Another WONDERFUL, highly readable, engrossing book by Charles de Lint. I'm reading another one by him as I type this. ( )

This would have been better if I had read De Lint's other stories first. It took a little while to get into the world and there were several characters that were mentioned over and over but never made an appearance, it was as if the reader was already supposed to know them. ( )

I hesitate to say that I enjoyed it because I'm not sure that's entirely the right word. It is not a book for children or the faint of heart because it is sexually explicit in a lot of places and definitely not in a fun way -- it's all abuse, mostly child abuse, and if that's a touchy subject for you, this might not be your book. But it's all relevant stuff, not exploitative or gratuitous or glorifying, and it's well written, as is the entire book.

Now, I read a blurb some other reader had written online before I read this book. The blurb basically warned readers new to the Newford books to wait on this one because of the bevvy of Newford regulars that show up in it. The reviewer claimed she needed a chart to keep track of them all and what other books they'd come from. I've only read two short story anthologies and one novel in the Newford series (er, collection? they're not really serial...). I didn't need a chart. Yes, there are a lot of characters, some of which I'd glimpsed in short stories and such, but didn't know much about. Yet I didn't feel like I was missing any bit of the story. This book is about Jilly. Her horde of friends, while important, are not the stars of the show. You don't need to know everything about them.

I liked reading this book. I may even read it again one day if the mood strikes me, but if you're thinking about it, be warned -- it is heavy, emotionally speaking. A lot of Really Bad Things happen to the main character and there isn't a whole lot of action. But I think it is well worth a read if you're into the Newford books, in which Jilly seems to be a major player.

Also, Charles de Lint is an awesome writer and I don't think I actually really knew that until this book. It's not that his prose is fancy, but what strikes me about it is the way that he can capture somebody's voice. This book is written in varying POVs, but is mostly first person with several different narrators telling their stories. And every one of them sounds authentic. That is serious skill. ( )

As if I needed reminding why Charles is my favorite author, He makes magic such a common everyday thing, and you know that he "knows". Jilly Coppercorn, one of the most central denizens of Newford- finally gets her own book - and it's a doozy! There's also somewhat of a tie- in with my favorite deLint book ever "Forests of the Heart" The order doesn't matter but you should definitely read them both! ( )

This is one of my favorite de Lint books. Jilly was always one of my favorite characters in his Newford series and another book devoted to her backstory was quite welcome. ( )