Talia: On the Shore of the Sea

Servants of the Moon and Sun, Book 2

By: Joel Flanagan-Grannemann

Narrated by: Jay-Jay Flanagan-Grannemann

Length: 14 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

A wicked twist on Sleeping Beauty continues! Book two of the reimagining of the classic fairy tale with a twist: what if Maleficent were Aurora's mother, and what if she wasn't really evil?

In book one of Servants of the Moon and Sun, Talia—the young, Iridescent-winged heir to the fairy realm—and the heir to the human realm—Prince Bastile—embarked on a secret love affair that has had wide-ranging consequences for both their worlds. Certain elements within each society have long hated the other side, and the realms have a long history of warring with one another. Talia, her maid, her 8 Ladies, and her Heir’s Guard (9 female fairy soldiers) found themselves alone on an adventure through the lands of the fairy realm.

In this volume, book two of Servants of the Moon and Sun, Talia and her companions, evading agents of her evil aunts (the Three Sisters, who seek to take the throne from Talia’s mother, Queen Zellandine), find their way to the sea of the First Fairies, where Talia gives birth to a daughter. Talia’s former love Bastile, now King of the Human Realm, is working in concert with the Three Sisters. Talia, seeking vengeance for an attack upon her company, takes actions which lead to a civil war within the fairy realm, with dire consequences for both her and all the other loyal Fairies.

©2020 Joel C. Flanagan-Grannemann (P)2022 Joel C. Flanagan-Grannemann

Fantasy with Soaring Heights and Crushing Blows

I knew this entry in the story of Talia was going to have some dark moments but … wow. I don’t think a Grimdark novel could throw in scenes much heavier than this. Only this story isn’t afraid of contrasting the deepest pits of despair with moments of joy and elation, like the birth of Sunshine. In that way, it’s brave as it gives you a lot to process emotionally. The cover is bright and pretty but be warned: this book is no seaside holiday.

This is an epic fantasy series that grew out of the question: what if Maleficent was Aurora's mother? Talia (the Maleficent figure) is heir to the faerie realm. She has been banished from her home (temporarily) and is pregnant with the daughter of the treacherous human king. She is joined by her ladies and soldiers as she prepares to give birth. The matriarchal faery culture continues to develop, and it feels as nuanced and complex as a real-world culture. The faeries continue to exhibit amazing power over their own bodies, from their hormones to reproductive abilities. Still, even with their magic, they are not immune to very human kinds of suffering.

The dialogue is as strong as before, but the author has also grown confident in using description here. I experienced the settings in a more colourful, tangible way this time around which is great because we visit some fascinating places. The plot unfolds in a very cinematic way. The author once again makes good use of the omniscient narrator’s POV. Cut scenes are exactly where they should be, enhancing dramatic irony. We see our heroes celebrating, followed by a disquieting moment of overhearing the villains’ scheming. Reading a few angles on key events as they unfold also adds emphasis where needed.

I’d put the rating for the narration at 3.5 stars. The narrator speaks clearly and her words are easy to follow. She does not bring a great deal of emotion to the chapter readings, but successfully differentiates one character from another by slight changes in tone. It is effective for this book because we have so many characters to keep track of, and we don’t sink deep into any particular character’s POV. But some of the really heart-wrenching scenes could have benefitted from a bit more “acting”.