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Memory's Muses #1
Song of Serenity
Being a muse in the twenty-first century is a lot harder than it was in Ancient Greece.
Life was simple when Calliope Ardalides, firstborn of the nine Muses, only had to concentrate on music and justice. But now she’s arbitrating between arguing gods, answering complaints from cantankerous humans irked by how their prayers are being answered, and keeping her eight sisters in line. When it’s time for her annual break from Afterlife, Inc, she goes to the one place she can count on to keep her sane: the Temple of the Muses in the quiet countryside of Scotland.
But Jordan James shows up with her contractors, builders, and noisy equipment. Her adventure park will take up most of the idyllic region, turning the serenity Calliope treasures into a haven for adrenaline junkies.
Jordan is resistant to Calliope’s powers of persuasion, but Calliope's beauty remains a potent force. Stubbornly, Jordan vows to take on even the most beautiful immortal to make her dream come true, especially if it means spending more time with her.
Life was simple when Calliope Ardalides, firstborn of the nine Muses, only had to concentrate on music and justice. But now she’s arbitrating between arguing gods, answering complaints from cantankerous humans irked by how their prayers are being answered, and keeping her eight sisters in line. When it’s time for her annual break from Afterlife, Inc, she goes to the one place she can count on to keep her sane: the Temple of the Muses in the quiet countryside of Scotland.
But Jordan James shows up with her contractors, builders, and noisy equipment. Her adventure park will take up most of the idyllic region, turning the serenity Calliope treasures into a haven for adrenaline junkies.
Jordan is resistant to Calliope’s powers of persuasion, but Calliope's beauty remains a potent force. Stubbornly, Jordan vows to take on even the most beautiful immortal to make her dream come true, especially if it means spending more time with her.
264 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2021
7 people are currently reading
265 people want to read
About the author
Brey Willows
19 books106 followersBrey Willows is a longtime editor and writer. Her passion is literature and the classics, and she has published a variety of short stories as well as more than ten novels, all sapphic speculative fiction romantasy of some design. She's a coffee fiend, loves long walks in the woods or on the beach, and is terribly clumsy. *She also writes sapphic romance under Ally McGuire*
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
December 3, 2021
3.50 Stars. I’m a big Willows fan and am always excited when a new book of hers comes out. While I have read all of her books, I think her Afterlife Inc. series is my favorite (the first book is her debut so it has its bumps and it’s also a bit of a set-up book for the rest of the trilogy. However, each book that follows is better than the last with book three, Fury's Death, being my favorite.) I was really excited to start this new series, Memory's Muses, because while this is book one, this book takes place in the same Afterlife Inc. universe. It was fun running into and hearing about some characters that I loved from Afterlife Inc. like Megara and Death (I’m keeping everything crossed that we get more time with them). In the end I wasn’t crazy about this book, but I’m so glad to be back in this world Willows created and I’m excited to read more.
While this new series is a part of the Afterlife Inc. world, you can absolutely start here if you want to. This story was completely contained with two new main characters. However, there are terms mentioned like “The Merge” and you might be wondering why gods, goddesses, and other mythological and supernatural creatures are now running around in this world. Willows touches on things but to really get the history of what happened you would have to read the Afterlife Inc. series.
This new series is going to be about nine sisters who are muses. I don’t know if we will get nine new books, but I’ll keep reading them if Willows keeps writing them. As I mentioned, I liked this book but I wasn’t as crazy about it as I wanted to be. I enjoyed the new characters, especially Calliope, firstborn muse, daughter of Zeus, with the specialties of justice and the arts. She was easy to like and I was rooting for her to have a HEA. I enjoyed her journey and character growth, but I found other parts of the story to not click as well.
I think my biggest issue was the romance. It just was a miss for me. The elements were all there but I felt like we were more being told about feelings the characters had, than us being shown actual feelings. This is not an insta-love book, it happens near the end, but it still felt too fast when it was said. I didn’t see or feel enough of a connection, between them, to believe they had a love that was HEA worthy.
On the good side, a few of the angsty moments got to me a bit. There didn’t seem to be any big angsty moments, but instead a few smaller ones, and for whatever reason they made me a bit sad. It was odd because I was not sold on the romance, but I guess I just wanted a HEA for Calliope so the smaller angsty moments actually got to me a bit (in a good way).
TLDR: I was really happy to start this new series and to be back in the Afterlife Inc. universe. You can read this new series without reading the Afterlife Inc. trilogy, but this book might actually get you interested in reading that series since they are connected. I liked the idea that this new series will each star a different muse sister and Calliope was a very likeable first main character. I enjoyed this book, and read it quite quickly since I was absorbed back in this world, but the romance was not for me. While the characters had some chemistry, the connection needed more work before I could believe in any “I love yous”. This was a decent start to the series, but I’m hoping this follows the same path as Willows Afterlife Inc. series did in that each book gets better and better.
An ARC was given to me for a review.
While this new series is a part of the Afterlife Inc. world, you can absolutely start here if you want to. This story was completely contained with two new main characters. However, there are terms mentioned like “The Merge” and you might be wondering why gods, goddesses, and other mythological and supernatural creatures are now running around in this world. Willows touches on things but to really get the history of what happened you would have to read the Afterlife Inc. series.
This new series is going to be about nine sisters who are muses. I don’t know if we will get nine new books, but I’ll keep reading them if Willows keeps writing them. As I mentioned, I liked this book but I wasn’t as crazy about it as I wanted to be. I enjoyed the new characters, especially Calliope, firstborn muse, daughter of Zeus, with the specialties of justice and the arts. She was easy to like and I was rooting for her to have a HEA. I enjoyed her journey and character growth, but I found other parts of the story to not click as well.
I think my biggest issue was the romance. It just was a miss for me. The elements were all there but I felt like we were more being told about feelings the characters had, than us being shown actual feelings. This is not an insta-love book, it happens near the end, but it still felt too fast when it was said. I didn’t see or feel enough of a connection, between them, to believe they had a love that was HEA worthy.
On the good side, a few of the angsty moments got to me a bit. There didn’t seem to be any big angsty moments, but instead a few smaller ones, and for whatever reason they made me a bit sad. It was odd because I was not sold on the romance, but I guess I just wanted a HEA for Calliope so the smaller angsty moments actually got to me a bit (in a good way).
TLDR: I was really happy to start this new series and to be back in the Afterlife Inc. universe. You can read this new series without reading the Afterlife Inc. trilogy, but this book might actually get you interested in reading that series since they are connected. I liked the idea that this new series will each star a different muse sister and Calliope was a very likeable first main character. I enjoyed this book, and read it quite quickly since I was absorbed back in this world, but the romance was not for me. While the characters had some chemistry, the connection needed more work before I could believe in any “I love yous”. This was a decent start to the series, but I’m hoping this follows the same path as Willows Afterlife Inc. series did in that each book gets better and better.
An ARC was given to me for a review.
August 23, 2022
Brey Willows is a new author for me and I’m very happy that a special person sent this book my way. It has witty banter, enemies to lovers romance, great feels, bits of philosophical wisdom and some fun mythological fantasy.
I’ll be reading the arc of book 2 in this series next.
I’ll be reading the arc of book 2 in this series next.
May 19, 2022
4.5⭐️ – Why have I not read Brey Willows’ Afterlife books? Song of Serenity is the first book in a new series – Memory’s Muses – set in that same world, with gods walking among humans.
The muse of Justice and Serenity, Calliope Ardalides needs a break from her new job as an arbitrator, a job that leaves her no time to do what she really loves: inspire people, through music whenever possible. With Themis, the goddess of Justice, filling in for her, Calli flies to her cottage in Scotland, where she enjoys a quiet life and gets back in touch with who she is. A project to open an amusement park in the tiny village threatens her safe place, even more so when she realises she’s attracted to Jordan James who, for her own reasons, very much wants the park to happen.
This is only my second book by this author and while I remember liking Changing Course, I enjoyed Song of Serenity a lot more. First of all, it’s funny. Not laugh-aloud funny, but I felt a smile on my lips many many times as I was reading. I love Calli, everything about her. And I love Jordan’s flawed humanity. She’s determined and exciting and her heart is in the right place, even when she’s acting stubborn. She’s also open to learning and that makes her very likeable.
The main obstacle to their love is that Calli is immortal and Jordan is human. Calli is wary of falling for someone she’ll have to let go of once again, and Jordan isn’t a big fan of gods. Navigating their differences, on religion in particular, learning to love the other as they are, wholly, accepting that couples don’t have to hold similar views on everything and can agree to disagree… I guess it’s a journey that feels familiar to anyone who’s ever tried to make a relationship work. How comforting is it to think that gods and goddesses face the same questions?
I look forward to reading the next books in this series. Will there be one for each muse? I certainly hope so. The next one, Vision of Virtue, is Clio’s story and I can’t wait, she’s such a drama queen, it should be a lot of fun. The third one, Lines of Love, will be about Eris, the muse of Love. In the meantime, I’ll try and catch up with the previous Afterlife stories.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog: Jude in the Stars
The muse of Justice and Serenity, Calliope Ardalides needs a break from her new job as an arbitrator, a job that leaves her no time to do what she really loves: inspire people, through music whenever possible. With Themis, the goddess of Justice, filling in for her, Calli flies to her cottage in Scotland, where she enjoys a quiet life and gets back in touch with who she is. A project to open an amusement park in the tiny village threatens her safe place, even more so when she realises she’s attracted to Jordan James who, for her own reasons, very much wants the park to happen.
This is only my second book by this author and while I remember liking Changing Course, I enjoyed Song of Serenity a lot more. First of all, it’s funny. Not laugh-aloud funny, but I felt a smile on my lips many many times as I was reading. I love Calli, everything about her. And I love Jordan’s flawed humanity. She’s determined and exciting and her heart is in the right place, even when she’s acting stubborn. She’s also open to learning and that makes her very likeable.
The main obstacle to their love is that Calli is immortal and Jordan is human. Calli is wary of falling for someone she’ll have to let go of once again, and Jordan isn’t a big fan of gods. Navigating their differences, on religion in particular, learning to love the other as they are, wholly, accepting that couples don’t have to hold similar views on everything and can agree to disagree… I guess it’s a journey that feels familiar to anyone who’s ever tried to make a relationship work. How comforting is it to think that gods and goddesses face the same questions?
I look forward to reading the next books in this series. Will there be one for each muse? I certainly hope so. The next one, Vision of Virtue, is Clio’s story and I can’t wait, she’s such a drama queen, it should be a lot of fun. The third one, Lines of Love, will be about Eris, the muse of Love. In the meantime, I’ll try and catch up with the previous Afterlife stories.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog: Jude in the Stars
December 1, 2021
Song of Serenity (Memory’s Muses #1) by Brey Willows is the first of a new paranormal/fantasy series. It is also very much a romantic tale between the Muse of Justice, Calliope Ardalides and Jordan James, a very successful businesswoman who builds and runs adventure parks.
This story begins when Calliope, overworked as the Muse of Justice in this new world where the gods live on Earth with humans after the Merge, goes on vacation. She heads to her small cottage in Scotland near one of her temples only to discover that her idyllic temple and vacation home will soon overlook a noisy parking lot for a new adventure park owned by Jordan.
Jordan has very negative views about the gods in general and is determined to finish this project in Scotland. This sets up a lot of conflict between the two, even as they both seem drawn to each other on a personal level.
While this is the first book in a new series, it is set in a skillfully crafted universe that the author created for her Afterlife Inc. series. Those of you who have read that series will find the secondary characters and the setting quite familiar. The characters are also well-developed. I would love to just hang out with Calliope. She is so gentle and calm…even when she is upset. The romance between Calliope and Jordan is wonderful to read. It doesn’t matter that one is human and the other immortal, they act and react realistically towards each other.
Even though this book is set in the same world as the Afterlife Inc. series, you can read this book as a standalone. The author gives you all the information you need to understand this universe. Knowing how wonderfully this author writes, though, I recommend that you read as many of her novels as you can, including this one. I’m very glad I read Song of Serenity, and now I’m looking forward to the next book in the Memory Muses series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
This story begins when Calliope, overworked as the Muse of Justice in this new world where the gods live on Earth with humans after the Merge, goes on vacation. She heads to her small cottage in Scotland near one of her temples only to discover that her idyllic temple and vacation home will soon overlook a noisy parking lot for a new adventure park owned by Jordan.
Jordan has very negative views about the gods in general and is determined to finish this project in Scotland. This sets up a lot of conflict between the two, even as they both seem drawn to each other on a personal level.
While this is the first book in a new series, it is set in a skillfully crafted universe that the author created for her Afterlife Inc. series. Those of you who have read that series will find the secondary characters and the setting quite familiar. The characters are also well-developed. I would love to just hang out with Calliope. She is so gentle and calm…even when she is upset. The romance between Calliope and Jordan is wonderful to read. It doesn’t matter that one is human and the other immortal, they act and react realistically towards each other.
Even though this book is set in the same world as the Afterlife Inc. series, you can read this book as a standalone. The author gives you all the information you need to understand this universe. Knowing how wonderfully this author writes, though, I recommend that you read as many of her novels as you can, including this one. I’m very glad I read Song of Serenity, and now I’m looking forward to the next book in the Memory Muses series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
December 26, 2021
I know zero about Greek mythology. Never interested me but when I heard this author was releasing a new book, that news did get my attention. Song is book 1 of a new series that is tied to a previous one, Afterlife, which sets up a world where gods now live on Earth with humans. I read Song as a stand-alone and understood the premise right away but I am curious about the other books now.
One of the Muses, Calliope, works in the mundane and takes an occasional vacation in Scotland. All is well until a human named Jordan decides she wants to build an eco adventure park adjacent to Calliope’s peaceful sanctuary and temple. Who wants all that traffic, pollution, and crowds in their quiet refuge?
Jordan and Calliope are solid, well done characters who are hot separately and together. I’m not sure that they work as a long term couple but they’re devoted friends who have scorching times in bed. Part of the story involves a road trip and includes fanciful surprises that make it all very special and feel new. The secondary characters add energy and humor to the background story that might have gotten too sharp. Two people on opposite sides of a dispute can get ugly fast but the skill in the writing turns it instead into a dilemma of the heart where both people care about each other but who are also determined to stay true to their beliefs.
All in all, a very good book. 4.5 stars rounded up.
Received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
One of the Muses, Calliope, works in the mundane and takes an occasional vacation in Scotland. All is well until a human named Jordan decides she wants to build an eco adventure park adjacent to Calliope’s peaceful sanctuary and temple. Who wants all that traffic, pollution, and crowds in their quiet refuge?
Jordan and Calliope are solid, well done characters who are hot separately and together. I’m not sure that they work as a long term couple but they’re devoted friends who have scorching times in bed. Part of the story involves a road trip and includes fanciful surprises that make it all very special and feel new. The secondary characters add energy and humor to the background story that might have gotten too sharp. Two people on opposite sides of a dispute can get ugly fast but the skill in the writing turns it instead into a dilemma of the heart where both people care about each other but who are also determined to stay true to their beliefs.
All in all, a very good book. 4.5 stars rounded up.
Received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
November 14, 2021
Song of Serenity by Brey Willows follows Calliope Ardalides, a muse in Greek mythology, on her vacation followed by a chance encounter with Jordan James. Jordan just so happens to be interrupting Calliopes vacation home as she plans on turning a part of the town into an adventure park. Unfortunately for Jordan, she receives mix reactions from the townspeople. Jordan isn’t willing to give up on her park though, even if that means dealing with one of those Greek gods she so hates.
I don’t have much to say about this book. It fell kind of flat to me. I didn’t really feel the chemistry between Calliope and Jordan. It just felt like “hey she’s hot, I love her”. No actual build up in my opinion. I did like the setting, the author did a good job with the mythology placing and setting the scene. Good writing for sure, just the romance section could’ve used more work. It was a bit boring and sometimes made the book feel like a chore. The author did a good job at writing in Calliope, she was definitely my favorite character. Jordan had a few interesting character points as well.
Not the most exciting read.
Could just be me so I’ll leave it up to you guys to read.
I received an Arc from NetGalley and the publishers in exchanged for a honest review
August 22, 2022
I’ve read a few Brey Willows before. The first of her Afterlife Inc. series, an apocalyptic one (Chosen) and a fairytale one (Spinning Tales). I think I should have read the other two Afterlife Inc ones before I tackled Song of Serenity. My memory was a bit fuzzy about the universe it was set in, and I didn’t even know anything about the much mentioned ‘Merge’. My bad.
Willows has imagination in spades. I always like her books because of that. Usually 4 star material, because even though they are entertaining, they do not blow me away. And that’s okay. Not every book has to do that. If you liked her Afterlife series, you will also enjoy this new project for sure.
f/f
Themes: Gods walk among us now, a theme park in rural Scotland, the Muses, on opposite sides.
3.5 Stars
Willows has imagination in spades. I always like her books because of that. Usually 4 star material, because even though they are entertaining, they do not blow me away. And that’s okay. Not every book has to do that. If you liked her Afterlife series, you will also enjoy this new project for sure.
f/f
Themes: Gods walk among us now, a theme park in rural Scotland, the Muses, on opposite sides.
3.5 Stars
November 11, 2021
Calliope Ardalides needs a vacation ASAP. Her job at Afterlife inc has her running constantly with no outlet and she hasn’t been on vacation in more than 20 years, though considering she’s over 3,000 years old it may not be so bad. Being the muse of Justice, her day to day is spent arbitrating arguments amongst the gods, who have revealed themselves to humans and live openly among them. Jordan James is looking forward to opening her next big adventure park in the Scottish highlands. She has found the perfect location for her zip lines, spelunking and roller coasters and is anxious to get construction underway. When it turns out that the park will be in the backyard of Calli’s vacation hideaway they begin to see nothing but problems ahead as Jordan moves to bring the beauty of the Highlands to the masses and Calliope fights to maintain the atmosphere of her quaint Scottish village.
This was the first book I have read by Brey Willows and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the alternate world that she created for these characters, and the playfulness of the gods was amusing. I do see that this universe is also in another of her series but this is the first of a new series to my understanding and the others don’t have to be read first. I may pick those up at some point though because the writing and plot of this book were both very well done. I have read a lot of supernatural novels but most of them tend to be bit dark, I really liked that this was so lighthearted. It reminded me a lot of Reaping the Benefits by EJ Noyes which is one of my favorites. I’d definitely recommend this to any lover of fantasy/supernatural romance and I’ll be keeping an eye out for any books that come next in this series.
This was the first book I have read by Brey Willows and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the alternate world that she created for these characters, and the playfulness of the gods was amusing. I do see that this universe is also in another of her series but this is the first of a new series to my understanding and the others don’t have to be read first. I may pick those up at some point though because the writing and plot of this book were both very well done. I have read a lot of supernatural novels but most of them tend to be bit dark, I really liked that this was so lighthearted. It reminded me a lot of Reaping the Benefits by EJ Noyes which is one of my favorites. I’d definitely recommend this to any lover of fantasy/supernatural romance and I’ll be keeping an eye out for any books that come next in this series.
September 3, 2022
I received this book as an unexpected gift and it’s been a really great one !!! I can’t say “Thank you so much” enough … 😊
My rating : 5 ⭐️
I LOVED it !! From the sober cover to the last word of the epilogue … I was totally hooked … I’m totally hooked with Brey Willows’ writing style & her smart-ass humor (I LOLed so much my cats now think I’m totally crazy & damn !!! Between many others, those witty bovine & octopus metaphors were good ... really good. Just hilarious !!! 😂🤣).
It’s very entertaining & a good start of a new paranormal/fantasy series (still evolving in the same very imaginative universe as the “Afterlife Inc.” series & there’s also a mention of Maggie from “Spinning Tales”).
The way Brey Willows describes the Scottish countryside made me want even more than before take a trip in Scotland … & maybe that’s just me who sensed it this way, but behind the story there’s a good critic of the fun “eco-friendly” mass tourism; of all those lil “somethings” people do thinking they do the planet a favor because it doesn’t require this polluting thing or that one for the activity (a car or whatever else) but which still have a heavy impact on the environment and the local population’s lives … (the garbage being only one of the issues)
I love this imaginary version of the world, and the romantic tale between Calliope Ardalides (the Muse of Justice and Serenity in Greek mythology), and Jordan James (a very rich/successful businesswoman building and running adventure parks for a living).
I’m glad I’ve been able to read
Vision of Virtue (Memory's Muses #2) right after this book to discover more characters and have even the slightest follow-ups on the lovebirds …
My rating : 5 ⭐️
I LOVED it !! From the sober cover to the last word of the epilogue … I was totally hooked … I’m totally hooked with Brey Willows’ writing style & her smart-ass humor (I LOLed so much my cats now think I’m totally crazy & damn !!! Between many others, those witty bovine & octopus metaphors were good ... really good. Just hilarious !!! 😂🤣).
It’s very entertaining & a good start of a new paranormal/fantasy series (still evolving in the same very imaginative universe as the “Afterlife Inc.” series & there’s also a mention of Maggie from “Spinning Tales”).
The way Brey Willows describes the Scottish countryside made me want even more than before take a trip in Scotland … & maybe that’s just me who sensed it this way, but behind the story there’s a good critic of the fun “eco-friendly” mass tourism; of all those lil “somethings” people do thinking they do the planet a favor because it doesn’t require this polluting thing or that one for the activity (a car or whatever else) but which still have a heavy impact on the environment and the local population’s lives … (the garbage being only one of the issues)
I love this imaginary version of the world, and the romantic tale between Calliope Ardalides (the Muse of Justice and Serenity in Greek mythology), and Jordan James (a very rich/successful businesswoman building and running adventure parks for a living).
I’m glad I’ve been able to read
Vision of Virtue (Memory's Muses #2) right after this book to discover more characters and have even the slightest follow-ups on the lovebirds …
March 17, 2023
I think this is one of those interwoven themed books that has endless possibilities. The Afterlife inc by Brey Willows is a jackpot.
So this story is centered on a muse who needs a break from work, finds that her break involved an unwelcome development, starts antagonising it and finds love in the midst.
Not much supernatural action compared to the other series but entertaining all the same.
So this story is centered on a muse who needs a break from work, finds that her break involved an unwelcome development, starts antagonising it and finds love in the midst.
Not much supernatural action compared to the other series but entertaining all the same.
March 7, 2022
3,5 stars
Would be better if it was clear from the get go that it's a part of the Afterlife Inc series and not a standalone. I'd have reread those books beforehand. Don't get me wrong, it could have been read without reading those, but there were so many references to the previous books it would have felt annoying.
Otherwise it's a decent book, but I admit I liked the Furies' stories more.
Would be better if it was clear from the get go that it's a part of the Afterlife Inc series and not a standalone. I'd have reread those books beforehand. Don't get me wrong, it could have been read without reading those, but there were so many references to the previous books it would have felt annoying.
Otherwise it's a decent book, but I admit I liked the Furies' stories more.
December 2, 2021
An ancient muse, Calli collides with a highly successful developer, Jordan, in this enemies to lovers story. Jordan wants to build an adventure park in the backyard of Calli’s tranquil retreat. This was a well written story with a good flow and great imagery of the natural world and the beautiful Scottish landscape. Unfortunately I just couldn’t buy into what this book was selling. I tried. I wanted to. The major angst and issues seemed to have easy solutions. Callie was over 3,000 years old, but seemed to have the sense and awareness of someone in their 20s. As for Jordan, I just couldn’t find many redeeming qualities. Overall there was little to no chemistry between the MCs. Just because you say they have a deep connection doesn’t mean it rings true for the reader. I’ve had a deeper connection with a cheeseburger than these two seemed to have. To be fair, I’ve fallen pretty hard over some cheeseburgers in the past, so that may not be a fair comparison. I’m rounding up to 3 stars.
December 21, 2021
A return to the Afterlife Inc universe. Though it isn't listed on that series page. The first three books in that series involved the Furies; this book here involves a Muse. Specifically the Muse of Justice and Music.
Calliope Ardalides, as the book description notes: stuff. Eh, I seem to keep restating what already had been stated. Calliope currently works as the arbitrator between the gods, and between the gods and the humans. It's a job that needs to be done, but Calliope really dislikes her life at the moment. But . . . .; so, the book opens with her taking a vacation for the first time in a long time. Heading back to her hut/cottage/whatever-word-works in a small village in Scotland. One near one of the only two temples dedicated to the Muses. Shortly after Calliope arrives, a hyperactive human arrives to disrupt her plans. And thus a huge gapping age gap story begins. Or something.
Jordan James is, apparently though it was never explicitly stated, richer than dirt (dirt is rich, right? Okay, what's the saying?) and loathes "the gods". For many reasons. Mostly because her mom died. Though also other reasons. She spends her life climbing mountains, fucking everything that is female near her, riding zip lines, fucking more random unknown women, and doing other "extreme sports" type stuff (and fucking even more women; have I expressed yet that this woman likes to fuck?). She also owns and runs an Adventure Park company. And has recently bought a huge estate in Scotland, one right next to the village Calliope lives.
The two point of view women come into conflict. Calliope wants Jordan to fuck off. Jordan wants Calliope to stop being in the way of her life-long dream of building a park on an estate she just bought. Naturally, both women fall into the "everyone sees them and spontaneously orgasms just upon seeing them, for both are, like, really really gorgeous" trope.
So, that's basically the plotline. Jordan wants to build a park. Calliope wants to stop her. The local village is involved in the dispute as they might or might not give the permits Jordan needs to build her park. And the two fuck because, well, what are two gorgeous women supposed to do? Not fuck?
Oh, and Calliope is somewhere around 3,333 and three days old. While Jordan is something human aged.
Rating: 3.75
December 21 2021
Calliope Ardalides, as the book description notes: stuff. Eh, I seem to keep restating what already had been stated. Calliope currently works as the arbitrator between the gods, and between the gods and the humans. It's a job that needs to be done, but Calliope really dislikes her life at the moment. But . . . .; so, the book opens with her taking a vacation for the first time in a long time. Heading back to her hut/cottage/whatever-word-works in a small village in Scotland. One near one of the only two temples dedicated to the Muses. Shortly after Calliope arrives, a hyperactive human arrives to disrupt her plans. And thus a huge gapping age gap story begins. Or something.
Jordan James is, apparently though it was never explicitly stated, richer than dirt (dirt is rich, right? Okay, what's the saying?) and loathes "the gods". For many reasons. Mostly because her mom died. Though also other reasons. She spends her life climbing mountains, fucking everything that is female near her, riding zip lines, fucking more random unknown women, and doing other "extreme sports" type stuff (and fucking even more women; have I expressed yet that this woman likes to fuck?). She also owns and runs an Adventure Park company. And has recently bought a huge estate in Scotland, one right next to the village Calliope lives.
The two point of view women come into conflict. Calliope wants Jordan to fuck off. Jordan wants Calliope to stop being in the way of her life-long dream of building a park on an estate she just bought. Naturally, both women fall into the "everyone sees them and spontaneously orgasms just upon seeing them, for both are, like, really really gorgeous" trope.
So, that's basically the plotline. Jordan wants to build a park. Calliope wants to stop her. The local village is involved in the dispute as they might or might not give the permits Jordan needs to build her park. And the two fuck because, well, what are two gorgeous women supposed to do? Not fuck?
Oh, and Calliope is somewhere around 3,333 and three days old. While Jordan is something human aged.
Rating: 3.75
December 21 2021
December 2, 2021
What’s a Muse to do when her much-anticipated peaceful break is under threat? Calliope Ardalides is the eldest of the nine Muses, and is responsible for arbitrating arguments between the gods and answering for their failures to the humans who complain. Her haven of serenity is a small Scottish village, where the Temple of the Muses is situated. But when an American businesswoman lodges plans for an adventure park right next door, Calliope’s hopes of relaxation and calm are shattered. Despite a powerful attraction neither women appear ready to yield. Can they each get what they want? And will they be able to resist the pull of something more?
I’ve been looking forward to this, the first in a new series set in the Afterlife Inc world. The first trilogy was excellent and my favourite series of the past five years. This time we are with the Muses, and they are just as compelling. Calliope is a talented musician and singer, but has been so caught up in the other aspects of her job, that her artistic side has taken a back seat. Being in Scotland lets her enjoy music again, but the threat to her peace from Jordan James and her plans is worrying. Although she’s used to seeing an issue from both sides at work, it’s more difficult in this case. She’s a kind, thoughtful and sensitive soul and I really liked her.
Jordan wasn’t the big, bad wolf, even though she wanted to build next to the Temple. I could see her point of view, and it would certainly help the local community. But she had to see the whole picture, and Calliope was the person to help her do that. Their attraction was intense and powerful, but it was also healing for both of them.
Brey Willows describes the Scottish countryside perfectly and makes me feel as if I’m there. She sees past the surface and allows the reader a peek of that too. I love the marrying of old and new, the mythology and the present. The story shows wonderful imagination, and I never tire of reading what she has come up with . She knows her characters inside out and allows the reader to become part of their lives.
‘Song of Serenity’ is a stunning story. I highly recommend it.
I was given this Arc for review.
I’ve been looking forward to this, the first in a new series set in the Afterlife Inc world. The first trilogy was excellent and my favourite series of the past five years. This time we are with the Muses, and they are just as compelling. Calliope is a talented musician and singer, but has been so caught up in the other aspects of her job, that her artistic side has taken a back seat. Being in Scotland lets her enjoy music again, but the threat to her peace from Jordan James and her plans is worrying. Although she’s used to seeing an issue from both sides at work, it’s more difficult in this case. She’s a kind, thoughtful and sensitive soul and I really liked her.
Jordan wasn’t the big, bad wolf, even though she wanted to build next to the Temple. I could see her point of view, and it would certainly help the local community. But she had to see the whole picture, and Calliope was the person to help her do that. Their attraction was intense and powerful, but it was also healing for both of them.
Brey Willows describes the Scottish countryside perfectly and makes me feel as if I’m there. She sees past the surface and allows the reader a peek of that too. I love the marrying of old and new, the mythology and the present. The story shows wonderful imagination, and I never tire of reading what she has come up with . She knows her characters inside out and allows the reader to become part of their lives.
‘Song of Serenity’ is a stunning story. I highly recommend it.
I was given this Arc for review.
January 5, 2022
Just lovely!
Calliope is on her annual break from keeping her eight sisters in line and dealing with issues at Afterlife Inc. when she finds her peaceful break is not going to go to plan. Jordan, a contractor planning build an adventure park in the Scottish Countryside Calliope holds so dear is going to get in her way.
I loved this! A new series to follow on from the amazing Afterlife Inc. trilogy and I was so excited to find out what would be happening. The story was filled with passion, tension, and a wonderful sense of a believable kind of magic. Calliope is obviously a very busy woman and it was just inevitable in some ways that she wouldn’t quite get the break she wanted because isn’t that just always the way. I found that most relatable but what I loved what the way fates even interfere with the lives of gods and mythical beings. It is good to know it isn’t just us mere mortals who are subject to such things.
Knowing very little about the muses and Greek mythology, I am so excited for this whole series because I have already learned so much just from Song of Serenity. The story had me intrigued and on the edge of my seat. I spent much time wondering just who would win favour and get their own way. There were many moral lessons to learn though, both for Calliope and Jordan and how they embraced such lessons was fascinating.
They had a great connection, one that was instant and just worked so well. Even though doubt crept in from time to time for them both, you just knew they needed to be there for one another and would be the perfect team. They really brought out the best in one another and when that happened there was no stopping either of them.
A really wonderful story that I cannot recommend enough! Looking forward to next book in the series.
Calliope is on her annual break from keeping her eight sisters in line and dealing with issues at Afterlife Inc. when she finds her peaceful break is not going to go to plan. Jordan, a contractor planning build an adventure park in the Scottish Countryside Calliope holds so dear is going to get in her way.
I loved this! A new series to follow on from the amazing Afterlife Inc. trilogy and I was so excited to find out what would be happening. The story was filled with passion, tension, and a wonderful sense of a believable kind of magic. Calliope is obviously a very busy woman and it was just inevitable in some ways that she wouldn’t quite get the break she wanted because isn’t that just always the way. I found that most relatable but what I loved what the way fates even interfere with the lives of gods and mythical beings. It is good to know it isn’t just us mere mortals who are subject to such things.
Knowing very little about the muses and Greek mythology, I am so excited for this whole series because I have already learned so much just from Song of Serenity. The story had me intrigued and on the edge of my seat. I spent much time wondering just who would win favour and get their own way. There were many moral lessons to learn though, both for Calliope and Jordan and how they embraced such lessons was fascinating.
They had a great connection, one that was instant and just worked so well. Even though doubt crept in from time to time for them both, you just knew they needed to be there for one another and would be the perfect team. They really brought out the best in one another and when that happened there was no stopping either of them.
A really wonderful story that I cannot recommend enough! Looking forward to next book in the series.
December 12, 2021
First time reading a book by Brey Willows and did not really know what to expect. It's set in modern times but with one big difference: the gods have come back to live amongst humankind and not in a secret, hidden way.
This story focuses on the eldest of the nine Muses, Calliope, who is working as an arbiter for Afterlife Inc., resolving conflicts that arises between the gods. While on a much-needed vacation, she finds that the land next to the Temple of the Muses in Scotland has been bought by a developer who wants to build an adventure park. This brought her into conflict with Jordan, whose company bought the property and who also really hates the gods. They meet and there's instant attraction. Calli and Jordan both have to deal with the implications.
I enjoy the world this is set in. I like Calli as a character. The only thing is that for me, the resolution at the end, came quite quickly. Personally, it's more difficult for me to invest fully in romances between an immortal and a mortal. Maybe it's just me, but at the back of my mind, the inherent imbalance between the two lingers.
However, overall, an enjoyable book from a new-to-me author. This makes me want to read her Afterlife Series books. Not sure if there will be nine books to this Muses series, but I'm definitely interested in reading the next one.
**Thank you to Bold Strokes Books for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!**
This story focuses on the eldest of the nine Muses, Calliope, who is working as an arbiter for Afterlife Inc., resolving conflicts that arises between the gods. While on a much-needed vacation, she finds that the land next to the Temple of the Muses in Scotland has been bought by a developer who wants to build an adventure park. This brought her into conflict with Jordan, whose company bought the property and who also really hates the gods. They meet and there's instant attraction. Calli and Jordan both have to deal with the implications.
I enjoy the world this is set in. I like Calli as a character. The only thing is that for me, the resolution at the end, came quite quickly. Personally, it's more difficult for me to invest fully in romances between an immortal and a mortal. Maybe it's just me, but at the back of my mind, the inherent imbalance between the two lingers.
However, overall, an enjoyable book from a new-to-me author. This makes me want to read her Afterlife Series books. Not sure if there will be nine books to this Muses series, but I'm definitely interested in reading the next one.
**Thank you to Bold Strokes Books for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!**
December 5, 2021
In a world where deities and humans coexist (this is part of a broader universe created by the writer but you don't need to read previous books to understand this one), Calliope, yes that Muse, is a workaholic who decides to take some well-earned vacations to Scotland near a temple dedicated to her and her sisters. Meanwhile, we are introduced to Jordan a daredevil businness owner who plans to open an adventure park near the previously mentioned temple.
I was intrigued by this premise and the inevitable relationship between two very different women who are both fighting on opposite sides of a construction conflict. Jordan wants to build this park desperately both because she doesn't want to lose her money and she believes that's going to be fun. We also are told that's it's going to create more jobs in the area but Jordan almost never uses that argument herself which makes her look less morally-righteous than the other side, Calliope's side. Calliope fights to protect the tranquility of the area as well as preserve the forest and environment. This had a lot of potential to develop into a real conflict but it's all swept under the rug (after devoting two-thirds of the book to it) in favor in another third act conflict.
There's one thing that I noticed immediatly and that really bothered me when reading : I didn't like the writing. I don't know if it wasn't for me or if it was just bad, especially because some senences clearly had some thoughts put into them but a lot of parts felt like a chore to go through especially the dialogues.
This writing issue really tied in with how I connected with the characters and their romance. At no point I felt like they had an actual connection besides them saying "we have an connection". We're supposed to believe that there's some tension building up between them but I just couldn't see it besides both of them just thinking that the other was sexy. The writing really was surface-level when it came to their feelings and it was a shame because I absolutely did not care about them. Even the sex scene felt cold and short. I would have loved to see how the plot played out if the writer had really leaned in their physical connection (more than just thinking "she's really hot I want to sleep with her"). Because then come their feelings for each other... Several times when one describes what they love about the other, she always says "beautiful and smart" like what? Several times! (there was one "great listener", and "good singing voice" too). that's not helping me believe that they have feelings for each other, especially since neither had done anything "smart" really. So I still don't know why I should root for them as a couple.
One of the book highlight is that it takes advantage of the universe it's set in to talk about mortal/god relationship, which is a classic trope that I really like. It even brings up a subject that's not often explored "what if the human hated gods?" I wished there had been more of that in the book rather than only at the end.
I was given a copy of the book to review, thank you to Netgalley
I was intrigued by this premise and the inevitable relationship between two very different women who are both fighting on opposite sides of a construction conflict. Jordan wants to build this park desperately both because she doesn't want to lose her money and she believes that's going to be fun. We also are told that's it's going to create more jobs in the area but Jordan almost never uses that argument herself which makes her look less morally-righteous than the other side, Calliope's side. Calliope fights to protect the tranquility of the area as well as preserve the forest and environment. This had a lot of potential to develop into a real conflict but it's all swept under the rug (after devoting two-thirds of the book to it) in favor in another third act conflict.
There's one thing that I noticed immediatly and that really bothered me when reading : I didn't like the writing. I don't know if it wasn't for me or if it was just bad, especially because some senences clearly had some thoughts put into them but a lot of parts felt like a chore to go through especially the dialogues.
This writing issue really tied in with how I connected with the characters and their romance. At no point I felt like they had an actual connection besides them saying "we have an connection". We're supposed to believe that there's some tension building up between them but I just couldn't see it besides both of them just thinking that the other was sexy. The writing really was surface-level when it came to their feelings and it was a shame because I absolutely did not care about them. Even the sex scene felt cold and short. I would have loved to see how the plot played out if the writer had really leaned in their physical connection (more than just thinking "she's really hot I want to sleep with her"). Because then come their feelings for each other... Several times when one describes what they love about the other, she always says "beautiful and smart" like what? Several times! (there was one "great listener", and "good singing voice" too). that's not helping me believe that they have feelings for each other, especially since neither had done anything "smart" really. So I still don't know why I should root for them as a couple.
One of the book highlight is that it takes advantage of the universe it's set in to talk about mortal/god relationship, which is a classic trope that I really like. It even brings up a subject that's not often explored "what if the human hated gods?" I wished there had been more of that in the book rather than only at the end.
I was given a copy of the book to review, thank you to Netgalley
November 19, 2021
First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books Inc. for taking a chance on me and providing me with an arc to review.
I read most of this book while listening to this playlist on repeat so give it a shot if you want!!
Now onto the review!!
I LOVED this story. I absolutely love the inclusion of the enemies/rivals to lovers trope and I think that it was executed very well. The side characters were amazing and didn't feel like they were there as exposition machines but they weren't getting too much into the main story which was a relief to read about. It was nice that there was a balance in how the side characters fit into the world. Speaking of side characters, my heart and soul belongs to Duncan. He is amazing and witty and sweet and absolutely the nicest person in the universe. I also absolutely loved Iona and her story.
Before I forget, the cottagecore vibes in t his book were IMMACULATE.
Another thing that I absolutely adored is that the information and the worldbuilding were done in such a natural way that I was actually following everything they said and not just skipping ahead like I do when it's just info-dumping. Similar thing with the characters' traits. We could easily see what the author wanted us to know about the characters without it feeling like they were shouting about it in our face.
This author was also able to do something that I don't usually experience, which is me actually seeing the places they are describing. I generally use a familiar space for what they're describing and call it a day or sometimes see vague spaces and shapes and use that as a background in my head. And some of the places the author described we absolutely beautiful. If for nothing else read the book for Willow's ability to describe these beautiful places.
One thing I absolutely am FERAL over is the fact that the characters communicate. It's the bare minimum but there have been so many times when the trope of miscommunication is used that I feel like this is a holy grail that I was somehow lucky to find. I love that the problems didn't just stem from things that would be easily resolved iF ONLY THEY TALKED TO EACH OTHER. (sorry it's a touchy subject *hides the rage in a box for another time*)
I loved that the author managed to change my mind about how much some characters match. I was like "Nah" and then I was like "YES KISS" which is one of the things I love when reading.
I loved the positive outlook on polyamory that was thrown in there too!!
The romance is just *chef's kiss*
Okay, now for the things I didn't love and the reason this is a 4⭐ book and not a 5⭐ book. I am a person who cares more about the characters in a story than about the actual plot. So the fact that I disliked one of the main characters for a good chunk of the book wasn't all that fun for me. I am unsure about whether or not my initial dislike is because of internalized misogyny or genuine dislike but it doesn't really matter since I ended up liking her in the end. I also didn't like how pronounced the need for compromise was throughout the book. Is it a fundamental part of our society? Yes, absolutely. But after a while, it was annoying that it was such a central part of the story. I think that's all I can say without getting into spoiler territory about specifics.
Oh and the last 2 chapters (well 2 numbered and the epilogue anyway) made my heart absolutely melt. This was also such an amazing scene in the epilogue that made me want to tear up.
Thanks again to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books Inc. for sending me the arc as well as Brey Willows for writing this story.
I read most of this book while listening to this playlist on repeat so give it a shot if you want!!
Now onto the review!!
I LOVED this story. I absolutely love the inclusion of the enemies/rivals to lovers trope and I think that it was executed very well. The side characters were amazing and didn't feel like they were there as exposition machines but they weren't getting too much into the main story which was a relief to read about. It was nice that there was a balance in how the side characters fit into the world. Speaking of side characters, my heart and soul belongs to Duncan. He is amazing and witty and sweet and absolutely the nicest person in the universe. I also absolutely loved Iona and her story.
Before I forget, the cottagecore vibes in t his book were IMMACULATE.
Another thing that I absolutely adored is that the information and the worldbuilding were done in such a natural way that I was actually following everything they said and not just skipping ahead like I do when it's just info-dumping. Similar thing with the characters' traits. We could easily see what the author wanted us to know about the characters without it feeling like they were shouting about it in our face.
This author was also able to do something that I don't usually experience, which is me actually seeing the places they are describing. I generally use a familiar space for what they're describing and call it a day or sometimes see vague spaces and shapes and use that as a background in my head. And some of the places the author described we absolutely beautiful. If for nothing else read the book for Willow's ability to describe these beautiful places.
One thing I absolutely am FERAL over is the fact that the characters communicate. It's the bare minimum but there have been so many times when the trope of miscommunication is used that I feel like this is a holy grail that I was somehow lucky to find. I love that the problems didn't just stem from things that would be easily resolved iF ONLY THEY TALKED TO EACH OTHER. (sorry it's a touchy subject *hides the rage in a box for another time*)
I loved that the author managed to change my mind about how much some characters match. I was like "Nah" and then I was like "YES KISS" which is one of the things I love when reading.
I loved the positive outlook on polyamory that was thrown in there too!!
The romance is just *chef's kiss*
Okay, now for the things I didn't love and the reason this is a 4⭐ book and not a 5⭐ book. I am a person who cares more about the characters in a story than about the actual plot. So the fact that I disliked one of the main characters for a good chunk of the book wasn't all that fun for me. I am unsure about whether or not my initial dislike is because of internalized misogyny or genuine dislike but it doesn't really matter since I ended up liking her in the end. I also didn't like how pronounced the need for compromise was throughout the book. Is it a fundamental part of our society? Yes, absolutely. But after a while, it was annoying that it was such a central part of the story. I think that's all I can say without getting into spoiler territory about specifics.
Oh and the last 2 chapters (well 2 numbered and the epilogue anyway) made my heart absolutely melt. This was also such an amazing scene in the epilogue that made me want to tear up.
Thanks again to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books Inc. for sending me the arc as well as Brey Willows for writing this story.
January 2, 2022
3.25 Stars. I didn't have as much fun with this one as with Willow's other works. This is the start of a new series set within her world set up by the 'Afterlife Inc.' trilogy. In this case, with gods of all the world's religions finally free and living out amongst humans, we follow the Muse Calliope, the oldest of the nine Muses and the muse of justice. She's burnt out from her work with the gods, and escapes to her cabin in the UK hill country. Not only is it one of the older places left in the world, but it houses the last shrine dedicated to her and her sisters. That peace is then interrupted by the passionate entrepreneur, Jordan James. She's a developer who plops down adventure parks in places like the little town Calliope loves.
This is the basic premise, and I think I understand where Willows is coming from here: Calliope has kind of lost her passion - something that Muses should inherently have, as they are immortals that guide human passions for mostly the arts, but also for things like justice. Jordan is passionate and full of life but does seem to forget at times that others may not share in her sentiments. Through Jordan, Calliope learns to re-calibrate her focus, and Jordan is reminded to not just throw something new over a place and call it saved. It should work, but I don't quite like the pair together. I think it has more to do with Jordan, and not Calliope. Jordan is a messy, flawed individual, sure, but I really did not like that she took so long to not judge Calliope for her immortality and powers. Jordan is that angry atheist who got that way because she lost a loved one, despite that loved one being highly devote. Although she doesn't fall wholly into the atheist being redeemed through finding her faith or rekindling it, it just feels a little too cliché for me. It also comes off as being highly bigoted, despite the fact that the person she is having sex with is a demi-god. I don't think she should have just flipped the switch and suddenly likes gods again, but I don't buy that Calliope could fall for someone who - at least at first- actively hates the very idea of her existing.
I love just about everything else about the worldbuilding, the side characters, and the setting. Willows has one scene in the book that just feels old, mysterious, and full of power. Its a small part of the woodlands outside Calliope's village, but man, she describes what I feel like when I am able to step into the old parts of the world, or those that have religious significance. Well done. I just wish that Jordan's character was a little more balanced, since the building up of the relationship was the bulk of the book. Either way I still look forward to the potential other eight books (because Muses) in this series.
*I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This is the basic premise, and I think I understand where Willows is coming from here: Calliope has kind of lost her passion - something that Muses should inherently have, as they are immortals that guide human passions for mostly the arts, but also for things like justice. Jordan is passionate and full of life but does seem to forget at times that others may not share in her sentiments. Through Jordan, Calliope learns to re-calibrate her focus, and Jordan is reminded to not just throw something new over a place and call it saved. It should work, but I don't quite like the pair together. I think it has more to do with Jordan, and not Calliope. Jordan is a messy, flawed individual, sure, but I really did not like that she took so long to not judge Calliope for her immortality and powers. Jordan is that angry atheist who got that way because she lost a loved one, despite that loved one being highly devote. Although she doesn't fall wholly into the atheist being redeemed through finding her faith or rekindling it, it just feels a little too cliché for me. It also comes off as being highly bigoted, despite the fact that the person she is having sex with is a demi-god. I don't think she should have just flipped the switch and suddenly likes gods again, but I don't buy that Calliope could fall for someone who - at least at first- actively hates the very idea of her existing.
I love just about everything else about the worldbuilding, the side characters, and the setting. Willows has one scene in the book that just feels old, mysterious, and full of power. Its a small part of the woodlands outside Calliope's village, but man, she describes what I feel like when I am able to step into the old parts of the world, or those that have religious significance. Well done. I just wish that Jordan's character was a little more balanced, since the building up of the relationship was the bulk of the book. Either way I still look forward to the potential other eight books (because Muses) in this series.
*I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 3, 2021
Brey Willows is one of my favorite authors. She never fails to craft interesting, funny, sexy, and sweet stories with a delicious flare of magic and fantasy. Song of Serenity, set mostly in beautiful Scotland is a strong start, and I am very excited for the rest of this new series.
November 27, 2021
Calliope is the oldest sister of the nine Muses. She is over 3000 years old and has inspired people for generations. But she has been stuck as an arbiter in the Afterlife dealing with arguing gods and complaints from humans. It is time for a vacation to her sanctuary retreat in Scotland. Once there she finds the neighboring land has all been sold to Jordan James for development of an eco-friendly adventure park. The parking lot will literally be in front of a temple dedicated to the muses and Calli isn't happy.
The author builds the fantasy world well. It is a clever to have the gods walking among humans and known to them. I did learn that muses aren't gods themselves although their parents are. The story is fine and the conflict over the land development is fairly given. Calli is the muse of justice after all. But it seems silly that Jordan dismisses any compromise because it would be costly or effect her permits. Life is always about compromise. The romance to me felt vey instant. She beautiful, there's a connection, I want her. They do have a fun adventure together but the obstacles Calli says have stopped her from getting involved with mortals in the past are still there and not addressed. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy fantasy romance. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Book for eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The author builds the fantasy world well. It is a clever to have the gods walking among humans and known to them. I did learn that muses aren't gods themselves although their parents are. The story is fine and the conflict over the land development is fairly given. Calli is the muse of justice after all. But it seems silly that Jordan dismisses any compromise because it would be costly or effect her permits. Life is always about compromise. The romance to me felt vey instant. She beautiful, there's a connection, I want her. They do have a fun adventure together but the obstacles Calli says have stopped her from getting involved with mortals in the past are still there and not addressed. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy fantasy romance. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Book for eARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2022
A contented smile graced my lips when I closed the back cover of this book. Willows’ latest work (as always) was a joy to read and it filled me with a peaceful happiness from the first word to the very last.
I mentioned in a previous review that Willows’ Fury’s Bridge novel is my favourite book, and whilst that remains true, as I finished Song of Serenity and reflected on the familiar feeling of comfort it gave me, I realised I needed to refine that statement ever so slightly.
Four years after the release of Fury’s Bridge, Song of Serenity has firmly cemented Willows as my choice for the ‘you can only read one author for the rest of your life’ question.
In other words Willows takes the top spot as my all time favourite author and it’s justly deserved. Words are inadequate when it comes to describing the calibre of Willows’ storytelling ability; it has to be felt. And that is where the core of Willows’ talents lie – so beautifully displayed within Song of Serenity – the gift to elicit a readers thoughts, feelings and imagination.
Set in the Afterlife Inc. universe and roughly five years further along that particular timeline, Song of Serenity is the first book in Willows’ new series exploring the nine muses of Ancient Greece. As the muse of justice and serenity, Calliope Ardalides the firstborn of the nine muses, is in need of a break from her day job of peacekeeping between the Gods and humans alike. Having the perfect vacation place in mind, Calliope doesn’t bank on having to safe guard the peaceful safe haven that is the Temple of the Muses (nestled in amongst the Scottish countryside) from adventure park developer, Jordan James.
A thrill seeker and business woman combined, Jordan travels the world creating environmentally friendly adventure parks, whilst enjoying the finer delights of the female form as and when the opportunity arises. As she waits for planning permission to be granted on her latest proposal in Scotland, she doesn’t bank on the opposition of a Greek Muse and whilst that’s problem enough, the growing attraction between herself and Calliope is more than enough to cause both a headache and heartache.
Having sworn off another relationship with a human, Calliope is convinced that her interest in Jordan can go no further than ensuring the Temple of the Muses isn’t desecrated. Despite finding Calliope stunningly beautiful, Jordan is adamant she won’t go there, knowing full well that her stance on the Gods and their presence amongst humans will not make for the foundations of a solid relationship. But as they both soon realise, sometimes there are sparks that can’t be dampened no matter the situation, and as Calliope and Jordan continue to find themselves at opposite sides of the table, they start to question whether they have any chance at a love which can transcend their vast differences of opinion.
Song of Serenity is everything that I adore about Willows’ writing, it is nothing short of the essence of a warm hug from your favourite person. It’s the delightful glow of contentment in your chest, as you mentally traverse the Afterlife Inc. universe with a whole host of new, fun friends and magical creatures. And in this instance Willows really digs deep into Calliope and Jordan’s characters and personal journeys; exploring how it’s possible to intersect strongly held and vastly different opinions and beliefs by seeking to learn, communicate, and compromise – thus allowing love and understanding to get a foot in the front door. Calliope and Jordan’s connection and chemistry is genuine from the outset, and more importantly realistic i.e. just because you find someone hot as hell, does not mean there will be no bumps in the road or obstacles to overcome. The energy between them and the other supporting characters is nicely done – no-one feels surplus to requirements, and the rapport between the residents of St. Boswells captures the feel of a quaint Scottish village perfectly. I particularly enjoyed the characters of Duncan, Leith and Emma who all bring their own level of wit, humour and banter to the story, and the nurturing relationship between Calliope and Iona clearly depicted the capabilities and role of this particular Muse.
It’s worth noting, that you absolutely do not need to have read the authors Afterlife Inc. series to enjoy this story, Willows provides enough detail to understand what has previously happened between the Gods and humans, and subsequently the current climate. That being said, personally, I massively recommend reading that series first if you want a richer and deeper reading experience when delving into the Song of Serenity, but it certainly isn’t a prerequisite. For those readers that have had the pleasure of reading the Afterlife Inc. series, it’s a fabulous sweetener to find previous characters mentioned in passing or a cameo here and there… I also loved getting to learn a little more about the lesser known magical creatures of Greek mythology, and on that note I sincerely hope I never come across a dryad…
I can’t quite explain how ecstatic I am to know that Song of Serenity is just the first in a nine book series, with Vision of Virtue due September 2022 and Lines of Love in December 2022. It’s a readers equivalent of being a kid in a sweetshop; I truly cannot wait to sink into each and every book in this series.
I mentioned in a previous review that Willows’ Fury’s Bridge novel is my favourite book, and whilst that remains true, as I finished Song of Serenity and reflected on the familiar feeling of comfort it gave me, I realised I needed to refine that statement ever so slightly.
Four years after the release of Fury’s Bridge, Song of Serenity has firmly cemented Willows as my choice for the ‘you can only read one author for the rest of your life’ question.
In other words Willows takes the top spot as my all time favourite author and it’s justly deserved. Words are inadequate when it comes to describing the calibre of Willows’ storytelling ability; it has to be felt. And that is where the core of Willows’ talents lie – so beautifully displayed within Song of Serenity – the gift to elicit a readers thoughts, feelings and imagination.
Set in the Afterlife Inc. universe and roughly five years further along that particular timeline, Song of Serenity is the first book in Willows’ new series exploring the nine muses of Ancient Greece. As the muse of justice and serenity, Calliope Ardalides the firstborn of the nine muses, is in need of a break from her day job of peacekeeping between the Gods and humans alike. Having the perfect vacation place in mind, Calliope doesn’t bank on having to safe guard the peaceful safe haven that is the Temple of the Muses (nestled in amongst the Scottish countryside) from adventure park developer, Jordan James.
A thrill seeker and business woman combined, Jordan travels the world creating environmentally friendly adventure parks, whilst enjoying the finer delights of the female form as and when the opportunity arises. As she waits for planning permission to be granted on her latest proposal in Scotland, she doesn’t bank on the opposition of a Greek Muse and whilst that’s problem enough, the growing attraction between herself and Calliope is more than enough to cause both a headache and heartache.
Having sworn off another relationship with a human, Calliope is convinced that her interest in Jordan can go no further than ensuring the Temple of the Muses isn’t desecrated. Despite finding Calliope stunningly beautiful, Jordan is adamant she won’t go there, knowing full well that her stance on the Gods and their presence amongst humans will not make for the foundations of a solid relationship. But as they both soon realise, sometimes there are sparks that can’t be dampened no matter the situation, and as Calliope and Jordan continue to find themselves at opposite sides of the table, they start to question whether they have any chance at a love which can transcend their vast differences of opinion.
Song of Serenity is everything that I adore about Willows’ writing, it is nothing short of the essence of a warm hug from your favourite person. It’s the delightful glow of contentment in your chest, as you mentally traverse the Afterlife Inc. universe with a whole host of new, fun friends and magical creatures. And in this instance Willows really digs deep into Calliope and Jordan’s characters and personal journeys; exploring how it’s possible to intersect strongly held and vastly different opinions and beliefs by seeking to learn, communicate, and compromise – thus allowing love and understanding to get a foot in the front door. Calliope and Jordan’s connection and chemistry is genuine from the outset, and more importantly realistic i.e. just because you find someone hot as hell, does not mean there will be no bumps in the road or obstacles to overcome. The energy between them and the other supporting characters is nicely done – no-one feels surplus to requirements, and the rapport between the residents of St. Boswells captures the feel of a quaint Scottish village perfectly. I particularly enjoyed the characters of Duncan, Leith and Emma who all bring their own level of wit, humour and banter to the story, and the nurturing relationship between Calliope and Iona clearly depicted the capabilities and role of this particular Muse.
It’s worth noting, that you absolutely do not need to have read the authors Afterlife Inc. series to enjoy this story, Willows provides enough detail to understand what has previously happened between the Gods and humans, and subsequently the current climate. That being said, personally, I massively recommend reading that series first if you want a richer and deeper reading experience when delving into the Song of Serenity, but it certainly isn’t a prerequisite. For those readers that have had the pleasure of reading the Afterlife Inc. series, it’s a fabulous sweetener to find previous characters mentioned in passing or a cameo here and there… I also loved getting to learn a little more about the lesser known magical creatures of Greek mythology, and on that note I sincerely hope I never come across a dryad…
I can’t quite explain how ecstatic I am to know that Song of Serenity is just the first in a nine book series, with Vision of Virtue due September 2022 and Lines of Love in December 2022. It’s a readers equivalent of being a kid in a sweetshop; I truly cannot wait to sink into each and every book in this series.
February 7, 2022
A light romance between a human and an immortal
SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO: favorite trope, out of your comfort zone, unusual jobs, non-human character, butch character, romantic comedy; UNICORN: faith, character way over 50 (possibly other categories)
I've always enjoyed Greek mythology, even as far back as elementary school, so finding out about a sapphic love story that included one of the nine Muses was very exciting for me. The story was a contemporary fantasy romance mixed with fun and witty characters. The author wove the contemporary and ancient characters into a charming, well-developed plot.
Even though I'm an American, I have read a few articles about the Scottish golf courses bought by a certain US celebrity, as well as the Stonehenge tunnel, and it made me curious if either had helped to inspire the novel. In both situations, the Scottish villages did not get what they were promised, and it's too early to tell what would happen as a result of the tunnel. Elements of both were included in the book.
One thing that threw me in the story was how a nature-loving adventurer could be so willing to comprise a historical site dedicated to ancients. (Just like how easy it was for people to sacrifice the ancient Stonehenge.) Most US circumstances where development of properties that are found to be part of historical sites get blocked by preservation or historical societies, and/or even the government. Jordan's perspective of the park seemed inconsistent with an environmentalist's desire to share the natural wonders, especially since it wasn't motivated by greed. It didn't deter from my appreciation of the story, but it just seemed inconsistent for her character.
It was a fun, light angst, and sweet romance, and I highly recommend it.
SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO: favorite trope, out of your comfort zone, unusual jobs, non-human character, butch character, romantic comedy; UNICORN: faith, character way over 50 (possibly other categories)
I've always enjoyed Greek mythology, even as far back as elementary school, so finding out about a sapphic love story that included one of the nine Muses was very exciting for me. The story was a contemporary fantasy romance mixed with fun and witty characters. The author wove the contemporary and ancient characters into a charming, well-developed plot.
Even though I'm an American, I have read a few articles about the Scottish golf courses bought by a certain US celebrity, as well as the Stonehenge tunnel, and it made me curious if either had helped to inspire the novel. In both situations, the Scottish villages did not get what they were promised, and it's too early to tell what would happen as a result of the tunnel. Elements of both were included in the book.
One thing that threw me in the story was how a nature-loving adventurer could be so willing to comprise a historical site dedicated to ancients. (Just like how easy it was for people to sacrifice the ancient Stonehenge.) Most US circumstances where development of properties that are found to be part of historical sites get blocked by preservation or historical societies, and/or even the government. Jordan's perspective of the park seemed inconsistent with an environmentalist's desire to share the natural wonders, especially since it wasn't motivated by greed. It didn't deter from my appreciation of the story, but it just seemed inconsistent for her character.
It was a fun, light angst, and sweet romance, and I highly recommend it.
December 29, 2021
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Song of Serenity is a book about fighting for what's important, even if those things change over time.
Jordan's dreams for her newest adventure park are threatened when she goes up against Calli's need to keep the peace and tranquillity of her mountain temple. Their dedication to their own plans is complicated by the growing attraction they feel toward each other.
The plot of the book is smooth and predictable in the good way that you'd expect from a romance. The book fell down, however, when it came to the characters themselves, and the writing of the romantic attraction in particular. The characters felt rather one dimensional, and both the characterisation and the romance felt like it regularly broke the rules of "show don't tell". I knew that they were attracted to each other because they told me so explicitly, but didn't really get a good feel of it myself. The same went for a side relationship that developed toward the end: it became an instant sure thing despite a lack of any kind of build up or reason. An important moment in the epilogue felt like it was tacked on to fulfil a check-list, rather than a scene that had any emotion attached to it.
I did appreciate the inclusion of the more nature based mythical creatures, considering the setting, and really enjoyed how that plot point wrapped up.
Song of Serenity is a book about fighting for what's important, even if those things change over time.
Jordan's dreams for her newest adventure park are threatened when she goes up against Calli's need to keep the peace and tranquillity of her mountain temple. Their dedication to their own plans is complicated by the growing attraction they feel toward each other.
The plot of the book is smooth and predictable in the good way that you'd expect from a romance. The book fell down, however, when it came to the characters themselves, and the writing of the romantic attraction in particular. The characters felt rather one dimensional, and both the characterisation and the romance felt like it regularly broke the rules of "show don't tell". I knew that they were attracted to each other because they told me so explicitly, but didn't really get a good feel of it myself. The same went for a side relationship that developed toward the end: it became an instant sure thing despite a lack of any kind of build up or reason. An important moment in the epilogue felt like it was tacked on to fulfil a check-list, rather than a scene that had any emotion attached to it.
I did appreciate the inclusion of the more nature based mythical creatures, considering the setting, and really enjoyed how that plot point wrapped up.
November 27, 2021
Cali is a muse and immortal. Jordan builds and runs adventure parks for adrenaline junkies. So, when Jordan buys land close to the only muse temple in the world, Cali feels the urge to protect not only the temple, but her home. What comes next is a battle between two views, a lot of zip-lines and (maybe) an unexpected love...
Don't get me wrong, I love the concept but I felt like this book was a bit too far from my typical reads for me to truly get into it. There are moments where the prose is amazing, and then the tone takes a shift, or a sentence is too long and it takes away from the flow of the story.
The connection between Jordan and Cali is very interesting. To see that continue to grow and evolve was pleasing, but I felt there wasn't a whole lot of character development to truly justify these shifts in their views towards one another and, if there was, it was a sentence or two at best.
Again, I would recommend for others to give this book a try, but it unfortunately wasn't really my think.
On the other hand, there were moments that did fully immerse me into the story. At times, the imagery became so vivid and breath-taking I wasn't sure if I was reading or watching a movie. I believe that this is due to the premise being very nature inclined - and that was a part I was very satisfied with.
Don't get me wrong, I love the concept but I felt like this book was a bit too far from my typical reads for me to truly get into it. There are moments where the prose is amazing, and then the tone takes a shift, or a sentence is too long and it takes away from the flow of the story.
The connection between Jordan and Cali is very interesting. To see that continue to grow and evolve was pleasing, but I felt there wasn't a whole lot of character development to truly justify these shifts in their views towards one another and, if there was, it was a sentence or two at best.
Again, I would recommend for others to give this book a try, but it unfortunately wasn't really my think.
On the other hand, there were moments that did fully immerse me into the story. At times, the imagery became so vivid and breath-taking I wasn't sure if I was reading or watching a movie. I believe that this is due to the premise being very nature inclined - and that was a part I was very satisfied with.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2022
I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A book about the muses but set in modern day?! SIGN ME UP!
This book has a promising premise and a solid foundation. This is my first introduction to the Afterlife, Inc world and I don't feel like I needed the other series in this realm to understand what's going on, which is a huge plus. It was explained well without being overdone and I appreciated that.
It does fall short in some areas for me. First, there's a lot of repetition. We know pretty early on that Calliope and Jordan are on different sides. We don't need it mentioned all the time. The sentences can be clunky, both descriptive ones and lines of dialogue. It's not egregious but it felt like it needed just a touch more fine-tuning.
Also, it seems like people cry a lot in this book. I'd get it if there were a reason for it but sometimes it was used as a way to 'show' emotion. It didn't work well. And that was the biggest issue: showing verses telling. We were told how Calliope and Jordan were feeling more than we were shown and allowed to experience things alongside them. Every aspect of the romance felt rushed because of that, even though it took time to develop.
It's an interesting premise and I'll read the next one as a kind of second chance. I'm not sure if I'll keep reading beyond that, though.
A book about the muses but set in modern day?! SIGN ME UP!
This book has a promising premise and a solid foundation. This is my first introduction to the Afterlife, Inc world and I don't feel like I needed the other series in this realm to understand what's going on, which is a huge plus. It was explained well without being overdone and I appreciated that.
It does fall short in some areas for me. First, there's a lot of repetition. We know pretty early on that Calliope and Jordan are on different sides. We don't need it mentioned all the time. The sentences can be clunky, both descriptive ones and lines of dialogue. It's not egregious but it felt like it needed just a touch more fine-tuning.
Also, it seems like people cry a lot in this book. I'd get it if there were a reason for it but sometimes it was used as a way to 'show' emotion. It didn't work well. And that was the biggest issue: showing verses telling. We were told how Calliope and Jordan were feeling more than we were shown and allowed to experience things alongside them. Every aspect of the romance felt rushed because of that, even though it took time to develop.
It's an interesting premise and I'll read the next one as a kind of second chance. I'm not sure if I'll keep reading beyond that, though.
January 8, 2022
What happens when immortal beings like Greek gods, fates, or muses end up co-mingling with the human world? This book explores that idea in a fun and enthralling way. From the very start I was drawn into the story of Calliope, a Greek muse as old as the gods themselves, and her life in the modern day human world. When she decides to take a vacation from her job finding justice between fueding gods, she ends up pulled into a local debate that changes her never-ending life forever.
This story is fun from start to end with a nice mix of drama and anticipation. Much like the undeniable draw between the book's two main characters, you'll find yourself pulled in and unable to put the book down. Both characters try to find a way to get what they want while balancing the unexpected feelings that the other brings to life in them. It's a back and forth that has you rooting for both of them while screaming for them to just stop being so stubborn!
The books contains a healthy slow burn romance mixed with a non-toxic "they come from two different worlds" trope that is as entertaining as it is intriguing. If you're a fan of a good old fashioned mutual pining with a dash of "we will probably never work together" type of story then this is absolutely a book you can not pass up!
This story is fun from start to end with a nice mix of drama and anticipation. Much like the undeniable draw between the book's two main characters, you'll find yourself pulled in and unable to put the book down. Both characters try to find a way to get what they want while balancing the unexpected feelings that the other brings to life in them. It's a back and forth that has you rooting for both of them while screaming for them to just stop being so stubborn!
The books contains a healthy slow burn romance mixed with a non-toxic "they come from two different worlds" trope that is as entertaining as it is intriguing. If you're a fan of a good old fashioned mutual pining with a dash of "we will probably never work together" type of story then this is absolutely a book you can not pass up!
February 23, 2022
I love Brey Willows' books. That said, this wasn't my favourite.
In this book Calliope is the muse of music and justice, but after being a buffer between arguing gods and human complains to gods, she is ready for a break. Sometime in the Temple of Muses in the countryside of Scotland is exactly what she needs. That is until her peaceful place is disturbed by the presence of Jordan, who wants to set up an adventure park next to Calliope's home and the Temple of Muses.
As always Brey's books are incredibly interesting and I do love the world she has created with the Afterlife Inc. This world where were have seen many romances start. This however, wasn't my favourite, not because it was not good, but because I didn't really feel the chemistry between the main characters. While both characters were good, I really enjoyed Calliope more. I thought she was more complex and interesting.
Overall, it was a great book and story, but I would have liked to feel more chemistry between the main characters.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In this book Calliope is the muse of music and justice, but after being a buffer between arguing gods and human complains to gods, she is ready for a break. Sometime in the Temple of Muses in the countryside of Scotland is exactly what she needs. That is until her peaceful place is disturbed by the presence of Jordan, who wants to set up an adventure park next to Calliope's home and the Temple of Muses.
As always Brey's books are incredibly interesting and I do love the world she has created with the Afterlife Inc. This world where were have seen many romances start. This however, wasn't my favourite, not because it was not good, but because I didn't really feel the chemistry between the main characters. While both characters were good, I really enjoyed Calliope more. I thought she was more complex and interesting.
Overall, it was a great book and story, but I would have liked to feel more chemistry between the main characters.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 17, 2021
Calliope is the firstborn of the Muses who with the Gods are now openly living with humans. Overworked, she needs a break so off to her quiet cottage and temple she heads for some R&R.
Jordan James is a successful adventure park owner and wants to build another one right dab centre of Calliope's peaceful home. They collide, face off and eventually work out their differences.
This is the first book I have read from this author and it makes me want to read the other series before this one. I did enjoy it and it makes me want to keep up with this series as it develops.
I was a little disappointed in the lead up that Jordan had a great dislike of the Gods, it kind of falls flat and I was expecting it to be more of a reason that it was. It is a light fun quick read though.
I was given an ARC from NetGallery and Bold Strokes to review.
Jordan James is a successful adventure park owner and wants to build another one right dab centre of Calliope's peaceful home. They collide, face off and eventually work out their differences.
This is the first book I have read from this author and it makes me want to read the other series before this one. I did enjoy it and it makes me want to keep up with this series as it develops.
I was a little disappointed in the lead up that Jordan had a great dislike of the Gods, it kind of falls flat and I was expecting it to be more of a reason that it was. It is a light fun quick read though.
I was given an ARC from NetGallery and Bold Strokes to review.
December 13, 2021
What do you do when a developer wants to build a theme park adjacent to your sanctuary and temple?
What I love about Song of Serenity is that it not only revisits the Afterlife Inc world, it also makes commentary about developing sites in sympathy with the environment, but without pushing the issue down your throat.
I love the exploration of the consequences of having gods living amongst humans and the nature of belief.
It is beautifully written, as you expect with all of Brey Willows’ books, with well rounded characters. Calliope the oldest of the muses and the main character was one who will stay with me. I loved the subtle humour and the passing reference to Maggie of Spinning Tales. I can’t wait for the rest of the series.
What I love about Song of Serenity is that it not only revisits the Afterlife Inc world, it also makes commentary about developing sites in sympathy with the environment, but without pushing the issue down your throat.
I love the exploration of the consequences of having gods living amongst humans and the nature of belief.
It is beautifully written, as you expect with all of Brey Willows’ books, with well rounded characters. Calliope the oldest of the muses and the main character was one who will stay with me. I loved the subtle humour and the passing reference to Maggie of Spinning Tales. I can’t wait for the rest of the series.
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