Wishful Thinking by Helen Harper ~ a Review

by MK French

Saffron Sawyer is a dope fairy, creating illusions and guidance for the addicts in London. She's applied for other departments and finally was accepted to be a Faery Godmother. However, they are biting and bullying, and refuse to tell her the truth of her hiring: five fairies had gone missing and they're backlogged. In addition, she's essentially bait to try to find the kidnapper. She's determined to not only prove she has every right to be in that department but will try to solve the mystery of who is kidnapping the fairies... before she's next.

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August 2019; Harperfire; 978-1913116224
ebook, print (302 pages); urban fantasy

Wishful Thinking is the first book in the "How To Be The Best Damn Faery Godmother in the World (or Die Trying)" urban fantasy series. It's a modern-day London that has fairies in it, from the dope fairies that Saffron had been working with initially, to those that create rainbows after the rains. Saffron is a wonderfully dotty kind of character, and far more approachable than the Mean Girl coworkers that refuse to greet her kindly and insist on bullying her almost every step of the way. The Office Lech type is also represented in this cubicle hell world of faery bureaucracy, making this as much a mockery of office life as it is an urban fantasy. Saffron is a bit ditzy and silly at times, adding to the comedic aspects of the novel, and there are moments of secondhand embarrassment on my part with some of the situations she gets caught in.

It's a bit of a personal peeve when characters are called stupid and put down when they're not told anything about a situation. It's not Saffron's fault that she's in the dark about a lot of the overall situation, and her genuine ignorance of it is often held against her. She's determined to be better than how others perceive her, which is a quality she has that I really appreciate and sympathize with. I'm glad she has a number of really good friends and is able to have others see her for the kind of person she truly is. I hope future stories in this series focuses on that and the comedic elements more than putting down the main character.

Buy Wishful Thinking at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and golden retriever. 

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