Strands of Sunlight

Strands #4

by Gael Baudino

The spectacular sequel to Shroud of Shadows. Spanning both historical and contemporary fantasy, here is the conclusion of the tale which recounts the rise and fall and rise again of the elven race.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Urban Fantasy

400 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 10, 2013

About the author

Gael Baudino (born 1955) is a contemporary American fantasy author who also writes under the pseudonyms of Gael A. Kathryns, K.M. Tonso, and G.A. Kathryns.

Reviews

[Arok · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've just completed a decades long journey. Doesn't quite compare to billions of years, but I haven't found the stars yet.

I was introduced to the Strands series more than half my life ago through the short story, "Shadow of the Starlight", which I greatly enjoyed. Then I eventually found the first three books in the series which, although I also liked, did not offer me personally what the original story had. I guess a past of elvish pain and persecution was not what I absolutely wished to read about. A possible elvish present and future, though? That's what I had wanted, but for some reason I never found this fourth and concluding book to the series. Until I finally woke up one day, and searched, and found it online and ...

It was all I had hoped for decades ago and I am grateful to have finally found and read this. I don't know why it took so long, or if that means anything. The world hasn't gotten any better since the late 1980s-early 1990s when these stories were written and the final one was set. All the more we need a belief in Elves today and into the future.

kinanâskomitin, Gael. ninanâskomon.

[Roxanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

So interesting to reread this after all this time. This one was definitely my favorite of the series and I’ve thought about it many times since I first read it, maybe 25 years ago. It’s a lot darker than I remembered. Props to the author for having a black character and really trying to tackle issues of racism - in a fantasy novel - in 1993. Her writing style wouldn’t really fly today, though. Overall, this sticks with me because the concept of elves returning in the present day - just the way she depicted it - was captivating and inspirational for me.

[Chris Presta-Valachovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book (along with Starhawk's books) that shaped my beliefs in what Paganism should be, instead of the cynical cash-grubbing that it was becoming in the '90s, and which I still see too much of today.

Gael has a vision of Paganism and Wicca, one of deep, personal, immanent union with Goddess, not the preoccupation with magic and superstition that seems to drive too many books and Pagan media today. We have the horrifying example of Christian evangelists to show us where that path leads, yet too many seem bent on ignoring that lesson.

I left Christianity for a multitude of reasons, i was on the verge of abandoning Paganism for the same reasons. But this book gave me hope that it's not all flim-flam and fakery.

Okay. This is the last book of the main series of Baudino's Elven books, with "Spires of Spirit" being a collection of the original short stories that sparked the series. Strands follows the modern elves of Denver, the last of the Firstborn/original elves (Natil) from the previous books, and two humanfolk (TK and Sandy) who desperately seek healing and unknowing carry the spark of their own grace within them. Baudino weaves a multitude of story threads into a complex, cohesive whole that is uplifting, terrifying, horrifying, joyful, amd tear-jerking, often all at once.

By the grace of her Goddess, Natil has crossed centuries to find herself in modern Denver, and joins with those in whom the Elvish blood has awakened (as promised back in Maze). But the modern Elves have no knowledge of their Goddess/Mother, and are on the verge of despair -- Elves are driven by their nature and compassion to help and heal, but when faced with all the problems of racism, homophobia, war, abuse, pollution, waste, etc etc etc...they're starting to fail again. They have no one to turn to for comfort and help -- who helps the helpers? Who comforts the comforters?

For Natil the answer is the Elven Goddess and Mother, Elthia, who seems to be missing...and Natil starts to search among the Pagans and Wiccans of Denver for help, but only finds blatant fakery, cynical commercialism, and ignorance...

TK is an Army vet, a vet of both the Vietnam and first Iraq Wars, missing one leg and a genius with computers. However, TK is Black, and faces all the racism and prejudice that Black folks today still face. Yet despite the hate and poverty and trouble arrayed against him, TK still struggles to offer help to those who need it...and encounters the Elves at the one job determined to give him a chance with his real skills...

Sandy is an incest victim and self-initiated Wiccan, coming to Denver as a student of the "Hands of Grace" program under one "Terry Angel", a so-called harp teacher and spriritual teacher at Kingsley College. Sandy wants to learn to harp and heal...and hopefully be healed herself...which Terry claims to be able to teach...but instead starts to find that Terry is not what he claims to be. And, in the process, encounters Natil and Natil's search for the Mother of All...

Mind, it's got problems. TK can come across as a stereotype of a Black man from the hood; I have no idea how accurate his portrayal was in the '90s, though to me, he still seems well-rounded: someone born and raised on the streets in the projects, went into the Army & got computer training, and now can't find any work to fit his training due to racism and prejudice. He's trying to straddle two worlds, and reminds me a lot of my various Black coworkers at my jobs.

The earlier books made the effort to show a good side of Christianity, too, but with this book, all the Christians we meet seem cartoonishly twisted...but with the rise of Trump, the alt-right, and the various loud-mouthed Evangelicals who are out to force their hate on everyone IRL, Gael's portrayal here no longer seems cartoonish, but too damn real and damn near prophetic. Before you call Gael's portrayal "unreal", take a long hard look at the Christian Right supporting Trump, and the beliefs they spew...

If anything, Gael didn't go far enough.

If you've read the prior books, this book is an uplifting (though ultimately tragic) conclusion to the series, offering no easy answers or resolutions. I actually found this book before the others, though I'd read the short stories in the fantasy/sf mags of the time. You don't need to have read the prior books to enjoy Strands. This is a wonderful read all on its own.

[Elizabeth Wallace · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pity. This series started out great with "Strands of Starlight." Medieval age, elves, witches, revenge...very fun fantasy stuff. But man did it get progressively more preachy with each book. By the time it hit this fourth, and last, book it was just gawdawful. I don't have any problem with all the "goddess" this and "starlight" that, until you beat me over the head with it. And don't get me started on the weak attempt at portraying race relations. The one African-American character was basically a cardboard cutout of a cliche of a stereotype, and Baudino was trying to be complimentary. Awful.

[Morgan Dhu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read Gael Baudino’s Strands series a long, long time ago. It’s still an important comfort read for me - depending on my particular mood, the specific kind if comfort, I might chose one particular volume. This time, I needed to reread Strands of Sunlight, because it is about the return of hope, the rebirth of the ancient Elven blood, of miracles, of people willing to - no, people who have to give, to love, to heal, because it’s part of their nature, their purpose within Creation. We need Elves today.

[Angela R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this series a long time ago when I was going through a pagan/wiccan phase. The 1st book in the series was great, and I eagerly sought out the 2nd. Only to be disappointed. But the 3rd redeemed itself by being pretty decent. And then came Strands of Sunlight, book #4. A stinker. Sorry. The story could have been interesting, but the preachy tone ruined it. If you have enjoyed the series so far you might want to give it a go, but otherwise don't bother.

[Katy Lohman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally, Elves are back in the world - humans who have their elven ancestral blood awakened. Natil has crossed over 500-some years, and is there to help them grow.

I enjoyed this final story, especially after reading the rest of the series. I'd forgotten so much about the middle books; how much they led to the fourth one. I'm glad I kept this book for so long!

[Tim Franklin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A largely positive and hopeful ending to the series, but still harrowing at times, and really hard to say that it's worth working through the misery of the second and especially the third book to get here.

[Ash Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book when I was 13 and dreamed of Denver. I will always love this book for how it made me think of helping and healing others, race and homophobia, and Colorado.