Fanning Fireflies Book Review

While Fanning Fireflies is the 3rd book in LS Delorme's Limerent Series, it can be read as a stand-alone book - along with the prior 2 books; Caio and Bright Midnights.

Fanning Fireflies synopsis

There is something rotting in Harrisville. 

It's 1944 and Veronica works so she can afford to eat. Maybe one day she will save enough to own the home her family is living in, but for now, she doesn't have time for fanciful thoughts, or much else. 

She doesn't have time for the fire whispering to her, the ghosts trying to talk to her and the son of her boss, who can't stop staring at her. She definitely doesn't have time to think about Lazlo, the handsome black soldier that she processed at the draft office, but she can't seem to stop herself. As her ability to ignore Lazlo evaporates, so does her self-imposed ignorance about her hometown. 

There is, and always has been, something rotten in Harrisville. It shouldn't have been a surprise. After all, Veronica works in the cigarette factory, where corpses hide in the tobacco with the roaches.

Fanning Fireflies Book Review

The book is 230 pages so a slim paperback that will draw you in and leave you in a state of anxiety!

There is an author's note at the beginning of the book to state that some language that was used in 1944 (when the book is set) would be considered offensive now - Lexy has tried to avoid such language while still retaining authenticity - and I think she's done that.

With the author's note in mind, it was still a hard read.  For those of us who are trying to leave this world in a better state than we found it - it highlights how hard some souls had it.

The story follows a young woman, Veronica Crane, who works at the local cigarette factory, along with her mother.  They, and her brother Franklin, who works at the pig farm and the fire station, all work but still only make enough money to just about feed themselves.

Veronica is no ordinary woman.  She has fire magic that we learn early on and she's not a master of her magic or the shadows that appear to her.  Shadows that are actually ghosts start to become more frequent as the horrors of Harrisville unfold!

My anxiety started to bubble while reading this book due to Veronica's kindness to Lazlo.  A handsome black soldier whom she needs to process before he is sent off to war.  She is not to talk to him, sit with him and certainly not share a sandwich with him, for that sort of action could see her ostracised and Lazlo beaten and killed!  But they do share those stolen moments and knowing how cruel the world can be, it was intense reading when they were together!

We follow the hate for Lazlo and other black soldiers by the town's folk.  For the hate the town's bully has for Franklin because he has a stutter - and how he's perceived as dumb!

The factory owner's son, Tommy Sawika becomes the leader of the town's Klu Klux Klan, doing horrible, unspeakable things to animals, people, and Franklin.  

But in amongst all that hate and horror, Veronica finds a forbidden love and the paranormal surrounding the town finds its justice for those killed and harmed by the hateful (and insane) Tommy and his gang!

Ghosting Academy

While Fanning Fireflies, Caio and Bright Midnights can be stand-alone books, the next book in the series by Lexy is Ghosting Academy, which is due out in the autumn of 2024.  That book will bring together the characters from the previous 3 books.  So I'm off to put Caio (who makes a brief appearance in Fanning Fireflies, and Bright Midnights) on my TBR list.

I just need to get my emotions back in check first.

 

Fanning Fireflies: A romantic historical paranormal mystery by LS Delorme
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My anxiety started to bubble while reading this book due to Veronica's kindness to Lazlo.

A handsome black soldier whom she needs to process before he is sent off to war. She is not to talk to him, sit with him and certainly not share a sandwich with him, for that sort of action could see her ostracised and Lazlo beaten and killed!

But they do share those stolen moments and knowing how cruel the world can be, it was intense reading when they were together!

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