Takhayyal writing prompt no. 29

Welcome back Ladies and Gentlemen, Artists, Poets, Writers, Authors, Dreamers, Friends and Family; Welcome EVERYONE to Nadaness In Motion's bi-weekly picture-prompt writing challenge Takhayyal.

I found this picture a while back. I have no idea who made it or took it.

Author/photographer unknown. Picture found online. Not mine.

  

Arabic for Imagine, Takhayyal is a challenge for writers of all ages and genres; a place to spark creativity.

Your post can be in English or Arabic, prose, poetry, short story, flash fiction; you name it and write it.

General rules:

·        No nudity, violence, and/or abuse.

·        Leave the link to your post in comments below OR post your piece as REPLY to this post

·        Your piece MUST be inspired in some way or other by the above picture

·        Multiple entries allowed

·        It is not required but it is a nice and encouraging gesture to comment on others' pieces.

·        Feel free to add your Twitter handle (@....) so I can tag you in my tweets!

Let's IMAGINE!

The Witches of BlackBrook – Book Review

The Witches of BlackBrook by Tish Thawer

(Witches of BlackBrook #1)

Published by: Amber Leaf Publishing

Publication date: 23 June 2015

Genres: New Adult, Paranormal Romance

The Witches of BlackBrook by Tish Thawer is the first instalment in the Witches of BlackBrook series; however, it is does not have an open-ending. 

Quick-paced and easy to navigate, the story is about three witches: Karina, Kara and Kenna, who lived in the late 1600's, when magic was practiced freely. Mischief befalls the three, when a woman tricks the elder sister, claiming her baby is ill. After that, Karina is accused of killing the baby and being the devil's daughter. She is sentenced to burn at the stake, where she performs a spell to protect her and her sisters.

Karina's spell takes the sisters, and the rest of the witches, across time, to be reborn in different bodies every time.

The Witches of BlackBrook opens with a short but powerful prologue. We see a witch's sacrifice from the first page, which immediately gives an idea about the character, even though we are not sure who that character is from the beginning but later learn that it is Karina.

The novel shifts between the present, where Karina is Trin, and their episodes and events from their past life before and during Karina's trial. Trin is a massage therapist and lives with her roommate/sister Kit, believed to be Kenna. Throughout their previous lives, they have been in constant search of their third sister Kara, but to no avail.

The narration is in the third person throughout the novel, but we get the sense of things coming from certain perspectives. There are also short sections of an unknown character constantly trying to separate the three sisters and prevent their union. This character adds suspense and gives a strong eerie and creepy atmosphere.

In the present, Trin meets Caris, a teacher, who recently moved back to BlackBrook with her cousin. During her first massage session with Caris, Trin sees memories of her and her sisters and immediately believes that Caris might be the third lost sister. However, Kit believes otherwise and we get a strong sense of jealousy.

I enjoyed the use of spells, and the seamless shift between present and past. 

Trin may be the eldest sister, but she's not the wisest. And I really liked that. "Trin was always thrown off when another witch was around. She desperately wanted everyone they'd stumbled upon to be Kara, that she'd lost perspective over the years."

There is also the character of Jason, Caris' cousin, who is instantly attracted to Trin and reminds her of her long lost love, Jeramiah.

The overall setting and descriptions throughout the novel are vivid, but there were several images and lines that stood out for me:

"She should be excited and proud of Kit, and she was, but the urgency of finding out what magical barrier was being cast upon her entire destiny seemed like a trump card in her book."

There was also the use of tarot readings. "Trin acknowledged the Magician card as her past, no surprises there. But the present and future cards had her undivided attention.

The Seven of Swords indicated deceit and deception surrounding her present, while the reversed Tower forewarned her of major changes, where she could no longer count on those close to her."

Although in several instances the novel reminded me of the book and television series Charmed, Tish Thawer put in several twists, giving The Witches of BlackBrook its own character.

Overall: A quick-paced magical five-star must read.

Note: I received a free copy of The Witches of BlackBrook via Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

Preparation - Takhayyal flash fiction

 

Photo taken by Stephanie Nehme

I breathe the salty air, the serenity, the scenery.

The hills beyond embrace the island like a mother holding her child; I feel at home here. The earth, the air, the water, all in perfect harmony and my fire to complement them.

We are all at peace together as we recognise one another, though we know it is not often so. And still I have a task to fulfil, my assignment, my kill.

I clean my swords and sheathe them, my daggers too; one in each boot. Then my bow and arrow.

I enjoy the power that courses through me as I hold the wood. I prefer old school, not the new metal ones with a lot of contraptions. The old ones are more accurate; straight and to the point.

I feel the wind pick up; the water too is rising slightly. They are becoming aggressive in response to my growing firepower.

It will be over soon and I can come back to enjoy this sight alone once more.

Whoever said assassins have no taste for beauty; we have taste, though perhaps not the time. Nature is where I belong, where my power runs freely, where I can be me without prejudice or contempt. True, we are not always on good terms, with water, air and earth but we have respect and that is all that matters.

My eyes move to the mighty mountains before me. They seem to beckon me, silently. I’ll get this over with and answer their call.

I look at the mirror briefly, pack my weapons, and adjust my clothing. I turn to look at the calming scene one last time before I leave for my assignment and my calling.

Let the fun begin.

My piece for this week's Takhayyal. Comments are highly appreciated and encouraged. There are two prompts this week, check them out here. 

It is also part of a supposed work in progress; one that I should allocate more time to soon.

The Sapling (Pantoum)

Into a life of misery you’ve been hurled

Like a sapling in a raging storm,

Fighting for your life; it’s you against the world,

Your emotions, your beliefs against the norm.

Like a sapling in a raging storm,

Fighting, winning once and losing twice;

Your emotions, your beliefs against the norm,

In every fight, you lose a part of you; a slice.

Fighting, winning once and losing twice;

While the world continues and carries on

In every fight, you lose a part of you; a slice.

Few will notice when you’re gone.

While the world continues and carries on,

You sink in an abyss of darkness and ire.

Few will notice when you’re gone.

For them and for yourself you’ll need to find your fire.

You sink in an abyss of darkness and ire,

Your emotions, your beliefs against the norm,

For those who care and for yourself you’ll need to find your fire.

Like a sapling in a raging storm.

Twin Magnolia: A Soul Call - Review

Twin Magnolia: A Soul Call by Victoria Popescu is a novella of soul-healing and self-discovery.

It is narrated in the first person by Claudia, whose life has been filled with death and disappointment. She embarks on a journey to Kauai, Hawaii and spends several weeks with her grandmother’s best friend Tarana, the healer.

Like old Shakespearean plays, Twin Magnolia: A Soul Call is divided into five chapters, with each chapter divided into smaller ‘scenes’ or parts. The third chapter is the backbone of the novella and is the longest chapter, covering around sixty percent of it; while the resolution comes at the end in the fifth and final chapter. 

The novella focuses on Claudia’s healing process with Tarana. The latter is around 80 years of age and has accumulated a life-long knowledge of healing. She tells Claudia about the ‘chakras’ of the body and soul and their colours. These ‘chakras’ sound like what we know as the auras. The novella is filled with interesting material such as the uses of mint and colours and their ability to heal.

The reader often feels that Claudia is obsessed with finding love. We learn that she feels incapable of love and that she yearns for her soul-mate; her other half. Luckily, this search takes the reader’s soul to the beautiful Hawaiian Islands and through Tarana’s healing process.

Popescu relies heavily on the reader’s senses particularly the senses of sight and smell. The novella handles the soul and how it needs to let go of pain and fear in order to begin its healing process. Tarana prescribes several common and medicinal herbs such as drinking thyme and mint to help Claudia heal.

We see Claudia’s character and soul develop slowly throughout the novella. Simple things act as progress. For example, the haircut Claudia gets is seen as a means of shedding the old routine. It is accompanied by more painting and the desire to look good and attractive.

There are many references regarding a person’s soul in connection with nature and the earth, and how that affects one’s soul and sense of happiness.

Twin Magnolia: A Soul Call has this slight feel of the supernatural with regards to the healing process and how Tarana, through experience, has gained the ability to read people, sense their pain and heal it.

Twin Magnolia is certainly unlike any book I’ve ever read!


Check out my interview with Victoria Popescu, where we talk about reflexology, healing, her books and so much more. Also follow her on Twitter.

Standing Strong

She is standing there; she’s always stood there, tall, proud, untiring, unwavering. Seasons come and go and she continues to stand in silence, watching the world pass and run, laugh and cry, live and die.

As the years turn to decades, change befalls all, her too.

She will change, she has changed. Time has made her a fearful sight, but beneath the tough timber lies her heart, growing wiser with every passing child, mother, father, hour, week, month and year.

Her bark is strong, unbreakable like her will. 

And so she lingers on… watching in silence.

96 words

This entry is for the Friday Fictioneers Contest

The Earth's Drum by Nada Adel Sobhi - Poem

Dum! Dum! Dum!

Goes the drum

Of the earth’s core.

You’ll hear it,

Once you leave the shore.

Like a ticking clock,

A beating heart,

It goes tick-tock

And thum-thum.

The earth is alive and raging;

She wants to explode!

All her power and might, she is summoning

To strike once and end it all.

Once her fury is unleashed,

None and nothing shall stand tall;

Everyone and everything will fall!

To the dust and ashes from whence they came,

They will return, and the earth will begin anew;

Nothing will be the same…