The Business of Bees

Penny White #8

by Chrys Cymri

‘I'm not used to an entire country seeking me out,’ I said slowly. ‘Could you please explain why the Daear equivalent of the United States of America has sent three gryphons over to Lloegyr, what this has to do with bees, and why it’s me that they want?’

God knows my life has been very full the last eighteen months, ever since I stumbled across the magical country of Lloegyr. Living alongside dragons, gryphons, were-wolves, and a snail shark has been both a joy and a challenge. You’d think my friends would understand that red wine is the best medicine after another demanding day.

It would help, of course, if I could simply settle into my work with the not-weres at Saint Raphael’s. I might even be able to decide whether to accept Llewelyn’s marriage proposal. But gryphons have flown across the Atlantic to ask for my help in convincing honey bees to return to Earth. Once again I’m faced with leaving behind everything I know. Can I really cope without touching even a single drop of whisky? 

Genres: Fantasy

230 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 12, 2019

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

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 2.5/5.0

This book is an imaginative blend of religion, addiction, and mythical beasts in a supernatural world.

Read full review in the 2020 February issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is 8th in the Penny White series. In this one she is summoned back to Lloegyr to serve as an ambassador to bees who are taking over territory from gryphons. She is also struggling with her alcohol addiction and deciding whether to marry a vampire priest serving in Lloegyr. This wasn't my favorite in this series, but it's still pretty darn good.

[Elizabeth Tysdal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another adventure with the wonderful Penny, Raven, Clyde, Morey, Jago, and all the other fantastical beings of Chrys Cymri’s world. Only one left in the series - my heart will be broken having to say goodbye to this amazing world.

[Amelia Barrales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

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

C of E vicar Penny White has known about the magical country of Lloegyr for 18 months now and yet in many ways, it feels like years. he has become used to living alongside dragons, gryphons, werewolves, and a snail shark (to mention just a few) which has turned out to be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it has been an absolute joy with many memorable moments to cherish, but on the other, it has been a major challenge, plus since the closing of the thin spaces between the worlds she is stuck there with no way to communicate back home. She had hoped that her friends would understand that the occasional glass of red wine or tot of whiskey were all part of her coping with the multitude of events in her life including her work with the not-weres at Saint Raphael’s which while rewarding play havoc with her stomach. Then she has a decision to make - stick with longtime friend dragon Raven or accept the marriage proposal from werewolf Llewellyn back at Saint Raphael’s. Decisions have to be made when she receives a delegation of gryphons who have flown across the Atlantic from the Daear equivalent of the United States of America to ask for her help in convincing honey bees to return back to Earth. Can she handle all of this and not touch a drop of drink let alone will she succeed with this new mission?

I really enjoyed this story which contained plenty of soul searching and analysis of others as well as herself on top of some action as part of the story. Throughout it all, Penny while struggling with her own dilemmas, managed to do her best to find a peaceful solution to the problems that she was drawn into through no fault of her own. Whilst it might on the face of it strike you as a story with a strong a religious angle, it is still a very enjoyable read as the common themes of love, respect and seeking joy in everything that affects you. I loved the way her relationships with the core characters in the series developed further and I was totally thrilled with the events at the end of the story - I just hope that the Bishop doesn't ruin things. Well written and very enjoyable, it is much easier to read this if you have read the earlier books in the series (which I recommend as great reads).

[E.P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a big fan of the Penny White series since I read the first book, and "The Business of Bees," the 8th book in the series, does not disappoint. In fact, the series just goes from strength to strength.

If you haven't read any of the earlier books, you might want to go back and read a few before jumping into book 8, since the action starts right where it left off from the previous book, and there's a lot of backstory. Penny is now stuck in Lloegyr, having closed off all the "thin places" between it and Britain in an attempt to protect it from her world. In the previous book her fondness for whiskey morphed from a pleasant diversion into alcoholism; now her friends are trying to stage an intervention. She's fallen away from God, feeling herself unworthy. Romantically, she's torn between a were-wolf and a dragon. And she's been asked to go negotiate with the bees, who have fled her world and are now threatening the gryphons in the magical alternate world in which she now finds herself.

As with the other books, the action comes pretty thick and fast, so don't think you'll be bored. At the same time, this is not just an adventure book. Penny wrestles with her alcoholism, her desire to eat meat (she keeps trying to justify it, but struggles more and more to avoid sounding hypocritical to herself), and her faith. Like the other books in the series, this is a profoundly Christian book, although one that can be enjoyed and appreciated by non-Christians as well. Penny's problems are those of a CoE vicar in modern society, but they're also the problems of everyone who has ever struggled with faith in anything, including themselves.

Oh, but don't think it's all heavy stuff. As usual, the book is also full of Doctor Who and Star Wars references, so fans of those series will find plenty to appreciate as well. All in all, a very fun and readable fantasy adventure series that also touches upon more serious themes in a heartfelt and sensitive way.

[Susan Garet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Series

I loved the combination of Christianity with an alternate world. The main characters are very special and I’m looking forward to the next book.