Into the Forest discussion

Here is the place to discuss retellings, traditional tales, or fairytale/folklore books where a character(s) has an Artists
Includes musicians, visual artists, writers, dancers, storytellers, etc.

The River Has Roots features musical magic, which I think fits the artist theme.

Upon a Frosted Star, inspired by The Great Gatsby and Swan Lake features a painter and a ballerina as main characters.

Mazen from The Stardust Thief and The Ashfire King is a storyteller, a sort of art.

A River Enchanted and A Fire Endless are about a bard and magical music.

Great recs!

Many of Charles de Lint’s books have artists and musicians in them.
Memory and Dream comes to mind. The lead character is a painter. It’s a fantastic book!

There is the Grimms tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses" (also "The Worn-Out Dancing Shoes" or "The Shoes that were Danced to Pieces" and several adaptations. To my mind comes The Girls at the Kingfisher Club

Although it's science fiction, Tanith Lee's The Silver Metal Lover should be added to this list. Silver is a musician, and Lee's prose is so lush it has a folkloric element to it.

Erin wrote: "The River Has Roots features musical magic, which I think fits the artist theme.

Upon a Frosted Star, inspired by The Great Gatsby and Swan Lake features a painter and a ballerina as main characte..."

Thank you! I’ve added Upon a Frosted Star to my reading list!

Erin wrote: "The River Has Roots features musical magic, which I think fits the artist theme.

Upon a Frosted Star, inspired by The Great Gatsby and Swan Lake features a painter and a ballerina as main characte..."

Ah, thank you! I cannot wait to read The Ashfire King!

If my mind doesn't play trick on me, a lot of Patricia McKillip's book would fit this prompt.

Two recommendations with musician protagonists:
Seraphina
Light from Uncommon Stars

Oh yes! I love love love Seraphina! Excellent idea for this one!

I've just thought of Elizabeth Lim's A Forgery of Fate about a girl with magic powers to paint the future.

I just started Lost in the Garden by Adam S. Leslie. I think I'm stretching this category for this one to include one of the main characters that is a stand-up comedian.

It's a folk-horror featuring magical realism set in the English countryside during a period of endless summers (and other oddities).

I am going to read The Ballad of Black Tom because I think the lead character is a musician. We’ll see! I liked Victor LaValle’s other book The Changeling very much.

@Jalilah Love this prompt, artists in folklore often feel like vessels for mythic power or forbidden truth.
The Bone Doll's Twin stands out for me: the hidden identity and prophecy almost like a cursed artistic performance of self.
Seraphina's dragon musician also blends art with ancient heritage in a reflective way.
What draws you most to this theme, the creative act as magic, or the artist as doomed figure?

P.E.N. wrote: "@Jalilah Love this prompt, artists in folklore often feel like vessels for mythic power or forbidden truth.
The Bone Doll's Twin stands out for me: the hidden identity and prophecy almost like a cu..."

I keep meaning to read Seraphina! Might give it a go for this challenge.

Jalilah wrote: "I am going to read The Ballad of Black Tom because I think the lead character is a musician. We’ll see! I liked Victor LaValle’s other book [book:The Changeling|311..."

He is a street musician. I can't remember how much music plays a roll! But I did enjoy that one.

Margaret wrote: "He is a street musician. I can't remember how much music plays a roll! But I did enjoy that one."

Yes he is and apparently not a very good one! We’ll see how much music plays a roll! I love that the story takes place in the world we know and the magic is hidden.
I saw your review. I didn’t realize it’s based on a Lovecraft story! I haven’t read him. I think we might have had a group read here for him but I didn’t participate.
Do you think I’ll be missing anything by not having read the Lovecraft story?

@Jalilah @Margaret The Ballad of Black Tom is a great pick, LaValle's take on Lovecraft flips the cosmic horror into something raw and racial, with music as this defiant, almost ritualistic force against the unknown. The street musician angle makes the art feel urgent and human amid the dread.
No, you won't miss much by skipping the original Lovecraft (The Horror at Red Hook), it's more of a loose inspiration. LaValle reimagines it from the inside out, focusing on the marginalized perspective, so it stands alone powerfully.
@Margaret Seraphina is worth it, the dragon musician blends art with ancient heritage in a way that's both tender and tense. The creative act becomes a literal bridge between worlds.
What draws you to artists in these stories, the idea of creation as magic, or the artist as someone doomed to see too much?

P.E.N. wrote: "@Jalilah @Margaret What draws you to artists in these stories, the idea of creation as magic, or the artist as someone doomed to see too much?..."

Creation as magic, yes, artists seem the closest to actual magic users in real life! And it feels like magic to create something. And also how the act of creating can attract other magic, sometimes good, sometimes not. It's interesting how writers experiment with different ideas there.

Jalilah wrote: "Margaret wrote: "He is a street musician. I can't remember how much music plays a roll! But I did enjoy that one."

Yes he is and apparently not a very good one! We’ll see how much music plays a ro..."

I have never read Lovecraft, though I have read a bunch of retellings of his stories. I hear his work is pretty racist, and I tried a short story once, but didn't enjoy the writing style.

I’m reading Upon a Frosted Star and loving it
It’s really fitting for this prompt. Now I want to read the other book by this author Midnight in Everwood

Jalilah wrote: "I’m reading Upon a Frosted Star and loving it
It’s really fitting for this prompt. Now I want to read the other book by this author Midnight in Everwood"

Added it to my TBR!

That’s a beautiful way to see it… that creation itself feels like a form of magic.

What I find interesting is that artists in these stories often don’t fully control what they create either. It’s like they open a door, but what comes through isn’t entirely theirs anymore.

Which makes that connection to magic feel even closer… not just the act of creating, but the sense that something responds to it.

Almost as if the artist isn’t just shaping the world, but being shaped by whatever they’re trying to bring into it.

Do you feel like that’s part of the appeal too, that loss of control once something is created?

Margaret wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "I’m reading Upon a Frosted Star and loving it
It’s really fitting for this prompt. Now I want to read the other book by this author [book:Midnight in Everwood|5591..."

The love story is borderline romance, but it’s not bothering me. Otherwise it’s a great mix of fairy tale, magic and historical fiction

I really liked Upon a Frosted Star. Glad to see it's well received so far. I haven't read Midnight in Everwood yet but I am looking forward to the same author's recent release, A Remedy for Fate.

Greetings all,

I have been blessed with the time and space to finally delve into my passion.

I feel life is about creation, find your gift/art form and nurture it. I wish you balance and clarity.

Enjoy

Mr Crown

Hello, and welcome, Mr Crown!

Mr wrote: "Greetings all,

I have been blessed with the time and space to finally delve into my passion.

I feel life is about creation, find your gift/art form and nurture it. I wish you balance and clarity..."

Welcome!

Hi, I appreciate the warm welcome.

I have a feeling the Arts is about to have a magikal renaissance.

Glad to be on board with you, this will be fun.

I just finished The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar yesterday.

It has the strong presence of magic users and fae in it, but I'm using it for the Artists prompt because of the singing of the two sisters. The audioversion of the book includes incredible singing that accompanies the narration, and it works as an incredible experience.

Netanella wrote: "I just finished The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar yesterday.

It has the strong presence of magic users and fae in it, but I'm using it for the Artists prompt because of the si..."

I used that one for this challenge, too, and loved it!

Erin wrote: "I really liked Upon a Frosted Star. Glad to see it's well received so far. I haven't read Midnight in Everwood yet but I am looking forward to the same author's recent release, A Remedy for Fate."

I enjoyed Upon a Frosted Star a lot. It wasn’t perfect, but I still want to read other books by the author

Netanella wrote: "I just finished The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar yesterday.

It has the strong presence of magic users and fae in it, but I'm using it for the Artists prompt because of the si..."

I’m just starting this now! Knowing there is music on the audiobook I wonder if I am missing something by reading the book?

Jalilah wrote: "Netanella wrote: "I just finished The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar yesterday.

It has the strong presence of magic users and fae in it, but I'm using it for the Artists prompt..."

It was really special on audio.