Deer Life

by Ron Sexsmith

A wicked fairy tale of witchcraft, bullying, revenge, and a mysterious bowler hat. Includes Ron’s own whimsical illustrations.

Deryn Hedlight was not having a very good day and it was about to get much worse. He’d read stories of witches as a boy, but never believed for a second they were true. That is, until an unfortunate hunting accident turns his world upside down. What seemed like an honest mistake leads to an altogether unexpected transformation. But poor Deryn wasn’t the only wronged character tied up in these gloomy circumstances and sinister forces.

Deer Life tells the story of a kind-hearted boy from Hinthoven and his motheṟs undying love. Mostly though, it’s all about patience, friendship, and heroism where you least expect it.

Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Canada, Fairy Tales, High Fantasy, Adult Fiction

136 pages, Paperback

Published October 10, 2017

About the author

Ron Sexsmith is an internationally acclaimed, Juno Award–winning recording artist. He spends most of his time writing songs, touring, and making records. Deer Life was mostly written on the road, during long drives and in dressing rooms and hotel rooms.

Reviews

[Evelina | AvalinahsBooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

Verdict:


WTF did I just read??

Thankfully, it was short. It was supposed to be a dark fairytale, a fairytale for adults. Instead? It was more like what felt as an inexperienced writer's attempt at a first story with really bad illustrations, strange humor and some good puns, interspersed with some really bad puns.

So we've got this witch that's basically roaming the land without any good reason, causing loads of trouble. All of that is well and fine, but next time maybe you could try giving her some sort of motive for doing what she's doing..? I can understand not everyone is Neil Gaiman, but there are a few things everyone could learn from him. Especially things re: dark fairytales. Aside from the witch, there's a kid who gets enchanted. The story is supposed to be about him, but he's present in maybe 20% of it..? There are also all these people who keep turning out to be affected, like it's completely normal to pull out an "oh yeah, so their mother was ALSO killed by the witch all those years ago" in the last 5 pages of the story (I'm not even kidding, although I might be rounding the page number.)

In short, this was about as dark as my skin in mid-winter (hint: I'm white and really pale.) It was also not written very well. Some things were well intentioned, but very eye-roll-worthy. I've heard the author makes good music - well, award winning music doesn't always win you a literary award. I feel like it would be best of all if Mr. Sexsmith stayed with writing good music (I assume it's good for his own sake as I have not heard any.) I must say, the artist of the cover has done the best bit of work here, as the cover is undeservedly gorgeous, and one could only wish the illustrations inside were also done by him, but alas... it appears the author has many hobbies.

I received this copy in exchange for my honest opinion from the publisher through NetGalley. I apologize for having this opinion to the author. I very honestly have nothing against you and I'm sorry I hated this book. But I can't help it.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Leaves in the whirlwind, scarecrow’s clappin’
All good children ought to be nappin’.
The cows in the tree, the bird’s on the ground
For your dream’s just a nightmare upside down.

This is a fun & light hearted fairy tale written by singer/songwriter Ron Sexsmith. The story is set in the town of Hinthoven, a bustling little village full of eccentric characters. Let’s see…we’ve got barkeep Crad Grimsby, local bully Jacques Tortière, bouncers Griff & Gruff & young Deryn Hedlight, the hero of our tale.

While out hunting one day Deryn has the great misfortune to run into Eleanoir, as wicked a witch as there ever was. (How do we know she’s a witch? C’mon people, she’s got purple eyes! Everyone knows the worst witches have purple eyes…sheesh.)

Poor Deryn. HIs life takes an extreme 180 & the story that follows is full of peril (PERIL!!), heartache, magic & the enduring power of love. The cover is gorgeous & sprinkled through the pages are little hand drawn sketches of the characters. Despite this being billed as an adult fairy tale, I think it’s better suited for kids. The chatty narrator speaks directly to the reader as they deliver a mystical & humorous coming-of-age story that is clean & full of good messages about the importance of friendship, whether it comes into your life on two legs or four.

So if you go out to the woods today, beware of those with a viole(n)t gaze. And bowler hats…..definitely avoid bowler hats.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

First things first; before reading Deer Life I didn’t have a clue who Ron Sexsmith was. Yes, I am Canadian. Now that the awkward bits are over, on to my review.

The cover art is absolutely stunning. I couldn’t help but think, not having read the blurb… there must be more to this title than meets the eye.

Deer Life is full of whimsy and delight. It is the perfect book to get lost in when you want to hide away from the world. Also, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a grown up reading a fairy tale ! Come to think of it, that should be printed on a T-Shirt.

Chapter after chapter, I didn’t want to stop reading. There is something uniquely special about reading Deer Life. Perhaps it is because I don’t let my inner child out very often, and this was a much needed indulgence. Reminiscent of the fairy tales of old, the writing is not childish but nuanced and imaginative. It’s poetic and lyrical.

And just as Sexsmith states in the beginning of the novel – his inspiration being Charles Dickens – you wonder how this curious cast of characters will come together in the end.

I loved meeting Tourtière, Big Eyes and the bowler hat. Adding to the enchantement, scattered here and there are Ron Sexsmith's drawings. I wasn't too sure about them, but they grew on me.

I found much pleasure in sneaking away from my humdrum to read Deer Life. With only 136 pages, they flew by fast, too fast. If you were spying on me while I was reading it, you’d most definitely notice the smile tattooed on my face. It’s a book to read for the simple delight of reading.

So, be aware that reading Deer Life will put a little nugget of sunlight into your heart. Save a space for it on your shelf when it comes out in September !  Don't worry, I'll give you a gentle reminder when this wonderful tale is available.

*an e-galley was provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review

[Jodi]

DNF'd @ 25%

[Pop Bop · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Amusing, Big Hearted, Cleverly Crafted Fairy Tale Farce

Don't be put off by the fact that the author is a well known musician/songwriter and recording artist. I'm often disappointed by those Fabio actor/male-model types who think that anyone who can do something else can also write a children's book or a "simple" fairy tale. Well, Sexsmith may be a newbie, but his casual, conversational, and just ever so slightly arch style is perfect for this work.

The structure is very similar to something like Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods" crossed with "Peter and the Wolf". We start with a witch and her dog. Then we add our hapless hero teen boy, Deryn. Then we add a cowardly innkeeper with a sad secret and hero potential. Mix in Deryn's distressed widowed Mom, a local landowner, and the landowner's comely teen daughter. Include a villainous hunter, two pub bouncers, a love sick maid, and various relatives of these people who all apparently disappeared after crossing paths with that especially nasty witch.

All of these characters are turned loose in the dark forest, each searching for a missing relative, revenge, redemption, forgiveness, love, or just a way out. As each character interacts with each other character the plot unfolds neatly and crisply, and the characters take on added depth and appeal. There are many brief set pieces that run from touching to farcical. The whole thing builds up speed and energy and ends quite satisfactorily, with each character ending up exactly where he should be.

The author sometimes tells the tale straight up, and sometimes breaks the fourth wall to confide in or tease the reader. As a consequence the book reads like a transcript of a story that was told to an audience, which I imagine is a bit of a holdover from Sexsmith's day job. In any event the book is loaded with wit and charm and genial good humor, which made this an entertaining delight. A nice reading gamble that paid off.

(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

[Nadine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Deer Life is an adult fairytale written by an award-winning recording artist that doesn’t quite hit the mark.

Deer Life is full of whimsical characters and circumstances that you would find in any fairy tale. However, what it lacks most is motive. The witch is a conniving character willing to do anything to seek revenge and right the wrongs done to her, but these wrongs are arbitrary and poorly communicated through the text. So, the end of the story leaves the reader with a series of events that are loosely connected.

The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked any real personality. Deryn is a clueless boy that didn’t bring anything to the story. Deryn’s mother was a typical mother found in any story that loves her son unconditionally and fights for him until the end. Claira was a generic love interest. Crad was the only mildly interesting character because of his past. He filled an essential role in the story and gave Deryn’s mother another typical plotline.

Deer Life is marketed as an adult fairy tale, however the writing is better suited to children. The puns and humour throughout fall flat or never hit the mark. The intended audience will find the writing and attempts at humour amateurish at best.

Unfortunately, I did not enjoy Deer Life as much as I wanted to. I was expecting a whimsically dark fairy tale similar to Neil Gaiman’s work, but, regretfully, got a poorly executed story about a young boy caught in the revenge scheme of a witch with no clear motive.


**I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Barb H · Rating 3 out of 5]

This little novella provided pleasant reading for me. Although this genre is not my usual preference, it is good to deviate for a brief period of entertainment. The writing is sprinkled with humor, some puns and whimsy throughout. Although it is considered an adult fairy tale, I think it would be better designated as YA.

[Zachary Houle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ron Sexsmith is a fairly well-known Canadian singer-songwriter, and I’ve had some dealings with him on Twitter — where he regularly posts Tweets comprised of nothing but groan-inducing puns. He appears to be a stand-up guy, so I hope he isn’t offended or slighted if I were to tell him that his debut short novel, Deer Life, is middling at best. It’s somewhat pun-filled to be sure, and it displays a fair bit of cleverness and creativity. However, it has deficiencies that are the mark of a first-time writer.

To be fair, Sexsmith wears his influences on his sleeve and cites as inspiration for the book the likes of Charles Dickens and Roald Dahl. This means you get the sparse writing style of Dickens superimposed on the wonder of Dahl’s work in Deer Life, which the author describes as being an adult fairy tale. The story concerns one Deryn Hedlight (groan), a teenager who had recently suffered the death of his father, who goes out to try and prove his manhood by hunting for a deer, only to shoot the dog of a witch by accident. The witch turns young Hedlight into a deer as revenge. And the story really only begins from there.

Read more here: https://medium.com/@zachary_houle/a-r...

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars

To be honest, I'm very happy to see that Ron Sexsmith is evolving Deer Life from the page to the stage, where it is already being warmly received: https://www.broadwayworld.com/toronto... The story has charm and whimsy, populated with lots of lovable characters, but it sits uncomfortably on the page. The dialogue, both between characters and between narrator and reader, feels stilted. The density of puns grows annoying. Set to music and set in literal motion, I'm sure this sweet tale will have a much lighter touch.

[Rei ⭐ [TrulyBooked] · Rating 1 out of 5]

[I received a copy of this book through an ARC giveaway.]

It already looks like I’m going to be in the minority on Goodreads for my thoughts on Deer Life.

Normally it doesn’t bother me if my opinion goes against the grain, but I don’t like giving out low scores. I know how much effort it takes to write a novel and I know how much it can hurt to have your work criticized, so I try to be honest while softening my opinions. I can be truthful without being a jerk, you know?

But with Deer Life, there wasn’t a single thing I liked beyond the cover. The cover is gorgeous and whoever drew it should be getting a ton of money. One look at the cover and I knew it was a book that I wanted to read, but the story itself didn’t hold up to scrutiny.

Nothing else in the book works for me.

There’s the skeleton of a good story in there somewhere. I can see the imagination that went into writing this, but it never was able to pull together.

So how do I do this without being nasty? Do I just leave my one star score and waltz out the door without saying anything? It doesn’t seem fair, particularly when I’ve been critical of other novels as well and made sure that my opinions were out there in public.

Basically all I’m going to say here on Goodreads is that it’s a bit of a mess. The drawings inside the book seem in direct opposition to the tone, the book didn’t feel like it was edited properly considering that the narrator will switch tenses mid-paragraph, and in the end this feels more like the first draft of a story than a completed novel.



For more negativity, I’ve put the full review up on Trulybooked.com.

[Aidan Gowland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced review copy of this book.

If I was expecting something from Ron Sexsmith's first foray into fiction, a fantastical tale of whimsy was not it. Yet that is what he has delivered.

The "adult fairy tale" (as he calls it) he weaves takes us to the charming village of Hixenbaugh (also his wife's surname), and the woods surrounding it. The narrator of the tale is quirky and dependable, and I, at least, got the sense that I was being told a story by the fireside and was able to picture the village and its environment quite easily - which is something I always look for in a fantasy novel.

This is not a 'hard' fantasy novel - there are only a small handful of characters, there are no real 'rules' of magic to keep track of. In many ways, it reminded me of Harry Potter - cosy inns and raucous taverns, an unfortunate boy in even more unfortunate situations, and enough magic to make the book an easy escape from real life but not enough to make you feel out of place.

If there's one thing that I feel this book suffers from, however, it is that I was left with many questions I felt should have been answered. Why, for instance, is the Hedlight family, specifically, the villain's target? That one feels important. It feels very much like a book that was written by the seat of Sexmith's pants (and he basically admits as much in the introduction!), which gives it the charm and whimsy that I love about it, but it does create some loose ends. Luckily, none were major enough to break my suspension of disbelief or annoy me to the point of not wanting to read on, which is good because stopping would have been a mistake.

I quite liked this book, and I hope Sexsmith decides to write more - I'd read them all.

[Adam Fearnall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. If you're willing to suspend your disbelief and ride along with Sexsmith's goofy narrator, this fairytale will make you giggle, smile, and feel just a little bit cozy by the end. Something about the narrator's self-aware absurdity really connected with me. If you pay attention you'll catch a number of goofy puns that can't help but make you chuckle. Having heard the author speak a little bit about this book I know that it originated from the fragments of a dream. The entire story has this sort of breakneck absurdity about it that fits perfectly with its origins in the dream world. What 'makes sense' never gets in the way of what makes a fun story - I like this. If you're looking for something that satisfies the literary snob in you, maybe read it on a day when you're looking for a refreshing change of pace - a novella that doesn't take itself too seriously. Reading this warmed my heart and made me remember that reading can just be for fun.

Also, I'll say that this book is just fun to hold. The cover is beautiful, the whimsical illustrations make it seem handmade, and the typeset is gorgeous.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

A super fun and whimsical book that I really enjoyed. It made me want to dream up my own fairy tales.

[Marzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Deer Life is a dark fairy tale, with flashes of eerie atmosphere reminiscent of Alan Garner. Sexsmith mentions a number of rejections of the manuscript in his preface. While it's not so bad as to be a vanity project, better editorial direction could have helped this story find focus and become more compelling. The characters lack dimensionality and the world-building could have been more thorough in that the rules of magic in this world and the origins of poor interactions between witches and humans are never satisfactorily explained. The witches of this world are purple-eyed baddies. End of story. P. S. They had a coalition. Even children appreciate complexity.

The book, which has a beautiful cover that caught my eye, is illustrated throughout with vignettes of Sexsmith's pencil drawings which add a certain charm but which are not doing the book any favors by not living up to the beautiful cover. The visual impression left is dissonant.

[Barbara McEwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think your rating of this book will totally depend on what your expectations are and what you are comparing it to. It is a cute fairy tale, perfectly kid friendly and full of puns (a little heavy on the puns for me). I think the storytelling is charming if cheesy at times but it's light fun. It is not an adult fairy tale or a dark fairy tale, if you going into it looking for darkness you will be disappointed. Sorry Ron but the illustrations are pretty sad and make it hard to take the book very seriously but it isn't a very serious read I suppose. I had the advantage of hearing the author speak about his book at a Wordfest event in Calgary so I knew going in he was just playing around and felt he had a story to share. Try not to take it too seriously. I give it a decent rating since I had a good time reading it and I am not comparing it to 'serious literature' (said in a snooty voice).

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

whimsy combined with punnery. how could i resist? i loved the characters and Ron's sense of humour. as an ardent fan of Ron's music, i can't help but enjoy this book. this is a story of misfit characters living happily ever after. something we need to hear these days. it is imaginative and fun. . he's always been a storyteller in his music, now fiction enables him to explore characters more and make a heck of a lot more puns. all being well, this will be the start of a new adventure. Voltaire, Wilde, St. Exupery have added Mr. Sexsmith to their band. huzzah!

[Maggie Gordon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Deer Life is a strange little book. It says it is an adult fairy tale, but honestly I think the story works well enough for middle grade. There's nothing too sexual or violent, and the writing is in quirky, but simple style that works well for the age group. As an adult, the characters aren't developed enough for me to care, nor is the plot. Were it advertised as a book for younger readers, I would be less harsh, but you need to bring something stronger to the table if you're looking to wow adult readers.

[Debbi Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

All I can say is I really didn't care for this book

[Barry Hammond · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming, funny and post-modern fairy tale from one of Canada's major songwriters. - Bh.

[Elite Group · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quaint fairy tale

Deryn Hedlight’s father had been killed in a terrible accident just on a year ago. Deryn and his mother have hit challenging times without his dad’s income, so he decides to take the wagon and gun, he had inherited from his dad to the woods to see if he can shoot a deer to keep them fed over the winter period. Unfortunately, he shoots Jupiter, a part wolf, part husky owned by Eleanoir, a woman of unusual beauty with a malicious heart and he meets a shocking fate; he is turned into a deer.

His mother, Maggie, searches for him, accompanied by the twins; Griff and Gruff spend their days trying to find him. On one of the days they are out searching for him, their paths cross with Claira and her father Magnus, who have a live deer on the back of their wagon. Maggie, knowing how harsh life is for all the folk living nearby, finds it somewhat strange when Claira says that she knows the deer. Maggie also has a strange sense that the deer is someone familiar to her. It is her son of course, but will she ever get him back after the terrible spell that Eleanoir has put on him for killing her dog?

This is a sweet, quick read. The author has certainly used his vivid imagination in creating a very different type of tale with spells galore.

Treebeard

Breakaway Reviewers was given a copy of the book to review.

[Penny (Literary Hoarders) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars I think this firmly sits in the wheelhouse of younger readers. I also think the editors should have provided a little more guidance for to Sexsmith with his writing. The numerous asides in parentheses became a distraction almost to the point of annoyance. It's a fairytale for sure, and I wasn't that able to "suspend disbelief" as Sexsmith requested - it really isn't my kind of read.

[Steven Buechler · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this book is a small volume, it is certainly a unique one on very many levels. Its wording was simple, magical and entrancing. It was exactly like slipping away from our world for a short while and engaging in a more interesting place. I wouldn’t want to be reading stories like this all the time, but it was a pleasure to engage in at this time in my life.

https://pacifictranquility.wordpress....

[Alice Paterra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not awfully well-written, but the heart in it is huge. A sweet little story, I recommend it for a rainy afternoon’s pleasure. Adorable.

[Deborah Sowery-Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this playful fairy tale for adults written by singer/songwriter Sexsmith. Always interested when people in other arts, acting, singing, etc. decide to tackle writing. Fun read.

[Zoe Schamehorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whimsical, charming and enchanting. I really enjoyed this book. Recommend to anyone with the heart of a child.

[Vandana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly speaking what made me pick up Deer Life from the NetGalley shelves was the beautifully illustrated painting on the cover. It was really stunning with spurts of magnificent colors. On reading the blurb, I came to know that it was a fairy tale. As I had completed reading an old set of fairy tale collection (my husband’s bed time stories when he was a kid), I thought I would give this “new” fairy tale a try. Only on reading the foreword did I understand that Ron Sexsmith was a popular song writer in Canada. As I was from India, I was not familiar with his work.

Coming back to the review, the fairy tale narrates the story of a young boy named Deryn Hedlight from the village of Hinthoven who unknowingly encounters the witch Eleanoir while hunting in a forest. As a curse for killing her dog by mistaking it for a deer, the revengeful witch transforms him to a deer. His forlorn mother Maggie ventures into the forest in search of her lost son. Unable to find any trace of him, she crosses the forest into the next village and stays at The Willow Tree inn. The inn keeper Crad Grimsby, who is familiar with the ways of the witches, listens to her story and finds something awry. Attracted to Maggie, he later travels across the forest to meet her with the intention of asking her hand. Meanwhile, the witch makes her presence known at the house of Magnus Hinterlund, a wealthy landowner and widower and hoodwinks him to marry her. His daughter Claira finds something amiss with her father’s lady companion and is determined to stop the marriage. Will Claira, Deryn, Maggie and Crad succeed in driving away the witch?

Read more at : https://bookescapadeblog.wordpress.co...

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed metaphors, weirdly arranged sentences and slightly stilted grammar. A quote:

At this curious line of questioning, Grimsby’s smile faded to
make way for a new look of discomfort, which had spread across
his pie-shaped countenance like strawberry jam.

Ouch.

The book has a rolling stream of consciousness vibe and doesn't so much break the fourth wall as torch it to the ground, grind up the ashes and spread them to the four winds. The story is somewhat surreal and a bit dreamlike and muddled. I think this is intentional on the author's part, and although the tense shifts in mid-paragraph might be intentional, they do get a bit wearisome.

The cover is absolutely gorgeous. The interior illustrations are odd and seem unfinished. (I read an early galley proof, the illustrations may be completely different for the released version of this book).

As stated, my copy was an early galley proof, so I can imagine that it hadn't yet gone through final re-writing and editing yet. It's not terribly polished, but the story itself is interesting and very fairy-tale-esque with a wicked witch (being wicked, because she's a witch of course), villagers and evil vs. good, with a happy ending.

The bones of the story are solid and I can definitely see this being translated very successfully into a musical or graphic novel someday.

Three stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm pretty torn on this book because I think if I went into it with a different mindset, I would have a greater appreciation for it. This was chosen for my library's sci-fi book club and I certainly enjoyed that it was a short read but it took me quite a while to get through it despite how few pages there were.

This book is nothing advanced or exquisite when it comes to writing. It felt very juvenile and immature - perhaps that had something to do with the main character, Deryn, who I strongly disliked. He's seventeen but reads as though he's twelve. I also do not enjoy when writers break the fourth wall and insert themselves into the story.

What I did like however, is the fairytale-esque setting we are given. I thought it was reminiscent of the Grimm Brothers and maybe a bit Beauty and the Beast (think the Black Forest). The scenery was described quite well and some other characters I enjoyed like Claira and Eleanoir.

This book is a great read for Young Adults or even younger. I did not see this as an adult fiction book whatsoever. However, it was worth the read so I do recommend it if you're looking for something silly and fun.

[Jaclyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Charming hodge podge of fairy tale tropes. Vacillating between 2.5 - 3 stars.

- feels like best read aloud - lots of puns and knowing asides to the reader that call for a reader's knowing wink or pause for laughter.

- gets better as story settles into its groove (all are back in the village, and the witch wants to marry the kind-hearted father of the village beauty) - the puns and asides are toned back and the characters are allowed to simply live

- there's a madcap feel to the events in the story and a shift to a darker tone in the second half. Reminds me somewhat of Into the Woods but lacking the tightness that made the latter's humour so brilliant

- gorgeous, absolutely beautiful cover! Who designed it?!

[Grace Koshida · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deer Life is the debut story by Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith. It is an adult fairy tale involving a young boy named Deryn who goes out hunting in a nearby forest. Deryn's world is turned upside down when he has an unfortunate encounter with a witch and undergoes an unexpected transformation. Deryn's widowed mother searches for him in the forest and never gives up hope. Meanwhile, a young girl named Claira nurses and befriends a wounded deer who she decides to call Lucky. This is a quick, whimsical read.

I received this book for free from Netgalley and Dundurn Press in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.