Title: The Horned Women
Genre: Cozy Fantasy, OR women’s fiction with fantasy elements
Author: Christy Matheson
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/221584862-the-horned-women from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=eAXN06xuqp&rank=3
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Horned-Women-Contemporary-retelling-Kilkenny-
ebook/dp/B0DNBTDKM6/
Universal Book Link: https://buy.bookfunnel.com/hes7b6sypj
All that American folklorist, Maura, wanted from her contentious divorce was custody of her two
young children–and an Irish castle. She ended up with more than she bargained for, including
her ex’s teenaged kids, plumbing problems, and now…twelve horned women carding and
spinning in her living room.
The Horned Women demand tea, then cake…and then blood. Maura is determined to use her
knowledge of folklore to keep her otherworldly visitors away from her children, but is a
stepmother’s love enough to save the grumpy teens?
This family-centered uplifting fantasy will appeal to readers who enjoyed “The Very Secret
Society of Irregular Witches” or Robin McKinley’s lyrical “Rose Daughter.” It is based on the
Irish fairy tale of the same name, collected by Yeats.
This novella is perfect for one cozy reading session.
Reader say it has “the perfect balance of real-life travails” with “a thrilling adventure as Maura
fights to save her children” and give it 4.9 stars.
It felt like I was transported to Ireland and I was living in an ancient castle…
Christy’s lovely writing places readers firmly in a mother’s heart and head as she battles to keep
her children safe.
I have always loved fairy tales, and this updating and retelling of an Irish tale was beautifully
done.
As a lover of fables and original, dark fairy tales, I loved this short novella.
You are introduced to Maura, a woman struggling to raise her four children (two biological, two stepchildren who live with her full time) by herself after divorcing her husband. They live in a castle in Ireland, and everyone is still getting used to castle life. Maura is settling down to sew after a long night when horned women begin walking into her home, acting as if they’ve always been there. At first, Maura tries to be cordial and unconcerned, but then she realizes the women may have more sinister intentions.
I loved reading from Maura’s perspective as the book weaves important moments from her past into her present as she tries to find out the truth behind the horned women. As I read on, I found myself swept into this world of Irish mythology, like I was a kid again reading the giant Grimm’s fairy tales compilations at my local library. I also enjoyed learning more about Maura’s connection to each one of her children, biological and nonbiological, throughout the tale. It added more depth to the story and humanized the characters.
I only wish that the story had been even longer! I wanted to know more about this family and their lives.
I would recommend this novella to anyone looking to read a short, fable-inspired story.
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 books.
About The Author:
Christy Matheson writes award-winning fiction about friends, family, and finding one’s place in an ever-changing world.
She is the author of “The Castle in Kilkenny: Fairy Tales” novella series. Each one sets a traditional Irish fairy tale within a modern blended family, perfect for readers wanting a cozy family adventure.
Christy’s regular historical work (sans fantasy elements) can be found in the award-winning “Feisty Deeds: Historical Fictions of Daring Women,” of which she is also an editor. Her Regency novels are represented by Kristina Sutton-Lennon and have won pre-publication awards for women’s fiction.
Christy is also an embroidery artist, classically trained pianist, and sews all of her own clothes. She lives in Oregon, on a country property that fondly reminds her of a Regency estate (except with a swing set instead of faux Greek ruins), with her husband, five children, three Shelties, one bunny, and an improbable quantity of art supplies.
Links:
Website: https://christymatheson.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christy_matheson_author/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091887100897
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@christy.matheson.author
Newsletter: https://sendfox.com/ChristyMatheson
Substack: https://unspokenstoriesofwomanhood.substack.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/49771827.Christy_Matheson
StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/sonatasbooks
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/christy-matheson
