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Orfeia
When you can find me an acre of land,
Every sage grows merry in time,
Between the ocean and the sand
Then will you be united again.
(Inspired by The Child Ballads 2 & 19)
So begins a beautiful and tragic quest as a heartbroken mother sets out to save her lost daughter, through the realms of the real, of dream, and even into the underworld itself.
But determination alone is not enough. For to save something precious, she must give up something precious, be it a song, a memory, or herfreedom itself . . .
Beautifully illustrated by Bonnie Helen Hawkins, this is a stunning and original modern fairytale.
Every sage grows merry in time,
Between the ocean and the sand
Then will you be united again.
(Inspired by The Child Ballads 2 & 19)
So begins a beautiful and tragic quest as a heartbroken mother sets out to save her lost daughter, through the realms of the real, of dream, and even into the underworld itself.
But determination alone is not enough. For to save something precious, she must give up something precious, be it a song, a memory, or herfreedom itself . . .
Beautifully illustrated by Bonnie Helen Hawkins, this is a stunning and original modern fairytale.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2020
65 people are currently reading
3062 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 278 reviews
January 2, 2022
Thank you for this book. It was absolutely perfect and truly deserves so much more recognition. Favourites list.
"Home was where you went when nothing else in the world made sense, and all you wanted to do was curl up under a blanket and sleep until the stars began to fall and all the world was ashes."
"There’s wisdom in an old wives’ tale, and magic in a story."
"Music and madness are lovers, my Queen. And memory – who needs her?’
Fay smiled. ‘Memory is a mother,’ she said. ‘I could no more give up my memories than I could lose my shadow"
"Home was where you went when nothing else in the world made sense, and all you wanted to do was curl up under a blanket and sleep until the stars began to fall and all the world was ashes."
"There’s wisdom in an old wives’ tale, and magic in a story."
"Music and madness are lovers, my Queen. And memory – who needs her?’
Fay smiled. ‘Memory is a mother,’ she said. ‘I could no more give up my memories than I could lose my shadow"
November 22, 2020
Yesterday my significant other and myself were out shopping in a shopping centre in the city of Limerick. There is a small independent book shop there that we like to support (also a good excuse to buy more books) and because I wanted to have a look at Joanne Harris' book Orfeia we decided to try there first. We didn't see it on the shelves but when we asked the shop assistant, he said it was there alright, but in the fantasy section.
When I picked it up, I knew straight away I wanted to get it. It is one of those books that has a stunning cover and is also beautifully illustrated inside, which already told me to buy it (I would have bought it anyway because I love Joanne Harris' work). I bought it, brought it home and started reading. So far I liked everything I've read by Joanne Harris so I didn't expect to be disappointed and I wasn't because Orfeia is a gripping, modern fairytale, loosely based on folklore: beautifully written, dreamlike and dark (as good fairytales should be). The illustrations by Bonnie Helen Hawkins are gorgeous and made me go through the book again after reading, just to look at the illustrations while pondering over what I had read.
This is a true gem. The cover even sparkles :). Highly recommended.
When I picked it up, I knew straight away I wanted to get it. It is one of those books that has a stunning cover and is also beautifully illustrated inside, which already told me to buy it (I would have bought it anyway because I love Joanne Harris' work). I bought it, brought it home and started reading. So far I liked everything I've read by Joanne Harris so I didn't expect to be disappointed and I wasn't because Orfeia is a gripping, modern fairytale, loosely based on folklore: beautifully written, dreamlike and dark (as good fairytales should be). The illustrations by Bonnie Helen Hawkins are gorgeous and made me go through the book again after reading, just to look at the illustrations while pondering over what I had read.
This is a true gem. The cover even sparkles :). Highly recommended.
January 12, 2022
I think maybe I just... didn't get this? The book is a modern-day fairy tale, taking the tale of King Orfeo (which in turn is inspired by Orpheus and Eurydice) and turning it into a story about a woman grieving the loss of her daughter, and just how far she'll go to find her again. The problem is, I found it hard to follow the logic of the story and understand why certain things happened the way they did.
Still, the writing is lovely, and the black and white illustrations throughout are absolutely gorgeous.
Still, the writing is lovely, and the black and white illustrations throughout are absolutely gorgeous.
July 19, 2023
2.5 ⭐️
Initial reaction: WHAT did I just start reading?
Half way through: WHAT am I reading?
Final reaction: WELL that was a weird yet beautiful thing…
I was confused what time period we were in, it was modern day (talked about fitbits and phones etc..) yet the language used was very much from the past. To be honest I spent most of the book very confused, desperately hanging on, trying to find meaning in the words. Thankfully the book was short otherwise I definitely wouldn’t have had the patience to finish it. But in a very weird way it was kind of likeable.
By the end I gathered that this fairytale was depicting the grief of a mother; a widower also. And her desperation to bring her daughter, Daisy, back from the dead. She constantly recorded memories of Daisy’s life aiming to cling on to any part of her left on earth. Through her journey of grief she, and we the readers, learn that the only thing that can travel through the depths of the underworld and upper world is song. And through song, love and memory remains. Both beautiful and sad really.
The illustrations throughout made this book 10x better in my opinion. They were absolutely breathtaking and honestly I’d buy the book just for the illustrations alone.
Overall, I am glad it was short because I had definitely had enough confusion by the end and I’m not sure I would recommend it to others, apart from the illustrations alone.
Initial reaction: WHAT did I just start reading?
Half way through: WHAT am I reading?
Final reaction: WELL that was a weird yet beautiful thing…
I was confused what time period we were in, it was modern day (talked about fitbits and phones etc..) yet the language used was very much from the past. To be honest I spent most of the book very confused, desperately hanging on, trying to find meaning in the words. Thankfully the book was short otherwise I definitely wouldn’t have had the patience to finish it. But in a very weird way it was kind of likeable.
By the end I gathered that this fairytale was depicting the grief of a mother; a widower also. And her desperation to bring her daughter, Daisy, back from the dead. She constantly recorded memories of Daisy’s life aiming to cling on to any part of her left on earth. Through her journey of grief she, and we the readers, learn that the only thing that can travel through the depths of the underworld and upper world is song. And through song, love and memory remains. Both beautiful and sad really.
The illustrations throughout made this book 10x better in my opinion. They were absolutely breathtaking and honestly I’d buy the book just for the illustrations alone.
Overall, I am glad it was short because I had definitely had enough confusion by the end and I’m not sure I would recommend it to others, apart from the illustrations alone.
September 10, 2020
It is rare that I start a book and within the first 5 pages read know that it's gonna be 5 stars,, this is one such a book. I cannot say how absolutely beautifully it's written. Also, i don't think i need to tell anyone familiar with Joanne M. harris' work that it's exactly as whimsical as a modern fairytale retelling should be
April 17, 2021
I liked it. It was short, interesting and since I'm a fan of fantasy I quite enjoyed it. The only issue I had was that I thought it could've used a little more character development.
August 24, 2020
'When you can find me an acre of land,
Every sage grows merry in time,
Between the ocean and the sand
Then will you be united again.’
And so begins a beautiful and tragic quest as a mother who lost what was most precious, sets out to reclaim all that once belonged to her.
This dark, ethereal fairytale sees you accompany Fay, a bereaved mother who lost both her daughter and husband, as she stumbles upon a chance encounter with a group of people who could change the course of her grief.
When Fay catches a glimpse of the seemingly impossible, she is quick to dismiss it as nothing more than madness.
That is until she awakes in the middle of London which seems to have been taken over by Mother Nature and the spirits themselves: shop windows are covered in centuries of dust, debris and vegetation reclaiming the land, and Fay seems to be all alone...
Fay must navigate this other-London realm whilst meeting people who may or may not be on her side... just who took her daughter away, and is it possible to retrieve her from the other side and be complete again?
Fay will encounter things one can only dream of, be it a dress that materialises on her thanks to Sequin bugs, a talking tiger who only wants to help, and people who keep insisting time and again with addressing her as ‘ Your Majesty’.
Will Fay succeed, or will the mysterious and deceiving Hallowe’en King win at his game and keep Fay prisoner in his domain that is steeped in mythology, lore and hidden desires.
I lost myself deep within this other-world of Orfeia and I wasn’t sure I was ready to come back! This Novella is a must for fantasy lovers, dreamers and anyone wanting to step into the unknown.
The way the author discusses themes such as grief, identity, loss and family is done with such grace and beauty, and this paired with illustrations by the incredibly talented @bonniehelenhawkinsartist that are as timeless as the tale itself, it all comes together to make for one gorgeous read.
Every sage grows merry in time,
Between the ocean and the sand
Then will you be united again.’
And so begins a beautiful and tragic quest as a mother who lost what was most precious, sets out to reclaim all that once belonged to her.
This dark, ethereal fairytale sees you accompany Fay, a bereaved mother who lost both her daughter and husband, as she stumbles upon a chance encounter with a group of people who could change the course of her grief.
When Fay catches a glimpse of the seemingly impossible, she is quick to dismiss it as nothing more than madness.
That is until she awakes in the middle of London which seems to have been taken over by Mother Nature and the spirits themselves: shop windows are covered in centuries of dust, debris and vegetation reclaiming the land, and Fay seems to be all alone...
Fay must navigate this other-London realm whilst meeting people who may or may not be on her side... just who took her daughter away, and is it possible to retrieve her from the other side and be complete again?
Fay will encounter things one can only dream of, be it a dress that materialises on her thanks to Sequin bugs, a talking tiger who only wants to help, and people who keep insisting time and again with addressing her as ‘ Your Majesty’.
Will Fay succeed, or will the mysterious and deceiving Hallowe’en King win at his game and keep Fay prisoner in his domain that is steeped in mythology, lore and hidden desires.
I lost myself deep within this other-world of Orfeia and I wasn’t sure I was ready to come back! This Novella is a must for fantasy lovers, dreamers and anyone wanting to step into the unknown.
The way the author discusses themes such as grief, identity, loss and family is done with such grace and beauty, and this paired with illustrations by the incredibly talented @bonniehelenhawkinsartist that are as timeless as the tale itself, it all comes together to make for one gorgeous read.
June 17, 2021
A beautiful book with beautiful illustrations and beautiful prose.
4.25 stars
4.25 stars
October 26, 2020
Originally posted to I Should Read That
For the past few years, I find myself looking forward to the latest installment in Joanne M. Harris’ Child Ballad novellas. Lovely, atmospheric, and such a treat to read, Pocketful of Crows and The Blue Salt Road have complimented my autumn reading perfectly! The latest installment, Orfeia, is just as gorgeous as the others, but with a bit of a twist.
While these novellas are all retellings of various Child Ballads, they each stand independently on their own, so there is no need to worry about reading the previous two books before diving into Orfeia. In fact, Orfeia is quite different from its predecessors, as this book takes place at least in part in the real world. It was a little strange to adjust to reading about the very real city of London (as well as its counterpart in the dream world) because I simply wasn’t expecting to see a familiar location, however she did a wonderful job of blending reality with fantasy and creating a story as lush and gorgeous as you would expect from her.
As wonderful as the fantasy setting and the story were, what really stood out to me is the deep character study of a grieving mother. Fay is a lonely, yet seemingly ordinary woman who is dealt the most tragic of blows when her 21-year-old daughter dies unexpectedly. Determined that her child is actually in the land of the fae, she will do anything to rescue her daughter and bring her back into our world. Orfeia is a deeply moving portrait of parental grief and the sacrifices a woman will make for her child, and it’s so fantastic.
Orfeia is a gorgeous addition to this series and I cannot recommend it more highly, although I would urge anyone who thinks they may struggle with the subject matter to approach with caution. Beautifully written and illustrated, this is absolutely a book that should be on your TBR for fall and winter reading.
4.5 out of 5 stars
For the past few years, I find myself looking forward to the latest installment in Joanne M. Harris’ Child Ballad novellas. Lovely, atmospheric, and such a treat to read, Pocketful of Crows and The Blue Salt Road have complimented my autumn reading perfectly! The latest installment, Orfeia, is just as gorgeous as the others, but with a bit of a twist.
While these novellas are all retellings of various Child Ballads, they each stand independently on their own, so there is no need to worry about reading the previous two books before diving into Orfeia. In fact, Orfeia is quite different from its predecessors, as this book takes place at least in part in the real world. It was a little strange to adjust to reading about the very real city of London (as well as its counterpart in the dream world) because I simply wasn’t expecting to see a familiar location, however she did a wonderful job of blending reality with fantasy and creating a story as lush and gorgeous as you would expect from her.
As wonderful as the fantasy setting and the story were, what really stood out to me is the deep character study of a grieving mother. Fay is a lonely, yet seemingly ordinary woman who is dealt the most tragic of blows when her 21-year-old daughter dies unexpectedly. Determined that her child is actually in the land of the fae, she will do anything to rescue her daughter and bring her back into our world. Orfeia is a deeply moving portrait of parental grief and the sacrifices a woman will make for her child, and it’s so fantastic.
Orfeia is a gorgeous addition to this series and I cannot recommend it more highly, although I would urge anyone who thinks they may struggle with the subject matter to approach with caution. Beautifully written and illustrated, this is absolutely a book that should be on your TBR for fall and winter reading.
4.5 out of 5 stars
June 8, 2022
It was just...fine
Really nothing special though the cover and the illustrations are really good! I would have probably loved this book a couple of years ago but now I just don't like how surface-level it was.
Really nothing special though the cover and the illustrations are really good! I would have probably loved this book a couple of years ago but now I just don't like how surface-level it was.
June 19, 2023
3 stars
Orfeia is a novella about the journey that Fay Orr did to make her deceased daughter to live again. In her journey, the Faerie constantly call her Orfeia, claim that she is their long lost Fae queen that fall in love with human and have a daughter whom she love above all else. Basically the journey of Orfeia is a retelling of Orpheus who want his wife back and challenge the death itself. Only, in this novella instead a man, Orfeia is a mother and instead Eurydice, it was Daisy's life that Orfeia want to bring back.
I think the fault is entirely on mine because while I'm familiar with the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, Joanne M Harris took liberties in retelling the Child Ballad, King Orfeo and The Elphin Knight while writing Orfeia and I admit I'm not familiar with them! Since the ballad use ye old English and English is not my native, it's difficult to me to understand the meaning of the ballad without try to googling it first. However, Harris's writing is lovely and the story itself actually is about a mother's love to her daughter. Although, I got confused about some things like the situation regarding Daisy's death because it's so convoluted. The illustration itself inside the book is pretty to look at but also unnerving, perfectly compliment the book's content.
I guess, I need to re-read Orfeia in order to understand the story especially about Daisy. Overall, the narrative itself are pretty much easy to understand. The description about London Beneath, London Beyond and the land of Death kinda remind me of Gaiman's novel. The story itself end with a happy note, regarding how you view it. At least, Fay is finally happy and remember that Orfeia at first is always about mother's love so you will get my gist. A lovely novella about retelling of King Orfeo and the myth about Orpheus and Eurydice.
Orfeia is a novella about the journey that Fay Orr did to make her deceased daughter to live again. In her journey, the Faerie constantly call her Orfeia, claim that she is their long lost Fae queen that fall in love with human and have a daughter whom she love above all else. Basically the journey of Orfeia is a retelling of Orpheus who want his wife back and challenge the death itself. Only, in this novella instead a man, Orfeia is a mother and instead Eurydice, it was Daisy's life that Orfeia want to bring back.
I think the fault is entirely on mine because while I'm familiar with the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, Joanne M Harris took liberties in retelling the Child Ballad, King Orfeo and The Elphin Knight while writing Orfeia and I admit I'm not familiar with them! Since the ballad use ye old English and English is not my native, it's difficult to me to understand the meaning of the ballad without try to googling it first. However, Harris's writing is lovely and the story itself actually is about a mother's love to her daughter. Although, I got confused about some things like the situation regarding Daisy's death because it's so convoluted. The illustration itself inside the book is pretty to look at but also unnerving, perfectly compliment the book's content.
I guess, I need to re-read Orfeia in order to understand the story especially about Daisy. Overall, the narrative itself are pretty much easy to understand. The description about London Beneath, London Beyond and the land of Death kinda remind me of Gaiman's novel. The story itself end with a happy note, regarding how you view it. At least, Fay is finally happy and remember that Orfeia at first is always about mother's love so you will get my gist. A lovely novella about retelling of King Orfeo and the myth about Orpheus and Eurydice.
August 29, 2020
In the last few years Joanne (author of the best-selling book Chocolat) has quietly been cutting herself a genre niche by writing reimagined traditional folklore tales. So far we’ve had Norse mythology centred around Loki and Celtic sea-myths based on the Child Ballads with A Pocketful of Crows and The Blue Salt Road.
These Child Ballads are important.
According to good old Wikipedia, the Child Ballads are “305 traditional ballads from England and Scotland, and their American variants, anthologized by Francis James Child during the second half of the 19th century” which are fairly unknown today but are the basis for many traditional folk-stories.
They’re clearly a potentially rich source of material for writers. They are often in prose but also in poem and song form. Some deal with traditional tales such as Robin Hood or King Arthur, whilst others are often what we would call fairy tales, but as that list of motifs suggests, are often darker, more adult, often bawdy. Just ripe for an author to adapt for contemporary readers!
What has this got to do with Orfeia? Well, this time around, Joanne has taken on more of the Child Ballads, in this case Numbers 2 and 19. The story is a gender-flipped retelling of the story of Orpheus from the Underworld.
Fay Orr begins the book in deep shock, struggling to cope with the death of her daughter Daisy. She attends therapy but generally struggles to get through the day, running through the streets of London late at night to try and reduce the pain and deal with the issue that she was not there when Daisy committed suicide.
Revelations mean that Fay discovers that her daughter may not be dead, although whether this belief is caused by some sort of mental breakdown caused by Fay’s grief or by Fay’s guilt (because she was not there for her Daisy when she died) is not clear.
There she meets Alberon, Cobweb, Mab, Peronelle and Moth, first as homeless people but then later as characters that may be more like their true selves. Fay discovers that she has a past that she cannot remember, but clearly others do. Whilst sharing a cigarette with these vagrants, Fay enters some sort of fugue dream-state and is surprised to glimpse Daisy seemingly alive in this strange otherworld named London Beyond.
In this similar yet different otherworld, Fay realises that she can bring Daisy back to life in the real world by meeting the Hallowe’en King. This is not easy. She begins a quest that means that she has to answer three riddles on her journey. It will involve travel on a strange train to the court of King Alberon in the land of Fae and then to the Kingdom of Death to meet the Hallowe'en King. However, the King of the Kingdom of the Dead does not let go of things easily, and Fay is told that the King does not give without taking. She must make a sacrifice in return for her daughter. The conclusion of the story is about the choices Fay makes and the revelations she discovers.
So, we have big bold themes here – life, death, love, sacrifice, all with an element of mystery. Orfeia is a book that, like the best of the old folktales, is determined to touch the reader’s emotions, whilst grounding itself in universal aspects of life and death, such as the bond between a mother and her daughter. It shows how far a person will go and what they will do to save those they love. It is quite a journey – imaginative, yet strange and even in places decidedly creepy.
As I see it, the trick with Fairy tales is that they must always manage to combine the ‘real’ and the ‘unreal’ to create their setting. Joanne does this supremely well, showing us glimpses of London and then an alternate London (London Beyond) through lush, vivid images to create a magical sense of wonder, as you would hope for in a fairy-tale.
“She saw a row of arches choked with vegetation, and beyond that the railway; the overhead lines now garlanded with bindweed. Trumpet-shaped flowers and heart-shaped leaves cascaded over signals and points, and there were railway carriages, now covered with moss and hanging vines.”
This is also partly shown through a lovely combination of human life and elements of nature, whether it is the Moon, the landscape or the diversity of names of plants, animals and insects. (As you might tell from the illustrations and the cover, moths and butterflies are recurrent themes here.) You don’t need to know the background to the Child Ballads to love this story, but if you do, you can appreciate how glorious and wonderfully clever this version is.
As with The Blue Salt Road and A Pocketful of Crows, the novella is beautifully illustrated throughout by Bonnie Helen Hawkins. I spoke of the quality of the drawings that were so sympathetic to the prose in my review of The Blue Salt Road, but will say that these are just as good. There’s detail, beauty and even weirdness there in incredibly detailed pencil drawings that reflect that combination of beauty and nature. These interior pencil sketches are further complimented by a foil cover by Sue Gent that photos do not really do justice. Altogether it’s a smashing piece of work.
The timing of the publication of this one could not be more apt. As the nights start to draw in for Autumn here, this would be a great tale to settle down with, perhaps beside a warm fire and with a nice cup of tea. Fans of Neil Gaiman and (going further back) Lord Dunsany’s lyrical prose will appreciate this one as a short tale to spend time in, luxuriating in the imagery and the style.
To summarise, I think that out of all of the novellas Joanne has written so far in this series, this is my favourite so far. I look forward to more.
These Child Ballads are important.
According to good old Wikipedia, the Child Ballads are “305 traditional ballads from England and Scotland, and their American variants, anthologized by Francis James Child during the second half of the 19th century” which are fairly unknown today but are the basis for many traditional folk-stories.
They’re clearly a potentially rich source of material for writers. They are often in prose but also in poem and song form. Some deal with traditional tales such as Robin Hood or King Arthur, whilst others are often what we would call fairy tales, but as that list of motifs suggests, are often darker, more adult, often bawdy. Just ripe for an author to adapt for contemporary readers!
What has this got to do with Orfeia? Well, this time around, Joanne has taken on more of the Child Ballads, in this case Numbers 2 and 19. The story is a gender-flipped retelling of the story of Orpheus from the Underworld.
Fay Orr begins the book in deep shock, struggling to cope with the death of her daughter Daisy. She attends therapy but generally struggles to get through the day, running through the streets of London late at night to try and reduce the pain and deal with the issue that she was not there when Daisy committed suicide.
Revelations mean that Fay discovers that her daughter may not be dead, although whether this belief is caused by some sort of mental breakdown caused by Fay’s grief or by Fay’s guilt (because she was not there for her Daisy when she died) is not clear.
There she meets Alberon, Cobweb, Mab, Peronelle and Moth, first as homeless people but then later as characters that may be more like their true selves. Fay discovers that she has a past that she cannot remember, but clearly others do. Whilst sharing a cigarette with these vagrants, Fay enters some sort of fugue dream-state and is surprised to glimpse Daisy seemingly alive in this strange otherworld named London Beyond.
In this similar yet different otherworld, Fay realises that she can bring Daisy back to life in the real world by meeting the Hallowe’en King. This is not easy. She begins a quest that means that she has to answer three riddles on her journey. It will involve travel on a strange train to the court of King Alberon in the land of Fae and then to the Kingdom of Death to meet the Hallowe'en King. However, the King of the Kingdom of the Dead does not let go of things easily, and Fay is told that the King does not give without taking. She must make a sacrifice in return for her daughter. The conclusion of the story is about the choices Fay makes and the revelations she discovers.
So, we have big bold themes here – life, death, love, sacrifice, all with an element of mystery. Orfeia is a book that, like the best of the old folktales, is determined to touch the reader’s emotions, whilst grounding itself in universal aspects of life and death, such as the bond between a mother and her daughter. It shows how far a person will go and what they will do to save those they love. It is quite a journey – imaginative, yet strange and even in places decidedly creepy.
As I see it, the trick with Fairy tales is that they must always manage to combine the ‘real’ and the ‘unreal’ to create their setting. Joanne does this supremely well, showing us glimpses of London and then an alternate London (London Beyond) through lush, vivid images to create a magical sense of wonder, as you would hope for in a fairy-tale.
“She saw a row of arches choked with vegetation, and beyond that the railway; the overhead lines now garlanded with bindweed. Trumpet-shaped flowers and heart-shaped leaves cascaded over signals and points, and there were railway carriages, now covered with moss and hanging vines.”
This is also partly shown through a lovely combination of human life and elements of nature, whether it is the Moon, the landscape or the diversity of names of plants, animals and insects. (As you might tell from the illustrations and the cover, moths and butterflies are recurrent themes here.) You don’t need to know the background to the Child Ballads to love this story, but if you do, you can appreciate how glorious and wonderfully clever this version is.
As with The Blue Salt Road and A Pocketful of Crows, the novella is beautifully illustrated throughout by Bonnie Helen Hawkins. I spoke of the quality of the drawings that were so sympathetic to the prose in my review of The Blue Salt Road, but will say that these are just as good. There’s detail, beauty and even weirdness there in incredibly detailed pencil drawings that reflect that combination of beauty and nature. These interior pencil sketches are further complimented by a foil cover by Sue Gent that photos do not really do justice. Altogether it’s a smashing piece of work.
The timing of the publication of this one could not be more apt. As the nights start to draw in for Autumn here, this would be a great tale to settle down with, perhaps beside a warm fire and with a nice cup of tea. Fans of Neil Gaiman and (going further back) Lord Dunsany’s lyrical prose will appreciate this one as a short tale to spend time in, luxuriating in the imagery and the style.
To summarise, I think that out of all of the novellas Joanne has written so far in this series, this is my favourite so far. I look forward to more.
January 7, 2024
I already was a big fan of Joanne Harris for her Chocolat series and some of her other tales, but I have just finished reading Orfeia and what a stunning story this is. This entire book, with the illustrations is stunning. It's very hard to explain what it really is, but I feel a dark fairytale is what does it justice most. The story has multiple layers I feel and I think Harris outdid herself with this one. It's so captivating. The language is so beautiful, but also the character developement. You know if Fay continues into the story, there will be consequences, but like her you just have to come along.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and even though due to lack of time I didn't finish this sooner, my now first book of 2024 is very good and I now want to collect all these hardcover versions. 5 stars and thank you Wendy for surprising me with this one.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and even though due to lack of time I didn't finish this sooner, my now first book of 2024 is very good and I now want to collect all these hardcover versions. 5 stars and thank you Wendy for surprising me with this one.
June 1, 2021
‘love is a bird that never dies’
A gorgeous fairytale of loss and love and grief and song, with the bones of Orpheus and the soul of Faerie. Joanne Harris is well acquainted with the ways of folktale and the Fae, and the result is a shimmering diversion that may steal your heart (but will leave you your soul).
A gorgeous fairytale of loss and love and grief and song, with the bones of Orpheus and the soul of Faerie. Joanne Harris is well acquainted with the ways of folktale and the Fae, and the result is a shimmering diversion that may steal your heart (but will leave you your soul).
April 11, 2023
An adult Dark-ish fantasy which centres around the selfless love between a mother & child. This is not a romance.
Plot: 3*
Writing style: 3.5*
Characters: 3*
This is a lovely book but receiving 3* rather 4* because the ending was a little underwhelming , but otherwise it's a beautiful book with a gorgeous cover and artwork. And although I like that it's short (the author doesn't add any unnecessary detail or tedious dialogue - it's straight to the point), I would have preferred to know more of what happens to the characters.
It has certain (though tenuous) aspects of the following books & films:
Books
Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, of an alternative London.
Diana Wynne Jones's Fire and Hemlock in respect to Northern English/Scottish Legends, riddles & fae.
Clare B. Dunkle's The Hollow Kingdom of a fae world & selfless love.
Rosamund Hodge's Cruel Beauty due to riddles, kings & memories
Films
Labyrinth with it's riddles, mazes, banquets and otherworldly kings
Legend dark kings, banquets & fae
Plot: 3*
Writing style: 3.5*
Characters: 3*
This is a lovely book but receiving 3* rather 4* because the ending was a little underwhelming , but otherwise it's a beautiful book with a gorgeous cover and artwork. And although I like that it's short (the author doesn't add any unnecessary detail or tedious dialogue - it's straight to the point), I would have preferred to know more of what happens to the characters.
It has certain (though tenuous) aspects of the following books & films:
Books
Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, of an alternative London.
Diana Wynne Jones's Fire and Hemlock in respect to Northern English/Scottish Legends, riddles & fae.
Clare B. Dunkle's The Hollow Kingdom of a fae world & selfless love.
Rosamund Hodge's Cruel Beauty due to riddles, kings & memories
Films
Labyrinth with it's riddles, mazes, banquets and otherworldly kings
Legend dark kings, banquets & fae
September 8, 2020
What to say about this book?
I would cheerfully leave this review at 'buy this book!', being a huge fan of Joanne Harris, but obviously whilst being positive is a good thing, this won't tell you why.
Her re-working of the ancient tale of Orpheus and Eurydice, mixded with folk lore, fae myth and Scottish poems, all twist like vines around the central concept of love, and loss.
The death of both husband and daughter have left Fay bereft and rootless in a world that seems firm and sure of who and what it is. Her sense of identity and self without her family is so fragmented that running is the only thing left to her.Her voice, which used to ring out loudly has dried up in her throat and she is no longer even sure that she could sing, even if she wanted to.
As she runs, she becomes disjointed between reality and dreams, falling through a literal and metaphorical crack in the world where she glimpses her sleeping daughter, Daisy. And so begins a quest to another realm, that of London Beyond, where she will stop at nothing to bring back her daughter and also meaning to her existence.
Verdant pages and descriptions are beautifully brought to life by the fine pen and ink work of artist Bonnie Helen Hawkins which adds so much to the dreamlike atmosphere of the story.
As Fae becomes Orpheia,you, the reader, give yourself up to the delicious disconnect between worlds and find yourself falling from this reality into Joanne's and Bonnie's. It's a beautiful meditation on loss, grief and identity and I absolutely adored every single word.
Highly recommended!
I would cheerfully leave this review at 'buy this book!', being a huge fan of Joanne Harris, but obviously whilst being positive is a good thing, this won't tell you why.
Her re-working of the ancient tale of Orpheus and Eurydice, mixded with folk lore, fae myth and Scottish poems, all twist like vines around the central concept of love, and loss.
The death of both husband and daughter have left Fay bereft and rootless in a world that seems firm and sure of who and what it is. Her sense of identity and self without her family is so fragmented that running is the only thing left to her.Her voice, which used to ring out loudly has dried up in her throat and she is no longer even sure that she could sing, even if she wanted to.
As she runs, she becomes disjointed between reality and dreams, falling through a literal and metaphorical crack in the world where she glimpses her sleeping daughter, Daisy. And so begins a quest to another realm, that of London Beyond, where she will stop at nothing to bring back her daughter and also meaning to her existence.
Verdant pages and descriptions are beautifully brought to life by the fine pen and ink work of artist Bonnie Helen Hawkins which adds so much to the dreamlike atmosphere of the story.
As Fae becomes Orpheia,you, the reader, give yourself up to the delicious disconnect between worlds and find yourself falling from this reality into Joanne's and Bonnie's. It's a beautiful meditation on loss, grief and identity and I absolutely adored every single word.
Highly recommended!
January 31, 2023
I'm not a harsh rater. But this book made me angry, bored, frustrated, and disappointed. I thought it was intriguing for the first 100 pages and then it got really boring. I could've finished this book a week ago but I couldn't get myself to pick the book back up. So I decided to read 70 more pages and finish in hopes of a decent ending. But NO. This ending was HORRIBLE. After all the boringness and finally getting through it, you couldn't write a decent ending????? I COULD rant for hours on this book and I highly recommend you DON'T read this book. I have never rated a book this low but I think it's accurate from my perspective. THIS BOOK WAS GARBAGE. Do not waste your time.
June 1, 2021
This started out with so much potential, but sadly failed to live up to it, at least in my opinion. It had a lot going for it, from the gorgeous cover and feel of the book, to the fairy tale set up.
Fay is a woman lost in grief after the death of her daughter; then one day she finds herself in a completely different, magical version of London, facing the possibility that her daughter is not quite as gone as she thinks... A great set up, in my opinion, and one that made me think we'd either get a dramatic reunion where I'd bawl my eyes out, or some kind of processing and acceptance of grief, where I'd bawl my eyes out. Turns out there are other options, and nary a tear was shed. I feel the story just didn't reach the levels of poignancy or emotional connection I'd expect from such a heartbreaking premise.
Part of my initial enthusiasm came from the descriptions of this 'other' London, which put me in mind of Un Lun Dun by China Mieville. That comparison was short-lived, however. Although an abandoned city being overtaken by the wilderness is a wonderful setting, Harris doesn't have a fraction of Mieville's wild creativity and imagination, nor his skill with turning the ordinary into something extraordinary.
This was by no means a bad read: I enjoyed the fairy-tale nature of it, and the fact that it's inspired heavily by old English and Scottish ballads. But I was really hoping for something more meaningful, and it just didn't deliver.
Fay is a woman lost in grief after the death of her daughter; then one day she finds herself in a completely different, magical version of London, facing the possibility that her daughter is not quite as gone as she thinks... A great set up, in my opinion, and one that made me think we'd either get a dramatic reunion where I'd bawl my eyes out, or some kind of processing and acceptance of grief, where I'd bawl my eyes out. Turns out there are other options, and nary a tear was shed. I feel the story just didn't reach the levels of poignancy or emotional connection I'd expect from such a heartbreaking premise.
Part of my initial enthusiasm came from the descriptions of this 'other' London, which put me in mind of Un Lun Dun by China Mieville. That comparison was short-lived, however. Although an abandoned city being overtaken by the wilderness is a wonderful setting, Harris doesn't have a fraction of Mieville's wild creativity and imagination, nor his skill with turning the ordinary into something extraordinary.
This was by no means a bad read: I enjoyed the fairy-tale nature of it, and the fact that it's inspired heavily by old English and Scottish ballads. But I was really hoping for something more meaningful, and it just didn't deliver.
October 6, 2020
Great art work and quirky story , dark and intricate, with a well developed plot and worlds for a novella
July 28, 2021
I didn’t enjoy this as much as the other books probably just because I can’t relate to the whole family love trope as I never had that growing up but it was still a nice story
September 17, 2020
Orfeia is a very different book to what I would normally read (I also haven’t read much about the original myth that is the basis for this book), but something about the book description really appealed to me, so when I was offered a review copy I jumped at it.
The story starts off with bereaved mother Fay Orr wandering around in a haze. Life has not been the same for her since the loss of her daughter – although it is arguable that she has not been the same since the death of said daughter’s father.
Fay Orr is traveling through London in a dream like state before bumping into some strange characters. They laugh, they drink…. they smoke “stuff” and suddenly London flips, Fay Orr thinks she sees her daughter and she arrives in Other London. (If you’ve seen Stranger Things you might get some “The Upsidedown” vibes….don’t worry, no Demogorgon here).
What follows is a journey through the world of fantasy and myth that I was completely sucked in by. Whenever I lifted my head from the pages I felt like I was coming up for air – it is quite a breathtaking work of fiction.
The characters are brilliant throughout – and while we know all along who Fay Orr really is, the intentions of the other characters are less transparent. Fay Orr wants to find a way to save her daughter from this magical realm, but can she trust those around her? Time will only tell.
I obviously cannot finish without passing comment on the fantastic artwork by Bonnie Helen Hawkins. The illustrations add an extra dimension to the story and really do the author’s words justice. They really are a thing of beauty.
Overall, an immersive and quick read. I am very glad that I got the chance to read this. I thought it was fantastic. Highly recommended.
The story starts off with bereaved mother Fay Orr wandering around in a haze. Life has not been the same for her since the loss of her daughter – although it is arguable that she has not been the same since the death of said daughter’s father.
Fay Orr is traveling through London in a dream like state before bumping into some strange characters. They laugh, they drink…. they smoke “stuff” and suddenly London flips, Fay Orr thinks she sees her daughter and she arrives in Other London. (If you’ve seen Stranger Things you might get some “The Upsidedown” vibes….don’t worry, no Demogorgon here).
What follows is a journey through the world of fantasy and myth that I was completely sucked in by. Whenever I lifted my head from the pages I felt like I was coming up for air – it is quite a breathtaking work of fiction.
The characters are brilliant throughout – and while we know all along who Fay Orr really is, the intentions of the other characters are less transparent. Fay Orr wants to find a way to save her daughter from this magical realm, but can she trust those around her? Time will only tell.
I obviously cannot finish without passing comment on the fantastic artwork by Bonnie Helen Hawkins. The illustrations add an extra dimension to the story and really do the author’s words justice. They really are a thing of beauty.
Overall, an immersive and quick read. I am very glad that I got the chance to read this. I thought it was fantastic. Highly recommended.
October 11, 2020
A perfect autumnal read, Orfeia by Joanne Harris is delicious, dark and dreamlike; a retelling of the Orpheus myth, subverted to reflect the depths of a mother’s love and grief.
After her daughter’s death, Fay cannot sleep. On one of her nighttime runs though central London she encounters a strange group and glimpses something impossible. Like Alice falling down the rabbit hole, so begins her journey into the other realms of London Beyond and London Beneath, and a beguiling yet melancholy tale of fae and folklore.
Harris’ vivid and beautiful prose, her nod to ancient song and riddles, are stunningly combined with Bonnie Helen Hawkins’ gorgeous illustrations and draw you into a world of wonder and decay, as Fay gives her everything in the search to reclaim her daughter from the hands of Death himself. This is a gorgeous exploration of memory, identity and love. A wondrously weird, wild earthy delight.
The is the third of Harris’ novellas based on the Child Ballads. The previous two, A Pocketful of Crows and The Blue Salt Road both equally brilliant and highly recommended.
After her daughter’s death, Fay cannot sleep. On one of her nighttime runs though central London she encounters a strange group and glimpses something impossible. Like Alice falling down the rabbit hole, so begins her journey into the other realms of London Beyond and London Beneath, and a beguiling yet melancholy tale of fae and folklore.
Harris’ vivid and beautiful prose, her nod to ancient song and riddles, are stunningly combined with Bonnie Helen Hawkins’ gorgeous illustrations and draw you into a world of wonder and decay, as Fay gives her everything in the search to reclaim her daughter from the hands of Death himself. This is a gorgeous exploration of memory, identity and love. A wondrously weird, wild earthy delight.
The is the third of Harris’ novellas based on the Child Ballads. The previous two, A Pocketful of Crows and The Blue Salt Road both equally brilliant and highly recommended.
May 14, 2022
A strikingly inventive and beautifully descriptive book that takes quite a while to get to its purpose. There are wonders to see here, and ideas and characters from myth, fable, and fancy that fill out the pages. At times Harris gets a smidgen too complex with her re-imaginings and multiple names for the same person, and that made for hard sledding in places, even for such a short tale. I did love the writing and the dreamy-enigmatic atmosphere, and while there is less action and more musing and wordplay than I expected, I think the heart of the story wins out. Ultimately a sorrowful-melancholy book that requires depths of feeling to appreciate and understand.
December 18, 2020
This narrative took me to places I have only been before in dreams. I am in love, lost, and satisfied.
July 7, 2024
Beautifully written modern fairy tale. And the book itself is absolutely gorgeous
September 19, 2020
Review originally posted on The Bibliophile Chronicles.
Joanne Harris is one of those auto-buy authors for me so when I heard she was releasing another novella inspired by the Child Ballads I was incredibly excited to read it. I absolutely devoured A Pocketful of Crows and The Blue Salt Road so I couldn’t wait to see what she would write next. Orfeia is the beautiful and moving tale of Fay, a mother who has lost her daughter. Whilst out for a run she slips into another London where she learns that her daughter lingers in the halls of the Hallowe’en king. Fay must navigate this dangerous dream realm to enter the halls and rescue her daughter.
Like the previous two stories, Orfeia is an incredibly lyrical story, full of beautiful prose. Harris creates a fascinating world in Orfeia and the reader quickly becomes enveloped in the story. It’s quite a quick read but it packs a punch, it’s definitely the kind of story that will having you thinking about it long after you’ve finished reading. This story is such a mesmerising one and I enjoyed every minute of it. Our main character Fay is an excellent protagonist, she’s strong willed and determined to reach her daughter – no matter the cost.
This beautiful retelling is a must read if you love whimsical fantasy stories and it has some absolutely stunning illustrations. If you’ve read the other books in this collection then you absolutely have to pick this one up. If you’ve not yet had the chance to read them they’re absolutely perfect for reading in the autumn and you can binge all three. I loved every second of this book and I can’t wait to see what Harris writes next.
Joanne Harris is one of those auto-buy authors for me so when I heard she was releasing another novella inspired by the Child Ballads I was incredibly excited to read it. I absolutely devoured A Pocketful of Crows and The Blue Salt Road so I couldn’t wait to see what she would write next. Orfeia is the beautiful and moving tale of Fay, a mother who has lost her daughter. Whilst out for a run she slips into another London where she learns that her daughter lingers in the halls of the Hallowe’en king. Fay must navigate this dangerous dream realm to enter the halls and rescue her daughter.
Like the previous two stories, Orfeia is an incredibly lyrical story, full of beautiful prose. Harris creates a fascinating world in Orfeia and the reader quickly becomes enveloped in the story. It’s quite a quick read but it packs a punch, it’s definitely the kind of story that will having you thinking about it long after you’ve finished reading. This story is such a mesmerising one and I enjoyed every minute of it. Our main character Fay is an excellent protagonist, she’s strong willed and determined to reach her daughter – no matter the cost.
This beautiful retelling is a must read if you love whimsical fantasy stories and it has some absolutely stunning illustrations. If you’ve read the other books in this collection then you absolutely have to pick this one up. If you’ve not yet had the chance to read them they’re absolutely perfect for reading in the autumn and you can binge all three. I loved every second of this book and I can’t wait to see what Harris writes next.
February 11, 2022
As a fairytale lover, this ultimately fell flat for me.
While I enjoyed following the internal story, the external logic of London Beyond didn’t quite make sense to me. My favourite aspect of fairytales is, of course, the nonsensical, whimsy and great imagination required to create a world that is at its core, deceitful and hidden behind glamours. However, what this book failed to do was create the whimsy. Building a fairytale world is not as simple as creating an abandoned London and writing down an encyclopedic list of flora- in fact, the constant naming of nature drew me out of the story as I simply wasn’t able to picture what the author was describing.
I did enjoy the slow unraveling of Fay’s story, however, and was pleasantly surprised by the ending. That said, the rest of the elements of the book just didn’t live up to my expectations. The writing was incongruent in its perspective, constantly switching between third person and third-first person. So we are told details Fay wouldn’t logically know in a situation and then suddenly reading from her perspective, completely taking the reader out of the narrative. Fairytales are not as simple as writing down the names of realms and leaving the detail ambiguous; the lack of world building depth here really pulled the whole narrative down for me- see, for example, An Enchantment of Ravens for beautifully written, human-POV fairy world building.
This certainly has inspired a deep dive into the fairytale genre, however.
While I enjoyed following the internal story, the external logic of London Beyond didn’t quite make sense to me. My favourite aspect of fairytales is, of course, the nonsensical, whimsy and great imagination required to create a world that is at its core, deceitful and hidden behind glamours. However, what this book failed to do was create the whimsy. Building a fairytale world is not as simple as creating an abandoned London and writing down an encyclopedic list of flora- in fact, the constant naming of nature drew me out of the story as I simply wasn’t able to picture what the author was describing.
I did enjoy the slow unraveling of Fay’s story, however, and was pleasantly surprised by the ending. That said, the rest of the elements of the book just didn’t live up to my expectations. The writing was incongruent in its perspective, constantly switching between third person and third-first person. So we are told details Fay wouldn’t logically know in a situation and then suddenly reading from her perspective, completely taking the reader out of the narrative. Fairytales are not as simple as writing down the names of realms and leaving the detail ambiguous; the lack of world building depth here really pulled the whole narrative down for me- see, for example, An Enchantment of Ravens for beautifully written, human-POV fairy world building.
This certainly has inspired a deep dive into the fairytale genre, however.
November 5, 2020
The best description I can give of Orfeia is to say it's what you get when you take the Orpheus myth but then twist it so it reminds you of a blend of Pan's Labyrinth and Labyrinth (yes, the one with David Bowie playing the Goblin King). It's brief, beautiful and weird. And the illustrations are wonderful.
October 19, 2020
A magical reimagining of the Orpheus and Eurydice story. A dreamlike fairytale with some wonderful imagery by Bonnie Helen Hawkins, Orfeia is heartbreakingly human and Joanne Harris is at her best.
January 19, 2025
I tried so hard to love Orfeia as much as I thought I was going to, but I either missed the hidden magic or expected too much. I don't know if it was the writing style, or an inability to relate to the main character, but Orfeia's main highlights are its setting and imagery, which are about the only things I really enjoyed about it consistently.
Set in London in the modern era, the story follows Fay Orr, a woman who has recently suffered the losses of her husband Allan and her daughter Daisy, who falls through a glowing cobblestone during a night run into an abandoned, foliage-covered version of London. Fay's surreal, fantastical journey takes her through several levels of this world as she chases a vision she saw of Daisy sleeping in a field of bluebells, holding to her desperate hope that she can find and bring Daisy back to life. However, Fay's journey is complicated by the fact that she does not know which of the dozens of fae creatures she meets are trustworthy, including a mysterious man and his attendants who are determined to make her remember her past life as the fae Queen of May, who abandoned her world for the world of the Fair Folk (humanity). The further Fay ventures into the world below London, the more she risks, for though she is willing to trade anything in exchange for getting Daisy back, she learns that everything has a price, and the most common form of currency are her most precious memories.
Orfeia is a semi-retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, as well as its medieval derivative Sir Orfeo, though it goes a bit further than a simple retelling by turning itself into a piece of metafiction, revising Orfeo's legend and inserting its own characters into the ancient story. Joanne Harris (whom I somehow did not realize is the same as the really famous Joanne Harris) uses a lot of excerpts from the original Child Ballads manuscript as well as the Sir Orfeo poem, which lends some interesting elements to Orfeia. The refrain that Fay hears over and over is taken word for word from the Child Ballad King Orfeo, which leads to all sorts of interesting chicken-or-the-egg scenarios.
Harris' strong point in Orfeia is her use of imagery and fantasy elements, as the worlds Fay falls into are quite beautiful and grotesque in different measures. We have the early entrance into London Beyond (which features familiar landmarks mysteriously covered in vines and trees) followed by the world of London Beneath (a fairyland featuring a magnificent banquet and dozens of insect-inspired sprites) and finally London Nethermost (which Fay reaches on a mystical Night Train and which leads her to the kingdom of Death across the river of Dream). Borrowing heavily from Neil Gaiman's superior Neverwhere, Orfeia's World Beyond has its own magical appeal and echoes strongly of Alice in Wonderland, Jim Henson's Labyrinth, and A Midsummer Night's Dream, as well as the mythical Greek Underworld and the Celtic faerie lands.
Despite its luscious settings, Orfeia struggles on most other fronts. We have a compelling concept — a bereft mother who is willing to give up anything to rescue her beloved daughter. However, Harris never articulates her points well, and she never truly draws us into the story emotionally. The entire novel is told in a bland, distant tone of voice, commenting on what is happening without giving us any emotional stakes in the story. A novel like Orfeia demands a lyrical, energetic style of writing, akin to that of Patricia McKillip, because otherwise the story feels completely dry. Fay drifts from one level of the World Below to the next without any clear rules of worldbuilding, and everything feels like a huge mishmash of all the fantasy stories Harris finds interesting. Characters pop up for a second to spout exposition but never appear again, and interesting backstories / motivations are vaguely alluded to without any further development. I spend the first three-fourths of Orfeia anticipating what all this jumble was building to, but I never got any satisfactory answers.
Along with the lackluster writing style, the story progresses at the pace of a 5th-grade book, with virtually no plot twists or unexpected developments.
Finally, I think I simply missed the significance of the ending to Orfeia, because I was left with nothing but questions.
Overall, Orfeia was a huge letdown for me, despite a few good moments and a really nice concept. I do, however, HIGHLY recommend checking out the illustrations done by Bonnie Helen Hawkins — they are gorgeous, haunting, and more complex than the story itself. I think Orfeia is probably an excellent book for a young reader who is just delving into the realm of fantasy and wants something with a little higher stakes, but it's just not interesting or well-written enough for an adult reader who was expecting a gem of a book.
Set in London in the modern era, the story follows Fay Orr, a woman who has recently suffered the losses of her husband Allan and her daughter Daisy, who falls through a glowing cobblestone during a night run into an abandoned, foliage-covered version of London. Fay's surreal, fantastical journey takes her through several levels of this world as she chases a vision she saw of Daisy sleeping in a field of bluebells, holding to her desperate hope that she can find and bring Daisy back to life. However, Fay's journey is complicated by the fact that she does not know which of the dozens of fae creatures she meets are trustworthy, including a mysterious man and his attendants who are determined to make her remember her past life as the fae Queen of May, who abandoned her world for the world of the Fair Folk (humanity). The further Fay ventures into the world below London, the more she risks, for though she is willing to trade anything in exchange for getting Daisy back, she learns that everything has a price, and the most common form of currency are her most precious memories.
Orfeia is a semi-retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, as well as its medieval derivative Sir Orfeo, though it goes a bit further than a simple retelling by turning itself into a piece of metafiction, revising Orfeo's legend and inserting its own characters into the ancient story. Joanne Harris (whom I somehow did not realize is the same as the really famous Joanne Harris) uses a lot of excerpts from the original Child Ballads manuscript as well as the Sir Orfeo poem, which lends some interesting elements to Orfeia. The refrain that Fay hears over and over is taken word for word from the Child Ballad King Orfeo, which leads to all sorts of interesting chicken-or-the-egg scenarios.
Harris' strong point in Orfeia is her use of imagery and fantasy elements, as the worlds Fay falls into are quite beautiful and grotesque in different measures. We have the early entrance into London Beyond (which features familiar landmarks mysteriously covered in vines and trees) followed by the world of London Beneath (a fairyland featuring a magnificent banquet and dozens of insect-inspired sprites) and finally London Nethermost (which Fay reaches on a mystical Night Train and which leads her to the kingdom of Death across the river of Dream). Borrowing heavily from Neil Gaiman's superior Neverwhere, Orfeia's World Beyond has its own magical appeal and echoes strongly of Alice in Wonderland, Jim Henson's Labyrinth, and A Midsummer Night's Dream, as well as the mythical Greek Underworld and the Celtic faerie lands.
Despite its luscious settings, Orfeia struggles on most other fronts. We have a compelling concept — a bereft mother who is willing to give up anything to rescue her beloved daughter. However, Harris never articulates her points well, and she never truly draws us into the story emotionally. The entire novel is told in a bland, distant tone of voice, commenting on what is happening without giving us any emotional stakes in the story. A novel like Orfeia demands a lyrical, energetic style of writing, akin to that of Patricia McKillip, because otherwise the story feels completely dry. Fay drifts from one level of the World Below to the next without any clear rules of worldbuilding, and everything feels like a huge mishmash of all the fantasy stories Harris finds interesting. Characters pop up for a second to spout exposition but never appear again, and interesting backstories / motivations are vaguely alluded to without any further development. I spend the first three-fourths of Orfeia anticipating what all this jumble was building to, but I never got any satisfactory answers.
Along with the lackluster writing style, the story progresses at the pace of a 5th-grade book, with virtually no plot twists or unexpected developments.
Finally, I think I simply missed the significance of the ending to Orfeia, because I was left with nothing but questions.
Overall, Orfeia was a huge letdown for me, despite a few good moments and a really nice concept. I do, however, HIGHLY recommend checking out the illustrations done by Bonnie Helen Hawkins — they are gorgeous, haunting, and more complex than the story itself. I think Orfeia is probably an excellent book for a young reader who is just delving into the realm of fantasy and wants something with a little higher stakes, but it's just not interesting or well-written enough for an adult reader who was expecting a gem of a book.
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