Caffeinated Reviewer

They crossed centuries to find each other. Their love will shatter worlds.

Miss Ada Quicksilver, a student of London's Lovelace Academy for Promising Young Women, is spending her holiday in Ireland to pursue her anthropological study of fairies. She visits Dublin's absinthe bars to investigate a supposed association between the bittersweet spirit and fairy sightings.

One night a handsome Irishman approaches her, introducing himself as Edward Donoghue. Edward takes absinthe to relieve his sleepwalking, and she is eager to hear whether he has experience with fairies. Instead, she discovers that he's the earl of Meath, and that he will soon visit a mysterious ruin at Newgrange on the orders of his cousin, the beautiful, half-mad Queen Isolde. On learning about Ada's area of study, he invites her to accompany him.

Ada is torn between a sensible fear of becoming entangled with the clearly troubled gentleman and her compelling desire to ease his suffering. Finally she accepts his invitation, and they arrive in time for the winter solstice. That night, the secret of Edward's affliction is revealed: he is, in fact, a lord in two worlds and can no longer suppress his shadow self.

Little does either of them realize that their blossoming friendship and slowly kindling passion will lead to discoveries that wrench open a door sealed for centuries, throwing them into a war that will change Ireland forever.

A slow start gives way to a fantastic fantasy. Travel to the faery realm in The Absinthe Earl by Sharon Lynn Fisher. With dual narrators, the audio quickly pulled me in.

A fellow blogger had me one-clicking the audiobook, and I am delighted that I did. The story begins in the 1800s where Miss Ada Quicksilver, a student of London’s Lovelace Academy for Promising Young Women, is spending her holiday in Ireland. She is working on research for her thesis. She believes there is a link between the bittersweet spirit, absinthe, and fairy sightings.

A chance encounter with Edward Donoghue, the Earl of Meath, soon has her traveling with him to visit a mysterious ruin at Newgrange on the orders of his cousin, the beautiful, half-mad Queen Isolde.

*Claps Hands* The Winter solstice revealed secrets and soon had us slipping into the faery realm. Magic, secrets, discoveries, pending war and a sizzling romance ensued.

I loved both Edward and Ada. Fisher fleshed them out as they dealt with the troubles in faery and their own roles.

The Irish lore and realm were fantastic from the rules to the creatures. I loved the creatures! I thought the world-building was delightful and loved slipping into this alternate world.

I would call this romantic fantasy as there are plenty of heated romantic elements equally served alongside the war and threats.

I loved getting both the POV of Edward and Ada, particularly with their inner struggles. It delighted me that the audio gave each their own narrator. Alison McKenna and Alan Smyth did a wonderful job with the characters, tone and pacing. They worked well together and added another layer of enjoyment. I think they enhanced the telling.

About Kimberly

Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

Related Posts

• Same Genre