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The Annwn Cycle
Winterreise
Life in the old city of Aldgard is (almost) never boring...
When music student Penny Wells first met the Erlking, she had an inkling that trouble would follow. Especially since she had a thesis to write and concert to prepare for, and she definitely didn’t have time for magic.
So it really stands to reason that Penny should have known better that to stroll into the Hinterlands to return a strange locket he’d left behind – because nothing is ever accidental when it comes to the Erlking.
And when she does so anyway and awakens an ancient Valkyrie, seriously annoying the Norse Gods (well, most of them), she finds that she has to set things right before they use her new friend for their upcoming ritual sacrifice. Because Penny won’t stand for that.
But first, she has to figure out what it is they’re really worried about and what all of it has to do with a Schubert song cycle that the Aldgard University music department will be putting on in just a matter of weeks...
When music student Penny Wells first met the Erlking, she had an inkling that trouble would follow. Especially since she had a thesis to write and concert to prepare for, and she definitely didn’t have time for magic.
So it really stands to reason that Penny should have known better that to stroll into the Hinterlands to return a strange locket he’d left behind – because nothing is ever accidental when it comes to the Erlking.
And when she does so anyway and awakens an ancient Valkyrie, seriously annoying the Norse Gods (well, most of them), she finds that she has to set things right before they use her new friend for their upcoming ritual sacrifice. Because Penny won’t stand for that.
But first, she has to figure out what it is they’re really worried about and what all of it has to do with a Schubert song cycle that the Aldgard University music department will be putting on in just a matter of weeks...
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 16, 2014
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Daphne du Bois
11 books22 followersDaphne has always had a passion for literature and history and one day it occurred to her: what better way to use her English Literature degree than to write the kinds of stories she loves to read? She hasn’t looked back since.
Daphne also writes lyrical fantasy under the pen name Emily de Courcy, and who knows where she'll branch out next!
Daphne has stacks of notebooks full of stories that still need to be written, which she insists on bringing with her when she moves around the world (she’s done this a lot!). She likes her books full of romance, magic, adventure, witty repartee and a dash of silly humour. When Daphne isn’t writing, she can be found painting, picnicking, reading and listening to all sorts of exciting music.
Daphne also writes lyrical fantasy under the pen name Emily de Courcy, and who knows where she'll branch out next!
Daphne has stacks of notebooks full of stories that still need to be written, which she insists on bringing with her when she moves around the world (she’s done this a lot!). She likes her books full of romance, magic, adventure, witty repartee and a dash of silly humour. When Daphne isn’t writing, she can be found painting, picnicking, reading and listening to all sorts of exciting music.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 17, 2014
Disclaimer: the author is a friend of mine, and I proofread this novel.
This light, witty, self-consciously metafictional yarn strongly reminds me of Tom Holt, perhaps garnished with a sprig of Cat Valente. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it (unlike most of the things I've proofread recently), and it made me laugh audibly on multiple occasions. Recommended.
This light, witty, self-consciously metafictional yarn strongly reminds me of Tom Holt, perhaps garnished with a sprig of Cat Valente. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it (unlike most of the things I've proofread recently), and it made me laugh audibly on multiple occasions. Recommended.
March 28, 2020
2.5 stars.
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. On the one hand, it was surprisingly slow. Whenever it would start getting boring, there would be something really funny (either monologue or dialogue usually) that would make me chuckle and bring the story back from the brink. Ultimately, the ending made me scratch my head and I'm not quite sure where the series is headed, if anywhere.
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. On the one hand, it was surprisingly slow. Whenever it would start getting boring, there would be something really funny (either monologue or dialogue usually) that would make me chuckle and bring the story back from the brink. Ultimately, the ending made me scratch my head and I'm not quite sure where the series is headed, if anywhere.
April 10, 2019
Magical and character-driven, Winterreise wasn't quite what I expected, but it was an enjoyable read all the same. Steeped in folklore (particularly Germanic, as it deals with the Erlking, the Hinterlands, and all manner of fae being), it follows a plucky female protagonist, Penny, who is in and of herself a subversion on the usual tropes, given she doesn't fit into any specific mold. She's practical, yet has an air of unkemptness about her. She's musically inclined and a lover of caffeinated beverages, yet also easily accepting of the magical world surrounding her and matches wits with the Erlking quite nicely. I honestly wish I'd read the anthology first (as it also serves as the first installment in this series), just so I could have gotten to know Penny before and during her introduction to the Erlking and the world of magic.
But beyond missing out on the beginnings of their unusual friendship, this story still stood well on its own merits. The characters were varied and interesting, the magical aspect was enjoyable, and the plot--though I felt it took a bit of time getting to the crux of things--was equal parts amusing and chilling. I particularly liked the focus on friendships, especially in how Penny went out of her way to help Bryn even before they'd forged their friendship, and went above and beyond to help Bryn realize her own potential, her own power in changing what otherwise seemed a fixed outcome.
Well-written and imaginative. Would definitely recommend to lovers of folklore fantasy.
But beyond missing out on the beginnings of their unusual friendship, this story still stood well on its own merits. The characters were varied and interesting, the magical aspect was enjoyable, and the plot--though I felt it took a bit of time getting to the crux of things--was equal parts amusing and chilling. I particularly liked the focus on friendships, especially in how Penny went out of her way to help Bryn even before they'd forged their friendship, and went above and beyond to help Bryn realize her own potential, her own power in changing what otherwise seemed a fixed outcome.
Well-written and imaginative. Would definitely recommend to lovers of folklore fantasy.
February 3, 2016
Daphne Du Bois asked me to read her novel "Winterreise:An urban fairytale ". This is the second book in the The Annwn Cycle . I will examine plot, character, and polish and then assign a grade.
I had previously reviewed another work from this author, "From Fairies and Creatures of the Night, Guard Me" and rated it highly, so I have been looking forward to reading "Winterreise". In fact, the first chapter of the later is one of the stories in the former’s anthology, and this increased my anticipation.
PLOT
First of all, yes, this is the same "Winterreise" from the composer Franz Scmubert. The protagonist of this story is Penny and she is a music student in college who is both writing a paper on it and also performing it. That’s why she is far too busy for epic quests through the supernatural Hinderlands, but the Erlking has other plans for her.
What follows is, in one view, a fairly standard adventure: heroine ventures into the Unknown World, meets a Mysterious Waif, and becomes emotionally committed to saving her from the dreadful fate imposed on her from uncaring gods and evil cults. However, one of the great things about this book is how different/strange/unusual a story Miss Du Bois can spin from these building blocks. The climax is especially intriguing and compelling in both how it adheres to the tradition of such stories while simultaneously being very different.
It also has a mystery element to it; Penny has to unravel the nature and history of her new friend's curse in order to save her. Additionally, she has to find out the identity of the person behind all this nasty business and how to stop them.
It’s like a double consciousness. On one hand, the world is literally run on genre conventions. Numerous characters will talk about how "x is the way things have always been done" and the importance of stories and lore. Penny refers to this as "Hinderland logic". On the other hand, there is a sense of real life and common sense; ignoring the genre conventions in place of something more practical. The most effective way to get anything done is to keep both in mind.
The story is peppered with little references to old stories like the Norse Sagas and Arthurian Lore, and also later stories like the King in Yellow. There is nothing "contemporary" which I like and feel is a good choice. It will prevent the work from becoming, as we say on Tvtropes "an unintentional period piece". In other words, dated.
It has a great ending; a fulfilling ending but I still want to see more. The conflict is closed but it was such a fun story I wanted to see more of the aftermath.
CHARACTERS
Penny is the protagonist and the story's heroine. I called her an Unfazed Everyman back in the review for "From Fairies" and now I get to see more of her personality. Due to the epic scope of this story, Penny can show the heroic traits that didn't have an opportunity to shine in the more light-hearted fare of the anthology. She is both brave and compassionate. Altogether, you get scenes where she will say something like "I don't care if you're a god, you're not trapping someone in an ice coffin," or "I drink too much coffee for your magic sleeping flowers to affect me". I imagine all of it this is said in a dry, deadpan, tone.
The Erlking is the quest giver here. Penny figured as much and is frustrated that he gave her one without her noticing. I find him a delightful character. He's like a trickster figure with his Fair Folk mentality, manipulations, and cryptic dialogue but he has much more dignity than someone like, say, Loki, who is also in this story. His conversations with Penny are fun to read in this regard. It's hard to tell what his motivations are which makes for a slippery character.
Penny's new friend, whose Identity I will not reveal because it is part of the mystery, is quite the Woobie. It is no surprise Penny felt such a need to help her; she is so lost and lonely and tragic. At the same time, she is not some wall flower that could be replaced with a statue. Her speeches about her oath, her former profession, and her memories are vital to the plot. She also does something awesome at a crucial moment.
There are other characters that I like in this story but to list all of them would make this review too long. Even those with smaller roles and less screentime are memorable.
POLISH
I found three spelling errors; just three. They shouldn't be there but it's not enough to affect the grade. Otherwise, it looks great.
Trickster Eric Novels gives "Winterreise: An urban fairytale " an A+
This has been a free review request. I received nothing in exchange except a free copy of the book.
I had previously reviewed another work from this author, "From Fairies and Creatures of the Night, Guard Me" and rated it highly, so I have been looking forward to reading "Winterreise". In fact, the first chapter of the later is one of the stories in the former’s anthology, and this increased my anticipation.
PLOT
First of all, yes, this is the same "Winterreise" from the composer Franz Scmubert. The protagonist of this story is Penny and she is a music student in college who is both writing a paper on it and also performing it. That’s why she is far too busy for epic quests through the supernatural Hinderlands, but the Erlking has other plans for her.
What follows is, in one view, a fairly standard adventure: heroine ventures into the Unknown World, meets a Mysterious Waif, and becomes emotionally committed to saving her from the dreadful fate imposed on her from uncaring gods and evil cults. However, one of the great things about this book is how different/strange/unusual a story Miss Du Bois can spin from these building blocks. The climax is especially intriguing and compelling in both how it adheres to the tradition of such stories while simultaneously being very different.
It also has a mystery element to it; Penny has to unravel the nature and history of her new friend's curse in order to save her. Additionally, she has to find out the identity of the person behind all this nasty business and how to stop them.
It’s like a double consciousness. On one hand, the world is literally run on genre conventions. Numerous characters will talk about how "x is the way things have always been done" and the importance of stories and lore. Penny refers to this as "Hinderland logic". On the other hand, there is a sense of real life and common sense; ignoring the genre conventions in place of something more practical. The most effective way to get anything done is to keep both in mind.
The story is peppered with little references to old stories like the Norse Sagas and Arthurian Lore, and also later stories like the King in Yellow. There is nothing "contemporary" which I like and feel is a good choice. It will prevent the work from becoming, as we say on Tvtropes "an unintentional period piece". In other words, dated.
It has a great ending; a fulfilling ending but I still want to see more. The conflict is closed but it was such a fun story I wanted to see more of the aftermath.
CHARACTERS
Penny is the protagonist and the story's heroine. I called her an Unfazed Everyman back in the review for "From Fairies" and now I get to see more of her personality. Due to the epic scope of this story, Penny can show the heroic traits that didn't have an opportunity to shine in the more light-hearted fare of the anthology. She is both brave and compassionate. Altogether, you get scenes where she will say something like "I don't care if you're a god, you're not trapping someone in an ice coffin," or "I drink too much coffee for your magic sleeping flowers to affect me". I imagine all of it this is said in a dry, deadpan, tone.
The Erlking is the quest giver here. Penny figured as much and is frustrated that he gave her one without her noticing. I find him a delightful character. He's like a trickster figure with his Fair Folk mentality, manipulations, and cryptic dialogue but he has much more dignity than someone like, say, Loki, who is also in this story. His conversations with Penny are fun to read in this regard. It's hard to tell what his motivations are which makes for a slippery character.
Penny's new friend, whose Identity I will not reveal because it is part of the mystery, is quite the Woobie. It is no surprise Penny felt such a need to help her; she is so lost and lonely and tragic. At the same time, she is not some wall flower that could be replaced with a statue. Her speeches about her oath, her former profession, and her memories are vital to the plot. She also does something awesome at a crucial moment.
There are other characters that I like in this story but to list all of them would make this review too long. Even those with smaller roles and less screentime are memorable.
POLISH
I found three spelling errors; just three. They shouldn't be there but it's not enough to affect the grade. Otherwise, it looks great.
Trickster Eric Novels gives "Winterreise: An urban fairytale " an A+
This has been a free review request. I received nothing in exchange except a free copy of the book.
December 29, 2014
Pros
Easy to Read
Quirky characters
Funny
Steeped heavily in mythology and fairy tales.
Well researched
Cons
Slow at first
Lengthy exposition devoted to back-story and building character rather than action and dialogue.
Mixed
Some of the fun characters that appear have almost no bearing on the plot enter and leave the narrative at random.
"The rules of magic are a bit like improvised jazz."
"But no one understands improvised jazz."
"Yes, exactly."
With that line above, you can see why I enjoyed this novel.
Winterreise is a novel revolving around a girl, Penny, who seems to be in the right place at the wrong time a lot, but her ability to make friends at the drop of a hat helps her in the most unlikely of ways. Her Devil-may-care attitude in the face of danger creates both humour and a likeability of her which I found uncanny. The main characters in some books can be difficult to like for one reason or another, but not Penny.
I enjoyed the relationship between Penny and the Fairy King the most throughout the novel, and delighted in their reactions with each other.
At first, the story drags a bit as it almost doesn't feel like there is an overarching narrative going on, and is instead a series of events involving the main character, but the farther you go the more the pieces start to fall together. Eventually there's a full on, possible, world-ending event that Penny needs to figure out how to stop because the gods are too busy not doing anything to help her.
The book has a great sense of humour, and even when things get dire, it doesn't take itself too seriously. There's always going to be one character making a wise-crack or a poignant reference to current pop-culture, as this is set in modern times, which lighten the tone. Sometimes I even laughed out loud from the dialogue.
Another issue, which is only present at the beginning parts of the novel, is a lot of exposition used to give background to some of the characters and the surroundings. This was almost to the point of breaking the "show, don't tell" rule, but I was willing to forgive the novel as it kept me interested with what was going on. After a while, once introductions are done, this goes away and doesn't come back.
I had mixed feelings on how some of the characters are presented, as some show up, are introduced, have a light interaction with Penny or the Fairy King, and then are gone with no trace. They are interesting and kooky characters, which helps with the tone and feel of the novel, but have no bearing on the plot and make it seem like a series of events like I mentioned above. Just like the exposition issue, however, this goes away quickly once the plot gets moving.
Overall, I enjoyed the novels light-hearted tone and interesting take on mythology and fairy tales. It was well done, and I will be looking forward to the next in the series.
Easy to Read
Quirky characters
Funny
Steeped heavily in mythology and fairy tales.
Well researched
Cons
Slow at first
Lengthy exposition devoted to back-story and building character rather than action and dialogue.
Mixed
Some of the fun characters that appear have almost no bearing on the plot enter and leave the narrative at random.
"The rules of magic are a bit like improvised jazz."
"But no one understands improvised jazz."
"Yes, exactly."
With that line above, you can see why I enjoyed this novel.
Winterreise is a novel revolving around a girl, Penny, who seems to be in the right place at the wrong time a lot, but her ability to make friends at the drop of a hat helps her in the most unlikely of ways. Her Devil-may-care attitude in the face of danger creates both humour and a likeability of her which I found uncanny. The main characters in some books can be difficult to like for one reason or another, but not Penny.
I enjoyed the relationship between Penny and the Fairy King the most throughout the novel, and delighted in their reactions with each other.
At first, the story drags a bit as it almost doesn't feel like there is an overarching narrative going on, and is instead a series of events involving the main character, but the farther you go the more the pieces start to fall together. Eventually there's a full on, possible, world-ending event that Penny needs to figure out how to stop because the gods are too busy not doing anything to help her.
The book has a great sense of humour, and even when things get dire, it doesn't take itself too seriously. There's always going to be one character making a wise-crack or a poignant reference to current pop-culture, as this is set in modern times, which lighten the tone. Sometimes I even laughed out loud from the dialogue.
Another issue, which is only present at the beginning parts of the novel, is a lot of exposition used to give background to some of the characters and the surroundings. This was almost to the point of breaking the "show, don't tell" rule, but I was willing to forgive the novel as it kept me interested with what was going on. After a while, once introductions are done, this goes away and doesn't come back.
I had mixed feelings on how some of the characters are presented, as some show up, are introduced, have a light interaction with Penny or the Fairy King, and then are gone with no trace. They are interesting and kooky characters, which helps with the tone and feel of the novel, but have no bearing on the plot and make it seem like a series of events like I mentioned above. Just like the exposition issue, however, this goes away quickly once the plot gets moving.
Overall, I enjoyed the novels light-hearted tone and interesting take on mythology and fairy tales. It was well done, and I will be looking forward to the next in the series.
January 19, 2015
9/10
This book is a modern take on the epic fantasy quest, an eclectic ensemble of fairy elements stitched together to create something quite a bit more than the sum of its parts.
Penny is your typical student: piles of essays and coursework, a couple of flatmates to share evenings with, and a strange relationship with the Alderking, a figure of myth and legend.
Quite typical, indeed.
Her life gets hijacked, so to speak, by fairies and magic that tend to show up at the worst of times, and gradually a plot coalesces that raises the stakes and brings the world to the brink of destruction. Sounds a bit heavy but it isn’t really, as Penny handles each difficulty with aplomb, always ready with a quick wit or a quote from the Bard to deflate and deflect.
This book was great fun to read, and several places had me laughing out loud. Literally. Pudding’s reign of terror over the Alderking’s minions is a sterling example, and the odd beats of humour even in the midst of confrontations with such heavies as the Winterqueen and old, grumpy gods revealed a comedic sensibility that I can only WISH I had.
But beyond the quirky humour and all the fondness for coffee lies a story that’s quite civilised and extremely literate, and at times it rather surprises with a beautiful turn of phrase or a description that manages to whisk you away to the world depicted there, if only for a moment. It’s truly beautiful in its way, and if you like stories with mysterious kingly gentlemen with a twinkle in their eyes and forlorn maidens pining for that one true love (not to mention vaguely confused spectral knights and the like) then this story will be a delightful read.
I'm definitely going to be picking up the other books in this series.
This book is a modern take on the epic fantasy quest, an eclectic ensemble of fairy elements stitched together to create something quite a bit more than the sum of its parts.
Penny is your typical student: piles of essays and coursework, a couple of flatmates to share evenings with, and a strange relationship with the Alderking, a figure of myth and legend.
Quite typical, indeed.
Her life gets hijacked, so to speak, by fairies and magic that tend to show up at the worst of times, and gradually a plot coalesces that raises the stakes and brings the world to the brink of destruction. Sounds a bit heavy but it isn’t really, as Penny handles each difficulty with aplomb, always ready with a quick wit or a quote from the Bard to deflate and deflect.
This book was great fun to read, and several places had me laughing out loud. Literally. Pudding’s reign of terror over the Alderking’s minions is a sterling example, and the odd beats of humour even in the midst of confrontations with such heavies as the Winterqueen and old, grumpy gods revealed a comedic sensibility that I can only WISH I had.
But beyond the quirky humour and all the fondness for coffee lies a story that’s quite civilised and extremely literate, and at times it rather surprises with a beautiful turn of phrase or a description that manages to whisk you away to the world depicted there, if only for a moment. It’s truly beautiful in its way, and if you like stories with mysterious kingly gentlemen with a twinkle in their eyes and forlorn maidens pining for that one true love (not to mention vaguely confused spectral knights and the like) then this story will be a delightful read.
I'm definitely going to be picking up the other books in this series.
January 4, 2015
Fun, light, and whimsical.
Winterreise is a welcome escape for those who enjoy urban fantasy interspersed with well-placed humor.
Penny, the protagonist, is on a quest of sorts that takes her from her "normal" world as a music student into a fairy tale land filled with mythical creatures from common stories (think dwarves, gnomes, fairies, snow white - kind of, etc.). She seeks the Erlking, a fun, devious character, who "accidentally" left her a locket.
Read this if you enjoy a fun quest book that doesn't take itself too seriously. This book takes a little bit to wind up, as the characters and world are introduced, but I find any good book worth reading develops its world and characters for a greater reward to the reader as the book comes to a close.
Winterreise is a welcome escape for those who enjoy urban fantasy interspersed with well-placed humor.
Penny, the protagonist, is on a quest of sorts that takes her from her "normal" world as a music student into a fairy tale land filled with mythical creatures from common stories (think dwarves, gnomes, fairies, snow white - kind of, etc.). She seeks the Erlking, a fun, devious character, who "accidentally" left her a locket.
Read this if you enjoy a fun quest book that doesn't take itself too seriously. This book takes a little bit to wind up, as the characters and world are introduced, but I find any good book worth reading develops its world and characters for a greater reward to the reader as the book comes to a close.
December 13, 2014
After reading Emily de Courcy's "From Fairies and Creatures of the Night, Guard me," I just had to get my hands on this one, and I was not disappointed. If urban fantasy is your genre, this would make a superb addition to your kindle library. "Winterreise" is a nicely crafted fairytale that maps out a journey taking us through mythology and the rich spoils of ancient magical gods and creatures. The well loved main character of Penny Wells is written carefully and precise with gorgeous back drops to add to timeless intrigue and sensational realism of imaginative pleasure. Extremely enjoyable.
December 7, 2014
Five stars for this superior read!
From the outset, the reader is warned “Life in the old city of Aldgard is (almost) never boring...”
Well, never a truer word has been spoken! In “Winterreise” this reader was never, ever bored.
For lovers of fantasy and urban fairytales, this is a superior read filled with good humor, touches of magic and a beguiling storyline that holds you right to the end.
Highly recommended!
April 2, 2015
I don't typically read many fantasies but I really enjoyed Winterreise by Emily de Courcy. Winterreise is well-written, the characters are interesting
(I love how laid back Penny is, even when a white rabbit is leading her into another realm, or she's meeting a wicked, powerful queen. Another favorite character is the mysterious Erlking) and the story line is unique.
(I love how laid back Penny is, even when a white rabbit is leading her into another realm, or she's meeting a wicked, powerful queen. Another favorite character is the mysterious Erlking) and the story line is unique.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews