“The mysticism here is palpable…”

• Book:  Her Majesty’s Quill (ARC)
• Series:  The Sorceress’ Child, Book 1
• by:  Mira Kanehl
• Rating:  4.5/5

Her Majesty’s Quill is an enchanting start to a new series of novellas, reading historical, but with an undercurrent that is other-worldly.  The reader simply knows without being told that something is afoot.

The story opens on a ship in the South Pacific, and soon lands in Hawaii.  Those with a love for the islands will certainly fall headlong into this book.  I for one, can’t wait to see more of Ms. Kanehl’s vivid and immersive description of this area in the 1800’s.

Town welcomed him with a hug of stench–old fish and sweet fruit.

Our main character, Delmar Lécuyer is a French surgeon.  As I said in my preview, it was fun to exercise my stale skills in the language.  He’s not the large, dark, and strapping man who makes every woman’s heart go pitter-patter when first met.  He is a real and relatable character in a tough situation.  He pretends at being religious to keep the patronage of the priest, Bachelot.  He might even be fooling himself.

When “Her Majesty” signs a decree that dictates the ship’s fate on her island, Delmar reveals his stakes:

Returning to France was not a choice, it would mean my certain death…

As we get to know Dalmar in these pages, we learn that he has a background unique in a historical world and that he is a modest person.  What he learns along the way, and what I thoroughly enjoyed seeing him discover, was that he had the same desires so common to all.  I’ll give away no more as it would spoil your personal experience with this character.

As the story carries on, we learn what drives the captain–La Plassard, her majesty, and the woman Delmar meets on the Island.  We see some of the island’s legends unfold, and we are compelled to keep reading by the budding love story.

[Mayme] took his hand with a warmth that spread from her fingers into his and to his heart.

We see an exploration of medicine in 1827, cringe-worthy for sure!  We see a clash of religions and native cultures–Protestant, Catholic, and the old ways of the islands.  Delmar goes to be “cured” of seeing the Menehune (the little people).

History, myth, love, legend, adventure… This little novella has it all!  And at the end, we feel what Dalmar comes to realize:

You either love or you don’t.

This is a review of a work planned to be published on June 22, 2018.  You can preorder a copy on Amazon.com.

Update: This is available right now for FREE on Amazon:  Order here: