Review :Lamp Black, Wolf Grey by Paula BrackstonArtist Laura Matthews finds her new home in the Welsh mountains to be a place so charged with tales and legends that she is able to reach through the gossamer-fine veil that separates her own world from that of myth and fable. She and her husband Dan have given up their city life and moved to Blaencwm, an ancient longhouse high in the hills. Here she hopes that the wild beauty will inspire her to produce her best art and will give her the baby they have longed for. But this high valley is also home to others, such as Rhys the charismatic loner who pursues Laura with fervor. And Anwen, the wise old woman from the neighboring farm who seems to know so much but talks in riddles. And then there is Merlin. Lamp Black, Wolf Grey tells both Laura's story and Merlin's. For once he too walked these hills, with his faithful grey wolf at his heel. It was here he fell in love with Megan, nurse-maid to the children of the hated local noble, Lord Geraint. Merlin was young, at the start of his renowned career as a magician, but when he refuses to help Lord Geraint it is Megan who may pay the price.                                                                                                                                                                                                              Okay so here we have two stories running throughout the book as the description explains. Laura , an artist who is heartbroken that she has not been able to conceive wants  a home in the country and a fresh start with her husband Dan. Megan is a girl in another time period who works as a governess to Lord Geraint' s children. Her father is the local horse breeder. As you might expect there are elements of magical realism as Laura has contact with beings that are supernatural in origin. There is  apart thAt reminds me of how some people describe the film adaptation of Game of Thrones, a great story with unneeded ,explicit sex scenes. I believe the writer includes this in order to set up the rest of the plot line and to explain what was going on inside Laura's head. Still I am not sure the particular way in which we are given to understand that something occurred is always necessary in mostnpiterature, not only in this work.                                                                                                                                    I enjoyed  the writers ability to surprise me while reading with plot twists as well as perspective shifts. I am not that sure how come the anything works out the way it does . I guess that is the part.that should have been described in more detail. Ms. Brackston' s portrayal of the relationship between Laura and her husband was well done and felt very real. I loved the way that her supernatural guardians stepped in to help her. I also loved how things were wrapped up nicely at the end with still an otherworldly touch in evidence. She captured the main characters angst very well and describes the ennui of many modern women but with the Merlin plot thrown in with a Destiny beyond time.  I also felt that she did drama well and had me anxious for what would happen next.