Kristina Young

In Search of Beira's Hammer by Kristina Young is a folklore novella full of delightful characters and enchantment. As you follow Scarlett on her walk through the highlands to find the hammer that will let her change the landscape of her new home to include mountains you quickly meet Amhlaidh, the scruffy tuff on the outside troll. He agrees to help her for a price and along the way you meet some of his other magical friends. This book is delightfully cozy and a wonderful step into Scottish mythology. If youre unfamiliar with the Scottish language you may stumble on some of the wording but i feel like the addition added nicely throughout. The short story envokes a sense of being a folk lore itself, highly recommend for those who enjoy mythology and folklore.… (más)

There's a lot of good in this story, some cracking ideas (I liked the emo cows), but I found the narrative flow rather challenging. There's no setting up of the story, so you're thrown in at what feels like chapter two. The scenes move quickly at first, but then slowed. I lost interest at this point I'm afraid. So it needs a polish certainly, but its by no means a write-off. It's definitely witty, the character voice is ironic but gentle. I'm not certain who the intended audience is though, the authorial voice isn't clear to me. Still, very promising! Wonderful illustrations too!… (más)