Saint Luridalr and the Peony Phoenix – Book Review
A Lyrical, Heart-Rending Sapphic Fairy Tale That Breathes Life into Myth and Magic
I was already familiar with this author when I was gifted a review copy of this sapphic fantasy so I couldn’t devour it quick enough! It’s like this book was written specifically for me, and I can’t wait to tell you more about it. It’s a short read, so you can dive right in, and probably finish it in a day (as I did). This free companion piece to the Eirenic Verses is a sapphic fantasy fairy tale that delves deeper into the mythology of the series’ primary locale.
We are taken to a world created by poetry, heavenly faith, and stunning beauty as a soldier opens a book and starts reading aloud to his feverish sister on a chilly winter night. A shining treasure, Cameron Sidhe’s Saint Luridalr and the Peony Phoenix is a stand-alone fairytale that adds the grace of a myth passed down through the ages to The Eirenic Verses. Don’t be fooled by its small size, though; this novella is packed with enough enchantment, wonder, and tragedy in less than 100 pages to match an epic.
Luridalr, a devoted tribeswoman at her core, devotes every breath to Poesy, the goddess thought to have written the world’s very fabric. Though Luridalr’s poetry and prose are legendary among her people, she doesn’t start writing from a place of love longing until she meets the mysterious and stunning Alna-Rose. Their bond is as fragile and powerful as the first blossom of spring. However, when Luridalr returns home from a tribal gathering to find her town destroyed, this fantasy is severely dashed. The alleged reason? The same people that Alna-Rose comes from – encouraged by a conquest legacy and a despotic ruler.
The story that follows is one of revelation, faith, grief, and survival. From naive believer to heartbroken survivor to reluctant saint, Luridalr’s story seems both legendary and incredibly relatable. Once kind and poetic, her words are now used to defend, heal, and eventually change reality itself. And through it all, Cameron Sidhe’s prose never falters. With overtones of gay, feminist, and decolonial themes, each line has the rhythm of oral tradition, evoking the Brothers Grimm or Andrew Lang.
The impact of the 13 original poetry is particularly noteworthy. These compositions function as elegies, prayers, and spells that naturally flow through the plot rather than interfering with it. They serve as a poignant reminder that poetry is more than just art in this existence; it is also a source of strength, dedication, and divinity. The High Poetry system, which has its roots in language, emotion, and belief, is the fundamental magic of the Eirenic Verses universe, and Sidhe utilizes these verses to highlight it.
This novella is especially notable for its unapologetic depiction of spiritual femininity and LGBT love. Despite their brief relationship, Luridalr and Alna-Rose have a deep and loving bond. The story centers sapphic love as something sacred and innate, just as the myths of ancient wrath gods and wondrous monsters were believed without inquiry. Therefore, there is no need to explain or justify their love.
The story’s emotional denouement, in which a strange, divine presence intervenes during Luridalr’s darkest hour, is stunning. It is a sublime moment that transforms Luridalr’s anguish into sainthood and her sadness into action rather than a tidy conclusion. I won’t give too much away, but the latter parts gave me the goosebumps.
If you already enjoy The Eirenic Verses, this companion story provides a satisfying look into the world’s deeper mythology, particularly the magical and spiritual foundations of the poetic arts. Even if this is your first time reading Sidhe’s work, Saint Luridalr and the Peony Phoenix is a stand-alone story that is both short enough to read in an hour and eerie enough to linger in your mind for days.
Final Thoughts:
Fans of mythic worldbuilding, LGBTQ folklore, and lyrical fantasy will enjoy this tale. It’s for people who think that stories have the ability to change reality, heal, and curse, and that language is precious. Cameron Sidhe has penned a story that should be read loudly by candlelight, whispered on stormy nights, or handed down like a holy artifact. It’s a subtly potent book that I will return to whenever I need to reaffirm my faith in the power of language.
Rating: 5/5 stars
A must-read for lovers of sapphic fantasy, fairy tale aesthetics, and lyrical storytelling.