Esme's Wish by Elizabeth Foster

Even though this novel was published several years ago, I got an ARC from the publisher as they prepare for the release of the final book in the trilogy, set to publish next year. I didn't really need a new book to be reading, but the cover and the description had me requesting it despite my heavy TBR pile. I have problems.

With her debut novel, Foster creates a story blended of eastern mythology and western fantasy. Ariane Silver never came home seven years ago, and everyone in Picton has moved on. Except for Esme. She just can't create her own closure; she needs to know what happened to her mother. 

Picton is a picturesque coastal town clearly inspired by the Mediterranean coasts. When Esme goes in search of her mother at their cottage home, she literally dives into a parallel world under the sea. It gets even more Greek from there when she encounters statues of Poseidon, sirens, and stygians. 

Esme discovers Ariane was working on a compendium when she disappeared from the parallel world as well. As she searches for clues in Ariane's work, Esme's understanding of the world is shaken as she travels by dragons and boats that propel themselves. Esperance is a world reminiscent of any good western fantasy.

This is a quest story blended with the best of Odysseus and Arthur. There is a holy grail, there are dramatic challenges. East meets west quite seamlessly and may have become a new favorite subgenre for me. Easy four stars to this debut, and now my TBR pile is teetering precariously with yet another series I'm eager to read.