Windflower

by Nick Bantock, Edoardo Ponti

With the same romance and drama that put his Griffin & Sabine saga on the New York Times best-seller list for over 100 weeks, selling three million copies in 12 international editions, Nick Bantock presents an unforgettable story of one woman's journey to self-discovery. Ana, a striking young dancer, is promised in marriage to a man she doesn't love. No one understands her reluctance to wed. After all, isn't Marco a fine man? Won't the union of their two families benefit her people? And yet Guided by her heart and forces she does not yet recognize, she flees to the exotic port of Serona in search of Felix Bulerias, a man reputed to have the answers she seeks. But along the way, the attentions of four unusual men threaten to lure Ana in directions that she could never have fathomedand lead her down a path of sensuality and understanding beyond any she could ever have imagined. Bantock's compelling narrative is accompanied by over 200 masterful color collages that form a frieze throughout. Brimming with myth and intrigue, Windflower is sure to enchant Nick Bantock fans the world over.

Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Art, Magical Realism, Adult Fiction, Romance

224 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2006

About the author

Nick was schooled in England and has a BA in Fine Art (painting). He has authored 25 books, 11 of which have appeared on the best seller lists, including 3 books on The New York Times top ten at one time. Griffin & Sabine stayed on that list for over two years. His works have been translated into 13 languages and over 5 million have been sold worldwide. Once named by the classic SF magazine Weird Tales as one of the best 85 storytellers of the century. He has written articles and stories for numerous international newspapers and magazines. His Wasnick blogs are much followed on Facebook and Twitter. His paintings, drawings, sculptures, collages and prints have been exhibited in shows in UK, France and North America. In 2010 Nick's major retrospective exhibition opened at the MOA in Denver. His works are in private collections throughout the world. Nick has a lifetime BAFTA (British Oscar) for the CD-ROM game Ceremony of Innocence, created with Peter Gabriel's Real World, featuring Isabella Rossolini and Ben Kingsley. He has two iPad apps, Sage and The Venetian and is working on a third. Three of his books have been optioned for film and his stage play based on the Griffin & Sabine double trilogy premiered in Vancouver in 2006.

Produced artwork for more than 300 book covers (including works by Roth and Updike), illustrated Viking Penguin's new translation of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. He's designed theater posters for the London plays of Tom Stoppard and Alec Guinness.

For 20 years Bantock has spoken and read to audiences throughout North America, Europe and Australia. Given keynote and motivational speeches to corporations and teachers state conferences. He's given dramatic readings on the radio and the stage and has been interviewed (way too many times) for TV, radio and print.

Bantock has worked in a betting shop in the East End of London, trained as a psychotherapist, designed and built a house that combined an Indonesian temple and a Russian orthodox church with an English cricket pavilion and a New Orleans bordello. Between 2007 and 2010 was one of the twelve committee members responsible for selecting Canada's postage stamps.

Among the things Bantock can't do: Can't swim, never ridden a horse, his spelling is dreadful and his singing voice is flat as a pancake.

Source: Nick Bantock - profile

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that the issue with this particular book is that everyone is constantly comparing artists' work with what they have already done. This book seems a fairy tale to me, with all the highly contrasted lightness and darkness that fairy tale implies. Comparing a fairy tale with the mystical and passionate arrangement of Griffin and Sabine seems a bit shortsighted to me. I would advise that people take Bantock's tale as the stylized affair that it is, and enjoy it with no expectations beyond what the book brings itself.



That being said, I found this story charming and refreshing. Personally, I cannot seem to get enough modern fairy tales - perhaps it is only through their stylized rendering of life that I can be permitted to escape from the weight of the world for long enough to dust myself off before the next fray.


As always, I look forward what surprises Bantock's next offering may hold.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am reluctant to spoil the pleasure for other readers. Let me just say that the jacket blurb doesn’t do justice. If you love a beautiful fantasy story weaving self-discovery with myth and the influence, or neglect, of gods in mortal passions then I encourage you to pick it up. If you love dance, music, lightening, flight, fire, love, destiny; any of these then this tale is for you.
So beautiful in every way. This book is a treasure and I will love visiting again and again.
I bought this on a whim. The paper is thick, the illustrations lovely, it smells wonderful. (Yes, I buy books sometimes just because I love the smell.) 👌🏻 perfect.

[Janine]

I heart Nick Bantock.

[J. Muro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bantock’s the best with this book. Clever, romantic, and beautifully poetical written mythology book on the wind gods of the four directions, the handsome Northern Boreos, the young Eastern Zephyr, and the Southern Sirocco, with the older Western Hamattan, with their sister (Frau?) Halle/Halcyon (she manages & stands & centers all the four wind gods/her brothers) within the Rose Compass (Carta Rosa) meeting with the wayward and confused young human Capolano girl, Ana (possibly another wind-the California’s famous Santa Ana winds?) Another wind gods book to try: Shannon Messenger’s “Let the Sky Fall.” Hope this can be made into a graphic novel, Nick Bantock, pretty please? The visuals are yummily delectable and artsy❤️

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

For fans of Paulo Coelho, Ben Okri, and self-discovery quests in general.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of Bantock's best books!

[Mir · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having very much enjoyed the Gryphon and Sabine books, I was disappointed by how lacklustre this novel was. We are told that the protagonist, Ana, is gifted dancer and musician whose destiny is to find magnetic-line-of-the-earth dance that will force/inspire her gypsy-like people to stop living comfy settled lives and get back on the road. They don't want to be nomads, but they are descended from wandering monks who married lost orphan girls so it is all spiritual and crap for them to travel, and we are supposed to accept that it is Wrong of them to settle down. So it is totally fine for Ana to jilt her unsuspecting fiance at the wedding service and dash off into the woods to find the special dance teacher her grandfather told her about. At this point one might expect her to encounter some hardships, a la standard questing literature, but no, she basically has a long walk, arrives at the city, and is immediately befriended by a well-off and trustworthy woman who finds her a decent job and an apartment. By the next day she has handsome suitors and more friends, who all seem to buy her things. Her main hardships seem to be 1) annoying drunks at the place where she waits tables, and 2) lovers who are enthralled by her beauty and don't realize by telepathy that she has lost interest overnight. Hey, guys, that's what happens when you give it up too easily, didn't your mama tell you? We keep hearing how beautiful, talented and special Ana is, but she never comes across as particularly nice, interesting, or possessed of other traits to make a worthwhile main character. She really seemed to me more of an average, pretty, rather spoiled girl who didn't seem to grow much over the course of the story. It's like the author tried to make a mythopoetic epic out of a Sweet Valley High story. Also, the writing wasn't great. The whole thing is from Ana's point of view, but it switches back and forth from 1st to 3rd person, for no reason I could discern. In short: Nick Bantock, I really like your visual art and think you should stick to that.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read a lot of Nick Bantock books in high school and picked this one up last week, wondering what he'd been up to since then. I was pretty disappointed. The main appeal of his books had always been the artwork, which in this book was limited to little designs across the bottom of each page. They didn't add to the story and I basically ignored them. The story itself was underwhelming and revolved around the romantic liaisons of the main character. If I wanted to read about a girl caught in a love triangle I'd stick with Twilight. I get that it was supposed to be some kind of allegory but that doesn't make it much better.

A few years ago, I read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho based on a friend's glowing recommendation. It was probably the most boring, insipid thing I'd ever read. The whole point of the story was that you should let your fate/the universe guide you through life to find your "personal legend" and treasure, which involved actual literal treasure. Windflower reminded me too much of that book. Young, innocent, sheltered girl embarks on a journey. Everyone helps her on her way and wants to be her friend or lover or confidant even though she exhibits few actual personality traits (cough, Twilight, cough). She discovers herself sexually, which is obviously the key facet of every woman's personal development, and she eventually achieves what she set out to do but not in the way she expected. ...And not a whole lot actually happens.

I mean, the tribe's conflict between settling in one place versus moving on was interesting and relevant to me, but the book didn't really delve into it. And I guess it was mildly interesting to see the different types of relationships she had with different people. But on the whole it's not worth reading.

[Kimberly Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I do not recall who reviewed this last month, but I whole heartedly Thank-you!

I "get it"......it's all there really is to life & spirituality when you follow the path Creator has set down for your soul...................

Ana is a young woman of the Capolan Tribe who has "settled" and is now about to marry Marco the landowners son. The Tribe were once connected to the greatest power element the wind, but both the Wind & the people have turned their backs on each other..... On the night of her wedding, the Winds come and create a huge storm and Ana flees the wedding and runs into the forest where she follows the path to freedom.

[Dara B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, this is not a typical Bantock book because, unlike in his other novels, images played only a complimentary role. I didn't mind this, since the story still started and unfolded in a very Bantockian manner. However, the ending was what really confused me. I'm not sure I was expecting the book to end in a moral lesson.

I just received my last two books of the Griffin and Sabine series, and I am now very hesitant to read them. I really hope they end in a different way.

[Charlotte Wiebe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't decide why I don't love this book or hate this book. Nice short book and pretty pages is all I have. I probably would never get rid of this book because it is so pretty. Although I have no idea what the pictures have to do with the story.

[Shawna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Considering Bantock's strength has always been his amazing artwork, I was disappointed to realize this book didn't use his illustrations to improve on the storytelling.

And I still have no idea why the author chose to alternate between 1st and 3rd person narration.

[Laura Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not expect to like this novel as much as I did. It was like reading a legend that teaches a moral story. Ana had so many loves in her life but she had to learn to control herself in order to lead her people onward into the future. Each character offered Ana a chance to gain wisdom.

[Naomi Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at a Library Used Book Sale years ago, which I was both surprised and delighted by, as I knew this book was out of print. I started it shortly thereafter, but struggled to get into the story, so I laid it aside until the timing was right.

It does take some time for the story to start, I felt, or at least for me to get attached to the story. It makes sense in retrospect, as the weaving of the story layers itself together with a specific purpose, but if you are not as into slow-moving beginnings, this might not work for you.

The story's theme is about the tug of responsibility to one's clan/people vs. one's own personal desires. Some of the moments around Ana was slightly uncomfortable, at first, as it usually is when men write about female desire, but once I shifted and thought of Ana as a nonbinary character it suddenly made more sense to me, especially with the bathing scene with Hamattan. This is, of course, coming from my own experiences with gender, but looking at the scene through a queer lens does some interesting things to the text. This does not erase the problems that are inherently involved in men writing about female desire, but may or may not bother someone depending on their own personal context. I do not know enough about Bantock or Ponti to be able to say with certainty how their own experiences with gender/desire would impact their own reading of the text, but I do think there is room for a queer reading.

This is not to say that Ana should not have any "desire" at all. I do appreciate that she has a healthy connection to her body and sexuality and is not wrapped up in prudish/Victorian ideals. There is definitely a need for stories about woman/female-bodied-people who have clear boundaries around their bodies/desires, while also enjoying their bodies/desires.

But I digress.

The writing moves between first person and third person, which is a choice I am still unsure about. Unless one is written by Bantock and the other by Ponti? I am not entirely convinced about the choice and do not entirely understand the why of it. I'd have to think more.

Unrelated: I understand that Ana was going to choose her tribe/clan over the gods, but a part of me wanted her to apotheosize, even though that would have upended the story entirely.

[Robert Hudder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course, this is Bantock (+) so there is a fair amount of whimsy. I missed some of the tactile elements and obvious puzzles. This is still a mystery with something to learn. There is the element of myths and even with a strong female lead, there seems to be some paternalism.

I do like the take on nomadic cultures and this mirrors his other books. While I admire his dedication, I am not sure the idea that there is a jealousy amongst other tribes for those who are free to roam and travel. There is definitely a misplaced anger and distrust but I wouldn't go so far as to suggest that there is almost an ideal way of being.

I guess part of me is thinking about the idea of conservatism being an evolutionary gain for some (see Neanderthals and interbreeding) and nomadism being another gain. There is always more parts to evolutionary theory that we forget. There is the part where it depends on the environment and that often time these changes do not de-evolve. Diversity is good.

Now, that I can get behind. Most of the earth has been partitioned off and cordoned. Each piece becomes owned to where the nomads have nowhere they can go. Each step is seen as a trespass. This isn't fair or true.

Regardless, in spite of the simplicity there is plenty to think about in terms of relationships between people and peoples. Worth a read if you enjoyed his other works.

[Kara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book until the last 20-30 pages. I was put off by the direction it took, though I had suspected something a while before, as the author gave hints. It turned into a fairytale/moral ending.

Switching between 1st and 3rd person was odd. I still don't see a reason for doing that. It did not enhance the story in any way.

SPOILER beyond this point

Honestly, I was interested in the 4 men mentioned in the cover. I was curious to see what this all would lead to. I liked one of them, was unsure of one, and didn't care for the other two--but in a good way, in a way they were well-written. To turn them into supernatural beings just felt cheap and made them feel suddenly one-dimensional.

The ending--the ending just felt "meh" to me. It was a real letdown after the way nearly the entire book was written.

Until the last 30 or so pages, I was planning on recommending this to several people. Now, not at all.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mmm, an interesting book. I've always been drawn (no pun intended) to the art of Nick Bantock and his use of the medium in his books. This is the first novel of his that I've read, and judging from the reviews of others, it seems that I was wise to read it before his other works.

This story of a young woman's path to self-discovery is not a new tale. But the way in which Bantock tells it is quite different. It captured my interest from the start. And while it didn't always make sense to me, I still enjoyed it. Yes, the fact that our protagonist, Ana, so easily seemed to fall into the arms of her various suitors was a tad silly and unbelievable. Also, the timeframe was ambiguous, perhaps deliberately so, which served to make the story somewhat bewildering at times. But, it came together in the end.

[Sandra Guzdek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting modern fable, for lack of a better term (I like how it tied in with Capolan, Bantock's book / art box commemorating the 650th anniversary of a nation that doesn't exist). There are some moments of exceptional descriptive phrase, and a surprise at the very end that I didn't expect, but all in all more predictable than not. I admit a bit of disappointment in that there was very little in the way of actual art, and the alternating first person/third person narrative (every other chapter) was quite jarring. I also found several copy-editing errors, such as a smart quotation mark curled in the wrong direction, which was quite disappointing, as it always is with any professionally published book. Not bad, however, as fables go, and those little things did not detract from the overall enjoyment.

[H.L. Gibson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Generously awarded two stars to this easy read that would appeal to teenagers, SJWs, and the go-green set. Clunky attempt at fusing the modern with the primitive in this post-climate apocalyptic tale that's finished in one to two days while waiting out a blizzard. A step above a beach read. What I enjoyed most about it was the cocktail I drank while reading it.

[Marlise · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the halfway mark, I wasn’t sure if I was liking where this story was going. Then BAM! Plot twist. I should have seen it coming. But I like how it ended. I’m not a fan of closed-door romance and a few scenes were almost at the NOPE line for me, but I’m glad I kept reading. It was a fun little adventure.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nick Bantock is a special, talented author and artist.
I feel he is trying to share the depth of the Old World, Tartarian insight with us and encourages us to continue to explore, which is exactly what I've been doing.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book took me ages to get interested and not a huge fan... But that is just me..

A story of one woman's journey to self-discovery. Ana, a striking young dancer, is promised in marriage to a man she doesn't love. No one understands her reluctance to wed.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ana travels in search of a way to help her people get back to their nomadic life!

[Mignonne Aquino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still not sure about it. Liked the writing. Time period was unknown. Was very realistic in parts & parts were fantasy so a bit disjointed for me. Prefer one or other.

[Shivanee Ramlochan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excerpted from the full review:

"I was seduced, once. Part of that seduction was the gift of the incomparable Griffin and Sabine books, a multilayered, visually arresting collection of the correspondence shared by two extraordinary, magically-linked soulmates. Is it any wonder, then, that my heart skipped a beat when I spied the lushly-presented (Chronicle Books, hardcover) Windflower, nestled between two monotonous bestsellers at my local library? Since catapulting myself headfirst in love with Griffin and Sabine, I’d added everything Nick Bantock has ever written to my must-explore list. This was a book about which I’d been breathlessly excited, so I found a quiet nook of the library, and, Laura Marling crooning whisper-low through my headphones, I lost myself in another of Nick Bantock’s compelling — albeit decidedly less so — creative offerings.

Windflower is Ana’s story. She is a young woman, skilled in the cante jondo, who seeks to restore the life-preserving, nomadic spirit to her people, the Capolan, who have become distressingly landlocked, through choice, over the years. With none of her tribespeople, except her sage grandfather, able to discern that her impending marriage would be disastrous to her future dreams of rejuvenating the Capolan through dance, Ana flees her village. She runs to the seaport town of Serona, in search of Felix Bulerias, the man she’s been told can guide her in her quest to channel the inner fires of her dance. Instead, she encounters four very different men, each intoxicating and mysterious in his own manner. By turns enchanted, perplexed and emboldened by Serona’s exotic wares and compelling figures, and haunted by the dual burden-privilege of her responsibility to her people, can Ana discover herself in her greatest passion of all – her connection to the Eternal Dance?"
You can continue reading my full review of Windflower at Novel Niche! :)

[Sonya S · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh, Nick Bantock, how disappointed I was in you for this book! The one thing that really kept me going throughout was the illustration/design on the bottom of each page. Even then, Mr. Bantock, your art in the "Griffin and Sabine" series far outshines this.

Perhaps in your desire to write a coming-of-age tale, you forgot that the audience likes to find common ground with the, in this case, heroine? For indeed, I found that she was flawless, completely and utterly flawless. Removing her flaws certainly removed her humanity: the girl was too perfect to exist in real life, and practically every male that she met desired her in some way. She has the amazing fortune of having everything in the novel fall into her lap, from a job to room and board. The quest that your heroine had undertaken, I thought, was severely underdeveloped. It seemed that more was spoken of her romantic encounters, and said encounters did not change or seem to affect your heroine in any significant way. The resolution of the book was meaningless to me, as, again, I cared little for the heroine or her quest. Indeed, sir, I charge you with creating what is known online as a "Mary Sue".

This strikes me as more of a pity, for you have shown us in other books what you are truly capable of producing in works of fiction. "Wallflower" had the potential to be truly intriguing, intricate, moving novel about the changes a young woman goes through to find herself and save her people.

As it was, it was merely a novel about a two-dimensional character and her amazing good fortune as she literally danced through life. That is not real, sir! That is not thought-provoking, nor moving. It is merely irritating.

P.S. Was it *really* necessary to switch the P.O.V. every chapter? (The answer, sir, is that no, no it was not. The girl didn't have any thoughts that were particularly interesting to read)

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, a story of a young gypsy womans search of self discovery both for herself and her Capolan people. Her Grandfather feels that she has the power to lead her nomadic people back to their traditions, (that she could be like the old tale about the dancer who heard the earths cante and guided their ancestors across the continent.). By the time Ana was born, the Capolan had become a splintered clan, fractured into small groups, slowly losing their spiritual memory, their self-respect and their principals of tribal movement. This story takes place in an unfamiliar setting, we are never sure of where it is (a fictitious area of Spain) and It has elements of present day but could be from any time period. Ana has a passion for dance and playing the flute. Fleeing her people on her wedding day, Ana sets off in search of a man she feels should be her teacher, Felix Bulerias and who may have the answers she is seeking. She wants to learn the Cante jondo (a Spanish Gypsy song, also known as a deeply moving variety of Flamenco, which has a deep melodic side) During her journey she meets a woman, Halle, who becomes a good friend and mentor and four men who either want something from her or want to teach her something. The element of wind plays a big part in her and her peoples life. This was definitely an interesting story, which takes us into a world of the ordinary and the mystical.
I loved this authors books the Griffin and Sabine series, where the story is told through beautiful postcards and these books had beautiful art work.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Come on, let Nick Bantock out of the box.

No, this is not a richly illustrated Griffin and Sabine with a few lines of story on each page. Turn that on it's head. This is a novella with vague, misty illustrations simply setting the tone, and sometimes giiving glimpses of the story.

I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed it's premise, the setting, the characters, the little bits of magic scattered throughout. I appreciated Ana's choice to leave her people to ultimately save them.

I have only a minor criticism. I was disappointed that at times Ana was so easily pulled from her purpose by the four men in the story. I thought the men should have been more a distraction or temptation, but sometimes they felt like a detour. (It was only at the end of the book that you discover why they were so compelling.)

I am left with "more please" questions. I assume the Capolans returned to a nomadic life. How did that unfold? What role did Ana settle into? Another story, Mr. Bantock?

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

I recently read a book titled Winters End, a lesser known diatonic style novel. I found that book and this one had very similar discrepancies. The writing style of Windflower was relatively good, however the story itself was extremely lack luster. This is meant to be a story of self discovery and an up taking of a responsibility greater than oneself. Instead, I read a few awkward romantic encounters and a lot of reiterating of the same points:
Ana must dance. Ana is pretty and good at dancing. Ana must learn one dance which will somehow save the entirety of her people. Why? I still am not sure.
The story was not necessarily bad or unenjoyable, but it did lack the depth and complexity of a tale that's been thought out and developed. There wasn't enough character development to warrant the "soul searching venture" and the ending seemed rushed and duct taped. Granted, you could just look at it as simple, but that is at the readers discretion.

[Cecillia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a rather high expectations when i first saw this book. But compared to Griffin and Sabine, reading Windflower is like reading one of Danielle Steele's (without meaning to underestimate her works, but this is not what i expected from a Nick Bantock...okay i know i'm being subjective here :)).
The story is about the journey of Ana, a young tribal dancer who ran away on her wedding day in search of Felix Bulerias, a dance "guru", hoping that he would teach her how to perform a dance that could move the hearts of her tribe people.

The story telling is alternating between the narrator's point of view and the main character's point of view, which in my humble opinion, feels rather forced.

But great art from Mr Bantock as usual and reading this book surely did expand my vocabularies, that's why i rated this 2 stars :)