The Mirror & The Meretrix

Blackstone & Brenwen #1

by Andrew D. Mellusco

Red Riding Hood is charged with murder and only her childhood sweetheart, the idealistic and roguish lawyer, Elliot Blackstone can rescue her. Joined by Blackstone & Associates' newest addition and fervently ambitious trainee, Centaur Epona Brenwen, he must uncover the plot behind Abigail Hood's incarceration before royal assassins, Rose Red and Snow White silence her for good.

Meanwhile Blackstone's lawyers, Sandman, Vincent Traum and, Fire-Nymph, Fury have their own problems as a seemingly innocuous insurance case involving a magic mirror turns deadly as a murderous and thieving band of seven Dwarf-Giants are released for lack of evidence.

Could these two cases be linked? And what is the real identity of Hansel, murder victim and robbery witness? All the lawyers do know is that somebody wants the magic mirror and will kill to get it. Elliot Blackstone just might be facing the last case of his talented but young life.

Blackstone & Brenwen - The Mirror & The Meretrix is an exhilarating legal thriller set in a fairy tale World-Tree, where peril lies behind every precedent and adventure within every adjudication. The term ‘magic circle law firm’ has never been so appropriate.

For those lovers of all things lawerish, fantastical, and all manner of craziness in-between.

Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller, Fairy Tales, Romance, Retellings, Ebooks

356 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2006

About the author

Raised in picturesque Lincoln Andrew spent his infancy watching the jousting at the castle in summer, and his childhood playing kiss chase in the fields behind his house; he always wanted to be a knight... or a rogue... a knightish rogue perhaps?

Having escaped an adjuster's life in London Insurance land, Andrew now teaches English as a foreign language. He has taught in Thailand, Taiwan, Argentina, Spain, and is now teaching in Japan.

He is currently reading fairy tales in preparation for his third Blackstone & Brenwen novel.

Reviews

[Jeann (Happy Indulgence) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm, where do I start with this novel? My thoughts on this highly imaginative story are ambivalent.

Blackstone and Brenwen is a legal mystery with fairy tale characters at its core. The strange blend of genres actually leads to an interesting fantasy story. Elliot Blackstone is a drink-loving, highly confident, womanising, half-angelic lawyer, with the ever faithful legal trainee and centaur, Epona Brenwen at his side. He's given a case that affects him to his very core - Abigail Hood, his childhood sweetheart has been charged with an odd murder worthy of CSI proportions.

A few beloved fairy tale characters make an appearance here but in a way we've never imagined, such as Red Riding Hood (Abigail Hood) who is an innocent girl haunted by wolves, Snow White joined by her sister Rose Red who are both assassins, and Dwarf-Giants which are the seven dwarfs. They are joined by some unique personalities which are a joy to read about, such as the fiesty Fire Nymph, Fury and always tired Sandman, Vincent. Each character has their own quirks and are unique in their own right, and they are each a joy to read about.

However, the way the story is told makes it difficult to get into. It is plagued with several info dumps along the way, either to do with world building or legal mumbo jumbo. I found the fantasy parts and the final trial highly enjoyable, however the way the story kept on switching to different character perspectives was kind of annoying when you were absorbed in a certain scenario. The info dumps really jarred the flow of the story, as wherever you are in the book, you'll suddenly find yourself presented with an in-depth history of a particular character or race (ie. Dwarf Giants).

The blend of legal drama and fantasy blends somehow limits the appeal of the book, as it gets highly technical in both of these genres. There are also many different fantasy characters and places that make an appearance in the book, such as Centaurs, Fire Nymphs, Sandman, a Meretrix, Dwarf-Giants and more. While some may be explained in depth, others are briefly touched upon and for the first few chapters of the book you're kind of getting introduced to a new concept or fantasy creature over and over again. At the start, it sort of skips past these and you don't actually find out what a Meretrix is until the very end at the novel - still making it a little hard to follow.

Despite the flaws I had with the book, I did find it enjoyable and unique. I enjoyed Andrew Mellusco's language, especially when it came to the witty banter between the lawyers at Blackstone & Associates. I especially liked Elliot as a lawyer and his questionable but effective legal methods. I'd be interesting in seeing what happens in the sequel and would be keen on revisiting this interesting world that Andrew's created.

Being a self published work, I did find a few slight errors along the way but they only appeared about 3 times or so throughout the whole book.

I received a copy of this book from the author as part of a R&R program and I thank the author and the Shut Up & Read Group for letting me take part in it.

Final rating: 3.5

Check out my blog here for more reviews!

[Renetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody Caelum! Are you kidding me with that last line?! Yeah, I'm hooked.

Oh, where to begin? I was sucked into the World-Tree. It has drama, suspense, romance, humor, great characters and more. The descriptions of the world are fabulous. The courtrooms, the land, the bar, the 3,000 meter high library... now that is a treat for any book lover to read about!

In this tremendously fractured fairy-tale lawyers are definitely needed, it's a good thing they have Blackstone & Associates!

The first chapter is a little ice-breaker that has a pretty funny twist at the end. From there it gets more serious with bouts of great humor mixed in. There's a lot of explanation throughout the story about the history of the World-Tree and some of the characters. How things came to be the way they are while explaining how they are.

Elliot, protagonist, boozer, womanizer, great lawyer and so enjoyable!

Elliot gets a case to defend Hood, as in Little Red Riding Hood, who has charges of murder. He takes the case pretty personal since they were childhood sweethearts. That would be the story in a nutshell, now let's crack that nut open....

Will Jack (of course, as in the beanstalk) be found guilty of stealing the goose that lays the golden eggs?
Will it even matter in the end?
What is a Carmen Speculum?
Is the Royal Palace committing insurance fraud?
What exactly is Little Red Riding Hood doing over there in the dark woods with that wolf?!
Red Rose and Snow White, trained assassins?
An insomniac Sandman?
Gang of seven dwarf-giants?
Giants...
Centaurs...
Angelics...
Daemons...
Fire Nymphs...
*gasp for air*
did I mention magic office supplies?

I'm hardly scratching the tip of the iceberg here! If it sounds like there's a lot going on, there is, but it's in no way cluttered feeling. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book and I better not have to wait an entire ring-year for it! *shaking head* yep, completely hooked.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to see more of my reviews, check out my blog @ Moosubi Reviews!

Disclaimer: The fact that I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review has not affected my rating. This review expresses my honest opinions.

Rating Clarification: 4.5 / 5 Stars

The first thing I have to say about this book is that I thought it was amazing. However, I also have to say that this book isn't door everybody - it's pretty information heavy, focuses a lot of legal issues, and contains some "mature" content. Nevertheless, because Blackstone & Brenwen: The Mirror & The Meretrix is now one of my favorites because it combines two things I love into an intricate story: crime / legal issues & fairy tales / mythology.

I think one of the biggest pluses about this story for me was that it reminds me of my one of my all time favorite games, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. In both the video game and the story, there is a young, confident, inexperienced and talented lawyer who defends underdogs in court in order to either prove them innocent or lessen their punishment in some way. In order to do so, they examine crime scenes or places of interest, as well as cross examining the testimonies of witnesses. Combined with my endless marathons of Detective Conan, Criminal Minds, Suits, White Collar, and NCIS, I think it's safe to assume that I'm a huge fan of crime or legal dramas, as well as novels such as The Mirror & The Meretrix that deal with such issues.

On the other side, you also have numerous retellings of those (now not-so) sweet fairy tales you remember. Sure, there's some angels, centaurs, and mythology mixed in (which, by the way, I also love, so another plus!) involved, but most of the story is centered around around fairy tales. One may be upset to see the oh-so-sweet fairy tales twisted into such malicious matters, but I, for omelet, was interested in how the author was able to turn the tales of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Little Red Riding Hood, and many more into one epic tale. Overall, seeing glimpses of many tales blended into an intense story was certainly a treat for me, especially one involving legal drama.

I also thought that the characters were well developed, with distinct but certainly likable personalities. All of them were reasonably confident, fiercely loyal to each other, and bring special "skills" per se to the table. Each of their POVs also brought different insights, adding more plot layers. My only complaint is that sometimes, due to the multiple POVs, I figured out what was going to happen or who was responsible for whatever because one character in one POV already found a clue that connects to another, eventually leading to the solution. Of course, since the beginning, the author already gives you a basic idea of who the culprit is, so I suppose it's inevitable, although I admit that the author does a good job weaving an intricate story from a seemingly basic case.

Overall, The Mirror & The Meretrix is an amazing and complicated read, filled with suspense and lots of mysterious fun! I can't wait to read its sequel(: I would recommend this book to people looking for more of a heavy read, since the novel is a bit information heavy. However, if you're a fan of crime or legal fiction, or are a fan of fairy tales (but not a traditionalist), this book will definitely be a treat for you.

[Yzabel Ginsberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Book read and reviewed for {Read It & Reap 75} in the Shut Up And Read group.)

First, I must say that this novel was not devoid of imperfections. I spotted a few recurrent glaring errors, of the kind that I unfortunately easily notice, as well as a couple of formatting problems (missing ends of sentences). However, what might have been a problem in another book wasn't one here. In spite of those mistakes, I found the novel fascinating, devoured it in a blink, and couldn't stop myself. It was sheer gluttony on an ereader screen.

The world in which the author set his court drama was fascinating from beginning to end, bouncing off and twisting traditional fairy tales, well-known ones as well as more obscure ones. It is a consistent and believable world, full of rich descriptions and allusions, that I took much pleasure in discovering—and linking to the original versions of the fairy-tales woven within the story. The plot itself was interesting, intricate enough to demand that the reader pay attention to catch little hints. I didn't find any inconsistencies in it, the mystery was preserved for long enough without being held off uselessly, and everything nicely tied up in the end.

Above all, the characters were very enjoyable, all with their distinct personalities and little quirks. I liked reading about them, about their meetings, about their conversations, and I was glad to see that each of them had his/her important part to play, as well as his/her own backstory. I was especially fond of Fury, but the others came very close behind.

I will definitely keep an eye out for the second volume in this series.

[w :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I love the imagination in this book; the twist on well known fairy tales. The characters are real and relatable, changed from how we knew them but not so much that they are made unrecognizable, and all with their part to play. It was like meeting them all over again. The story line is full of suspense and the language is stunning. However, I'm wondering if there can be too many complex sentences, so that the effect of the amazing words are lost? Haha. The world that the story is set in is fascinating and well thought through; combining myths, legends, and pure imagination to draw you in (and not let you go). There were a few flaws in the formatting, but these were easily overlooked in the beautiful storytelling.
This is a truly remarkable book. I will definately be looking out for the next one.

[Kel (Faerie-bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating - 4.5

The first chapter made me laugh with how a child's story was told. After that it was a little slow but I loved the world that Mellusco pulled me into. I really want Elliot's office supplies, it was like the enchanted castle in The Beauty and the Beast, the supplies were "alive" in a sense and moved about on their own. The characters were amazingly well thought up while using known Fairy Tale characters. It was brilliant and I loved how I recognized names but had to meet them all over again.

[Giao · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I even start this review, I need to confess that I am a stickler for correct grammar, punctuation and spelling. It would, however, do this book a great injustice for me to pick it apart based on what essentially is a codification of expression, so I won't. It wouldn't be a fair or honest review either if I didn't critique the book just a little but I'll keep it brief.

The writing would have benefited from some fine tuning and, dare I say, a little less description at the start. The first few chapters were slightly overwritten but you do get the sense that the author is setting the scene for another sequel or two. At least there was no sense that the writing was overindulgent, as could be said about a number of the author's more famous peers.

In fact, a lot of the issues I had with this book were at the beginning. The phrasing at times was a little curious and there were perhaps a few too many innuendoes for my liking but, when it comes to character development, this author cannot be faulted.

Let's get down to what this book is really like. It's about an intricate and wonderfully clever story told by a man whose imagination reaches beyond anything (I'm certain) even his close friends could think him capable.

I must admit, whilst I expected an interesting story, I very much underestimated this author. Although there were times when his writing style clashed with my own reading preference, the tale was so intriguing that I could hardly believe it when I found myself sneaking away from my demanding day job to read a few more chapters.

If you have read the other reviews, you will know that this book has been described as a fairy tale. To call it that would be, in my opinion, too narrow in description as it contains everything from ancient mythical beasts to fabled characters to animated stationery (and, incidentally, there are no fairies!) but perhaps my suggestion of describing it as a fantasy fabmyth is a little ridiculous so we will just have to wait until a clever wordsmith can come up with a more appropriate genre name.

I am conscious that I have given very little, if anything, away in terms of the content of this story so I conclude by saying that this is a delightful book, though dark at times, and I would thoroughly recommend anyone who wants to be transported to another world (or anyone who wants to know a bit more about the legal system or the world of insurance law) to read it.

The saying goes that everyone has one book in them. On the basis of his debut, this author has only just flexed his writing hand! Andrew D. Mellusco is one to watch and I for one am very much looking forward to getting my hands on the sequel "Blackstone & Brenwen - Swansong for a Sibling"!

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the highest rating that I've ever given a book that I was given to review from Read it and Reap via the Shut Up and Read group.

I've got to say, when I initially started the book, I didn't expect that I would turn out to like it so much. I probably didn't give it a fair chance as I was very busy and was reading a few pages at a time - this isn't a book where you can do this. Because of the complexity you need to read it in large chunks to be able to follow what is going on. I'm a very quick reader but I did find myself having to re-read sections to make sense of it. What I always like in fantasy book such as these is a map of the world to try and make sense of the place names being discussed so I can map it out in my mind. Another good addition would be an explanation of what all the different types of creatures are - I was getting confused with angelics, half angelics, fire nymphs, centaurs and what their abilities were and where they originated from.

I work in politics for a living and specifically legislation so I adored that there were references to obscure pieces of legislation and semantics which I adored. The langauge in some places was very rich and complicated - which is no bad thing - but it sometimes grated with language which was less so - for example, the adjectives to describe the characters were repetitive - eg, the young lawyer or the criminal lawyer was used over again but the same description was used a number of times in a chapter. I might have just used 'he' or 'she' for a number of these descriptions as it was very clear as to who the author was writing about at those points in time.

The style reminded me of Jasper Fjorde's wonderful irrelevance and satire but with the seriousness of CJ Sansom's historical legal writing. I love Fjorde's delving into fiction and the Mirror & the Meretrix does a similar thing with nursery stories. I've seen some reviews say that the nursery tales have been changed - if anything they are more true to the original Grimm tales than the santitised Disney versions.

Once I got into the book, and this could be because of my own issues rather than the style of the book, I really motored through it and was really engaged with a very original storyline. The characters are delightful - they really develop over the course of the book and I felt very attached to them.

I'm really looking forward to seeing how the series develops from here!

[Sherry Fundin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elliot was a lawyer for Blackstone and Brenwen and he was in court representing Jack. Elliot portrayed Jack as being a moron, trading his prize bull for a handfull of magic beans. He made it seem as if Jack was tricked into believing the castle belonged to him and it was an elaborate ruse by the harp, so it could escape. When the goose jumped into Jack's arms as he was running for his life, it wasn't theft because Jack believed it was his. If he was really stealing it for the golden eggs, then why did Jack cook it and eat it? Elliot and Jack laughed at tricking the jury into finding him not guilty. I laughed out loud when the giant fell on Jack and crushed him. Talk about poetic justice. That alone kept me reading.

As Red Riding Hood ran through the woods, her sparkling eyes were dancing. More than once she had been accused of being a siren and a slut. When she reached the river, she waited. Even though she was being chased and running for her life, she was in no hurry to escape from the Wolven chasing her. When he caught her, she ripped off her dress and jumped him. After they were done making love, she ripped off his mask and then ripped off his face.

Blackstones had come about because of the need to protect humans. Each lawyer at Blackstone's had some unique quality-a spirit, a demon, a sandman, a fire-nymph, a centaur, a minotaur, a harpie, and more. Amodeus was a senior partner and interviewed Epona Brenwen. She was to be teamed up with Elliot.

Elliot was half-human and half-angel and hid his wings underneath his suit. He was in his office and watching his labor-saving devices hard at work-a snapping staple remover, a hole punch that emptied its own tray when full and a stapler that never needed refilling. When Elliot found out he was to be teamed up with Epona, he wondered what it would be like to have a trainee. He thought it might not be so bad and had to work to cover his surprise when he found she was a centaur.

When Abigail awoke she was unable to remember what had happened or why she was in the forest. She heard voices and pretended to be asleep as the Queen, Rose Red and Snow White talked about potions and taking care of Abigail if it became necessary. When she was found by the woodsman, she was naked and wearing only a Wolven head. The mutilated corpse had its head ripped off, his face eaten off and was wearing a Wolven costume.

Abigail was Elliot's childhood sweetheart and when he heard about her being arrested for murder, he was determined to be the one to defend her. When Elliot and Epona visited her in her cell, he could see she was terrified. They did not talk about what happened because Red Rose was there and they knew she was spying for someone.

Were they role-playing? Who was the victim? Is there a conspiracy?

The story is full of laughter, suspense and mystery. When I first started reading it, I thought it was just a play on different fairy tales, but it all comes together in the end. It kept me off balance, just when I thought I knew what would happen, the story would take a turn. The characters were well developed, both lovable and heroic, evil and hateful. The fact that they live in the tree, where money is the World-Tree root of all evil, somehow seemed to me to fit the story. When Andrew talks about the massacre that happens when the labor-saving office devices are bored, I couldn't help but laugh out loud. I could, at times, picture the characters in my mind, like a movie unwinding. When I visualized some of the scenes it had me smiling. As Andrew describes Epona, her clothes, her home and her office, I just can't help but wonder how do people dream up these great ideas? What a vivid imagination and I was looking forward the the many more wonderful and funny things that would be coming.

Blackstone & Brenwen - The Mirror & The Meretrix
Andrew D. Mellusco

[Tawna · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Read as part of a read to review program, than you so much Andrew for offering the book!**

The Story
Abigail Hood is going to stand trial for the murder of an unknown man. Elliot Blackstone is a half angelic from the fallen half of the angels and he is one of the best young criminal lawyers out there. The fallen half of the angels in this story are not bad or evil in any way, it's actually an interesting twist. Elliot and Abigail knew each other as kids and Elliot is determined to find a way to save her. Fury (a fire nymph) and Vincent (a sandman) are both trying to figure out the robbery and subsequent insurance claim for the palace. This claim is interesting because the robbers (7 giant dwarfs) of the castle were captured due to a witness but then the witness mysteriously disappears. Rose Red and Snow White are assassins and bodyguards for the Queen. This story has it all in new interesting twists!

Likes and Dislikes
--One dislike was that it was a bit wordy. It seems like there were a lot of explanations that were needed and interesting, but it sometimes seemed long winded.
--One more dislike, I had no clue what the heck a Meretrix was until one line in the middle of the book and then a better explanation towards the end of the book.

--I liked all of the different twists on the fairy tale characters! Wow, I mean it was sooooo fun to learn all of the things about these characters we know so well and yet don't know anything in this world.
--I enjoyed Elliot Blackstone and his attitude and his depth. I want to know even more about him.
--Abigail had some thing about her that was't exactly right and that twist in the end that we found out about her was shocking!!
--The "evil" character I can't say anything about because I don't want to give anything away, but dang man that sucks.
--The writing was phenomenal, it had the language that you come to associate with fairy tales. The world building was capturing.
--The beginning was quite hilarious. The mystery slowly unfolding to give you more detail was great.

Conclusion
I would recommend to ages mid teen and up, some of the wording might be a bit hard for younger people and there is a gruesome murder, oh and a little talk about sex..not a scene or anything, but talk about it. Anywho, if you enjoy a different take on fairy tale characters and creatures with some murder mystery and lawyer solving then this book is definitely for you. I quite enjoyed it and will be reading the next installments.

[Heather Boustead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blackstone & Brenwen - The Mirror & The Meretrix
By Andrew D. Mellusco

Elliot Blackstone is an idealistic lawyer who is always taking on the more unfortunate cases in his family’s law firm Blackstone and Associates. One day a case comes to his attention, his childhood sweetheart Abigail Hood, has been charged with murder can Elliot save Red Riding Hood? With the help of his colleagues a sandman Vincent Traum the fire nymph Fury and his new protégé a centaur named Epona Brenwan they uncover a conspiracy unlike any other with Royal Assassins Snow White and Rose Red willing to stop at nothing to protect their queen’s secrets.

Andrew D. Mellusco takes a court drama and combines it with fairy tales blending them into an interesting fantasy novel. The author did a wonderful job in each of his characters my personal favorite is Snow White; I would never have imagined her as a deadly assassin. This story is full of murder and intrigue, the descriptions are so detailed that it comes to life even from the very beginning when Elliot is defending his client Jack to a court room of giants. Even if you are not a fan of legal thrillers the fantasy aspect is so captivating and well thought out that it is worth the read.

Be sure to visit my blogs at:
http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpre...
http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

[K.D. Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Happens When a Fire Nymph takes a Shower?

Blackstone and Brenwen-The Mirror and the Meretrix answers questions you never thought to ask but will take delight in knowing, all the while leading you through a compelling mystery stocked with characters you never thought to imagine. The book turns preconceptions "topsy-turvy" and the reader never knows what manner of character may turn up next. The author blends action and intellect to alchemical perfection, balancing psychological suspense and outright mystery with a deft hand. The characters, their individual quirks and storylines are relatable and immediately draw you in. The world building in this novel is artfully detailed and logically consistent within a realm where the authors imagination has used myth, muse, and legend to create a highly entertaining read that never feels forced. The storyline itself is full-bodied and rich. Read carefully or you will miss the opportunity to relish wordplay and sly allusions from beginning to end. This book is the first in a series and in the tradition of magical realism has created an entertaining world filled with unique characters that will make the reader hanker for the next.

[Suzanne Pringle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had some trouble getting into the book. At first it was very confusing to me. I found some names hard to pronounce and places were hard to get to know. The authors terms of ring-years and hour-turns were hard to get used to.

Then the story started picking up. I started to get used to the main characters. Being a fairy tale/fantasy the characters were fun to read about. Dwarfs, angels, fire-nymphs -all wonderfully put together in this book.

Then the last 10 chapters when the mystery starts coming together, I was glued. I was hooked. I needed to find out what happened. I was pleased and saddened by the ending.

A very good read. One I would recommend to others. If you are into fantasy and enjoy a good fairy tale (or 3) then this book would be for you. It is a who-done-it ,murder mystery set in a far away land.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been awhile since I have been totally enthralled with the imagination of an author, but this book surpasses that. Elliot Blackstone is a very likeable, idealistic, young lawyer who is appointed to defend his childhood sweetheart "Red Riding" Abagail Hood in the murder of Hansel. Thus begins an amazing story filled with fairy tale characters like you never immagined them. With the help of his collegues, the newly graduated centaur Epona Brenwan, his friend and sandman Vincent and fire nymph Fury, Elliott battles in and out of the courtrrom to save Abagail Hood. As one of the characters in the book,a librarian states " Literature is an adventure, each turn of a page can either be a gentle jaunt or a careful sidestep through lands unknown, each chapter ending an ocean port to untold possiblities" This wonder book is a literary adventure of the best kind

[Lucy Barton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have put my name forward to authors for a completely honest review of their books. I normally read thrillers and action stories, of late I have been reading fantasy novels. I did not think I would like them, but the imagination of this particular author has blown me away! Strange lands, dwarf giants, magic mirrors, centaurs, fire-nymphs and many more. Our hero, Elliot, a womanising drinker who you just can't help but like, all put together in this very entertaining book. Once I got half way through I found I could not put it down, I needed to find out what happens to poor Abigail (Red Riding) Hood. I finally finished at 3.30 this morning. It was fun, action packed and took me back to my childhood.

[Solitaire Parke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blackstone & Brenwen: The Mirror & The Meretrix by Andrew D. Mellusco is an insanely fun romp, utilizing fairy tale characters and courtroom battles. The plot is suitably complicated without causing too much brain strain, the characters are well thought out and likeable. I won't go into the ending of this story due to spoiler alerts, but I can tell you that no one will be disappointed with this book, starting with the first page all the way through to the last! This is definitely one of the best books I've read this ring year! Excellent job, Andrew!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who would have ever thought a book about law could be so much fun? Throw in all your favorite fairy tale folk into the complex "World-Tree" version of Crime & Punishment and you get "Blackstone & Brenwen". From the beginning Mellusco sucks you into this legal fable and refuses to let you go until the mystery is solved. I can't remember the last time I had this much fun reading a modern fairy tale, let alone from an Indie author. Keep a sharp eye on this one because he certainly has more delights and surprises up his sleeve in the future. Avidly anticipating the sequel!

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read with interesting and amusing characters. A mixture of Christian and pagan mythologies, and classic fairy tales, albeit twisted. Set in the world tree version of the creation myth. Peopled by angels, half-angels, centaurs, nymphs, giants and other assorted creatures. A magic mirror is stolen, a murder is committed to cover up the robbery, an innocent girl is accused of the murder. The actual guilty party is a surprise, as is the real identity of the murder victim.

Teaser - Snow White and Rose Red are assassins.

Needs a little editing, but overall a good, fun read.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cleverly written book which becomes more impossible to put down the further you read. An intriguing plot which twists and turns and keeps you guessing right to the end. Set in an unusual and fascinating, yet believable created world. It will make you re-think the fairy tales of your youth.

Buy this book, your only regret will be having to wait for the next one...please, please Mr Mellusco give your fans the sequel!!

[Yvonne Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. The story had wonderfully developed characters who played out a story line that kept you guessing. I've never read a court story before, so this was a pleasant surprise. I also loved the new twist on classic fairy tales. It wasn't what I expected when I began to read it, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and I can not wait for the next installment.

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blackstone & Brenwen - The Mirror & the Meretrix by Andrew D. Mellusco was a fun read. Mellusco has turned childhood fairytales into grownup courtroom drama. While I found this to be long on words, I was kept reading by the interesting and very detailed descriptions of the many characters. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic imagination

[Amy (DemonKittie) · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I was given a free ebook version of this for an honest review*

When I agreed to read this book to review it I will admit I didn't even look at the description. When I opened it up, it was longer than I expected it to be. I was ill so it took some time to read, but I am glad I did.

I knew that it was a legal styled book that mixed it up with several fairy tales. What I didn't know is that this book would pull together almost every magical beast I have any knowledge of and have them almost all equally represented. You have Angels, demons, vampires, werewolves, humans, centaurs, giants, nymphs, a whatnot. I like a book that meshes things together that you don't always see together.

Now, I thought the story and trial of Abigail (Red Riding) Hood was very creative and at times very well thought out. Other then some formatting errors in the ebook version there weren't any issues I found with it. I did feel the book was chaotic, but also perhaps longer than it needed to be. I had to walk away several times to sleep because being ill, I couldn't stay up for longer periods of time. That may have made it seem even longer than it is.

I liked Elliot, but somehow I think his character could have been explored a little more. Even with his history he seemed a little flat in some ways. He was the only character that I couldn't really wrap my head around. I really loved Epona and Fury and the adorable habit of Vincent to fall asleep in the beginning was a nice touch.

Overall I think this book is a good change of pace from my normal reading and I would recommend it to people who I know read this sort of style.

[Byron Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: This review is my opinion, and it is skewed to my likes and preferences.

I am rating this book 3.75 of 5.

This book has every fairy tale you’ve ever read and then some laced throughout its pages. It was light-hearted read.

Characters

Elliot Blackstone – half-angelic attorney and womanizer. He is employed by Blackstone and Associates located in Tartarus.

Epona Brenwen – Elliot’s trainee partner, a centaur

Abigail Hood – Red Riding Hood, the victim accused of the murder of Hansel, and former love of Elliot.

Hansel – the victim, aka – did you really think I would give you a spoiler this huge?!?

Vincent Traum – A sandman, associate and friend of Elliot. He assists Fury with her case, and ends up helping Elliot on Abigail’s trial.

Fury – A fire nymph and insurance lawyer with the firm, her case overlaps Elliot’s defense of Abigail.


Story

This story contains every fairytale you’ve ever read and twisted them some…well actually quite a bit, lol. Abigail Hood has been accused of the murder of Hansel. Who is this mysterious Hansel?

Enter Elliot Blackstone who volunteers to defend his former love. Elliot along with Epona, Vincent and Fury must risk it all to find the facts of the case; a case which takes them from the depths of the arbour tree to the throne room of the King and Queen of Delator.

There were quite a few enjoyable things in the story; Red Rose and Snow White are assassins; the seven dwarfs are renegade dwarf giants and the list goes on.

While not an “edge of your seat” book, it was a fun, different read.

[Luma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is set in a fantasy world, though one that you feel you could step right into and you wouldn't be lost. The author never slips from the world his amazing imagination has created. The minutest details have been thought of to keep the world completely believable, so, the simple game of "rock, paper, scissors" becomes "stone, parchment, shears". We are dizzyingly marched through a seemingly endless array of characters, many familiar from Fairytales and Myths, but with the authors unique take on them, and always brought to technicolour life by the authors incredibly descriptive writing style.
The courtroom scenes and legal jargon could be judged and I'm sure be found accurate by any Lawyer, but if like me you have no law experience you never feel bamboozled by it.
Although the writing style is extremely fast paced, the plot builds very slowly and manages to keep you on your toes to the last, with just enough hints dropped throughout for you to play detective, but never enough to stop you gasping with surprise as the plot unfolds.
I heartily recommend this book and when you've read it, you will want to read the 2nd book in the series.
I think this is an author that I may have to clear a shelf on my bookcase for!

[Saisha Sandoz · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really liked this book. I thought that the author does a wonderful job of putting a new twist on old charactors!! I enjoyed that i was caught off guard with his take on the various fairy tales in the book. i had only two small complaints: 1. there was way too much backstory. I realize that this was necessary in order to understand the charactors, but it slowed me way down. The parts of the book where there is action that effects the story i couldn't read fast enough, but the background stuff was really hard to take. i think i would like to see maybe a map of the world tree to help me better visualize where and how everyone was connected. the second complaint would be that too much of the story was given away too early. i would have liked to have been given the chance to guess that a certain charactor was behind it all as opposed to being told it so quickly. overall, i give the book four stars and recommend it. i encourage readers to keep with it and push past the slow parts as there is a payoff in the end. i am looking forward to the sequel, but hope that the background stuff has already been laid out in this book.

[Kendra Ardnek · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the most part, I really enjoyed it. There were at least twenty Fairy Tales worked in. They weren’t completely true to the Fairy Tales, but they were usually clearly recognizable. I even found Charles Perrault, a fairy tale writer, in there. “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves,” “Snow White and Rose Red,” and “Jack and the Beanstalk” were the most important and prominent, but I really enjoyed the scene where Elliot visits the tailor shops and meets “The Brave Little Tailor” and the two imposters who are making “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” There were even a few of the more obscure Fairy Tales.

The main characters were Elliot, Vincent, Fury and Epona. Elliot is half angel and is a Criminal Defendant, Vincent is a Sandman and is in Finance, Fury is a Fire Nymph and is in Insurance, and Epona is a Centaur, and is Elliot’s new trainee. They were pretty well developed, although I found the Vincent/Fury romance a tad bit sudden on Fury’s part.

I didn’t find very many plot issues, but there were a few glaring ones.

Read full review here: http://www.oscarlettreviews.blogspot....

[Caitlyn]

The accused: Red Riding Hood, the victim: Hansel. Also involved, 7 dwarf-giants, the Queen, two assassins by the names of Snow White and Ruby Red and a magic mirror. Blackstone & Brenwen: The Mirror & The Meretrix is a legal thriller set in a land where fairy tales are real but happy ever afters are not guaranteed.

Elliot Blackstone a lawyer in his uncle’s firm Blackstone & Associates takes on the case of his childhood friend Abigail who is accused of the gruesome murder of Hansel. Elliot is sure that Abigail is not to blame and so with his new trainee Epona Brenwen and help from Fury and Vincent set out to prove it.

The world building is extensive and at times overwhelming, it is both a positive and negative with Mellusco’s attempt to include what feels like every fairy tale and a few mythological references for balance. Yes, it creates a rich world but at the same time made moments drag when really I just wanted to know how Elliot and team would discover and most importantly prove the truth.

I was hooked into the story, with its humour, twists and turns and likeable characters and am looking forward to more in the series. 4 stars.

[Amanda Fanger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine a world where all of your favorite fairy tales interact with each other and occasionally find themselves in need of legal representation. In steps Blackstone and Associates.

BLACKSTONE & BREWEN - THE MIRROR & THE MERETRIX was the first legal thriller I've ever read, and I loved it. What really drew me in was the promise of fairy tales as I'd never experienced them before. The book has got some great twists on favorite fairy tale classics as well as introduces some great leading characters. There is always something new to learn in the World-Tree and of its residents.

After I read BLACKSTONE & BREWEN - THE MIRROR & THE MERETRIX, I kept thinking, "Why aren't big publishing houses fighting over publishing rights for this guy yet!?" I honestly think that Andrew Mellusco is someone to watch, because he has the making of being one of the 'next greats.'

I wouldn't suggest this book to young kids, but for the older teenage and adult fiction crowd, this is your book! I can't wait to read the next one in the series, out this summer!

[SarahSmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as part of the Shut Up and Read Goodreads group Read it & Reap program in exchange for an honest review. Overall I liked this book, although it was hard to get into initially. The plot was very interesting and original, but the delivery was a bit jumpy at times. I found the story hard to follow in parts due to the switching first person narrator and the extreme detail required by the author since he was describing an alternate world. It would have been nice to have a glossary of all of the characters and locations with their descriptions since there is a lot to keep track of.

All in all, the characters were charming and the plot was very interesting and once I got into the mystery I really gobbled up the pages. Despite any complaints I was extremely engrossed in the story and definitely interested in checking out the next book in the series.

This story was very reminiscent of Jasper Ffordes Nursery Crimes series, which I enjoyed in the past.