The Marriage of Gryphons

Penny White #3

by Chrys Cymri

A blast of wind flicked hair from my face. Long toes wrapped around my waist, claws prickling through fur and clothing as I was snatched from the ground. The dragon lifted me high into the grey skies above Llundain. Of the many words going through my head, Oh, bother, was the only one worthy of a priest.

When I’d discovered the existence of Daear, Earth’s magical parallel world, I thought all of my dreams had come true. Riding the handsome dragon, Raven, arguing with my gryphon Associate, Morey, and raising Clyde, a mischievous snail shark, lessen the monotony of my life as the priest of a small village church. And I’ve also met Peter, a man who agrees with me that Doctor Who and single malt whisky are proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

But Raven has gone missing, and finding him would mean a hazardous trip to the Arctic. Morey’s attempts to prove himself worthy of marriage to his love, Taryn, are putting all of us in danger, particularly my younger brother, James. Can I keep those I love safe in a world which has little love for humans?

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy

273 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 12, 2017

About the author

Priest by day, writer at odd times of the day and night, I live with a small green parrot called Tilly because the upkeep for a dragon is beyond my current budget. Plus I’m responsible for making good any flame damage to church property. I love ‘Doctor Who’, landscape photography, single malt whisky, and my job, in no particular order. When I’m not looking after a small parish church in the Midlands (England) I like to go on far flung adventures to places like Peru, New Zealand, and North Korea.

Sign up to my newsletter and receive a subscriber exclusive story for free! Go to my website, www.chryscymri.com

You can read about my travels on www.travellinghopefully.co.uk

Reviews

[Jane Jago · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't actually know where to start writing a review. This series tackles complex issues and moral dilemmas whilst mixing crime with fantasy with......

And the author does it all so well.

I defy anyone not to be a bit in love with Clyde, and Raven, and Morry.

I think I've become a fan girl.

Hugely recommended.

[Chrys Cymri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite
https://readersfavorite.com/book-revi...

Penny White and the Marriage of Gryphons by Chrys Cymri is the third book in the Penny White series. Penny White is back with her gryphon Associate Morey, her brother James, her boyfriend Peter, and the snail shark she's raising, Clyde. Penny struggles to balance her two full time commitments to her church and to another world, both of which constantly beg for more attention from her. To make matters more complicated, she's requested to find a missing dragon that happens to be Raven, the very dragon that disappointed her when the unicorns nearly killed her. On top of that, Morey announces his engagement, but in order for him to wed Taryn, Penny and her family will need to aid him in a series of trials. If they succeed, they'll be able to be married, but if they fail then someone may die.

Once again, Penny White brings me to my nerdy happy place! Penny is every nerd's heroine! I was sad to reach the end, leaving me with so many questions about that ending. Fun, witty, powerful, Penny White and the Marriage of Gryphons is another delightful adventure that's addictive past the last page. I'm impressed and delighted at all the nerdy references that Chrys Cymri flawlessly weaves into the story through Penny's voice. Penny is compelling and easy to adore. When she gets angry, I get angry. It's so easy to get caught up in her story. One of the best things about her is how real she feels. She's the type of person you'd want to be friends with. She makes mistakes, she has her faults, but she's also strong, loyal, loving, and has a really good heart. Each character is clearly defined, and incredibly layered. Penny is a priest, but she's also a Doctor Who and Buffy fan, as well as a devoted sister. Her brother is in a lot of ways that rebellious youth, but he's also loyal and just trying to do what's right. Morey is very blunt and strict with his beliefs, but he's also honest and a true friend. My favorite character is Clyde, who is this seemingly dangerous creature, but he's so sweet and adorable that you can't be afraid of him. A must-read!

[Melonie Purcell · Rating 5 out of 5]

AHHHH!!!!!!!

I can’t stand it. This is really bad. The book is over and there isn’t a sequel...yet. I might not be able to go on.

Father Penny White is the best kind of terrible priest a parish could ever hope for. She is real, filled with conflict, not so good at the daily-walk most of the time and she drinks like a fish (as does everyone in this series it seems, even the snail-shark) But, she’s committed to her role and she has a heart of gold. She isn’t interested in the trappings of faith as much as the reason for it and she makes a wonderful vicar. Except for the part where she doesn’t want to be a vicar on Earth. There is that.

And then there are her friends. Her brother is a selfish jerk half the time, but you can’t help but feel for him as he fights the inevitabilities of growing up. Her associate is a sardonic and sassy gryphon who is too well-read and too willing to share that fact with pretty much everyone. She has a boyfriend who isn’t sure what to do with her and another boyfriend (who happens to be a dragon) that she isn’t sure what to do with. And then there is Clyde – a snail shark who communicates in song lyrics and has a taste for lemmings.

This book follows the tribe as they cross over into Lloegyr to complete three tasks of strength and character so Morey can marry his love. However, through their trials, the characters deal with serious world issues such as the cost of industrialization, political corruption, inter-racial marriage, homosexuality and growing pains of a religion that either needs to adapt or risk becoming extinct. And it does all of that with DRAGONS AND SNAIL SHARKS!!
This is the best new fantasy series I have started in years. Years and years even. And I am positive that everyone should read it at least twice.

[Angel Leya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penny White is at it again. Her longing for full-time vicarage in Daear makes life on Earth seem dull. Fortunately, some opportunities to spend more time over there are the perfect opportunity to continue to explore and revel in this world where fantasy creatures exist.

But her handsome dragon friend, Raven, is missing, and her associate's marriage proposal comes with a great many challenges to overcome. With so much fracturing around her, can she keep her loved ones safe? And what of her own heart?

The action in this novel is amazing. Penny goes on some rather dangerous journeys, and finds some surprises along the way. Her snail shark, Clyde, takes on a new and interesting dimension, the dragon, Raven, has to struggle through some issues presented by The Cult of Unicorns (Penny White Book 2), her brother, James, won't be allowed to stay comfortable, and things between Penny and Peter are getting serious.

But the struggle is real. I found my heart diving and soaring along with Penny as she dives deeper into the world of Daear and finds herself facing some rather uncomfortable truths.

I received a free ARC copy of the book with no obligation to review. This is my honest opinion.

[Brhi Stokes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just keeps getting better!

I didn't think I could adore this book more than I had the last, but it really upped the ante for me.

The gang returns, this time to engage in some pretty serious challenges. Several plot threads and relationship issues were interwoven very well into the book.

There was a heightened tension and a bit more suspense and action than the precious books, and I absolutely loved it.

The book ended with me simultaneously feeling satisfied but wanting more. Leaving me knowing we weren't done, but not feeling the unfulfilled grumpiness of silly cliff-hanger endings that a lot of series in this sort of style make use of.

I highly recommend this series and am waiting with bated breath for the fourth book!

[Jessica Jesinghaus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out this review, and many more, on my blog https://jessjesinghaus.wordpress.com

5 out of 5 stars

Have I told you yet how much I LOVE this series? If your answer is no, then you clearly haven't read my reviews of books 1 & 2! And if you have read those reviews but haven't yet ventured into Penny White's world - why in the name of heaven not?

This installment finds Penny tackling quite a few hurdles while simultaneously having one of her greatest wishes granted.

Ever since learning about Lloegyr Penny has wanted nothing more than a full time post as Vicar General of Incursions and to spend more time with the amazing creatures who reside there. When she gets a chance to serve as interim priest for a small village in Lloegyr she jumps at it eagerly. But in no time, Penny realizes the grass isn't always greener... Things aren't all wine & roses in Lloegyr; it's more like barbed wire and gasoline.

Meanwhile Morey's family has set a series of trials which he and his closest friends (Penny, James, Peter & Clyde) must complete. But these aren't just simple tasks; they're epic and thrilling and dangerous. Each of them will be tested and if they fail, Morey's future is at stake.

Things get dark this time around. Themes of prejudice and intolerance abound. People (and I use the term loosely) grow and mature and change in significant ways. Particularly touching were several brother/sister moments between Penny & James. And, as usual, Clyde is amazing and sweet and endearing and... need I go on?

As with all of Penny's adventures, humor and love abound. Despite the heavier themes this is such an enjoyable read! You'll be laughing aloud, reading non-stop, and raising a glass to Penny's exploits. I truly cannot wait to see what Chrys Cymri has in store for us in book four.

**I recieved an electronic ARC of this book from the author which I then chose to voluntarily review**

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a fun series! In this third outing Penny takes a sabbatical to act as a supply priest in her second world. Her new congregation is very much mixed and she has a vision of a situation without conflict between species. Unfortunately that turns out not to be so accurate, and on top of that, she discovers the town's patron uses child labor (dragons, elves, etc.) in his factories. Her dragon friend is also going through a crisis and she has to go to his rescue despite her current feelings of alienation towards him when he didn't support her in the last book. In case that doesn't provide enough conflict, her gryphon assistant has to go through some trials to obtain permission to marry his love, and part of the deal is that he has to assemble a team of close friends to participate. And so, Penny, her brother, her policeman boyfriend, and her snail shark are the team. Lots of action and suspense ensues.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Penny is put in danger more by those around her than her own actions, but she takes it all in stride.

Read full review in the 2017 October issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The review originally posted at Fanbase Press .

Penny thought her involvement with Daer/Lloegyr couldn’t get any more bizarre after she solved a series of murders caused by the world’s most revered species, unicorns; however, Taryn’s marriage proposal to her associate, Morey, exposes her to species rituals beyond anything she experienced on Earth. Before the wedding, though, Penny is called to help save Raven, her dragon beloved who failed her at the climax of The Cult of Unicorns. Can she find forgiveness for his betrayal and recreate their bond without hurting the human man who brings warmth and stability back into her life?
Each of Chrys Cymri’s installments in her Penny White series focuses on a central theme that ties the fantastical adventures together. After much thought, I believe that the core of book three, The Marriage of Gryphons, is forgiveness. Starting with Penny’s call to save Raven from himself and culminating in a ritualistic gryphon marriage challenge that literally entails facing one's deepest regrets, the vicar and her companions, even Clyde, must find compassion and let go of grievances to move forward. Part of this journey is Penny fully weighing how her actions affect those around her (bringing Raven back into her life threatens to destroy her bond with Peter) and trying to be true to herself and still not intentionally hurt anyone.

Thanks to Morey’s marriage trials (Gryphons must prove themselves as mates, especially for a marriage between clans.), Penny finally gets her wish to serve as a vicar in Lloegyr full-time for a good portion of The Marriage of Gryphons. Cymri wouldn’t have any direct knowledge of how society would function in a fictional world, but I have to agree with her assessment of churches in any world; many of the things that plague Penny as a religious leader on Earth transcend locale and species and are mirrored in her Daer parish. The exploration of her new parish, Caer-grawnt, reveals systemic injustices that Penny felt impossible in her beloved Lloegyr. She longs to rectify the situation, but her attempts to bring the best of Earth to the other world fall horribly flat.

The Marriage of Gryphons feels more action-packed than the first two books, but the characters still make the plot shine. James and Clyde especially get more development as the story progresses, and I get a sense that both of Penny’s wards may finally be ready to move into the world as adults. (No, Clyde, no!) A sudden question in the last few pages show hints at potential conflict ahead, but I have a strong opinion of how things should work out. (No, the author does not consult me, so I can only hope.) I just know I’m thoroughly hooked and am incredibly curious about the overarching plot of a book titled The Vengeance of Snails!


4.5 Dinosaur Hunts out of 5

[Infinity Sisters Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penny White and the Marriage of Gryphons by Chrys Cymri is the third book in the Penny White series. Penny White is back with her gryphon Associate Morey, her brother James, her boyfriend Peter, and the snail shark she's raising, Clyde. Penny struggles to balance her two full time commitments to her church and to another world, both of which constantly beg for more attention from her. To make matters more complicated, she's requested to find a missing dragon that happens to be Raven, the very dragon that disappointed her when the unicorns nearly killed her. On top of that, Morey announces his engagement, but in order for him to wed Taryn, Penny and her family will need to aid him in a series of trials. If they succeed, they'll be able to be married, but if they fail then someone may die.

Once again, Penny White brings me to my nerdy happy place! Penny is every nerd's heroine! I was sad to reach the end, leaving me with so many questions about that ending. Fun, witty, powerful, Penny White and the Marriage of Gryphons is another delightful adventure that's addictive past the last page. I'm impressed and delighted at all the nerdy references that Chrys Cymri flawlessly weaves into the story through Penny's voice. Penny is compelling and easy to adore. When she gets angry, I get angry. It's so easy to get caught up in her story. One of the best things about her is how real she feels. She's the type of person you'd want to be friends with. She makes mistakes, she has her faults, but she's also strong, loyal, loving, and has a really good heart. Each character is clearly defined, and incredibly layered. Penny is a priest, but she's also a Doctor Who and Buffy fan, as well as a devoted sister. Her brother is in a lot of ways that rebellious youth, but he's also loyal and just trying to do what's right. Morey is very blunt and strict with his beliefs, but he's also honest and a true friend. My favorite character is Clyde, who is this seemingly dangerous creature, but he's so sweet and adorable that you can't be afraid of him. A must-read!

[Mandy (MP Book Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penny White is a parish priest but is also a liaison between the human world and the parallel magical world of Daear where supernaturals are the norm. She has to balance her time between the two worlds, while looking after her parish, her brother James, a small snail shark called Clyde, working with her gryphon Associate Morey and trying to fit in time for her boyfriend Peter. Then her friend Dragon Raven goes missing and she has to go to the Arctic and try to find him before something unthinkable happens. Then Morey announces he is engaged to be married to Taryn and in the process of proving his worth to marry her they all have to be in danger - especially James. Can she keep everyone safe and keep the peace?

Wow - this book (3 in the series) contains lots of drama, danger, twists and turns that they all need to navigate and come out the other side safely. The trials in order the marry Taryn were interesting and very detailed in what they involved and I could definitely imagine that kind of society having something like that. The book contained some parts that definitely had parallels in the human world in our history and it was nice to understand just how young their society was and it was clear that it had not established the same behaviours as our own. Well written and with detailed descriptions meant it felt like I was there experiencing the same things as they were. A great read.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This really is an interesting series

For sure, it certainly isn't like any other series that I've encountered. British words and phrases may be a little strange for Americans, but I eventually got used to them. The World building isn't that unusual (alternate world with everything from Gryphons, Dragons, and Dwarves to Snail Sharks and Lemmings)--but the medieval society these creatures exist in is different. And that's not to mention a female Priest with an alcohol addiction. Add to that a love triangle between her, a human, and a Dragon...well, like I said--this series is different.

I thought that, in comparison with the first two books, this one had more religious quotes and scriptures. Even the Snail Shark quoted the Bible. (The Snail Shark remains my favorite character.). The plot didn't seem to flow as smoothly in this book. I do, however, continue to enjoy this series for the unique personalities of the characters and its inspired fantasy creatures.

[Kim Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

Narnia meets The Vicar f Dibley.

Penny White isn't your ordinary Vicar. She is Diocesan Liaisons n with. Parallel world tasked with helping citizens ofthat world who stray into hers. Like the Narnia series, it swings close to allegory, but it is enlivened by humour, by Penny's Sci-if fandom, a cast of well delineated characters and of course, Clyde. Penny has her lapses of judgment, painful failures and her successes. There is a romantic sub-plot but as it is explicitly Christian, there are no explicit sex scenes. My only critique is that the prayers and sermons could be precise at times.

[Aighmi* · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books make my world a better place! What a gift this series is. This one was a tad gory for me, and the carnivores are very carnivorous...but that is the reality of carnivorous species & societies. This book deals with deeper social issues of a more primitive society and that has the potential to lead to further fascinating situations. Also, Clyde the snail shark (who has actually become one of my all-time favorite characters) develops in some marvelous ways. I recommend this series and this book as part of it! Please read this whole series!!! The next book can't come out too soon for me!!!!

[Renee Rearden · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Marriage of Gryphons novel is a marvelous continuation in the Penny White series. Another well-written story, filled with interesting and likable characters and imaginative scenes. The alternate world that exists along side our real world time is both heartbreakingly beautiful and terrifically frightening. Penny White guides the reader through another steadily-moving plot using her unique personality and personal convictions. The characters continue their emotional development through another complete arc. This is a great series. I am anxiously awaiting the next installment with Penny White and the gang.

[USOM · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Disclaimer: I received this free book from the author. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

More like 3.5

I greatly enjoy this series for a variety of reasons. For one, Penny White is such a fantastic main character. She is clever, empathetic, and incredibly resourceful. At the same time, Cymri write a fantastically lush world. There are details in the fiber of the world from the grass to the dragons. The entire book has so much cleverness within it. Everything from the Doctor Who references, to the puns, to Penny's flock.

[Julie Whitley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read in the Penny White series, and I loved it every bit as much as the first. The plot is complex and deeply satisfying as Penny discovers more about the parallel world of mystical creatures, partakes in a series if challenges so her associate may wed and learns more about herself as well. An adventure fantasy I highly recommend

[Lexie Conyngham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another outing, both entertaining and touching, for Penny White. There was a good deal less church business in this one and more in the way of gryphon life, but it was still an exciting adventure, and her brother James is developing nicely into a grownup. But has she sorted out the position with Raven and Peter? It looks like it, but nothing is settled yet!

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gryphons have 4 dangerous actions willed by their matriarch with the help of friends.

Morey, asks Penny, James, Peter and Clyde to help him to play the dangerous games his matriarch dents up for him to pass. Hopefully this can be done without losing his best friends.

Read and enjoy.

[Alayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

*incoherent screaming*

*deep breath*

*babbling*

Yes. Just read it.

[Cindy Tomamichel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another in this delightful series, well worth reading for fans of urban fantasy.

[Amelia Barrales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved them all!

[Melissa Storm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the characters and worlds Chrys Cymri has brought to life in the Penny White series. I love that she makes my heart beat for a carnivorous snail. I love that there is a never-ending series of surprises and that all the characters grow and change, whether for better or for worse. I love that it's not just mindless genre fiction, but a series of issues too--one that makes you think every bit as much as it makes you sigh with delight. This series, and The Marriage of Gryphons along with it, is a true original. I highly recommend it!

[Elizabeth Tysdal · Rating 5 out of 5]

October 5, 2021: I assume I read this before I was putting in comments. Now that I just finished the ninth and final book of series I went back for a quick look at the other eight books.

I highly recommend this series!!! PLEASE read this series you will not be disappointed 😊❤️

[Jacqui]

Morry, Raven and Clyde really spark the imagination, fantasy and mythological animals along with the alternative world in Wales and Dr Who thrown in