Flora Celebrates… Litha, Summer Solstice, Midsummer (Day 6)

Hello once again My Lovelies,

This is the sixth and penultimate post in my current theme – Litha/Summer Solstice/Midsummer. So far, I’ve been sharing some of the songs that I’ve been known to sing at this time of year but today, as it’s midsummer’s eve, I’d like to share a few of my favourite fairy stories with you.

I’m starting old school, with the classics…

A Midsummer’s Night Dream is a classic story to read at this time of year. A comedy written by William Shakespeare between 1590 and 1596, it’s one of his most played pieces. The copy that I own was illustrated by the English book illustrator, Arthur Rackham.

The events of the play take place in and around Athens in ancient Greece and include scenes from a fairytale world inhabited by characters from Greek mythology and it’s one of my favourite stories.

One of my other favourite classic stories is Puck of Pook’s Hill written by Rudyard Kipling. Enchanted by the theatre, Dan and Una decide to recreate their own version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Finding the perfect spot, an old fairy ring, they set about their play, and are so enchanted that they perform it three times in a row. After a final bow, they sit down in the centre of the fairy ring – whereupon, the bushes part and Puck enters, stage left. Using his fairy magic, Puck then conjures up the past to entertain the two amazed children – a Roman centurion, a Renaissance artisan and a bygone village all appear before their very eyes. Puck of Pook’s Hill is an innocent and charming tale to delight readers of all ages.

If you want something a bit more modern (and raunchy) Knight of Cups (Knights of the Tarot #2) by Nina Mason maybe more up your street. I really enjoyed it when I read it back in 2015 you can read my review here.

(Ms Mason changed the name of the book and the series when she re-designed her book covers since I read them in 2015.)

Here’s what the official blurb has to say about the story;

Gwyn Morland, an aspiring screenwriter who’s spent her life playing small, has always believed in faeries, but doesn’t expect to meet one when she travels to Scotland to secure the film rights to her favorite novel. Neither does she expect to be rescued from the brink of die, take part in BDSM roleplay, or fall hard for Leith MacQuill, the book’s sexy-yet-tortured author.

Knight of Cups, Gwyn soon discovers, contains more truth than fiction.

Sir Leith is a shapeshifting faery knight who has lived for centuries. He’s also cursed. Any woman he gives his heart to will die. When his usual methods fail to keep him from falling for Gwyn, he must find a way to break the curse or lose the woman he loves. Unfortunately, the enchanted cup needed to reverse the spell is in Avalon, where he is forbidden to enter.

Timid Gwyn must, therefore, undertake the dangerous mission on her own. Will she summon the courage to go up against Morgan Le Fay, the powerful faery queen and sorceress? Or will Gwyn let the fear that’s held her back all her life rob her of her happily ever after with her slightly tarnished knight?

I hope you’re still enjoying my week of Litha and Midsummer posts, just one more day to go. If you’d like to read any of them again, just search the tag #Litha at the bottom of the page or click on the Sabbats category.

Whatever you are up to, I hope you all have a fantastic June!