I like having capability to scrutinize charts and illustrations of the settings where action takes place as I read a fantasy type account.  Maintaining everything in perspective assists my comprehending the chronicle with greater clarity.

 A tale peopled with powerful female characters, Quondam is the last of the fourpart series of writer Gibson’s The Ancient Mirror Series.

 The account commences in the prologue as we read about the clamor of men’s angry voices along with noises of anxious mounts squealing their apprehension regarding entering the murk of the spirit woods. 

   Readers are drawn into the narrative, as they move with Queen Karid’s servant whilst she travels noiselessly along the side wall of a tavern; there can be no survivors.   

 Invoking a veil of invisibility she stepped into the tavern. 

  We wait with Malaia as she agonizes through the pangs of giving birth, we overhear as the nymph Flida tamps down her sister Karid’s curse against the dragon-spawn who will grow up motherless succeeding Malaia’s demise during his birth.

  From that opening we travel along with Cwen; the main character of the chronicle.  Spiteful Queen Karid directed a fire-breathing assassin through an enchanted entryway, into another kingdom in her effort to overwhelm those she most believes are a fearful hazard for her.

 Karid's murderous efforts will be able to drag two women through the gateway and into Quondam.  This was not her intent.  And to her chagrin it will have devastating consequences for her.

 One of those dragged through is Cwen who holds an extraordinary power which will bind her to D'raekn, the dragon-spawn. D'raekn, half man/half dragon has been banished in exile to an island for over a thousand years.

  Queen Karid's efforts to invalidate the foretelling linking Cwen to D'raekn, will inexorably bring the pair together.  From an assassination, to pursuit, to a reward, Magick, revolution and visions; the chronicle is forwarded at a fast pace. 

  Legend says, only dragon-spawn born both of human and dragon can reestablish order and magick, and, bring harmony to Quondam.  Only dragon-spawn can overthrow the usurper queen who has embraced the crown, a nymph of the woods who has been cursed and must live in the flesh.

  Queen Karid, painstakingly power-mad, a cybernetic cascading force of evil deeds,  realizes herself seriously confronted when Cwen of Ædracmoræ, the heretofore overlooked, hot tempered niece, of the king first seen in earlier books of the series plunges into an unfathomable entryway leading into Quondam.  

   Strong, always with a chip on her shoulder, Cwen will need to learn when to apply judgement and to see the perspective of others as well as her own; that she will realize opportunity to not only redeem herself but to develop meaning for her life.   

  At last, Cwen comprehends her life  purpose, along with that of the world, are scrambled in ways that will force her, miserable and unforgiving, into the very center of a disheartening conflict.

Cwen appears to have been beaten, virtually to death, when she lands on D'raekn's island prison.  Karid’s underlings have appallingly mistreated her.  She is discarded, ostensibly dead, into the sea and is rescued by humble folk.

 D'raeken himself actually has a hand in her regaining strength.  Cwen was physically and emotionally shattered by her abusers; D'raeken must strive to expand her confidence.

 Quodam is a kingdom reeling under the stranglehold of Karid, a fallen wood nymph whose ruthless rule begun when she was forced by the gods into human form as punishment has already lasted for an eon.   Karid is pleased to have blood flowing in her veins, and is more than eager to spill the blood of any who threaten her perpetual dominance.

    A face to face chance meeting between the duo set into motion an awakening of dormant supernatural influences of the land. The queen resentfully endeavored to abolish all enchanted entities in order that all superior powers would be held in reserve for herself.

 At last; various of the enchanted residents who were able to escape the queen and have kept themselves concealed as the land rouses.

 Gibson’s writings authenticate her values, ethics and philosophies.  Characters are complex, multifaceted undertakings are complicated causing the action-packed plot to be jam-packed with minutiae, situations, trickery and reader welcoming circumstances.

 The accounts are spellbinding in depth and particulars; thrashing out human deficiency securing reader attention from the introductory paragraphs and continuing to the last sentences on the final page.  Themes become more steadfast, dependable, and reliable for the simple reason that Gibson’s characters do have the self-same quirks, warts and weaknesses as torment, plague, or overwhelm us all.

 Available Amazon 

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  Reviewed by Molly Reviews   BOOKS    molly   martin

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 Internet search indicates About the Author:  A scholar of Celtic history, traditional stories and belief, Jayel Gibson plaits the allure of timeless exploits.

  In addition to a full-time writing career, Gibson serves as an adjunct professor at Southwestern Oregon Community College, where she teaches writing for publication.

 She is a popular conference speaker at events like OryCon, Wordstock and the South Coast Writers Conference, and is the online book moderator for Realms of Fantasy magazine. She has been a contributor for Dallas Child Magazine, Education.com and Thefatherlife.com.

 Other novels in the Ancient Mirrors series include The Wrekening, Dragon Queen and Damselflies.