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Reviewed by Saifunnissa Hassam for Readers' Favorite
Renee Edwards' A Puzzle of Poppies: A Sherwood & Jarvis Novella is an intriguing crime mystery and fantasy about humans and the Fair Folk. The story is set in the 1880s in the British Isles. Dr. Wilfred "Wilf" Jarvis is a surgeon with the Army Medical Dept. He is sent to Afghanistan and is injured in a disastrous battle with the insurgents. Jarvis returns safely to England by the end of 1880. He is assigned as a doctor to the British Embassy's delegation on the Island of Ynis Witrin, to the fae world ruled by Queen Mab of the Seelie Court. After two centuries of living in seclusion, Queen Mab and the Fair Folk have returned to living among humans. Shortly after Jarvis arrives on Ynis Witrin, a British soldier is found murdered in the area where the fae live. Honoria Sherwood, captain of Queen Mab's guard, enlists Jarvis' help in the investigation.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Renee Edwards' A Puzzle of Poppies for its compelling character development and the highly imaginative Seelie Court. I particularly liked the memorable character of Honoria Sherwood. She is the half-folk and half-human daughter of General Caelia of the Seelie Queen and Sir Arthur Sherwood, an English baronet and explorer. Through challenging settings and well-crafted dialogues, Honoria's character emerges as one of courage, with an analytical, sharp, and observant mind. Through her character, the Seelie world sprang to life for me, and the sharp contrasts in world view between the Fair Folk and the English world of Queen Victoria in the 19th century. I liked how the two different worlds unfold through Dr. Wilf Jarvis's diary, as well as his observations, thoughts, and experiences when he first meets the Seelie folk. The story and Jarvis' character gain great depth when he comes to know Honoria. His experiences on Ynis Witrin take him on an inner journey, from a melancholy spirit when he first arrives to a life with more purpose and clarity. Puzzle of Poppies is an entrancing tale of humans and the mysterious Fair Folk living alongside each other.
