Anithia by Lee Lehner follows a young woman's journey of self-discovery and inner awakening. In 1963, seventeen-year-old Isola Destinn fell madly in love with a young man named Sation. But after her father's work leads the family to move from the beaches of sunny Florida to the cold weather of Bristol, England, Isola is determined to return to America as soon as she saves enough money for a cross-Atlantic ship ticket. However, when she meets her mother's friend, Trealla, Isola's worldview turns upside down after she witnesses the wonder and beauty of Trealla's garden. When the tragic story of a young woman in 1818 who lost her husband is told to Isola, she enters the story and lives it through the perspective of the woman in 1818. After her return to America, Isola discovers that she is an Anithian soul with a purpose far greater than she previously assumed.

Lee Lehner uses a dynamic combination of magical realism and fantasy to tell an enthralling coming-of-age tale filled with romance, mystery, and intrigue. Anithia is a story about transformation and discovering one's own hidden potential. The Storyteller who is telling the story to the protagonist has the power to make the listener actually inhabit the story itself. The author brings an almost surreal atmosphere to the narrative, which enhances the fantastical elements, leaving you in wonder and awe. The plot is totally unpredictable, and at no point in the plot was I sure of the direction it would take next. The characters are brimming with life and full of color. Some of their conversations remain imprinted in your mind long after you've finished reading. Isola, Trealla, Pearl, and Lizabethe were my personal favorites from the bunch. Overall, I very much enjoyed this book and recommend it to readers who love transformative stories of self-discovery.

Lee Lehner’s Anithia: Ancestry of Creativity begins with Benjamin McCall requesting that Rose tutor him so he can write Isola’s story. Rose has him step outside barefoot and clear his mind to connect with his creative mind. Isola’s story unfolds in the town of Fortier in 1963. Isola only felt at peace while swimming in the sea and didn’t feel like she belonged anywhere else. One afternoon, she runs into her friend, Nick, who introduces her to Sation. Isola finds Sation captivating, and it isn’t long before they are a couple. After two blissful months, Isola arrives home to learn her father is moving the family to England. Devastated, Isola vows to return to Fortier when she turns 18. The time she spends in England opens Isola’s eyes to her true path of awakening. Will Sation have waited for Isola to return? Will Isola stay in England?

Author Lee Lehner used the garden of Avenlee to provide a visual image in my mind, describing the flowers and trees with such vividness that it was effortless to imagine the breathtaking picture and the feelings Isola experienced as she learned about leaving her human thinking and becoming one with her creative self. The supporting characters added intriguing twists to the unpredictable plot. I found myself enchanted by the Sakrid ceremony used to bring two creative beings together for life. The Storyteller scene left me hanging; Isola wanted more than one chapter as well. I became frustrated when Isola would ask questions and the response was, “You are only in your first chapter.” It emphasized the powerful theme of connecting with your true self throughout Isola’s tale. The end left me eager to read a sequel. Anithia: Ancestry of Creativity will appeal to readers who enjoy tales of self-discovery by a young woman.