The Introverted Bookworm

Absolutely delighted to announce that my poem, “Tree,” has been published by Spillwords Press! This poem is about nature and how the natural landscape interacts with our own emotions.

If anyone wants to pop over and check it out, then just click this link: Tree, a poem by Ada Jenkins at Spillwords.com                       .

Thanks for your support, everyone!

Book Review: When Secrets Bloom by Patricia Furstenberg

Interested in literary fiction with an immersive historical setting? When Secrets Bloom is a historical fiction novel set in 1463 Transylvania.

This intricate and beautifully written story follows two characters: Kate, who is a healer and midwife, and Moise, a printer’s apprentice. Kate once fought at the side of Vlad Dracula (she was once held in captivity by him) and is now a healer in Kronstadt. However, by doing this, she’s leaving herself vulnerable to being labelled a witch, so she needs to tread carefully.

Kate’s stuck in an unfulfilling marriage, while Moise is a Jewish printer with his own set of problems. One thing I must stress at the outset is the truly fantastic Transylvanian setting! It simply took my breath away! Readers of atmospheric stories are going to love this book; it transported me to another realm! I also really enjoyed the fascinating exploration of the history of Transylvania, alongside its superstitions and the false beliefs that pervaded society at this time.

The elusive presence of Lord Vlad Dracula filters through the narrative, and found myself wanting to learn more about Kate’s unique relationship with him. The author’s approach to his character is fascinating and compelling. As someone who’s always craved a different take on the well-known Dracula story, I was very engaged with Kate’s perspective. We get an idea of him as a warrior and exile, not just a vampire. The prose is lyrical and sort of holds the reader in a trance-like state. I’d strongly recommend this book to anyone who loves immersive, emotionally (and culturally) enriching stories, with a strong female protagonist!

Here is a link to Patricia Furstenberg’s socials if you want to check out her work: Patricia Furstenberg – Historical Fiction, Contemporary, Kids Books Author – Patricia Furstenberg, Writer of Historical Fiction, Children’s Books

Until next time!