Title: Folkloric Fae (A Folkloric Prequel Novella)
Publisher/Author: Karenza Grant
Pages: 110pp
Price: $7.99 / $2.99

Welcome to Tarascon, a small town near the Pyrenees. Camille has lived in Tarascon her entire life, raised by her Grampi and growing up alongside her best friend, Alice. Now she works in the patisserie with Alice, and spends her free time pursuing her true passion: folklore. Camille is determined to collect and preserve the oral folklore traditions of the region, which are rapidly being lost as the older generations pass away and homogenized pop culture moves in. Unfortunately, Alice’s mother Ines is ill and Camille’s nights are consumed by strange dreams of the older woman, a sickly black fog, a chateau covered in vines, and a haunting man in a harlequin mask. The dreams, though, are not just dreams. They are a job interview. Because the border between the human realm and Fae must be protected and, whether she believes it or not, Camille has been nominated for the position. Now she just needs to survive the tests, save Ines, and not fall for the mysterious and terrifying man who is so much more than he appears to be …

I stumbled across Folkloric Fae during a Bookfunnel promotion, decided that it sounded interesting, and signed up for Grant’s newsletter in exchange for a free digital copy of the book.

I have to say that I quite enjoyed myself. Camille is an appealing protagonist: she’s a loyal friend and granddaughter, a skilled amateur swordswoman, and a dedicated scholar. She has no higher degree, but she is passionate about saving the unique folklore of her region of southern France. To her, these are stories that helped her ancestors explain and understand the world, particularly its hardships (it’s not that the oven was cold but rather a goblin was messing around with the bread and kept it from rising). When she is suddenly faced with the reality of the creatures behind the folklore, she is understandably confused and terrified. But she rallies quickly, and she’s clever enough to use her knowledge of folklore to survive the tests and save the day.

That folklore was also a nice change of pace. Most urban fantasy seems to focus on a generic blending of Western European figures and tales. Grant draws specifically in southern Gallic lore, thus introducing her readers to new creatures (like the croquembouche) and new understandings of familiar figures (like goblins). I’m very curious to learn more about the masked man — presumably a fae — who was testing Camille.

Folkloric Fae is an enjoyable introduction to a unique urban fantasy series. I look forward to reading the next book, and seeing how Camille adapts to her new role as protector of the border between the magic and mundane realms.

Recommended to fans of Melissa McShane, T Thorn Coyle, Zoe Cannon, Rebecca Chastain, Layla Lawlor, Leah Cutter, and Tansy Rayner Roberts.

[Reviewed by Rebecca Buchanan.]