age. The plot thickens as Sophie, with the help of her new friend Fitz Thompson, becomes intrigued by the mysterious girl, Tabitha, in her garden and unsettling nightmares related to her closet, leading them to question if her room might be haunted.
The book adeptly weaves themes of friendship, the significance of reunions, and the allure of ghostly mysteries. A particularly commendable aspect of the narrative is its portrayal of adult figures who are receptive and supportive when Sophie shares her concerns about the mysterious activities, underlining the vital message that adults are allies for young people navigating perplexing situations. The dynamics of Sophie’s relationships with her parents, Tabitha and Fitz, are portrayed naturally with a sense of realism and progress, enhancing the story’s authenticity. While the text messaging exchanges in the dialogue have a classic flair that may differ from current trends, this style adds a unique charm to the narrative, providing an interesting contrast to the communication styles prevalent among today’s younger generations.
Alisse Lee Goldenberg’s The Ghost in the Garden is a captivating and spine-tingling book that is perfect for middle-grade readers who love to get lost in a ghostly adventure. The author’s masterful storytelling and vividly drawn characters make the book a delightful and immersive read, while its eerie atmosphere and haunting plot twists will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of ghost stories or just looking for a thrilling new read, The Ghost in the Garden is not to be missed.
Pages: 196 | ASIN : B0CKY8GPPW
LITERARY TITAN 