Daffodils and Dreams (Brodyr Alarch #4) by Morgan Sheppard

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#Fantasy, #Romance,

The weight of the crown presses heavily on Harri as the day of his coronation approaches. Surrounded by his gathered kin, trusted friends, and noble allies, he prepares to take on the mantle of kingship—but not without charting a new course for his kingdom. Among the honoured guests, Harri has invited the druids of the old faith, signalling a shift toward healing and unity. Central to his vision is the construction of a new Healer’s Hall.

Ffion, daughter of the Head of the Druid’s Order, arrives in Melthkior to fulfil her sacred role in the Heir’s Blessing ceremony. Intelligent, perceptive, and deeply connected to the old ways, Ffion finds herself intrigued by Harri—by his ideals, his burdens, and his unwavering resolve. But it’s the vision of the Healer’s Hall that stirs something deeper within her.

When unexpected forces disrupt the ceremony, goddesses Arianrhod and Creiddylad intervene, setting in motion a fate neither Harri nor Ffion could foresee—one steeped in dreams, curses, and the delicate bloom of hope.

Daffodils and Dreams is a rich and lyrical retelling of the Brothers Grimm’s Little Briar Rose, blending fairytale romance with the deep-rooted enchantment of Welsh mythology. As the fourth instalment in the Brodyr Alarch series, it continues the sweeping journey of Sealed with a Curse, where each brother’s fate is entwined with ancient magic, divine meddling, and the power of love to break even the oldest of spells.

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Teleri, Ffion’s closest friend and ever a source of mischief, stifled a quiet giggle before nudging her elbow playfully the moment Prince Harri stepped onto the dais.

Ffion shot her a sharp look, her brows drawing together in exasperation. “Teleri!” she hissed under her breath. “Stop that. This is serious.”

Unfazed, Teleri merely cast her a sidelong glance, her blue eyes sparkling with amusement as if she found Ffion’s reprimand more entertaining than chastening. Still, with a small, knowing smirk, she faced forward once more, schooling her expression into one of practised innocence. She demurely folded her hands in front of her, a perfect picture of composed reverence, if not for the barely contained mischief still dancing in her gaze.

Ffion pressed her lips together, barely restraining her own chuckle at the very notion of Teleri being demure. It was an act, a flimsy veil of composure that could slip at any moment. Teleri was one of the most outspoken druids Ffion had ever encountered, bold, quick-witted, and never one to hold her tongue when she had something to say. That alone made her stand out, but the fact that she still managed to charm her way out of trouble only added to her reputation.

And that was saying something. As the daughter of Arthen, the Head of the Druid Order, Ffion had met countless druids of all ranks, from seasoned elders who spoke in riddles, to ambitious novices eager to prove themselves, and fiery spirits who challenged traditions at every turn. Yet, even among them, Teleri was a force all her own.

As Harri lifted the whetstone and ran it along the edge of the blade, his expression was unreadable, but his grip was steady. There was no hesitation in his movements, no faltering under the weight of the vow. Something about him—the quiet resolve in his deep blue eyes, or maybe the ease with which he bore the burden of expectation—unsettled her. She had imagined the future king to be hardened, and distant, like the rulers of old. But here was a man who carried his fate with a sense of quiet certainty, not arrogance. He looked like a warrior, yet not one hungry for battle. A leader, but not yet a king.

4 out of 5 (very good)

Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!

This is book 4 in the Brodyr Alarch series, and while not necessary, I do recommend that you read the other three books before this, or at LEAST, Sealed with A Curse, which is the prequel to this series. That will give you why these men were cursed, and what they did to be free of it. Harri mentions it a time or two in his musings. I loved them all.

Harri is preparing to be crowned the king of Melthkior, a middle brother in the Brodyr Alarch. His older brothers have no wish to be king, and Harri was always going to be crowned. Adding the Druids to the ceremony and wanting to build a healing centre with their knowledge was all Harri's idea. Ffion is the daughter of the head of the Druids. The two meeting start a cascade of events that leads to some dark times for them both. Will their choices, when the time comes, prove them worthy?

I've said this before, and I will say it again, I am LOVING that these books are clean. Harri and Ffion take time to get to know each other; it's well over halfway through the book that they kiss, and I loved being made to wait. They both have a powerful reaction to the other, but it's kept low-key. They know about it, but they don't voice it, not until things begin to go wrong.

I loved that Harri and Ffion both have to face their demons. I love that the tests are intriguing. I wasn't sure how they would go down. I loved that, while confident on the outside, both Harri and Ffion had doubts. Not about their love, that is clear, but about who they are inside and if they are good enough for each other and the roles they have been dealt.,

This one is based around the Sleeping Beauty type tale. Harri and Ffion work hard to remove all chances of the curse being activated, but it takes a tiny slip of the foot to set it in motion and there is nothing Harri can do then but battle himself, almost.

I really REALLY enjoyed this instalment and I can't wait for the next one. I'm left feeling 4 stars, though, rather than 5, and I can only assume that it's a "me, not you" thing.

4 very VERY good stars

** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Originally from the United Kingdom, Morgan Sheppard now resides in Germany, although she freely admits to having left part of her heart in Wales.   Whilst a writer mainly in the fantasy genre, Morgan is more than happy to share her love of reading amongst the many different genres out there, and can always be found with a book close by.

As well as reading and writing, Morgan spends her time looking after her family and trying to learn German. Unfortunately, a natural aptitude for languages doesn’t appear to be one of her strong points. However, stubbornness is, so she continues to persevere. So far, Morgan is confident enough to order a beer and a pretzel.

You can also sign up for her newsletter to receive a #FREE copy of Disjointed Lives, a short story about friendship and a toxic relationship - https://morgan-sheppard-author.ck.page/ae0a9dbdf1

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