I'm not quite sure what I was expecting when I started reading this story and although it wasn't really what I think I had anticipated I still "liked" it enough to finish reading it. It was just long enough for me to not get overly bored though.

I found the writing beautiful for the most part but I feel like I would have enjoyed the story more had it just been a regular type story without the fantasy woven in because I was enjoying tagging along with Gabby's life and all she had been through and the burdens it had placed on her and how she chose to adapt in lieu of letting life get her down. However that is pretty much all I can say kept me reading and interested because the other characters just fell flat for me....some of them even perhaps as if they had no real reason for being there?

Like a Lily Among the Thorns by Karen S Bell is a difficult book for me to categorize. Is it climate fiction? Yes. Is it romance? Yes. Is it a myths and legends story? Yes. Is it a fascinating read from a new-to-me author? Absolutely!

This story blends many genres and storylines into an entertaining tale told by a young woman with an agonizing past. Despite all the trauma Gabby has survived, she pushes herself to see the bright side of life. Things could always be worse is her motto.

When fortune smiles on her, she takes her merry band of “found-family” along for the ride. Inheriting a magical B&B in Vermont is the answer to her prayers after losing her apartment lease, as well as her boyfriend.

Life gets mystical in Vermont. The weather is changing radically due to human interference so the mythical Goddesses intervene by gathering Gabby & friends to teach us all that little changes add up to bigger results. They are to create a refuge from the impending disasters due to pollution and human indifference and it may be needed sooner than expected. Gabby soon realizes she needs more than a cheery outlook to prevail when things truly do get worse.

My biggest takeaway from this story is complacency. Even the most informed and intelligent souls become complacent in expecting our lives to go on unchanged. Climate-fiction books like this one serve to remind us all that we must be better caretakers of our planet.

This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.

LIKE A LILY AMONG THE THORNS is a standalone book (at the moment) with an open ending that mixes fantasy with fact, giving information about climate change with 'normal' events.

This story is told mainly from two perspectives - Gabrielle and a narrator. You also get odd chapters either told from other perspectives, or by the narrator giving you further information on one of the other characters.

In a Cinderella-esque way, Gabrielle's life turns around, due to her faith in the cosmos. She practices mindfulness and is determined not to let life get her down. This is partly due to her childhood. Unfortunately, at times, this made her seem un-grounded and living in a fantasy land, refusing to face reality. After some adventures, she ends up at her B&B in Vermont, with a host of characters to support her. In fact, apart from being the owner, I'm not entirely sure what her role was.

This is a wordy book, with some unfortunate info-dumps throughout. There are also hints and questions asked of the reader that goes nowhere. The pacing is okay but it could definitely be tightened up in places. And there is no need to head-hop into the mind of a minor character who is only there for a page or two. Although the blurb states they are a 'group of saviors', just how they are supposed to do this apart from changing the B&B is unclear, especially given that they are all ignoring the problem towards the end.

On the whole, this was an enjoyable book about a crisis I firmly believe in. I guess my hopes were higher than were realistic. This is my first read by this author. If you have read her work before and liked it, I think you will like this story. As for me, I found it tricky to get along with.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!

I'm getting into the metaphysical stories lately. After a slow start, I thought this worked well overall. It's a little uneven, but a good story, and a message that I hope lots of people embrace.

Thanks very much for the free review copy for review!!

This book was great, the characters were well developed. The plot was interesting. Highly recommend it.

Thank you Karen S. Bell, BooksGoSocial and Netgalley for this free ARC in exchange for a review.

One of the first things that happens is an info-dump. Also, we get some writing like this, which just comes off as clumsy and pretentious for a novel which has an otherwise casual writing style:

"As she embraced this most welcome sunshine while absorbing the positive sub-atomic particles colliding with her skin..."

I get why Gabby is pretentious by pretending to be like the Countess; a reaction to her difficult, painful relationship with her mother. Yet, the book doesn't have to be written that way.

Then we get a second info-dump.

[he casual mention by this immoral Countess of her sleeping with two husbands who live in her building, and Gabbys non-response to that (as our supposed protagonist) is not making this book any better.

As I was bored and couldn't relate to the characters, I skimmed a bit more, but was unable to finish this book.

Maybe I should quit getting ARC novels to review unless I already know the author or it already has good reviews. I feel kind of bad giving so many one-star reviews, but I have to be honest. Regardless of those reviews, any author can improve their craft.