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Penny White #5
The Vexation of Vampires
I stared at my shopping list, wondering what any normal human would make of it. ‘One box of communion wafers. Six bottles of fortified wine. Several pints of goat’s blood for the curate?’
After an extended stay in the magical country of Lloegyr, I’m ready to resume life as the priest of a small village church. Clyde needs time to heal from his wounds, I’ve been given a vampire deacon to train, and Peter and I have to make some important decisions before our wedding day.
But the problems of Lloegyr have followed me home. Raven is still recovering from the Spirit Ceremony. The vampires living in my church are being unreasonable. My back garden is slowly filling with snail sharks. And Her Majesty’s Government wants me to find out why vampire colonies are emigrating to England.
I love Peter, but there are so many other demands in my life. Will he accept that there are just some things I cannot give him?
- GenresFantasy
237 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 19, 2018
46 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Chrys Cymri
25 books283 followersPriest 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
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
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 14, 2018
Penny White book five brings together themes of mutual misunderstanding and prejudice, leavened with humour and affection.
Summary
Penny faces her own demons while attempting to help those who are outcast by society. Without spoilers there is little more I can say about the story save for the fact that it features Nessie, mermaids, snail sharks, gryphons, dragons and vampires - to mention but a few.
I liked
The characterisation is spot on, as is the humour, and the story grabs you from the very beginning. Penny is a delightfully unheroic and flawed heroine, while her non-human companions leap off the pages as clearly and brightly as if they were sitting beside the reader.
I didn’t like
Some of the human characters feel to me to lack depth, particularly when compared to their fantasy counterparts.
Stars
Five out of five and a huge recommendation
Summary
Penny faces her own demons while attempting to help those who are outcast by society. Without spoilers there is little more I can say about the story save for the fact that it features Nessie, mermaids, snail sharks, gryphons, dragons and vampires - to mention but a few.
I liked
The characterisation is spot on, as is the humour, and the story grabs you from the very beginning. Penny is a delightfully unheroic and flawed heroine, while her non-human companions leap off the pages as clearly and brightly as if they were sitting beside the reader.
I didn’t like
Some of the human characters feel to me to lack depth, particularly when compared to their fantasy counterparts.
Stars
Five out of five and a huge recommendation
March 10, 2018
Penny's life is a tumult of obligations, and it seems that she (and nearly everyone else) is a bit unsettled.
Not to mention there's a new vampire curate living in her home, snail sharks are moving into her back yard, Raven is still acting strange since the snail's spirit ceremony, and the government wants her to look into why vampires are emigrating in droves.
Can her relationship with Peter survive the onslaught?
This book tore me up. Just read it. You'll see what I mean. :)
Not to mention there's a new vampire curate living in her home, snail sharks are moving into her back yard, Raven is still acting strange since the snail's spirit ceremony, and the government wants her to look into why vampires are emigrating in droves.
Can her relationship with Peter survive the onslaught?
This book tore me up. Just read it. You'll see what I mean. :)
March 1, 2018
Deeply ensconced in Lloegyr life, Penny should be able to settle in to her new normal, but... there’s no rest for the weary. Fresh challenges seem to surface around every corner. With her term as interim rector in Caer-grawnt coming to an end she’s returning to her home in England where, among other things, she has her wedding with Peter to plan, a new curate to train (who also happens to be a vampire), strange ‘fits’ and lapses in Raven’s memory to deal with, and Clyde rescuing dozens of snail shark pups from abandonment by the Nation. With her back garden now acting as a snail sanctuary, Penny has also been tasked by the Minister without Portfolio to look into the mass migration of Vampire clans in Lloegyr who seem intent on emigrating to London. Rarely able to say no, Penny finds herself embroiled in yet another event sure to have far-reaching implications.
As with prior installments, Vexation of Vampires shines a light on the intricacies of Vampire clans in, and outside, of Lloegyr. Readers are given a truly unique representation of Vampires. Plus, through the lens of fantasy, Chrys Cymri tackles the oft contentious topic of refugees and how to handle their influx. Through Penny’s eyes we see the human cost of the refugee crisis, even when those refugees aren’t human in the strictest sense.
No Penny White story would be complete without the Peter-Penny-Raven dynamic, and Vexation brings it in spades. With the wedding fast approaching Peter and Penny have some real issues to tackle, things they’ve ignored or avoided but that must be addressed before they can move forward. However, with Raven mysteriously ill, Penny’s focus is turned more and more toward seeking a remedy for “her” dragon. Can she heal Raven and her relationship with Peter or will one suffer the consequence?
I can’t get enough of Penny’s adventures and devoured this book as a starving man might tackle his first meal in a week. Keep ‘em coming Chrys, keep ‘em coming!
As with prior installments, Vexation of Vampires shines a light on the intricacies of Vampire clans in, and outside, of Lloegyr. Readers are given a truly unique representation of Vampires. Plus, through the lens of fantasy, Chrys Cymri tackles the oft contentious topic of refugees and how to handle their influx. Through Penny’s eyes we see the human cost of the refugee crisis, even when those refugees aren’t human in the strictest sense.
No Penny White story would be complete without the Peter-Penny-Raven dynamic, and Vexation brings it in spades. With the wedding fast approaching Peter and Penny have some real issues to tackle, things they’ve ignored or avoided but that must be addressed before they can move forward. However, with Raven mysteriously ill, Penny’s focus is turned more and more toward seeking a remedy for “her” dragon. Can she heal Raven and her relationship with Peter or will one suffer the consequence?
I can’t get enough of Penny’s adventures and devoured this book as a starving man might tackle his first meal in a week. Keep ‘em coming Chrys, keep ‘em coming!
August 8, 2018
Penny comes to the end of her time in Lloegyr so has to renew her life as the village priest back in England while still being the liaison between the two countries. Clyde is with her and he needs to heal from the wounds he willingly received while they all get used to her new deacon who is also a vampire. Then of course she needs to talk to Peter to make some decisions before their wedding. However she has some major distractions from Lloegyr - Raven is still not right, there seems to be a camp fr snail sharks in the back garden, the UK government wants her to work out why vampires are trying to migrate to England and she still has not had the discussion with Peter. Can she cope with everything or will something have to give?
I loved this story. It had so many parallels with the world we currently live in - prejudice, refugees, protectionism, overreactions to name just a few. Maybe this book could be suggested reading for politicians? As for the situation between Penny and Peter - it's on track to be the way I've really wanted it to be (and that is all I'm going to say). The writing was to a good standard and everything was clear and easy to understand. I loved the way that the characters felt real (they were not perfect and had flaws) and had their own unique personality. I even found a few parts of it funny so expect to be surprised at times too.
I loved this story. It had so many parallels with the world we currently live in - prejudice, refugees, protectionism, overreactions to name just a few. Maybe this book could be suggested reading for politicians? As for the situation between Penny and Peter - it's on track to be the way I've really wanted it to be (and that is all I'm going to say). The writing was to a good standard and everything was clear and easy to understand. I loved the way that the characters felt real (they were not perfect and had flaws) and had their own unique personality. I even found a few parts of it funny so expect to be surprised at times too.
March 23, 2018
This series focuses on a theme of uncompromising acceptance of anyone who is different. Coming to accept and live with different people is a good message and it's a good theme to weave into an interesting story.
Unfortunately, the focus on that theme was escalated in scope in each book, with less focus on a good story and characters and more focus on "different good, same bad!" This particular book reached the point that I felt like I wasn't reading a story with an increasingly distracting theme. I felt like the author was just braying a mantra and wanted to get the story out of the way so there'd be more time for preaching.
I found it ironic that a book written by an actual priest focused on preaching messages that have jack-all to do with the priest's religion.
Unfortunately, the focus on that theme was escalated in scope in each book, with less focus on a good story and characters and more focus on "different good, same bad!" This particular book reached the point that I felt like I wasn't reading a story with an increasingly distracting theme. I felt like the author was just braying a mantra and wanted to get the story out of the way so there'd be more time for preaching.
I found it ironic that a book written by an actual priest focused on preaching messages that have jack-all to do with the priest's religion.
March 9, 2018
These books just fill my heart. I suspect that I may be Clyde the snail shark's biggest fan, but I love this series even when Clyde isn't the focus. The characters are believable, appealing, and flawed. Watching them grow as they deal with life in two worlds is compelling...as is watching how they deal with societal and individual injustice. I love the inclusive, loving Christianity presented, complete with people's confusion and hard questions. There are no pat answers in these books. Ms. Cymri is excellent at turning assumptions gently on their heads...right down to the titular vampires in this book. I could not recommend these more!!!
February 4, 2020
This series keeps getting better and better. Penny keeps getting more and more complex, as does the inter-related governments and pressures Penny needs to cope with. The fantasy characters are very well-rounded, although the humans are less-so. I can totally believe the out-of-synch dynamic between Penny and Peter because the author has built that book by book. Can Penny ever give up her fantasy realm for Earth? Seems unlikely. Just love this series!
June 8, 2018
4.5/5.0
“The Vexation of Vampires” is a high-fantasy novel with tons of comedy, loveable characters, and a bit of romance.
Read full review in the 2018 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.
“The Vexation of Vampires” is a high-fantasy novel with tons of comedy, loveable characters, and a bit of romance.
Read full review in the 2018 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.
June 3, 2018
The longer a series goes, the harder I find it to write reviews, because spoilers. So I will keep this short and sweet - it was another lovely entry in Penny's tale, where nothing was simple but in the end you feel like it all worked out the way it was supposed to.
January 28, 2019
How to save a community that is wanted no where.
This is what Penny runs into. She is sent by "Her Majesty's Government" to get information on a Vampire encampment trying to find a safe place for family and friends. Things don't always go the way everyone hopes.
Read and enjoy.
This is what Penny runs into. She is sent by "Her Majesty's Government" to get information on a Vampire encampment trying to find a safe place for family and friends. Things don't always go the way everyone hopes.
Read and enjoy.
November 1, 2020
The fifth in the Penny White series. I fall more in love with this series with each book and will be sad to reach the end of book nine. Penny’s adventures always have twists and turns and involve the most interesting of people, both human and other. ❤️
April 27, 2022
Superb
Another brilliant book in the series. When Clyde called penny mam, she wasn't the only one reaching for the tissues. This is so much the right writer for me with references to permeate dragons and Dr who. And I recognised a reference to earthsea too
Another brilliant book in the series. When Clyde called penny mam, she wasn't the only one reaching for the tissues. This is so much the right writer for me with references to permeate dragons and Dr who. And I recognised a reference to earthsea too
March 22, 2018
Binge read all 5 Penny White books and now am super eager to read the next one. Great fantasy series, well written, love the main characters.
September 3, 2020
Great book
July 14, 2021
Penny's life just keeps getting more complicated, with vampires in her church, problems planning her wedding, and a new (vampire) curate to train. Meantime, Clyde is getting more serious about his vocation. I'm a bit concerned about Penny's drinking rate, but otherwise it's a fun story.
May 14, 2018
I have enjoyed this 5th Penny White, and her further adventures with Morry and Clyde, and how her life interacts with the dragons and vampires
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews