Publication Date: May 27, 2025
There are lures irresistible regardless of peril, because some yearnings renounce all wisdom.
There are bonds that compel no matter how faraway, because some needs are dire enough to defy all cost.
But when reason, distance, and danger go unheeded, that price can be devastating despite all the magic in one’s grasp.
A Sister to Butterflies tells a different sort of once upon a time, a shimmering tale of a creature torn between worlds, whose wondrous deeds would become fable, and whose terrible mistakes would alter the destinies of everyone around her.
If you are a seasoned reader like me, it’s easy to find a favorite genre and stick to it. A Sister to Butterflies serves as a reminder of why being an adventurous reader can lead to unexpected benefits.
For many of us, fairy tale fantasy represents a specialized niche, putting an author’s imagination on display. However, author Aaron Christopher Drown not only showcases a rich imagination that supports the massive 450+ pages, which focuses on a main character torn between two realms, but also brings complex emotions to life.
It doesn’t particularly matter that the main character, a shapeshifter of some sort, remains unnamed until she takes on a human form. What is essential, though, is the warning not to go into the mists. Her defiance sets the stage for adventure, but also great sorrow, as her decisions create a ripple effect that impacts those around her.
At first pass, the story may seem a bit strange with a main character who has talking animals for friends, particularly a fox with an odd penchant for adding mild swear words out of sequence in a sentence. It’s whimsical in some areas while horrifying in others.
As with any fairy tale, there are bad characters. The ones depicted are even worse, thanks to the magical elements. The good vs. evil battle wages throughout the story, even to the very end.
Thanks to lyrical language and vivid imagery, readers are transported to this magical place where the main character wrestles with her place in a world, much like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.
A Sister to Butterflies offers a taste of something different and a poignant reminder of living with consequences.
Aaron Christopher Drown is an award-winning Maine-born author and designer whose work has appeared in numerous anthologies and magazines. His debut, A Mage of None Magic, won the Darrell Award, and his story collection The Gods Must Clearly Smile took both the BIBA and Imadjinn Awards. Now living in Washington State with his wife and their menagerie of pets, Aaron also speaks frequently about the intersection of storytelling and author branding.
