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The Wild Reel
When young Irish artist Natasha Newlyn paints, she hears music; a wild, secret symphony of ancient jigs and reels that accompany her stunning watercolor landscapes. Natasha lives in a small sea village in the far west of Ireland, the perfect place for her work...or at least it was until the dreams came. Starting as nothing more than vague erotic images, the dreams begin to grow. Then they begin to affect her art...and intrude into her real life. When an invitation arrives to attend her friend's wedding in Brisbane, Australia, Natasha seizes the chance to have a vacation and sort out her confused mind.
But there is someone else who can also hear her secret music. Someone unearthly and dangerous. Someone who covets Finvarra, the Faerie King of Connaught. He has decided that she will be his next bride, and to that end he will follow her to the other side of the world.
But the entire Irish Faerie Court is a little out of place in the sub-tropical streets of Brisbane, Australia; and like many things, winning the heart (or at least the soul) of a mortal just isn't as easy as it used to be.
But there is someone else who can also hear her secret music. Someone unearthly and dangerous. Someone who covets Finvarra, the Faerie King of Connaught. He has decided that she will be his next bride, and to that end he will follow her to the other side of the world.
But the entire Irish Faerie Court is a little out of place in the sub-tropical streets of Brisbane, Australia; and like many things, winning the heart (or at least the soul) of a mortal just isn't as easy as it used to be.
- GenresFantasyParanormalFairies
336 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 8, 2007
This book is definitely a mixed bag.
I normally can zip through a book if I enjoy it, but this one stayed in my drawer for a while, as I skimmed through magazines, picture books, anything else. The beginning just really didn't grab me at all. And throughout the book it remained that way...portions of it just seemed written by a bad fan-fic writer, while other portions nearly sparkled with ingeniousness.
The writer really shone when he wrote about the Unseelie fey. His descriptions of their lair, their behaviors, their queen..were all quite remarkable and creative. The passage in which two lowly unseelie hide in the forest to steal wings from natural creatures to hack off and attach to their backs for the journey to another country was especially inspired. And for those who are "urban fantasy enthusiasts", the reference to the main character studying art in "Newford with Jilly Coppercorn" may elicit a chuckle.
But the book is definitely uneven. Certain passages are never mentioned again, characters have mystery for reasons not fully explained. You get the feeling that the author is trying to set himself up for sequels set in the same world, but with the unevenness of the writing, you can't even bring yourself to care. And if I don't hear another reference to farting or penises again in my life I'll be quite content (well, at least the farting). It seemed at times like the author wanted to be Charles de Lint, and at other times he was channeling Laurel K. Hamilton (ENOUGH with the sex already!)
So...I recommend this book as an enjoyable way to pass some time, but hardly found it to be a masterpiece.
I normally can zip through a book if I enjoy it, but this one stayed in my drawer for a while, as I skimmed through magazines, picture books, anything else. The beginning just really didn't grab me at all. And throughout the book it remained that way...portions of it just seemed written by a bad fan-fic writer, while other portions nearly sparkled with ingeniousness.
The writer really shone when he wrote about the Unseelie fey. His descriptions of their lair, their behaviors, their queen..were all quite remarkable and creative. The passage in which two lowly unseelie hide in the forest to steal wings from natural creatures to hack off and attach to their backs for the journey to another country was especially inspired. And for those who are "urban fantasy enthusiasts", the reference to the main character studying art in "Newford with Jilly Coppercorn" may elicit a chuckle.
But the book is definitely uneven. Certain passages are never mentioned again, characters have mystery for reasons not fully explained. You get the feeling that the author is trying to set himself up for sequels set in the same world, but with the unevenness of the writing, you can't even bring yourself to care. And if I don't hear another reference to farting or penises again in my life I'll be quite content (well, at least the farting). It seemed at times like the author wanted to be Charles de Lint, and at other times he was channeling Laurel K. Hamilton (ENOUGH with the sex already!)
So...I recommend this book as an enjoyable way to pass some time, but hardly found it to be a masterpiece.
September 2, 2009
Hmmm. What do I say about this book. I liked the story (after plodding and skimming through about the first third of it). In parts, the author was way too descriptive and I found myself skimming pages...on the other hand, I felt like he didn't explain/describe the different fae folk very well (maybe that's my lack of knowledge of the genre). I also felt like there were a bunch of scenes that could have been left out that had no real point whatsoever...I guess they were filler. I also guessed the ending about 1/2 way through. Hmmm. On the other hand, I loved the love story that developed...it gave me tummy butterflies when reading. That said, I still don't think I would actively recommend it to a friend. Especially one that has no color recognition other than the colors of the rainbow (minus indigo). :)
April 8, 2009
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2526653.html
I think I'm getting very unforgiving in my old age; I put this aside after fifty pages of Celtic muddle, with an emotional setup for the two protagonists (fairy king and mortal woman) that did not make sense to me and bordered on some potentially abusive territory (he is wooing her by bonking her in her dreams). At the point I gave up, the narrative was about to switch to Australia with potential for hilarious culture-shock japes. Not for me, sorry.
I think I'm getting very unforgiving in my old age; I put this aside after fifty pages of Celtic muddle, with an emotional setup for the two protagonists (fairy king and mortal woman) that did not make sense to me and bordered on some potentially abusive territory (he is wooing her by bonking her in her dreams). At the point I gave up, the narrative was about to switch to Australia with potential for hilarious culture-shock japes. Not for me, sorry.
May 30, 2007
I read this while travelling to and through Australia, and loved it. Lyrical, musical, magical... lovely. The best gift was to give it to a fellow traveller, as it had been given to me. Not a re-reader, but an enjoyable time-filler nonetheless.
November 25, 2010
Has a fun setting, but mostly derivative and not as exciting as it could have been. At least the main character owns up to it, talking about how she trained with Jilly Coppercorn!
June 24, 2011
Abandoned. Just too silly.
The choices of "shelves": Read, Currently Reading and To Read are insufficient. I guess I'll mark this "Read" because I've read quite enough.
The choices of "shelves": Read, Currently Reading and To Read are insufficient. I guess I'll mark this "Read" because I've read quite enough.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews