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Vesna, Slavic Goddess of Youth and Spring
‘Just look at those fools,’ Marzanna sighed, squinting her dark eyes at the cheering group of villagers gathered around a burbling brook. ‘I thought you’d get used to it by now. They burn you and drown you every spring,’ replied Vesna. ‘And proclaim their undying love for you,’ added Marzanna. ‘They believe that they…
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The Artist by Lucy Steeds Review: A Quiet Story of Art, War, and Freedom Set in Provence
In this review of The Artist by Lucy Steeds, I explore the novel’s setting in 1920 Provence, its central characters Edouard Tartuffe, Ettie, and Joseph Adelaide, and the lingering impact of World War I on their lives. This atmospheric historical fiction novel examines art, ambition, control, and creative freedom within a remote farmhouse shaped by…
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When Winter Walks the Earth: Slavic Myths of Winter
In Slavic lands, winter was never just a season. It was a presence. It arrived quietly, without ceremony, settling into forests and villages like a held breath. Snow did not merely fall. It sealed. Rivers did not simply freeze. They slept. Slavic gods do not conform to any kind of duality; they are not divided…
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Writing for Mental Health: Finding Creative Expression in Everyday Feelings
I began writing before I understood why I needed it. My first journal arrived when I was six, and I used it to record the world as I saw it: small observations, fleeting wonders, fragments of days. At first, I was simply documenting. Then I began to marvel. And somewhere along the way, writing became…
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The 3 Best Pet Water Fountains for Cat Owners
When my cat Jerry developed bladder stones a few years ago, our vet stressed how important it was to make sure he stayed well hydrated. A regular bowl of water just wasn’t enough—he ignored it most of the time. That’s when I first looked into pet water fountains, and I’ve never gone back. Running water…
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10 Cosy Christmas Reads to Keep You Warm Until the New Year
The air is crisp, the candles are lit, and I think it’s safe to say that my favourite reading mug has achieved a permanent position in my hand. It is, undeniably, peak reading season. There is a quiet, unique magic to a good winter read. The right book provides the perfect transportive moment—perhaps to a…
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Death
They told me you were gone, and I just froze, Like the icy rain that fell that day and turned into cold sludge Out in the streets, where the cars still ran and people trudged On and on, in their own little ruts, towards some insignificant goal The rain turned to sticky, sickly snow that…
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Slavic Myths of Autumn: Mokosh, Morana, and the Spirits of the Dying Year
Discover the myths of autumn in Slavic mythology—Mokosh, Morana, rusalki, and the domovoi. Stories of harvest, endings, and the spirits of the dying year.
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Book Review: Vianne by Joanne Harris – A Lyrical Prequel to Chocolat
Discover Vianne by Joanne Harris, a rich and introspective prequel to Chocolat that explores identity, motherhood, and the quiet beginnings of magic.
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Book Review: Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz
Susan Ryeland’s back, and this time the murder mystery hits even closer to home. After a stint in sunny Crete trying to play house, Susan Ryeland returns to rainy Crouch End with her classic MG, a rescue cat, and another manuscript that may or may not conceal a real murder. In Marble Hall Murders, Anthony Horowitz…
Myths & Stories 