I have recently written a novel about life in England during the Second World War. I felt some concern before I tackled this theme — the War...
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Sylvia has not been home in seven years, not until her grandfather?s death pulls her back. Now, she?s returned to the small town she grew up in, the town small enough to know everyone her father could have been. Unless, of course, he was one of Them.
Sylvia knew better than to tempt fate, or Them. Unfortunately, her grandmother, the local Fiber Guild / border guardians, and her curious teenage cousin Tyler all have other ideas...
A modern day small town (not urban) fantasy from Patricia McKillip, grand master of layers of illusion upon illusion. In the universe (but not the time period) of Winter Rose.
(I ask you, what?s not to love about a glamorous bartender forced to crochet nine pairs of baby booties to keep the Sidhe at bay? And that?s just a minor character! Not to mention, helpful hints on how to tell a changeling from a teenage boy in love...)
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(12 of 24 readers found this comment helpful)
Summer on a quiet Maine island in the house she inherited from her aunt seems perfect to Cecil Hargrave--she?ll have time to regroup from losing her New York City job and apartment. The town charms her--as do the handsome journalist, the young lobsterman who helps her feed the seal her aunt raised, and the compelling mechanic from an even more remote island. But when she learns her aunt was murdered, can she trust any of them? Whose ashes are in the urn on the mantel? What secret was her aunt hiding--and who is keeping it from Cecil now?
Kate Brallier?s love of Maine meshes perfectly with imported selkie myth in this contemporary fantasy. Rather darkly romantic, Seal Island explores the clash of legend with modern life.
For readers who?d like a vacation from the reality of urban life--with sexy yet tortured men, fabulous food, and even a tasteful souvenir shop.
Part of Tor?s paranormal romance line.
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(11 of 21 readers found this comment helpful)
In a weird twist of fate, I (the innocent reader) picked up this Discworld novel soon after reading Mercedes Lackey?s Fairy Godmother--and found it to be a twist on similar ideas. Witches Abroad was published first (copyright 1991, compared to Lackey?s 2004), and neither is in any way a copy of the other. Think retelling, reimagining, perhaps even another form of The Tradition...
But here we have a dead Fairy Godmother, who leaves three witches to rectify a story gone bad. On the way, they encounter all sorts of odd effects from an evil godmother intent on making stories come true--including (my absolute favorite) a house that drops unexpectedly on the reinforced hat of Nanny Ogg, whereupon a crowd of dwarves appear with a strange urge to take her red boots.
Of course, this being Terry Pratchett, things get much, much odder, and there will be strange incidents involving pumpkins, zombies, card sharks, and even gumbo before the tale is through.
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(8 of 17 readers found this comment helpful)
Elena Klovis was born to be a Cinderella. She had the hard labor, and the wicked stepmother and stepsisters. Problem was, the prince in her kingdom was only eleven; no happily-ever-after there. So, at eighteen, she becomes a fairy godmother?s apprentice, bending the very force of stories (otherwise known as The Tradition). The Tradition wants each person in a path worn smooth by repetition--whether the end of that story is happy or not. Elena diverts cursed christenings into minor inconveniences, and Ladderlocks into the princess with her pea. But when The Tradition finds a prince for her to marry, she must face its full force--first, to resist its will, and then, to carve a new Tradition of her own.
A fun, sexy fantasy--especially for those who know these stories by heart.
First in the Five Hundred Kingdoms series.
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(9 of 18 readers found this comment helpful)
Calling Robin McKinley?s Sunshine a vampire book is like calling her Deerskin a fairy tale--true, but by no means the whole picture. It has the dark, compelling, seductive tone we expect of the vampire world--but this contrasts fiercely with the cinnamon rolls and community spirit of the human world. The conflict is embodied in Sunshine herself, an ordinary baker from a magical family.
Sunshine did something impossible: she escaped from the gang of vampires who captured her. Then she did something unthinkable: she freed their vampire captive.
Sunshine has many of the same themes as McKinley?s The Hero and the Crown. Like Aerin, Sunshine is an unlikely heroine trying to save her part of the world. By the end of the book, she is also not quite...human. The direction of her quest pulls her between the good, solidly human guy and the magical one who can help with her impossible task. Her conflict is as much internal as external; being captured by vampires is really only the beginning.
Sunshine leaves you with a fringe of questions to tangle your thoughts; if you want a neat, tidy bow, this is not your book. Who knew Robin McKinley could pull off a dark urban fantasy? But who would have bet against her?
Winner of the 2004 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award.
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(14 of 26 readers found this comment helpful)
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Solstice Wood by Patricia A Mckillip
bookofkell, July 8, 2006
Solstice Wood by Patricia McKillipSylvia has not been home in seven years, not until her grandfather?s death pulls her back. Now, she?s returned to the small town she grew up in, the town small enough to know everyone her father could have been. Unless, of course, he was one of Them.
Sylvia knew better than to tempt fate, or Them. Unfortunately, her grandmother, the local Fiber Guild / border guardians, and her curious teenage cousin Tyler all have other ideas...
A modern day small town (not urban) fantasy from Patricia McKillip, grand master of layers of illusion upon illusion. In the universe (but not the time period) of Winter Rose.
(I ask you, what?s not to love about a glamorous bartender forced to crochet nine pairs of baby booties to keep the Sidhe at bay? And that?s just a minor character! Not to mention, helpful hints on how to tell a changeling from a teenage boy in love...)
(12 of 24 readers found this comment helpful)
Seal Island by Kate Brallier
bookofkell, July 8, 2006
Seal Island by Kate BrallierSummer on a quiet Maine island in the house she inherited from her aunt seems perfect to Cecil Hargrave--she?ll have time to regroup from losing her New York City job and apartment. The town charms her--as do the handsome journalist, the young lobsterman who helps her feed the seal her aunt raised, and the compelling mechanic from an even more remote island. But when she learns her aunt was murdered, can she trust any of them? Whose ashes are in the urn on the mantel? What secret was her aunt hiding--and who is keeping it from Cecil now?
Kate Brallier?s love of Maine meshes perfectly with imported selkie myth in this contemporary fantasy. Rather darkly romantic, Seal Island explores the clash of legend with modern life.
For readers who?d like a vacation from the reality of urban life--with sexy yet tortured men, fabulous food, and even a tasteful souvenir shop.
Part of Tor?s paranormal romance line.
(11 of 21 readers found this comment helpful)
Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett
bookofkell, July 8, 2006
Witches Abroad by Terry PratchettIn a weird twist of fate, I (the innocent reader) picked up this Discworld novel soon after reading Mercedes Lackey?s Fairy Godmother--and found it to be a twist on similar ideas. Witches Abroad was published first (copyright 1991, compared to Lackey?s 2004), and neither is in any way a copy of the other. Think retelling, reimagining, perhaps even another form of The Tradition...
But here we have a dead Fairy Godmother, who leaves three witches to rectify a story gone bad. On the way, they encounter all sorts of odd effects from an evil godmother intent on making stories come true--including (my absolute favorite) a house that drops unexpectedly on the reinforced hat of Nanny Ogg, whereupon a crowd of dwarves appear with a strange urge to take her red boots.
Of course, this being Terry Pratchett, things get much, much odder, and there will be strange incidents involving pumpkins, zombies, card sharks, and even gumbo before the tale is through.
(8 of 17 readers found this comment helpful)
The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey
bookofkell, July 8, 2006
The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes LackeyElena Klovis was born to be a Cinderella. She had the hard labor, and the wicked stepmother and stepsisters. Problem was, the prince in her kingdom was only eleven; no happily-ever-after there. So, at eighteen, she becomes a fairy godmother?s apprentice, bending the very force of stories (otherwise known as The Tradition). The Tradition wants each person in a path worn smooth by repetition--whether the end of that story is happy or not. Elena diverts cursed christenings into minor inconveniences, and Ladderlocks into the princess with her pea. But when The Tradition finds a prince for her to marry, she must face its full force--first, to resist its will, and then, to carve a new Tradition of her own.
A fun, sexy fantasy--especially for those who know these stories by heart.
First in the Five Hundred Kingdoms series.
(9 of 18 readers found this comment helpful)
Sunshine by Robin Mckinley
bookofkell, July 8, 2006
Sunshine by Robin McKinleyPrimarily for: Adults
Calling Robin McKinley?s Sunshine a vampire book is like calling her Deerskin a fairy tale--true, but by no means the whole picture. It has the dark, compelling, seductive tone we expect of the vampire world--but this contrasts fiercely with the cinnamon rolls and community spirit of the human world. The conflict is embodied in Sunshine herself, an ordinary baker from a magical family.
Sunshine did something impossible: she escaped from the gang of vampires who captured her. Then she did something unthinkable: she freed their vampire captive.
Sunshine has many of the same themes as McKinley?s The Hero and the Crown. Like Aerin, Sunshine is an unlikely heroine trying to save her part of the world. By the end of the book, she is also not quite...human. The direction of her quest pulls her between the good, solidly human guy and the magical one who can help with her impossible task. Her conflict is as much internal as external; being captured by vampires is really only the beginning.
Sunshine leaves you with a fringe of questions to tangle your thoughts; if you want a neat, tidy bow, this is not your book. Who knew Robin McKinley could pull off a dark urban fantasy? But who would have bet against her?
Winner of the 2004 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award.
(14 of 26 readers found this comment helpful)
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