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Folklore Cycle #1
Mountain Folk
John Hood’s new novel Mountain Folk uses elements of folklore and epic fantasy to tell the story of America’s founding in a fresh and exciting way. Goran is one of the rare fairies who can live without magical protection in the Blur, the human world where the days pass twenty times faster than in fairy realms. Goran’s secret missions for the Rangers Guild take him across the British colonies of North America — from far-flung mountains and rushing rivers to frontier farms and bustling towns. Along the way, Goran encounters Daniel Boone, George Washington, an improbably tall dwarf, a mysterious water maiden, and a series of terrifying monsters from European and Native American legend. But when Goran is ordered to help the other fairy nations of the New World crush the American Revolution, he must choose between a solemn duty to his own people and a fierce loyalty to his human friends and the principles they hold dear.
Editorial Reviews:
“Beyond the epic fantasy itself, the best magic in Mountain Folk is the sorcery that will make early American history accessible to a wide swath of ages, tween to adult, who would otherwise eschew the subject. Not since John Jakes’ The American Bicentennial series has the story of our nation’s founding been so engaging and approachable.” —Tom Mayer, The Mountain Times
“Fairies, elves, dwarves, water maidens, monsters, and more. Soldiers and heroes of the American Revolution. Founding Fathers of our country like Washington and Jefferson. Cherokee and Shawnee women and warriors. A minister turned soldier and politician who is unembarrassed to quote Scripture. Throw all these ingredients into a stew pot of fiction, turn up the burner, and you soon have bubbling on the stove John Hood’s Mountain Folk . . . I found it both entertaining and educational.” — Jeff Minick, Smoky Mountain Living
“Mountain Folk combines frontier history with fantasy creatures in a fun and unexpected manner.” — Winston-Salem Journal
“Mountain Folk celebrates America’s founding and its iconic heroes by blending real-life characters and events with elements of magic, myth, and mountain folklore.” — CNS News
“A classic.” — The Epoch Times
Editorial Reviews:
“Beyond the epic fantasy itself, the best magic in Mountain Folk is the sorcery that will make early American history accessible to a wide swath of ages, tween to adult, who would otherwise eschew the subject. Not since John Jakes’ The American Bicentennial series has the story of our nation’s founding been so engaging and approachable.” —Tom Mayer, The Mountain Times
“Fairies, elves, dwarves, water maidens, monsters, and more. Soldiers and heroes of the American Revolution. Founding Fathers of our country like Washington and Jefferson. Cherokee and Shawnee women and warriors. A minister turned soldier and politician who is unembarrassed to quote Scripture. Throw all these ingredients into a stew pot of fiction, turn up the burner, and you soon have bubbling on the stove John Hood’s Mountain Folk . . . I found it both entertaining and educational.” — Jeff Minick, Smoky Mountain Living
“Mountain Folk combines frontier history with fantasy creatures in a fun and unexpected manner.” — Winston-Salem Journal
“Mountain Folk celebrates America’s founding and its iconic heroes by blending real-life characters and events with elements of magic, myth, and mountain folklore.” — CNS News
“A classic.” — The Epoch Times
406 pages, Paperback
First published June 8, 2021
34 people are currently reading
1484 people want to read
About the author
John Hood
11 books18 followersJohn Hood is president of the John William Pope Foundation. Hood also serves on the board of the John Locke Foundation, the state policy think tank he helped found in 1989 and led as its president for more than two decades.
Since 1986, Hood has written a syndicated newspaper column on politics and public policy. A frequent radio and television commentator, Hood is the author of seven nonfiction books on such subjects as business, advertising, public policy, and political history. In 2021 he switched to writing fiction. His Folklore Cycle series of historical-fantasy tales set in early America currently includes the novels Mountain Folk (2021) and Forest Folk (2022) as well as the novelettes The Bard: A Mountain Folk Tale (2022), The Pixie Light: A Forest Folk Tale (2023), and The Giant (2024).
A former Bradley Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, Hood teaches at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy. His articles have appeared in magazines such as Readers’ Digest, The New Republic, National Review, Military History, and Reason as well as newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal and USA Today.
At Locke, Hood created the E.A. Morris Fellowship for Emerging Leaders, which prepares young North Carolinians for leadership roles in the public and private sectors. He also serves on the faculty and as board chair of the NC Institute of Political Leadership; as co-chair of the North Carolina Leadership Forum, based at Duke University; as vice-chair of North Carolina Public Radio (WUNC), the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal, and the Carolina Liberty Foundation; and on the boards of directors of the State Policy Network and the Student Free Press Association.
Hood received his BA in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he serves on the foundation board of the Hussman School of Journalism and Media and formerly served on the UNC-CH Board of Visitors. He earned a MA in liberal studies and a graduate certificate in nonprofit management from UNC-Greensboro.
A native of Mecklenburg County, Hood now resides in Wake County with his wife, two sons, and a stepdaughter.
Since 1986, Hood has written a syndicated newspaper column on politics and public policy. A frequent radio and television commentator, Hood is the author of seven nonfiction books on such subjects as business, advertising, public policy, and political history. In 2021 he switched to writing fiction. His Folklore Cycle series of historical-fantasy tales set in early America currently includes the novels Mountain Folk (2021) and Forest Folk (2022) as well as the novelettes The Bard: A Mountain Folk Tale (2022), The Pixie Light: A Forest Folk Tale (2023), and The Giant (2024).
A former Bradley Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, Hood teaches at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy. His articles have appeared in magazines such as Readers’ Digest, The New Republic, National Review, Military History, and Reason as well as newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal and USA Today.
At Locke, Hood created the E.A. Morris Fellowship for Emerging Leaders, which prepares young North Carolinians for leadership roles in the public and private sectors. He also serves on the faculty and as board chair of the NC Institute of Political Leadership; as co-chair of the North Carolina Leadership Forum, based at Duke University; as vice-chair of North Carolina Public Radio (WUNC), the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal, and the Carolina Liberty Foundation; and on the boards of directors of the State Policy Network and the Student Free Press Association.
Hood received his BA in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he serves on the foundation board of the Hussman School of Journalism and Media and formerly served on the UNC-CH Board of Visitors. He earned a MA in liberal studies and a graduate certificate in nonprofit management from UNC-Greensboro.
A native of Mecklenburg County, Hood now resides in Wake County with his wife, two sons, and a stepdaughter.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 9, 2022
An amazing way to bring history and fantasy alive for young adults. I especially enjoyed the interactive aspect John Hood brings to his Folklore Cycle series via his website. Brilliantly woven the series explores historic battles, figures, all the while incorporating Hood's native North Carolina in the background. This is more than just a tale of America history, it's a tale ofAppalachia, and the people who helped to shape both.
January 16, 2022
Fairies, dwarves, and other creatures fought alongside General Washington and Daniel Boone in the Revolutionary War. My friend John Hood has written a fascinating novel that combines fantasy, history, and tales of Appalachia all together in Mountain Folk. And there's more to come!
December 19, 2025
Here is a newspaper review I wrote of this book along with a 13 year old who read and recommended it. The book is not exactly what I would call "youth" as it speaks with no reduction of vocabulary, or simple thought process. It's challenging, but fun. It mixes history and fantasy. The history is well-researched and thoughtful, and the fantasy creatures are based on actual myth from a number of places and people. And the "moral" position is never a judgement, but instead of presentation of difficult decisions that men and "folk" are required to make in the course of their lives.
By John Hood
Published: 2021
by Nancy Roberts and Carlisle Cooper
About a year back, I was looking for some ideas for a book as a gift for a young girl on my Santa list. I found "Mountain Folk," and knew it would be something I'd enjoy, and thought maybe she would as well. She read it immediately and enjoyed it. Not long ago I asked her if she'd care to do a joint review of a book in this column, and she chose this one. I read it, and for that, I thank this young reader - an excellent suggestion!
To set the stage, the book is a splendid mix of history and fantasy, and the writer moves from one to the other so seamlessly you happily accept that such historic figures as Daniel Boone, George Washington, Peter Muhlenberg and John Skenandoa (aka Shenandoah) were able to see the fairy folk that populate their realm, and interact with them. The folk can cross The Shimmer (the wall between the worlds) into The Blur (their name for our world), and spend their time protecting us - or is it using our skills to procure goods? Perhaps a bit of both.
Early in the book we meet Daniel Boone who discovers he can see a Sylph named Goran, and the two become unlikely friends. Later, we're introduced to Har (a large dwarf nick-named The Tower), a Sylph queen named Virginal, a Water Maiden, The Puckwudgies of the New World, and a host of other characters based on fantasy and lore from many places and times, as well as real humans from the period taking part in real events.
As soon as you meet Daniel Boone, you know the time and place, and shortly thereafter you discover that the fantasy folk are going to be involved in two brewing wars, The French and Indian War, and the American Revolution.
With that background, here are the readers' comments.
1. What made you (Carly) choose this book for our joint book review?
Carly: Honestly, I thought you had read it too, I didn't realize that people recommended books without reading them. I think I was also reading the book at the time, and that you liked it.
Nancy: In this case, the book was well-marketed, fit a great niche, and as it sounded like a story I would have enjoyed at Carly's age (13) as well as now, I took a chance!
2. Did you guess that I'd like the book or not?
Carly: I don't think we've really talked about it, but I think we have similar tastes in books in a lot of ways, at least if the series you've got me hooked on means anything.
Nancy: I was a little younger than Carly when I discovered science-fiction, and became a lifelong fan. While fantasy isn't quite the same, they do share the ability to create a new set of "rules" for the characters to live by. When a concept, moral principle, or an adventure is undertaken and the usual bets are off, it will more often than not make for a good story. So I will often recommend that type of book for a young reader.
3. What are the three best things about the book?
Carly: It's kind of hard to decide any one good thing about a great book but some of the things I really liked was how Goran progressed from being completely loyal to defying the sylphs (fights autocorrect once again); how people reacted to seeing the various magical beings; and the twist at the end.
I really liked Goran's progression to rebelling because it wasn't sudden like a lot of books, but instead he tried to stay with his lifelong family and friends for as long as he could, before accepting (I admit somewhat forcibly) that he couldn't stay anymore and accept what was happening. I liked how people reacted to seeing various magical creatures, because well, it was really funny?
Also imagining the likely off page explanation afterwards, or hey, maybe they didn't explain and the people just think they're insane.
I liked the twist at the end, because, well, in some book series (not gonna name names but cough cough SKYWARD) the twists felt (at least in my opinion) a little overwhelming, to where it felt like the whole genre changed from the start of the series to the end. The twist in Mountain Folk felt right. Little stuff was hidden all throughout the book, as well as answered a few of my big questions about some of the workings.
Nancy: I loved the way the writer would slip between the fantasy and fairy worlds with no change of "diction," intensity, or loss of the story line. He could move among characters, from Daniel Boone to Goran to Peter Muhlenberg to Dela (a Water Maiden) but didn't until a thread was firmly tied at the end of the section featuring the previous character, and what you were about to learn with the new featured character was just what you wanted!
I also very much liked that he thoughtfully gave merit to each of the feuding factions in the two wars in the story. He never "takes sides" as he relates the many and complex issues facing the groups of people who try to live with sometimes conflicting needs and ideas in the North American continent. The tribes of people here when Europeans arrive fight among themselves; the tribes and the settlers fight, one attacking the other and then turnabout; the fairy folk get involved and takes sides; the Brits attack both; the French attack the tribes; the tribes attack the French; the French and the Brits (and settlers) fight... And in each case, the reader is able to see how each group might interpret the ideas, actions, and needs of the others, both for good and ill.
At a meeting to discuss whether to continue the fight, I found this:
“Knowing when and how to best fight for your people requires wisdom and courage,” granted the Song Snake. “But they strike me as too passive. They have come a long way to settle in a place teeming with potential enemies.”
“Just as the white have,” Nanyehi tightened the sash that tied around her waste and pushed her tomahawk lower into its confines. “Our is a huge country. There should be room enough for all if only we would learn from each other rather than letting fear, resentment, and violence prevail.”
“You speak a truth far too many years seem not to hear,” said Tana.
They talk about the difference between the actions of “bad” people and “good” people, and that the bad ones of EITHER side can cause trouble. And there is discussion of the times when there is little or no other option BUT to fight, and an honorable person has to take up arms.
Finally, the portrayal of women as realistically strong was handled beautifully. They are competent to lead and to fight, but the author also recognizes a point of view often neglected in modern fiction. In a meeting, a woman leader steps up to be heard.
"“We know that women are often looked upon as nothing,” Nanyehi continued, now letter her gaze take in the Cherokee men as well. “But we are your mothers. You are our sons. From our mouths, from our minds, from our hearts, our cry is the same: it is a cry for peace.”
(A cradle song is played by one of the Fairy Folk - they have the gift of "spellsong," which is one of their magical tools for creating a mood, making things invisible, guiding an idea.)
“The peace we make must continue beyond today,” Nanyehi said, raising her arms along with the volume of her voice. “The peace must last forever. Let your women’s sons be ours. Let our sons be yours. Hear our words. And let your women – your mothers, your sisters, your wives, your daughters – let them hear our words as well. I have spoken.”
4. What are three things you DIDN'T like about the book?
Carly: Come back later :l But seriously, I don't think I have any major complaints about the book. Other than the fact it ended!
Nancy: The map is too small! I do love a good map in a book in which movement from place to place figures prominently. I love it as a tool for finding where I am in a relative sense, especially if I'm not familiar with the place names.
I quarreled with myself over the fight scenes. At first I found them a little tedious (both the individual fisticuffs and the larger battle scenes) but ultimately, I loved them! Mainly because they were so descriptively excellent I could actually envision them. That's rare talent, to write about characters wielding weapons the reader might be only slightly familiar with, and then by sheer forces of description allow him to watch as a hand-to-hand fight occurs.
Finally, I'm with Carly. Come back later!
5. Is there a scene or passage that stands out to you, that you remember or pictured really clearly?
Carly: It's been a bit since I've read the book, but some that really stand out to me right now are
- The scene with the.... what's it called? The stone thingy (the Stoneclad) and Daniel Boone, Goran, Tana, Nanyehi (had to look up how to spell that one), especially the part where Tana's like "But it has a very strong sense of smell," as well as the earlier scene where everyone laughs about the lovesick buzzard joke.
- Another scene(s) I think I always remember when I think of the book is where Goran sees Dela for the first time, and just is like: "The most beautiful woman I have ever seen."
- And where Har is like "Please don't tell me that's what I look like when I look at Virginal" when he's seeing how Goran looks at Dela.
Nancy: I agree, again, with Carly. The scenes with the many "monsters" were very effective, as each held a specific menace and conjured up a great movie-like scene in the mind's eye. The first was the cleverly word-played Wampus Cat (catty-wampus is a term for off-kilter, askew), which is a vampire-like huge cat (and a folklore legend) that brings together the young Daniel Boone and Goran the Ranger as they engage in their first battle against the monster.
6. Who was your favorite character and why?
Carly: In terms of the main characters/characters that had pov's (points of view), then Goran. Maybe a little basic, but I thought he was really well-written, and it kind of paralleled the colonies breaking away from England.
In terms of the more minor characters, Ailee (Goran's sister) and Queen Virginal are my favorites.
For Ailee, she's kind of the epitome of "home" for Goran, even if I doubt that most siblings are actually like that (glares in brother's direction) but hey, maybe they were like that and just grew up, but she's a really sweet character, and I hope in the next books she can come back, because it'd be interesting to see how she sees everything, and what she decides to see.
For Virginal, well, one, she's a total b-a like, slay!!! Queen!!!! But also how she's the type to just not mind getting her hands dirty, in another book series, a lot of the female characters I love are like that. She's that right mix of amazing! and cool! and wow! and well, actual person with struggles and flaws and such, although we didn't get to see much of that, with not a lot of scenes with her.
Nancy: Agreed, Goran and Har are very good atypical "leading men" in that they both have a love interest and each has difficult decisions. And the female characters all play more than "supporting cast" roles in shaping the story. I also liked Hood's presenting most of the main characters with moral decisions. Choosing a side in the various battles in the colonies could not have been easy - some had history in Europe or in the fairy world, alliances of the many tribes within and among them, and personal friendships forged in survival and battling monsters.
Hood doesn't make it easy on his young readers, and though he never talks down to them, or lets his characters off the hook, he guides us through the many and complex thoughts one needs to consider when making a life-or-death, friend-or-foe decision.
7. Which character didn't you like and why?
By John Hood
Published: 2021
by Nancy Roberts and Carlisle Cooper
About a year back, I was looking for some ideas for a book as a gift for a young girl on my Santa list. I found "Mountain Folk," and knew it would be something I'd enjoy, and thought maybe she would as well. She read it immediately and enjoyed it. Not long ago I asked her if she'd care to do a joint review of a book in this column, and she chose this one. I read it, and for that, I thank this young reader - an excellent suggestion!
To set the stage, the book is a splendid mix of history and fantasy, and the writer moves from one to the other so seamlessly you happily accept that such historic figures as Daniel Boone, George Washington, Peter Muhlenberg and John Skenandoa (aka Shenandoah) were able to see the fairy folk that populate their realm, and interact with them. The folk can cross The Shimmer (the wall between the worlds) into The Blur (their name for our world), and spend their time protecting us - or is it using our skills to procure goods? Perhaps a bit of both.
Early in the book we meet Daniel Boone who discovers he can see a Sylph named Goran, and the two become unlikely friends. Later, we're introduced to Har (a large dwarf nick-named The Tower), a Sylph queen named Virginal, a Water Maiden, The Puckwudgies of the New World, and a host of other characters based on fantasy and lore from many places and times, as well as real humans from the period taking part in real events.
As soon as you meet Daniel Boone, you know the time and place, and shortly thereafter you discover that the fantasy folk are going to be involved in two brewing wars, The French and Indian War, and the American Revolution.
With that background, here are the readers' comments.
1. What made you (Carly) choose this book for our joint book review?
Carly: Honestly, I thought you had read it too, I didn't realize that people recommended books without reading them. I think I was also reading the book at the time, and that you liked it.
Nancy: In this case, the book was well-marketed, fit a great niche, and as it sounded like a story I would have enjoyed at Carly's age (13) as well as now, I took a chance!
2. Did you guess that I'd like the book or not?
Carly: I don't think we've really talked about it, but I think we have similar tastes in books in a lot of ways, at least if the series you've got me hooked on means anything.
Nancy: I was a little younger than Carly when I discovered science-fiction, and became a lifelong fan. While fantasy isn't quite the same, they do share the ability to create a new set of "rules" for the characters to live by. When a concept, moral principle, or an adventure is undertaken and the usual bets are off, it will more often than not make for a good story. So I will often recommend that type of book for a young reader.
3. What are the three best things about the book?
Carly: It's kind of hard to decide any one good thing about a great book but some of the things I really liked was how Goran progressed from being completely loyal to defying the sylphs (fights autocorrect once again); how people reacted to seeing the various magical beings; and the twist at the end.
I really liked Goran's progression to rebelling because it wasn't sudden like a lot of books, but instead he tried to stay with his lifelong family and friends for as long as he could, before accepting (I admit somewhat forcibly) that he couldn't stay anymore and accept what was happening. I liked how people reacted to seeing various magical creatures, because well, it was really funny?
Also imagining the likely off page explanation afterwards, or hey, maybe they didn't explain and the people just think they're insane.
I liked the twist at the end, because, well, in some book series (not gonna name names but cough cough SKYWARD) the twists felt (at least in my opinion) a little overwhelming, to where it felt like the whole genre changed from the start of the series to the end. The twist in Mountain Folk felt right. Little stuff was hidden all throughout the book, as well as answered a few of my big questions about some of the workings.
Nancy: I loved the way the writer would slip between the fantasy and fairy worlds with no change of "diction," intensity, or loss of the story line. He could move among characters, from Daniel Boone to Goran to Peter Muhlenberg to Dela (a Water Maiden) but didn't until a thread was firmly tied at the end of the section featuring the previous character, and what you were about to learn with the new featured character was just what you wanted!
I also very much liked that he thoughtfully gave merit to each of the feuding factions in the two wars in the story. He never "takes sides" as he relates the many and complex issues facing the groups of people who try to live with sometimes conflicting needs and ideas in the North American continent. The tribes of people here when Europeans arrive fight among themselves; the tribes and the settlers fight, one attacking the other and then turnabout; the fairy folk get involved and takes sides; the Brits attack both; the French attack the tribes; the tribes attack the French; the French and the Brits (and settlers) fight... And in each case, the reader is able to see how each group might interpret the ideas, actions, and needs of the others, both for good and ill.
At a meeting to discuss whether to continue the fight, I found this:
“Knowing when and how to best fight for your people requires wisdom and courage,” granted the Song Snake. “But they strike me as too passive. They have come a long way to settle in a place teeming with potential enemies.”
“Just as the white have,” Nanyehi tightened the sash that tied around her waste and pushed her tomahawk lower into its confines. “Our is a huge country. There should be room enough for all if only we would learn from each other rather than letting fear, resentment, and violence prevail.”
“You speak a truth far too many years seem not to hear,” said Tana.
They talk about the difference between the actions of “bad” people and “good” people, and that the bad ones of EITHER side can cause trouble. And there is discussion of the times when there is little or no other option BUT to fight, and an honorable person has to take up arms.
Finally, the portrayal of women as realistically strong was handled beautifully. They are competent to lead and to fight, but the author also recognizes a point of view often neglected in modern fiction. In a meeting, a woman leader steps up to be heard.
"“We know that women are often looked upon as nothing,” Nanyehi continued, now letter her gaze take in the Cherokee men as well. “But we are your mothers. You are our sons. From our mouths, from our minds, from our hearts, our cry is the same: it is a cry for peace.”
(A cradle song is played by one of the Fairy Folk - they have the gift of "spellsong," which is one of their magical tools for creating a mood, making things invisible, guiding an idea.)
“The peace we make must continue beyond today,” Nanyehi said, raising her arms along with the volume of her voice. “The peace must last forever. Let your women’s sons be ours. Let our sons be yours. Hear our words. And let your women – your mothers, your sisters, your wives, your daughters – let them hear our words as well. I have spoken.”
4. What are three things you DIDN'T like about the book?
Carly: Come back later :l But seriously, I don't think I have any major complaints about the book. Other than the fact it ended!
Nancy: The map is too small! I do love a good map in a book in which movement from place to place figures prominently. I love it as a tool for finding where I am in a relative sense, especially if I'm not familiar with the place names.
I quarreled with myself over the fight scenes. At first I found them a little tedious (both the individual fisticuffs and the larger battle scenes) but ultimately, I loved them! Mainly because they were so descriptively excellent I could actually envision them. That's rare talent, to write about characters wielding weapons the reader might be only slightly familiar with, and then by sheer forces of description allow him to watch as a hand-to-hand fight occurs.
Finally, I'm with Carly. Come back later!
5. Is there a scene or passage that stands out to you, that you remember or pictured really clearly?
Carly: It's been a bit since I've read the book, but some that really stand out to me right now are
- The scene with the.... what's it called? The stone thingy (the Stoneclad) and Daniel Boone, Goran, Tana, Nanyehi (had to look up how to spell that one), especially the part where Tana's like "But it has a very strong sense of smell," as well as the earlier scene where everyone laughs about the lovesick buzzard joke.
- Another scene(s) I think I always remember when I think of the book is where Goran sees Dela for the first time, and just is like: "The most beautiful woman I have ever seen."
- And where Har is like "Please don't tell me that's what I look like when I look at Virginal" when he's seeing how Goran looks at Dela.
Nancy: I agree, again, with Carly. The scenes with the many "monsters" were very effective, as each held a specific menace and conjured up a great movie-like scene in the mind's eye. The first was the cleverly word-played Wampus Cat (catty-wampus is a term for off-kilter, askew), which is a vampire-like huge cat (and a folklore legend) that brings together the young Daniel Boone and Goran the Ranger as they engage in their first battle against the monster.
6. Who was your favorite character and why?
Carly: In terms of the main characters/characters that had pov's (points of view), then Goran. Maybe a little basic, but I thought he was really well-written, and it kind of paralleled the colonies breaking away from England.
In terms of the more minor characters, Ailee (Goran's sister) and Queen Virginal are my favorites.
For Ailee, she's kind of the epitome of "home" for Goran, even if I doubt that most siblings are actually like that (glares in brother's direction) but hey, maybe they were like that and just grew up, but she's a really sweet character, and I hope in the next books she can come back, because it'd be interesting to see how she sees everything, and what she decides to see.
For Virginal, well, one, she's a total b-a like, slay!!! Queen!!!! But also how she's the type to just not mind getting her hands dirty, in another book series, a lot of the female characters I love are like that. She's that right mix of amazing! and cool! and wow! and well, actual person with struggles and flaws and such, although we didn't get to see much of that, with not a lot of scenes with her.
Nancy: Agreed, Goran and Har are very good atypical "leading men" in that they both have a love interest and each has difficult decisions. And the female characters all play more than "supporting cast" roles in shaping the story. I also liked Hood's presenting most of the main characters with moral decisions. Choosing a side in the various battles in the colonies could not have been easy - some had history in Europe or in the fairy world, alliances of the many tribes within and among them, and personal friendships forged in survival and battling monsters.
Hood doesn't make it easy on his young readers, and though he never talks down to them, or lets his characters off the hook, he guides us through the many and complex thoughts one needs to consider when making a life-or-death, friend-or-foe decision.
7. Which character didn't you like and why?
July 6, 2022
This is the first book I have read from John Hood. So far, book 1 of the Folklore Cycle series has me wanting more in the form of book 2 and overall from the author! The characters are believable and relatable and come across as they should based on the folklore and historical nature of them. The world is well built, the plot moves at a good place, and I highly recommend this book and the series. Audio Version: Benjamin Fife continues to hone his craft through this book and does an amazing job.
February 19, 2022
New and exciting
Loved the way the author wove history with fantasy. Can't wait for the next boot to come out. Love it!
Loved the way the author wove history with fantasy. Can't wait for the next boot to come out. Love it!
March 26, 2025
28 Chapters, spanning from September 1751 to October 1781, and an Epilogue
I won't bore with the details, but by the end, I felt the demographic was limited for this tale. The era is intriguing and the mix of mythology, legend, and U.S. history makes for an enthralling environment to engage. The testimony of God and His creation is always a plus for me, even in considering mystical beings or magical environments, yet by the end, a revelation about the Magecraft used against monsters made it seem that God didn't intend for the Fae to exist, for wickedness is what is keeping them from perishing. This could be a moment of nuance that is not meant to be seen as definitive but considering the source of the revelation, I don't think the author meant for us to see it as simply an opinion. The reverence he gives to this character and others like them also made me want to focus less on them as they were not relatable in their piety. As the author quoted Jefferson as saying, "As much as I cherish the books in my possession, and read the newspapers diligently as befits my current post, I often find that the written word embellishes more than it illuminates."
Quotes that resonated or brought up interesting ponderances:
I won't bore with the details, but by the end, I felt the demographic was limited for this tale. The era is intriguing and the mix of mythology, legend, and U.S. history makes for an enthralling environment to engage. The testimony of God and His creation is always a plus for me, even in considering mystical beings or magical environments, yet by the end, a revelation about the Magecraft used against monsters made it seem that God didn't intend for the Fae to exist, for wickedness is what is keeping them from perishing. This could be a moment of nuance that is not meant to be seen as definitive but considering the source of the revelation, I don't think the author meant for us to see it as simply an opinion. The reverence he gives to this character and others like them also made me want to focus less on them as they were not relatable in their piety. As the author quoted Jefferson as saying, "As much as I cherish the books in my possession, and read the newspapers diligently as befits my current post, I often find that the written word embellishes more than it illuminates."
Quotes that resonated or brought up interesting ponderances:
December 26, 2022
Have you ever wondered how the founding of our nation would have unfolded had fairies, elves, dwarves, and other mythical, magical what-nots taken a hand in shaping those momentous events? Of course you haven’t; you’ve got much more important things to do with your time. That’s why John Hood did it for you. You may thank him by buying his book, “Mountain Folk,” a beautifully crafted tale that weaves the disparate genres of fantasy and historical fiction into an intriguing and entertaining tapestry.
I have to admit, when I first read the book’s premise, I thought it a bit daft—and a risk on Hood’s part. Hood has a well-deserved reputation as an insightful and persuasive writer in the fields of politics, economics, and history--the kinds of things old men in dark suits with bad hair argue about in muted tones on C-SPAN and PBS. As far as I know, this is his first foray into fiction. In my opinion he carries it off well.
In Hood’s story, various ‘nations’ of magical folk have surreptitiously followed the human migration to the Americas and, unbeknown to us, established their own unseen realms in our midst. These “folk,” as they are known collectively, both depend upon and secretly influence the human societies they live amongst. But the growing movement for independence, and the societal upheavals that movement inevitably bring, forces these hidden societies to make hard choices regarding their relationships with their human hosts. Some will side with the British, others the colonists, while others opt for neutrality. These divisions inevitably result in conflict between the folk nations themselves.
It may seem odd to speak of historical accuracy when discussing a tale that has George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Daniel Boone meeting with magical winged folk that only they can see to decide military strategy, or deliberate the future of the new nation. But in Hood’s telling, the story develops within the context of actual, historical events; the author does not compromise historical accuracy to make the mystical parts “fit.”
In the same vein, Hood’s magical creatures are not a random assortment of the modern, pop culture, “usual suspects” (sorry kids, no zombies or space aliens). Rather, they are drawn from the documented mythical traditions of early American populations, and, where appropriate, their European antecedents. The result is a story that actually seems, at some level, almost believable.
Think of it this way: if these mythical creatures really did exist, this is SO how we would have won our independence.
I have to admit, when I first read the book’s premise, I thought it a bit daft—and a risk on Hood’s part. Hood has a well-deserved reputation as an insightful and persuasive writer in the fields of politics, economics, and history--the kinds of things old men in dark suits with bad hair argue about in muted tones on C-SPAN and PBS. As far as I know, this is his first foray into fiction. In my opinion he carries it off well.
In Hood’s story, various ‘nations’ of magical folk have surreptitiously followed the human migration to the Americas and, unbeknown to us, established their own unseen realms in our midst. These “folk,” as they are known collectively, both depend upon and secretly influence the human societies they live amongst. But the growing movement for independence, and the societal upheavals that movement inevitably bring, forces these hidden societies to make hard choices regarding their relationships with their human hosts. Some will side with the British, others the colonists, while others opt for neutrality. These divisions inevitably result in conflict between the folk nations themselves.
It may seem odd to speak of historical accuracy when discussing a tale that has George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Daniel Boone meeting with magical winged folk that only they can see to decide military strategy, or deliberate the future of the new nation. But in Hood’s telling, the story develops within the context of actual, historical events; the author does not compromise historical accuracy to make the mystical parts “fit.”
In the same vein, Hood’s magical creatures are not a random assortment of the modern, pop culture, “usual suspects” (sorry kids, no zombies or space aliens). Rather, they are drawn from the documented mythical traditions of early American populations, and, where appropriate, their European antecedents. The result is a story that actually seems, at some level, almost believable.
Think of it this way: if these mythical creatures really did exist, this is SO how we would have won our independence.
May 18, 2024
Early American history retold with fairies and magic? I'm in!
I'm a huge fan of early American history. You throw George Washington into a good story, and I'll be entertained. The untamed frontier of colonial America is a great setting for a fantasy book, and the author does a great job of describing it. Battle scenes put you right in the middle of combat, with musket balls flying over your head and the smell of gunpowder filling the air.
I really like how the author handled the faeries in this book. They end up forming a rag-tag group that saves all of America, similar to the founding fathers. Often, their stories and decisions parallel what real people had to go through during the revolution, which adds to its depth. The author clearly knows his history aswell! I felt like I was learning real history in between magical battles and monster hunts.
If you're looking to spice up your history with some fantasy elements, you can't go wrong with this book. Plus, it has George Washington!
I'm a huge fan of early American history. You throw George Washington into a good story, and I'll be entertained. The untamed frontier of colonial America is a great setting for a fantasy book, and the author does a great job of describing it. Battle scenes put you right in the middle of combat, with musket balls flying over your head and the smell of gunpowder filling the air.
I really like how the author handled the faeries in this book. They end up forming a rag-tag group that saves all of America, similar to the founding fathers. Often, their stories and decisions parallel what real people had to go through during the revolution, which adds to its depth. The author clearly knows his history aswell! I felt like I was learning real history in between magical battles and monster hunts.
If you're looking to spice up your history with some fantasy elements, you can't go wrong with this book. Plus, it has George Washington!
April 15, 2023
Fairies are real and they have a key role to play in America’s War for Independence.
In Mountain Folk, the blending of history and magic by author John Hood is nothing short of masterful. Although the history may have been decided long ago, this book is filled with excitement and the stakes are high.
I consider myself fairly knowledgeable about American history, but Hood shows a deep knowledge of both history and folklore that had me looking up people, places, and magical creatures.
The best part of this book, is it will give you a new love of the tall tales that you heard as a child, but have since long forgotten. Furthermore, Hood’s description of the American landscape will make you see the land with new eyes. The forests, mountains, and rivers take on a magic all their own.
I recommend this book for people of all ages. It is on the reading level of a teenager, but the book would be a good one to read to younger children before bed. Students of American history will see their history anew. And those who forgot everything they learned about American history and folklore will have a renewed appreciation for their country. Hood does not shy away from the issues involved in the war and its aftermath, but he does show the importance and greatness of the lofty ideals those first Americans started with.
In Mountain Folk, the blending of history and magic by author John Hood is nothing short of masterful. Although the history may have been decided long ago, this book is filled with excitement and the stakes are high.
I consider myself fairly knowledgeable about American history, but Hood shows a deep knowledge of both history and folklore that had me looking up people, places, and magical creatures.
The best part of this book, is it will give you a new love of the tall tales that you heard as a child, but have since long forgotten. Furthermore, Hood’s description of the American landscape will make you see the land with new eyes. The forests, mountains, and rivers take on a magic all their own.
I recommend this book for people of all ages. It is on the reading level of a teenager, but the book would be a good one to read to younger children before bed. Students of American history will see their history anew. And those who forgot everything they learned about American history and folklore will have a renewed appreciation for their country. Hood does not shy away from the issues involved in the war and its aftermath, but he does show the importance and greatness of the lofty ideals those first Americans started with.
October 26, 2021
It is hard to characterize this book. It is clearly a fairy tale, but it is also a return to America's independence. Fantasy figures (fairies, pixies, magical animals and other mythical figures) mix with American Revolutionary War leaders to provide a different take on how the war was won. Who would have guessed one would need to do research to write a fairy tale, but the research was evident. I expect some readers will really like this book, and I wish I had it decades ago when working with kids. It would have made a good bedtime story for my campers over the course of the summer.
January 18, 2023
Fun Reading with some thought provoking
At first, it read like a collection of short stories, with a similar theme. Each chapter was entertaining by itself. Then, it morphed into a novel as the threads of the stories begin to first intersect, and then intertwine.
A delightful fantasy lens on the American Revolution.
At first, it read like a collection of short stories, with a similar theme. Each chapter was entertaining by itself. Then, it morphed into a novel as the threads of the stories begin to first intersect, and then intertwine.
A delightful fantasy lens on the American Revolution.
November 12, 2023
This story was so wrapped up in actual history back when the country was ruled by England and during its fight for freedom, but with fictional creatures. The author could have made a deeper investigation into the Native American history and words much more. Narrator does a Great job with the various characters voices and the entire storyline.
March 15, 2025
Excellent mix of history and fantasy
I love the mix between fantasy and true historical coincidence. The stories of well known war hero's who've become our countries folk hero's in their own rights. I can't wait to read the rest
I love the mix between fantasy and true historical coincidence. The stories of well known war hero's who've become our countries folk hero's in their own rights. I can't wait to read the rest
August 20, 2021
Not a fan of mixing fantasy, history and spiritual themes or storylines in one book. It was interesting, but too far-fetched for my taste.
July 2, 2023
Fun fantasy! I enjoyed the combination of history and fantasy.
October 15, 2023
Excellent historical fantasy, bonus points for the setting being where I live. Would recommend to anyone who like history or parallel world fantasy.
June 21, 2024
A fun mix of history, fantasy, intrigue, and adventure.
November 16, 2021
This review was originally posted at https://kittylishareviews.blogspot.com/2021/11/book-review-mountain-folk-by-john-hood.html.
Throughout history the fae of different species (Silth, Dwarves, Pixies, and others) have protected and lent a guiding hand to the humans. After-all, the humans do not know the perils they face at the hands of the monsters. So, when the humans travelled to the Americas the fae followed. Now, these humans are trying to distance themselves from their rightful ruler, the King of England. Allowing this to happen would lead to disaster as these humans are not up to the task of self governing. The fae must once more lend their influence to squash this rebellion before things get out of hand. The only problem is not all fae agree. Some believe that these humans have a right to govern. Who is right and who will win?
I received a copy of this audiobook from the narrator for a honest review. When I first began listening to the book I was so excited. I am a Kentucky girl, as anyone who has been reading my reviews for a while knows. And the first character we meet in our story is Daniel Boone. I grew up playing in Daniel Boone National Forest and used to pretend that ever gap between the hills was The Cumberland Gap. In reality I only lived about an hour from it.
My excitement continued as we began discussing the French and Indian war. It is one of the wars that aren't overdone. We covered it in American History, but it wasn't shoved down our throats until all mystery and majesty was gone from it. Unlike the American Revolution. We hit that point in the book and if I had been reading this book instead of listening to it there would have been a lot of skimming going on. My eyes would have all but glazed over and that would have been that. I liked the monsters. I liked the fair folk. I liked the concept of fae using their influence to get what they want. It fits with what is known of fae. When I read the synopsis, and yes, I actually read this synopsis since it was a book review request instead of an impulse buy, it was focused mostly on the fairy nations. There was exactly one sentence on the American Revolution so I thought it would be a background detail. I was wrong.
I do have to say I enjoyed listening to the narrator. It was always easy to tell who the different characters were and he didn't pause awkwardly like some that I listen to do. In fact, I started an impulse buy audiobook as soon as I finished this audiobook the other day and the difference between narrators is night and day. That being said, listening to Benjamin Fife narrating a mail order bride alien romance would be hilarious. Of that I have no doubt.
While I will be reading more books done by this narrator in the future I am not looking for any more by this author. The book was well written and flowed continuously, it just wasn't what I wanted.
If you are a history buff you are going to love this.
Throughout history the fae of different species (Silth, Dwarves, Pixies, and others) have protected and lent a guiding hand to the humans. After-all, the humans do not know the perils they face at the hands of the monsters. So, when the humans travelled to the Americas the fae followed. Now, these humans are trying to distance themselves from their rightful ruler, the King of England. Allowing this to happen would lead to disaster as these humans are not up to the task of self governing. The fae must once more lend their influence to squash this rebellion before things get out of hand. The only problem is not all fae agree. Some believe that these humans have a right to govern. Who is right and who will win?
I received a copy of this audiobook from the narrator for a honest review. When I first began listening to the book I was so excited. I am a Kentucky girl, as anyone who has been reading my reviews for a while knows. And the first character we meet in our story is Daniel Boone. I grew up playing in Daniel Boone National Forest and used to pretend that ever gap between the hills was The Cumberland Gap. In reality I only lived about an hour from it.
My excitement continued as we began discussing the French and Indian war. It is one of the wars that aren't overdone. We covered it in American History, but it wasn't shoved down our throats until all mystery and majesty was gone from it. Unlike the American Revolution. We hit that point in the book and if I had been reading this book instead of listening to it there would have been a lot of skimming going on. My eyes would have all but glazed over and that would have been that. I liked the monsters. I liked the fair folk. I liked the concept of fae using their influence to get what they want. It fits with what is known of fae. When I read the synopsis, and yes, I actually read this synopsis since it was a book review request instead of an impulse buy, it was focused mostly on the fairy nations. There was exactly one sentence on the American Revolution so I thought it would be a background detail. I was wrong.
I do have to say I enjoyed listening to the narrator. It was always easy to tell who the different characters were and he didn't pause awkwardly like some that I listen to do. In fact, I started an impulse buy audiobook as soon as I finished this audiobook the other day and the difference between narrators is night and day. That being said, listening to Benjamin Fife narrating a mail order bride alien romance would be hilarious. Of that I have no doubt.
While I will be reading more books done by this narrator in the future I am not looking for any more by this author. The book was well written and flowed continuously, it just wasn't what I wanted.
If you are a history buff you are going to love this.
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