Mythic Fantasy – The Reading Bud

Review

Few books dare to give the Devil his own voice, and fewer still manage to do it with the lyrical weight and mythic imagination that Veronica Preston brings to Book of the Devil: Genesis.

Author Preston roots her tale in an expansive cosmology. The Devil here is not a caricature of evil, but a Jinn, born of smokeless fire, whose origins precede mankind itself. Through his eyes, we witness the birth of Nahar, a planet of singing trees, plasma-blooded beings, and a civilization bound by free will and consequence. The refusal to bow to Adam is rendered not as arrogance, but as clarity. In this reframing, the author invites readers to question centuries of dogma: what if the Devil is not our corrupter, but our tester, our liberator, the one who insists humanity use its mind rather than bask in blind innocence?

Thematically, the novel is a meditation on choice, identity, and the necessity of shadow. It threads together Quranic references, Biblical echoes, and speculative cosmology, creating a narrative that is both reverent and rebellious. The chapters read like a blend of scripture and epic fantasy, making the book feel at once timeless and startlingly modern.

As an editor, I must note that author Preston’s greatest strength, her lush, almost operatic prose, can also be the book’s stumbling block. Sentences often run long, heavy with imagery and metaphor. While this lends grandeur, it occasionally slows the pacing and risks overwhelming readers who crave more narrative momentum. There are places, especially in the middle chapters, where the philosophical musings could have been pared back in favor of tighter dramatic action.

That said, Book of the Devil: Genesis succeeds in something rare: it makes the reader pause and reconsider a story they thought they knew. It is provocative without being blasphemous, imaginative without losing its theological moorings. It dares to ask what if the Devil’s fall was not rebellion, but part of the Architect’s design?

Book Details:

Author: Lisa A. Moore
Release Date: January 21, 2025
Series: The Enchanted Heritage Trilogy Book 1
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Mythic Fantasy, Magic-Realism, Paranormal, Mystery
Format: E-book
Pages: 306 pages
Publisher: Unraveled Realms Press
Blurb:
Some secrets refuse to stay buried-especially when the ocean itself seems to be keeping them.
When Morwenna Willowheart Brightwood receives a mysterious letter shimmering with an otherworldly pull, her carefully controlled life begins to unravel. She’s content in her weathered lighthouse home on the Maine coast, weaving stories for others and tending her wind-battered garden. But this letter isn’t just a piece of paper-it’s a summons. One that carries her across the sea to the mist-shrouded Scottish Highlands, where ancient legends breathe, magic hums just beneath the surface, and family secrets refuse to stay silent.

Thrown into a world she barely understands, Morwenna is forced to confront the legacy she’s unknowingly inherited-a tangled web of selkie folklore, forgotten power, and a curse that stretches back generations. With her fiercely protective sister Ava by her side and the guidance of mysterious allies with motives as murky as the sea itself, Morwenna must navigate a path filled with danger, deception, and choices she’s not ready to make.
But legends don’t care about readiness. They don’t care about fear. And the tide waits for no one.
Whispers of the Selkie is a story where urban fantasy collides with mystical realism, set against the haunting beauty of the Scottish coastline. Rich with contemporary fantasy flair, it’s a tale of family loyalty, reluctant destiny, and the pull of magic that refuses to let go.
Perfect for fans of Karen Moning, Deborah Harkness, and readers who crave sharp-witted heroines, atmospheric worlds, and secrets wrapped in salt and shadow.

Review

Whispers of the Selkie by Lisa A. Moore is a beautifully atmospheric tale that blends Scottish folklore, family secrets, and reluctant destiny into an enchanting and immersive read. From the misty coastlines of Maine to the hauntingly beautiful Scottish Highlands, the novel integrates magic and mystery in a poetic way.

Morwenna Brightwood is the kind of protagonist I love—strong yet hesitant, grounded yet drawn to something bigger than herself. When she receives a mysterious letter that pulls her across the sea, her journey into a world of selkie legends and ancestral power begins. What I appreciated most was how real Morwenna felt—she’s not immediately fearless or eager to embrace her heritage. She questions, resists, and struggles with the idea of expectation, which makes her journey all the more compelling. Her dynamic with her sister Ava is another highlight—there’s warmth, loyalty, and just the right amount of tension that makes their bond feel genuine.

Moore’s writing is lush and lyrical, painting the setting with vivid imagery that makes you feel the salt on your skin and hear the whispers of the waves. The Scottish Highlands come alive with an almost sentient presence, making the world feel as much a character as Morwenna herself. The mythology is woven in seamlessly, giving the story a sense of depth and history. If there’s one small critique, it’s that some parts of the pacing felt a little uneven—certain revelations and moments of action could have been spread out more for maximum impact.

Overall, Whispers of the Selkie is a beautifully written and immersive story perfect for readers who love fantasy grounded in mythology, family ties, and the lure of the unknown. It’s a book that stays with you long after the final page is turned. If you love atmospheric, folklore-driven stories with complex heroines, this one is definitely worth picking up.