What do you think?
Rate this book
Lily
What does one say when they realize their child is gone? Better yet, what does one say when that child returns, but is different?
This is the question Pryor must ask himself after his daughter, Lily, is dragged into the woods by a wolf and her body is never found. It isn't until he sees a wolf in the woods with eyes that resemble Lily's that he feels hope. And then something is whispered from deep within the woods, a promise for him to see Lily again.
One day...
But which day and for how long?
And then Pryor meets Ned, a silversmith who brings out desires that Pryor hasn't felt in years and helps him hatch a plan to keep Lily with him.
Now the question isn't about how much time Pryor will have with Lily, it's about how far will he'll go to keep her with him.
This is the question Pryor must ask himself after his daughter, Lily, is dragged into the woods by a wolf and her body is never found. It isn't until he sees a wolf in the woods with eyes that resemble Lily's that he feels hope. And then something is whispered from deep within the woods, a promise for him to see Lily again.
One day...
But which day and for how long?
And then Pryor meets Ned, a silversmith who brings out desires that Pryor hasn't felt in years and helps him hatch a plan to keep Lily with him.
Now the question isn't about how much time Pryor will have with Lily, it's about how far will he'll go to keep her with him.
95 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 13, 2012
About the author
Xavier Axelson
15 books127 followersAbout Xavier Axelson: Xavier Axelson is a writer and columnist living in Los Angeles.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 28, 2014
I love this flavor of horror story, for me the subtle kind are the scariest. The kind that takes something that is good and perfect and makes it wrong. Wrong and completely out of a characters control. How does a man reconcile what he still wants to believe with all his heart to the horror of the reality he is now faced with? If you’re looking at the wolf on the cover and skimming the blurb you may think this is some sort of shifter story and you couldn’t be further from the truth. Those can be fun and sexy, but this? This is a story that will put you on the edge of your seat and tease you with hope that just isn’t coming.
Lily is a story of one night. In this one night Pryor waits for Lily to come home and waits to see what Lily has become. It also tells the story of the past year in a perfect “showing” not “telling” way. The moments are told so well and are crafted with such simple and subtle sentences that say so much. So much more than a multitude of mediocre paragraphs could have. Pryor is living a tragedy in a small town and as he says, “Small towns are like quaint traps, everyone knows everyone’s business and my business was epic. I forgot how long memories are in a town like this.” If you have ever lived in a small town you know how very, very true that is. Pryor’s daughter, Lily has gone missing, dragged into the woods behind their home by a wolf. She was his life and he is both devastated by the loss and convinced she is still out there. She just isn’t Lily anymore and that’s the real heartbreaker. Lily is there, she just isn’t Lily anymore.
Pryor is in a committed relationship with Ned when the book begins and how they meet and come together is told through Pryor’s memories of the last year, the year since Lily was taken. Pryor is grieving heavily and Ned is everything Pryor didn’t even know he needed. The author captured all the thoughts going through Pryor’s mind so well. His thought processes are completely skewed as everything he thinks and feels now is in relation to Lily’s disappearance.
“My first memory of Ned is not a fair one. I wasn’t in my right mind. I wasn’t looking to see anything except my daughter, so when I first saw him, his back was to me and he was hunched over a long metal table. The only thing I remember thinking was how big he seemed to be. Size had become very important to me. I measured everything by how much room it took up in my life, how much stood between my lost kid and me.”
Pryor is overwhelmed by Ned when he first lays eyes on him. Ned is a silversmith in the small town jewelry store. He’s a big man with a gruff exterior and a kind heart. Being in a relationship with another man is pretty new to both of them, but I liked how the author didn’t make that an angst point in the story. The relationship was actually pretty simple and cleanly defined, much like Ned himself. Given ALL that Pryor had going on, Ned was a perfect match. I had to wonder if the two of them would have gotten together without the drama of Lily’s disappearance. Who knows, but I would sure hope so. The chemistry between them was off-the-charts hot and when an author can use the term “cock crazed” in a story and I’m all, “yeah, he damn well was, bless him and thank you”, there is some hot and sexy connecting going on. It did more than make for a tantalizing read though, Ned was what grounded Pryor and made him feel safe and centered amid all the turmoil. Ned’s kisses “had come to be a weapon against the unknown and no warrior takes to the field weaponless.”
As Father’s Day approaches, which is, not so ironically, the day that Lily is to return, the tension in the book is palpable. Both Pryor and Ned are on edge and throughout the story I could see Ned’s strength through Pryor’s eyes. Just by being his quiet and subtle self in Ned’s life. He never tells Pryor that he’s crazy or that Lily is never coming back, he just supports and loves unconditionally. But, as Father’s Day comes near even Ned is feeling it.
“The tension of the past few days strained Ned’s place in the house and confused him. He wasn’t a man used to living in the abstract, he preferred concrete and metal, not moonlight and shadows.”
This is the part of the story I loved the most and what made it a five heart rating for me. See, I LOVE being creeped out and stressed out by a book. I love when the story could go any direction and give me a happily ever after or horrify the hell out of me, I just don’t know. When Lily came home I really did not have a clue what was going to happen and it was great! Poor Pryor wanted his daughter back so badly and he had such hopelessly high hopes, he had “Belief in a lie as seductive as the lie itself”. Underneath it all was the dark atmospheric feel of what Lily had become and the whole time she was at home I was on the edge of my seat. The descriptions weren’t over the top and kept the whole meeting from being campy and kept it right in the creepy edgy place it needed to be.
There is no traditional HEA here. There is a solid relationship between two perfectly matched men, so you will definitely get that feel and it’s a good one. It’s the rest of the story that takes it to a whole new place and will make me remember the book and its characters for a long time to come.
Lily is a story of one night. In this one night Pryor waits for Lily to come home and waits to see what Lily has become. It also tells the story of the past year in a perfect “showing” not “telling” way. The moments are told so well and are crafted with such simple and subtle sentences that say so much. So much more than a multitude of mediocre paragraphs could have. Pryor is living a tragedy in a small town and as he says, “Small towns are like quaint traps, everyone knows everyone’s business and my business was epic. I forgot how long memories are in a town like this.” If you have ever lived in a small town you know how very, very true that is. Pryor’s daughter, Lily has gone missing, dragged into the woods behind their home by a wolf. She was his life and he is both devastated by the loss and convinced she is still out there. She just isn’t Lily anymore and that’s the real heartbreaker. Lily is there, she just isn’t Lily anymore.
Pryor is in a committed relationship with Ned when the book begins and how they meet and come together is told through Pryor’s memories of the last year, the year since Lily was taken. Pryor is grieving heavily and Ned is everything Pryor didn’t even know he needed. The author captured all the thoughts going through Pryor’s mind so well. His thought processes are completely skewed as everything he thinks and feels now is in relation to Lily’s disappearance.
“My first memory of Ned is not a fair one. I wasn’t in my right mind. I wasn’t looking to see anything except my daughter, so when I first saw him, his back was to me and he was hunched over a long metal table. The only thing I remember thinking was how big he seemed to be. Size had become very important to me. I measured everything by how much room it took up in my life, how much stood between my lost kid and me.”
Pryor is overwhelmed by Ned when he first lays eyes on him. Ned is a silversmith in the small town jewelry store. He’s a big man with a gruff exterior and a kind heart. Being in a relationship with another man is pretty new to both of them, but I liked how the author didn’t make that an angst point in the story. The relationship was actually pretty simple and cleanly defined, much like Ned himself. Given ALL that Pryor had going on, Ned was a perfect match. I had to wonder if the two of them would have gotten together without the drama of Lily’s disappearance. Who knows, but I would sure hope so. The chemistry between them was off-the-charts hot and when an author can use the term “cock crazed” in a story and I’m all, “yeah, he damn well was, bless him and thank you”, there is some hot and sexy connecting going on. It did more than make for a tantalizing read though, Ned was what grounded Pryor and made him feel safe and centered amid all the turmoil. Ned’s kisses “had come to be a weapon against the unknown and no warrior takes to the field weaponless.”
As Father’s Day approaches, which is, not so ironically, the day that Lily is to return, the tension in the book is palpable. Both Pryor and Ned are on edge and throughout the story I could see Ned’s strength through Pryor’s eyes. Just by being his quiet and subtle self in Ned’s life. He never tells Pryor that he’s crazy or that Lily is never coming back, he just supports and loves unconditionally. But, as Father’s Day comes near even Ned is feeling it.
“The tension of the past few days strained Ned’s place in the house and confused him. He wasn’t a man used to living in the abstract, he preferred concrete and metal, not moonlight and shadows.”
This is the part of the story I loved the most and what made it a five heart rating for me. See, I LOVE being creeped out and stressed out by a book. I love when the story could go any direction and give me a happily ever after or horrify the hell out of me, I just don’t know. When Lily came home I really did not have a clue what was going to happen and it was great! Poor Pryor wanted his daughter back so badly and he had such hopelessly high hopes, he had “Belief in a lie as seductive as the lie itself”. Underneath it all was the dark atmospheric feel of what Lily had become and the whole time she was at home I was on the edge of my seat. The descriptions weren’t over the top and kept the whole meeting from being campy and kept it right in the creepy edgy place it needed to be.
There is no traditional HEA here. There is a solid relationship between two perfectly matched men, so you will definitely get that feel and it’s a good one. It’s the rest of the story that takes it to a whole new place and will make me remember the book and its characters for a long time to come.
January 22, 2012
A little over a year ago, Pryor's life changed for good. His daughter, Lily, was dragged into the forest by a wolf, not to be found. His life ground to a halt.
Until he met Ned. An artist, a silversmith. Pryor had never really been attracted to a man before, and neither had Ned. But they find a mutual desire and end up together,
But Pryor has been hearing Lily's voice on the wind. A promise that she will return one day. And once Ned sees the white wolf who may be Lily in the woods, his doubts lessen. So the two men fashion a plan to keep Lily there for more than one day.
Will Lily return? Will she be the same girl her father remembers? And can they keep her with them?
This dreamy, fantastical story of grief, werewolves and a father's love for his child had me mesmerized. I felt stuck in Pryor's grief and secret obsession, and wondered to the last is he was wishing or something magic and dark was abound.
Xavier Axelson has the gift of breathing life into dark and broken characters and healing them through love, time and belief. His men are strong, flawed and searching. And his stories are often tragic but never without hope and love.
Read this wonderful short work and enjoy.
Tom
Until he met Ned. An artist, a silversmith. Pryor had never really been attracted to a man before, and neither had Ned. But they find a mutual desire and end up together,
But Pryor has been hearing Lily's voice on the wind. A promise that she will return one day. And once Ned sees the white wolf who may be Lily in the woods, his doubts lessen. So the two men fashion a plan to keep Lily there for more than one day.
Will Lily return? Will she be the same girl her father remembers? And can they keep her with them?
This dreamy, fantastical story of grief, werewolves and a father's love for his child had me mesmerized. I felt stuck in Pryor's grief and secret obsession, and wondered to the last is he was wishing or something magic and dark was abound.
Xavier Axelson has the gift of breathing life into dark and broken characters and healing them through love, time and belief. His men are strong, flawed and searching. And his stories are often tragic but never without hope and love.
Read this wonderful short work and enjoy.
Tom
December 17, 2019
As horrible as Pryor's life has become, and as much as he mourns his daughter Lily's disappearance, he is only human. He needs love and support as much as any of us, and he is lucky enough to get it from Ned. Once he accepts that, there is an option for more, and that, I think, is what this story is really all about. Hope.
Please find my full review of the fourth edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review of the fourth edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
December 17, 2019
As horrible as Pryor's life has become, and as much as he mourns his daughter Lily's disappearance, he is only human. He needs love and support as much as any of us, and he is lucky enough to get it from Ned. Once he accepts that, there is an option for more, and that, I think, is what this story is really all about. Hope.
Please find my full review of the fourth edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review of the fourth edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
May 30, 2012
Pryor is a lost man, after losing his daughter Lily. Even worse, he saw when his daughter was taken and dragged into the woods by a wolf. The town and his neighbours believe it was a coyote, but Pryor knows it was a wolf. He becomes a shell of a man, because he has lost the most important person in his life, and to make it matters worst he believes Lily is still out there. Still his Lily, his beautiful daughter but also something more; something frightening.
His guilt and his grief are mixed in with his feelings when he meets Ned. A jewellery designer who makes him want to feel again. Their relationship provides something good for Pryor, and makes him a character you feel sad for. Otherwise, he might have been the mad man stuck in the past and finding an unhealthy way to deal with the loss of his daughter.
The writing is rich and intense, and you can clearly picture the forest and the eeriness of the nights. The anticipation of Lily’s arrival is both creepy and fascinating; I was on the edge of my seat waiting for when she would show up, and if she would show up. When she does return, you can’t help but wonder what her life was like for the year she has been gone, because even though she looks like Lily, something more fearsome lurks behind her eyes and teeth.
Overall, and intensely captivating story about a man facing life without his precious daughter. The story is a short one, but it’s like reading a well-written novel. It’s like a nice flow of water, beautiful and provides its own lyrical flow. While reading you never forget that Pryor is a father, and being Lily’s father is the most important thing in his world. Because whether in life or in death he will always be ‘Lily’s father’ I believe that alone makes this story strong and captivating. A very well written short.
More of my reviews and ramblings at PANTS OFF REVIEWS
His guilt and his grief are mixed in with his feelings when he meets Ned. A jewellery designer who makes him want to feel again. Their relationship provides something good for Pryor, and makes him a character you feel sad for. Otherwise, he might have been the mad man stuck in the past and finding an unhealthy way to deal with the loss of his daughter.
The writing is rich and intense, and you can clearly picture the forest and the eeriness of the nights. The anticipation of Lily’s arrival is both creepy and fascinating; I was on the edge of my seat waiting for when she would show up, and if she would show up. When she does return, you can’t help but wonder what her life was like for the year she has been gone, because even though she looks like Lily, something more fearsome lurks behind her eyes and teeth.
Overall, and intensely captivating story about a man facing life without his precious daughter. The story is a short one, but it’s like reading a well-written novel. It’s like a nice flow of water, beautiful and provides its own lyrical flow. While reading you never forget that Pryor is a father, and being Lily’s father is the most important thing in his world. Because whether in life or in death he will always be ‘Lily’s father’ I believe that alone makes this story strong and captivating. A very well written short.
More of my reviews and ramblings at PANTS OFF REVIEWS
February 7, 2012
Insightful & Captivating!
What an insightful story into the emotional and turmoil life of a father who has lost a daughter to the unexplained. The emotions from the father is immediately exposed leaving the reader with nothing but feeling sympathy because like the father, in the real world no one would believe in the paranormal world that were-wolves really exist.
Through keeping the frustration inside and battling with worry for his daughter Lily, Pryor finally finds some relief and comfort from a new love “Ned” and with his strength and belief Pryor and Ned prepare for Lily’s return. The connection between Pryor and Ned was sensual, fitting for each other; however their erotic scenes were on the mild side for me.
I have to say that Lily’s return was very interesting and captivating as I found I wanted to know more details about the world she discovered in the woods and why she could only be there for one day which was on father’s day. I wanted to know who turned her, why, and how many more were-wolf was out there. All of this had me glued to the pages in this short read and I hope Xavier Axelson turns this into a series and explores the areas of the paranormal world more in dept.
Great Read!
What an insightful story into the emotional and turmoil life of a father who has lost a daughter to the unexplained. The emotions from the father is immediately exposed leaving the reader with nothing but feeling sympathy because like the father, in the real world no one would believe in the paranormal world that were-wolves really exist.
Through keeping the frustration inside and battling with worry for his daughter Lily, Pryor finally finds some relief and comfort from a new love “Ned” and with his strength and belief Pryor and Ned prepare for Lily’s return. The connection between Pryor and Ned was sensual, fitting for each other; however their erotic scenes were on the mild side for me.
I have to say that Lily’s return was very interesting and captivating as I found I wanted to know more details about the world she discovered in the woods and why she could only be there for one day which was on father’s day. I wanted to know who turned her, why, and how many more were-wolf was out there. All of this had me glued to the pages in this short read and I hope Xavier Axelson turns this into a series and explores the areas of the paranormal world more in dept.
Great Read!
October 28, 2015
I received a copy of this eBook in exchange for an honest review. This is in no way reflected in my opinion of this novella.
Lily isn't the normal type of book you see on my shelves or kindle. I don't normally read romances, paranormal or otherwise. It's also different because it was my first all male romance. This didn't bother me because I believe that you love who you love. If this is offensive to you then you might want to skip this one. This story was touching and more than a little sad. As a parent I can't imagine the torment of losing a child. I totally understood Prior's despair as he waits for his daughter to come back, and his guilt at finding love at such a difficult time. Ned's kindness and understanding was heartwarming. I would have liked to know more about how and why Lily became a werewolf, other than that this was an interesting story. A 3.5 star read.
Lily isn't the normal type of book you see on my shelves or kindle. I don't normally read romances, paranormal or otherwise. It's also different because it was my first all male romance. This didn't bother me because I believe that you love who you love. If this is offensive to you then you might want to skip this one. This story was touching and more than a little sad. As a parent I can't imagine the torment of losing a child. I totally understood Prior's despair as he waits for his daughter to come back, and his guilt at finding love at such a difficult time. Ned's kindness and understanding was heartwarming. I would have liked to know more about how and why Lily became a werewolf, other than that this was an interesting story. A 3.5 star read.
December 17, 2019
As horrible as Pryor's life has become, and as much as he mourns his daughter Lily's disappearance, he is only human. He needs love and support as much as any of us, and he is lucky enough to get it from Ned. Once he accepts that, there is an option for more, and that, I think, is what this story is really all about. Hope.
Please find my full review of the fourth edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review of the fourth edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
April 12, 2012
Rating: 3.5 stars
Pryor sits on the deck and watches the woods every day. He Review: Pryor sits on the deck and watches the woods every day. He waits for that one fleeting glimpse of a young white wolf. In that terrible and breathtakingly painful moment when their eyes meet, he catches a brief glimpse of a lost soul...the soul of his daughter, Lily.
With heartbreaking detail, Lily by Xavier Axelson, tells the story of a man who in the blink of an eye loses the one most precious thing in his entire existence, his young daughter. From a series of flashbacks juxtaposed with the present day, we watch the story of Pryor's life unfold. The details are not complete; in fact, much of this story is left undone as if the author wanted to impart only those elements that he felt were truly needed to make sense of the situation. However, just enough detail is given for the full horrifying effect of Pryor's tortured existence to be understood.
On a typical afternoon, Lily, Pryor's only child, is playing in the back yard. Their home sits on the edge of a deep wood. One moment Lily is there, the next she is gone, pulled into the wood by a wolf. While it is never fully explained why or how Lily is taken, it is quite clear from the onset of this story that Pryor suspects she is now the white wolf that prowls the edge of his property almost every evening. She has become a changeling, or a werewolf, he suspects, although he shares this belief with no one until he meets Ned. Ned, a retired army veteran, works as a silversmith in the local jewelry shop. Pryor, driven by the need to have something tangible to remember Lily by, goes to the shop to have a piece of jewelry made.
The two men make an immediate connection. Although the story dances around whether or not these two men are outright gay or merely bisexual it is very clear on their instant attraction. For the first time since Lily's change, Pryor feels something akin to love, which in turn becomes hope.
Now the two men join forces to see if, by the wearing of the silver necklace Ned has fashioned, Lily can be forced to remain in human form. While the story details are once again sketchy, we are privy to the fact that Lily is able to return to human form only one day a year, Father's Day. We then witness the vain attempts by Pryor and Ned to leash the beast that has taken over Lily's soul, to no avail. The end of this little tale is bittersweet and decidedly gut-wrenching.
There were so many pieces of this story that played out like a beautiful symphony. The encounters, both sexual and non between Ned and Pryor as they explored the possibility of loving one another. Pryor's determination to hold onto the humanity of his daughter despite all evidence supporting the fact that indeed the better part of her was a feral beast, unpredictable and wild. The small details of a life that was being lived on the edge of reason, such as Pryor's penchant for holding vigil each evening in the hopes of seeing the creature his daughter had become emerge from the woods.
Unfortunately it is just these same pieces that became the core of my main criticism of this work; that the reader is left yearning for more...a clearer understanding of why Pryor's wife left him; of why Lily was taken; of how Ned could believe the fantastical story of Lily's changed form with such ease. So many questions were left unanswered that they began to overshadow the pleasure of the reading.
Indeed, the 3.5 star for this novel stems from the frustration I felt when the author would begin to lead us right to the cusp of a deeper look at the back story that had led us to a certain point in the novella only to veer off to delve into another memory.
However, despite these minor irritations, the novella was truly a moving story of unconditional and selfless love. A love that while bittersweet, remained hopeful and allowed for life to go on and new love to grow.
Pryor sits on the deck and watches the woods every day. He Review: Pryor sits on the deck and watches the woods every day. He waits for that one fleeting glimpse of a young white wolf. In that terrible and breathtakingly painful moment when their eyes meet, he catches a brief glimpse of a lost soul...the soul of his daughter, Lily.
With heartbreaking detail, Lily by Xavier Axelson, tells the story of a man who in the blink of an eye loses the one most precious thing in his entire existence, his young daughter. From a series of flashbacks juxtaposed with the present day, we watch the story of Pryor's life unfold. The details are not complete; in fact, much of this story is left undone as if the author wanted to impart only those elements that he felt were truly needed to make sense of the situation. However, just enough detail is given for the full horrifying effect of Pryor's tortured existence to be understood.
On a typical afternoon, Lily, Pryor's only child, is playing in the back yard. Their home sits on the edge of a deep wood. One moment Lily is there, the next she is gone, pulled into the wood by a wolf. While it is never fully explained why or how Lily is taken, it is quite clear from the onset of this story that Pryor suspects she is now the white wolf that prowls the edge of his property almost every evening. She has become a changeling, or a werewolf, he suspects, although he shares this belief with no one until he meets Ned. Ned, a retired army veteran, works as a silversmith in the local jewelry shop. Pryor, driven by the need to have something tangible to remember Lily by, goes to the shop to have a piece of jewelry made.
The two men make an immediate connection. Although the story dances around whether or not these two men are outright gay or merely bisexual it is very clear on their instant attraction. For the first time since Lily's change, Pryor feels something akin to love, which in turn becomes hope.
Now the two men join forces to see if, by the wearing of the silver necklace Ned has fashioned, Lily can be forced to remain in human form. While the story details are once again sketchy, we are privy to the fact that Lily is able to return to human form only one day a year, Father's Day. We then witness the vain attempts by Pryor and Ned to leash the beast that has taken over Lily's soul, to no avail. The end of this little tale is bittersweet and decidedly gut-wrenching.
There were so many pieces of this story that played out like a beautiful symphony. The encounters, both sexual and non between Ned and Pryor as they explored the possibility of loving one another. Pryor's determination to hold onto the humanity of his daughter despite all evidence supporting the fact that indeed the better part of her was a feral beast, unpredictable and wild. The small details of a life that was being lived on the edge of reason, such as Pryor's penchant for holding vigil each evening in the hopes of seeing the creature his daughter had become emerge from the woods.
Unfortunately it is just these same pieces that became the core of my main criticism of this work; that the reader is left yearning for more...a clearer understanding of why Pryor's wife left him; of why Lily was taken; of how Ned could believe the fantastical story of Lily's changed form with such ease. So many questions were left unanswered that they began to overshadow the pleasure of the reading.
Indeed, the 3.5 star for this novel stems from the frustration I felt when the author would begin to lead us right to the cusp of a deeper look at the back story that had led us to a certain point in the novella only to veer off to delve into another memory.
However, despite these minor irritations, the novella was truly a moving story of unconditional and selfless love. A love that while bittersweet, remained hopeful and allowed for life to go on and new love to grow.
February 20, 2012
This review can be found at Brief Encounters Reviews.
This story had a very distinctive feel and format to it. It was different, and I wasn’t sure if I liked it or not, but it seemed to work. The book starts with Pryor explaining the attack on his young daughter, and her being dragged off into the woods by wolves. It devastated his life, as it naturally would, however the book is told in a distinct pattern of present day, flash back, present day, flash back, and so on. But it seemed to work and it didn’t take me long to get into the story.
Currently, it is one year since the abduction which happened on Father’s Day. He’s now living with Ned, a silversmith who absolutely adores him. Pryor believes that Lily is now a wolf, and she has promised to come back to him for one day on Father’s Day. They create a silver necklace they hope will keep her from changing back when she arrives.
The present day portion of the story is set around a 24 hour period, as Pryor waits desperately for his daughter, and remembers how he came to be at this point in his life. A large part of the story is Pryor’s attempts to cope with the loss of his child and resulting depression, and then he and Ned getting to know each other, both of them in their first gay relationship. However, pervading the whole story is the mystery surrounding Lily. Is she really a wolf? Will she come back as Pryor believes? Is he just so desperate with grief he’s made this up? Does Ned believe, or is he humouring his man? All of those questions loom over the story, like a rather sinister mist that never really leaves. Then when Lily does return, Pryor has to face up to the fact that maybe even a father’s love isn’t enough to keep her.
I could visualize this as a movie or TV show with a bit of horror overtones. There’s nothing overtly horrific, but it’s just got that foreboding heaviness to it that fit with Pryor’s grief and desperate hope that he will get his daughter back. The romance between Ned and Pryor was sweet and romantic and I definitely knew that Ned loved him, and his love probably kept Pryor from completely become obsessed with the gloomy forest in his backyard and Lily’s disappearance. The romance also kept the story from being a depressing take of Pryor’s sorrow.
A lot of the story is left open. What exactly is Lily now? Why was she taken? By whom or what? So if you need everything wrapped up in a bow, or want a traditional A to B romance, it may be frustrating for you, but I found the atmosphere and suspense an enjoyable aspect.
This story had a very distinctive feel and format to it. It was different, and I wasn’t sure if I liked it or not, but it seemed to work. The book starts with Pryor explaining the attack on his young daughter, and her being dragged off into the woods by wolves. It devastated his life, as it naturally would, however the book is told in a distinct pattern of present day, flash back, present day, flash back, and so on. But it seemed to work and it didn’t take me long to get into the story.
Currently, it is one year since the abduction which happened on Father’s Day. He’s now living with Ned, a silversmith who absolutely adores him. Pryor believes that Lily is now a wolf, and she has promised to come back to him for one day on Father’s Day. They create a silver necklace they hope will keep her from changing back when she arrives.
The present day portion of the story is set around a 24 hour period, as Pryor waits desperately for his daughter, and remembers how he came to be at this point in his life. A large part of the story is Pryor’s attempts to cope with the loss of his child and resulting depression, and then he and Ned getting to know each other, both of them in their first gay relationship. However, pervading the whole story is the mystery surrounding Lily. Is she really a wolf? Will she come back as Pryor believes? Is he just so desperate with grief he’s made this up? Does Ned believe, or is he humouring his man? All of those questions loom over the story, like a rather sinister mist that never really leaves. Then when Lily does return, Pryor has to face up to the fact that maybe even a father’s love isn’t enough to keep her.
I could visualize this as a movie or TV show with a bit of horror overtones. There’s nothing overtly horrific, but it’s just got that foreboding heaviness to it that fit with Pryor’s grief and desperate hope that he will get his daughter back. The romance between Ned and Pryor was sweet and romantic and I definitely knew that Ned loved him, and his love probably kept Pryor from completely become obsessed with the gloomy forest in his backyard and Lily’s disappearance. The romance also kept the story from being a depressing take of Pryor’s sorrow.
A lot of the story is left open. What exactly is Lily now? Why was she taken? By whom or what? So if you need everything wrapped up in a bow, or want a traditional A to B romance, it may be frustrating for you, but I found the atmosphere and suspense an enjoyable aspect.
February 24, 2012
Yes. This book had some incrediably hot sex scenes in it :) I was very excited when Xaiver contacted me to review this book. I absolutely loved his last book. It was full of yummy food and decadently wicked sex. But the story tied to this particular romance is heart-wrenching. Only a parent could relate to the pain and utter loss that is expressed so solemly in Pryor. His daughter was taken from him by a wolf as he helplessly watched her being dragged away. He was unable to find her no matter how frantically he searched. Lily was all he had in his life and now she was gone. The town had distanced themselves from him because of his steadfast refusal to change his story. They considered him crazy. There were no wolves reported to ever have been anywhere near the town but Pryor swore that his daughter was taken by a wolf. Not only that, but he also believed she had turned into one.
As a mother, I can absolutely empathize what Pryor was going through. The pain, longing, and helplessness expressed in the story captures you and will literally bring you to tears. Nothing can comfort you when so much is left unknown about what is going on with your child. The guilt and worry had made him practically unrecognoziable, to himself as well as others. He shut himself off from life and away from everyone he knew. Until he met Ned. Ned was like a becon of light in all of the darkness surrounding him. A solace of temporary comfort where he could just breath for a little while. But will Ned believe him? Or will he write him off as everyone else had? I enjoyed this book immensley and really really hope Xavier intends to expand on the series!!
As a mother, I can absolutely empathize what Pryor was going through. The pain, longing, and helplessness expressed in the story captures you and will literally bring you to tears. Nothing can comfort you when so much is left unknown about what is going on with your child. The guilt and worry had made him practically unrecognoziable, to himself as well as others. He shut himself off from life and away from everyone he knew. Until he met Ned. Ned was like a becon of light in all of the darkness surrounding him. A solace of temporary comfort where he could just breath for a little while. But will Ned believe him? Or will he write him off as everyone else had? I enjoyed this book immensley and really really hope Xavier intends to expand on the series!!
March 3, 2012
Rating: 4.5 stars
Its Father’s Day and two men are waiting for a little girl to appear. They are waiting for Lily. Lily, his beloved little girl, had been lost a year ago, dragged off into the woods by a wolf. In the time since, Pryor, consumed with his loss, has retreated to his cabin, his days numbed by his grief. Only the love and support of Ned, his partner, and a plan to reclaim his daughter has kept him sane. And now the time has come to see if she will return to him, if only for a day.
What a marvelous short story Lily is. Lyrical in language and strong in its empathy for a parent’s pain, it has a singular voice in Pryor, Lily’s father. To Pryor “ still believe being Lily’s father is the most important thing in this world.” And you feel that hole in his life so acutely is she described just before she is ripped from him, her hair all “wild and white – blonde”. Pryor’s voice and his descriptions provide a wealth of clues and information about his past. He hears voices, whether is the derogatory words of his dead mother, or whispers from the woods. He described his lover’s beard as his “summer fur”, and stares into the moonlight woods searching for signs of his daughter. All three characters here are beautifully realized, one heartbroken, one steady and one filled with wildness and innocence. I love how we are feed bits of information until we can finally spin together the fibers that make up the tapestry that is this family.
There is such a distinctive style to this story, as the mundane are juxtaposed with the magical. Like silk against the skin, this story glides over into your memory. I loved this and hope you will feel the same.
Its Father’s Day and two men are waiting for a little girl to appear. They are waiting for Lily. Lily, his beloved little girl, had been lost a year ago, dragged off into the woods by a wolf. In the time since, Pryor, consumed with his loss, has retreated to his cabin, his days numbed by his grief. Only the love and support of Ned, his partner, and a plan to reclaim his daughter has kept him sane. And now the time has come to see if she will return to him, if only for a day.
What a marvelous short story Lily is. Lyrical in language and strong in its empathy for a parent’s pain, it has a singular voice in Pryor, Lily’s father. To Pryor “ still believe being Lily’s father is the most important thing in this world.” And you feel that hole in his life so acutely is she described just before she is ripped from him, her hair all “wild and white – blonde”. Pryor’s voice and his descriptions provide a wealth of clues and information about his past. He hears voices, whether is the derogatory words of his dead mother, or whispers from the woods. He described his lover’s beard as his “summer fur”, and stares into the moonlight woods searching for signs of his daughter. All three characters here are beautifully realized, one heartbroken, one steady and one filled with wildness and innocence. I love how we are feed bits of information until we can finally spin together the fibers that make up the tapestry that is this family.
There is such a distinctive style to this story, as the mundane are juxtaposed with the magical. Like silk against the skin, this story glides over into your memory. I loved this and hope you will feel the same.
April 27, 2012
3.5 STARS
It’s Father’s Day and a year ago Pryor lost his daughter Lily when a wolf dragged her off into the woods. After the disappearance of his daughter, he closed himself off from the world. Pryor spent his days watching the woods, waiting for the day that his daughter will return to him. One day he hears Lily’s voice, vowing that she will return to him on the day she disappeared, Father’s day even if it was only for a day. Hoping that legends were true in respect to werewolves and silver, Pryor commissions a silver necklace to keep Lily from leaving again. It wasn’t until he met Ned (jeweler), that his world started to make sense again.
I am amazed at how much history and background the author was able to squeeze into 93 pages. This is a short novella, glimpsing into the life of Pryor. We see Pryor in his moment of grievance and how he slowly got out of it when he met Ned. There are a couple of flashback scenes of how Ned and Pryor first met, and how over time their relationship grew. Ned was a great character, he’s a tough ex-army guy but at the same time you can see his soft side, how much he cares and loves Ned. He’s Pryor rock, and support Pryor as he is still coping with his daughter disappearance/re-appearance. Overall this was a really good short story, Pryor and Ned relationship is really the main focus of the novel, and the author did a great job in creating a realistic and emotional bond. I only wish that there was a little more paranormal element to the story. I wanted to know more about what happened to Lily, and about her transformation.
It’s Father’s Day and a year ago Pryor lost his daughter Lily when a wolf dragged her off into the woods. After the disappearance of his daughter, he closed himself off from the world. Pryor spent his days watching the woods, waiting for the day that his daughter will return to him. One day he hears Lily’s voice, vowing that she will return to him on the day she disappeared, Father’s day even if it was only for a day. Hoping that legends were true in respect to werewolves and silver, Pryor commissions a silver necklace to keep Lily from leaving again. It wasn’t until he met Ned (jeweler), that his world started to make sense again.
I am amazed at how much history and background the author was able to squeeze into 93 pages. This is a short novella, glimpsing into the life of Pryor. We see Pryor in his moment of grievance and how he slowly got out of it when he met Ned. There are a couple of flashback scenes of how Ned and Pryor first met, and how over time their relationship grew. Ned was a great character, he’s a tough ex-army guy but at the same time you can see his soft side, how much he cares and loves Ned. He’s Pryor rock, and support Pryor as he is still coping with his daughter disappearance/re-appearance. Overall this was a really good short story, Pryor and Ned relationship is really the main focus of the novel, and the author did a great job in creating a realistic and emotional bond. I only wish that there was a little more paranormal element to the story. I wanted to know more about what happened to Lily, and about her transformation.
June 22, 2014
Review posted on Books on Silver Wings blog: http://onsilverwingz.blogspot.com/201...
Lily was dragged into the forest by a wolf and became a changeling or werewolf. No one knows what she is except that she isn't human anymore. Lily promised Pryor, her human father, to be home for one day. Ned, Pryor's boyfriend, gives a silver necklace to Pryor to keep Lily at home from the woods. Pryor desperately wants the necklace to work to have his daughter back.
This story is about a father's love for his daughter. Pryor almost (or did) went insane after Lily was taken. He stopped living in the present until he met Ned. Ned really helps him recover himself and gives him hope that Lily will be home. The story tells the journey Pryor goes through to be able to make the decisions he did at the end of the story and still be proud of himself as a father.
The paranormal element in the story is mysterious in an abstract way. We never know what exactly is Lily, where is her mother, and who is the wolf that dragged her into the woods. I feel like the story is still too abstract.
Overall, it's a great short story that explores the depths of a father's love. The mystery of Lily's kidnapping and the anticipation over the silver necklace really grabs my attention. I would recommends this story for those looking for mystery and an out of the ordinary paranormal story.
*review copy received in exchange for an honest review*
Lily was dragged into the forest by a wolf and became a changeling or werewolf. No one knows what she is except that she isn't human anymore. Lily promised Pryor, her human father, to be home for one day. Ned, Pryor's boyfriend, gives a silver necklace to Pryor to keep Lily at home from the woods. Pryor desperately wants the necklace to work to have his daughter back.
This story is about a father's love for his daughter. Pryor almost (or did) went insane after Lily was taken. He stopped living in the present until he met Ned. Ned really helps him recover himself and gives him hope that Lily will be home. The story tells the journey Pryor goes through to be able to make the decisions he did at the end of the story and still be proud of himself as a father.
The paranormal element in the story is mysterious in an abstract way. We never know what exactly is Lily, where is her mother, and who is the wolf that dragged her into the woods. I feel like the story is still too abstract.
Overall, it's a great short story that explores the depths of a father's love. The mystery of Lily's kidnapping and the anticipation over the silver necklace really grabs my attention. I would recommends this story for those looking for mystery and an out of the ordinary paranormal story.
*review copy received in exchange for an honest review*
March 21, 2012
This may have only been a short read but it was beautiful. It was so heart breaking the way Pryor had to suffer with the loss of his daughter and that he had waited so long for the day for her to come back only to have to let her go again, thankfully he had Ned to help him through. I really loved Ned as a character; he’s so caring and strong, just wanting to make everything better for Pryor. The relationship between the two really made the book for me; they are just a perfect pair. The emotion leaps off the pages and sucks you right into the story; I wanted to read more and more. Not at all your standard paranormal read, it’s deep and meaningful. I really enjoy the way Xavier Axelson writes; the way he uses descriptive elements throughout the story makes the story flow so well and allows you to get carried away.
I don’t think there are any negatives to this read for me, except that maybe that it wasn’t long enough, I wanted more! But that is just a compliment to how much of a great read this was. Even though the ending wasn’t a classic “happy” one where everything is tied up in a nice little bow, it was suited to the story and it was heart breakingly perfect.
I don’t think there are any negatives to this read for me, except that maybe that it wasn’t long enough, I wanted more! But that is just a compliment to how much of a great read this was. Even though the ending wasn’t a classic “happy” one where everything is tied up in a nice little bow, it was suited to the story and it was heart breakingly perfect.
July 24, 2014
In only a short space of time Xavier Axelson communicates the deep emotions of his three characters in this paranormal story with a m/m romance side-plot (or is it a m/m romance with a paranormal twist?). We experience Pryor's anguish at the loss of Lily, his hope for her return and the love he feels for Ned; Lily's confusion at her surroundings and her human versus feral nature, but holding the story together we have Ned's strength, his animalistic passion and his understanding of the life Pryor is merely existing in.
The story is told, in part, through flashbacks of either the beginning of Pryor and Ned's relationship or the time before Lily's disappearance. In any other circumstances the subject of a father's devotion to his daughter, and his romance with another man, may be taboo combination, but here Xavier Axelson makes it work.
As a parent I could fully empathise with Pryor and even his slightly obsessive behaviour, but at the conclusion of this short story we are reminded that Pryor reconciles with his feelings about Lily's new life, instead putting his faith in Ned and their future.
Lily is an interesting and quick read and I would definitely recommend it.
The story is told, in part, through flashbacks of either the beginning of Pryor and Ned's relationship or the time before Lily's disappearance. In any other circumstances the subject of a father's devotion to his daughter, and his romance with another man, may be taboo combination, but here Xavier Axelson makes it work.
As a parent I could fully empathise with Pryor and even his slightly obsessive behaviour, but at the conclusion of this short story we are reminded that Pryor reconciles with his feelings about Lily's new life, instead putting his faith in Ned and their future.
Lily is an interesting and quick read and I would definitely recommend it.
February 1, 2012
How do you survive the loss of a child? I don't know that I could survive it. It's the worst thing a parent can go thru.
Pryor felt like he stopped living after Lily was taken from him by the wolf. He quit work, barely ate he was so lost. He sat and watched the woods behind his house all the time. A voice in the wind and the smell of roses made him believe Lily was still out there.
The voice had told him that she would return for one day on the anniversary of the day she was taken. Pryor held onto hope that she would come home for good.
Ned is the silversmith working at the local jewelry store. Pryor went there to see about a remembrance piece. Ned asked him out for a drink. Pryor seemed to feel more alive around him.
Ned made a silver necklace for Lily. So Pryor could put it on her and hope she wouldn't change.
The ending of the story kinda reminded me of Pet Semetary
after the dad had buried his son and he came back different.
Pryor felt like he stopped living after Lily was taken from him by the wolf. He quit work, barely ate he was so lost. He sat and watched the woods behind his house all the time. A voice in the wind and the smell of roses made him believe Lily was still out there.
The voice had told him that she would return for one day on the anniversary of the day she was taken. Pryor held onto hope that she would come home for good.
Ned is the silversmith working at the local jewelry store. Pryor went there to see about a remembrance piece. Ned asked him out for a drink. Pryor seemed to feel more alive around him.
Ned made a silver necklace for Lily. So Pryor could put it on her and hope she wouldn't change.
The ending of the story kinda reminded me of Pet Semetary
after the dad had buried his son and he came back different.
April 1, 2012
---> Xavier Axelson’s LILY is a story of terrible loss and remarkable hope. This little book doesn’t have a traditional HEA ending but it ends as it must.
I felt the bedroom scenes with Ned were oddly juxtaposed with the pull of fatherhood until I realized that both were expressions of deepest love and sacrifice. This is a lovely, unique, and special story that is not your usual gay fatherhood trope, nor your usual paranormal adventure. It is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.
Please see my complete review at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index.... April 5, 2012
I felt the bedroom scenes with Ned were oddly juxtaposed with the pull of fatherhood until I realized that both were expressions of deepest love and sacrifice. This is a lovely, unique, and special story that is not your usual gay fatherhood trope, nor your usual paranormal adventure. It is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.
Please see my complete review at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index.... April 5, 2012
May 3, 2012
I won a copy of Lily and I'm glad I did. A short novella but an awful lot of emotion is packed in to it as well as hot m/m sex scenes.
Pryor's daughter Lily was dragged off into the woods by wolves a year ago. His devastation at this comes through well, he is floundering till he meets Ned and they begin a relationship.
A great deal of emotion builds up to the 1 year anniversary of Lily being taken.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story though I would have liked more info on Lily and what happened while she was gone.
Pryor's daughter Lily was dragged off into the woods by wolves a year ago. His devastation at this comes through well, he is floundering till he meets Ned and they begin a relationship.
A great deal of emotion builds up to the 1 year anniversary of Lily being taken.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story though I would have liked more info on Lily and what happened while she was gone.
December 17, 2019
As horrible as Pryor's life has become, and as much as he mourns his daughter Lily's disappearance, he is only human. He needs love and support as much as any of us, and he is lucky enough to get it from Ned. Once he accepts that, there is an option for more, and that, I think, is what this story is really all about. Hope.
Please find my full review of the fourth edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review of the fourth edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
January 16, 2012
Wow that was a dramatic story of a deeply grieving father. Pryor lost his daughter, she was abducted by a wolf. And this plot circles around Pryor emotions. Hard story in general.
February 19, 2012
Odd. Nice, but odd.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews