As much as I enjoyed this novel, I'm very glad that its initial publication was delayed in favour of an urban fantasy novel. If De Lint had chosen to publish this instead he would have gained a reputation as a classic fantasist, rather than as one of the forefathers of the urban fantasy genre/movement, and we most likely would have seen less of the wonderful modern-set novels that he is known for. Of course, his classic epic fantasy is still wonderful, and this novel is a prime example. He draws on Isles folklore to create a world where magic is rooted in the lands of summer, and each of his characters follows traditional patterns of behavior while being completely believable and endearing to readers. ( )

In this early written work of Charles de Lint, now published, he details how this book became a later publication. He had written it around the same time as "Riddle of the Wren" and his publisher gave him a choice of what to publish next. He chose the vein of modern, urban fantasy and he has succeeded well.

Which is not to say that this is not a bad book. It's not, it's well-detailed with elements of Vikings and Druids and Celtic mythology. And a hero who has self-doubts and a young woman who begins to know herself and come into her own. But it's one of many fantasy books which use these elements of mythology and really, I'm glad de Lint became an author of the new genre of urban fantasy.

Part of the reason he gets three stars as well is that he's trying to put everything that's in his head onto the page. There's just too much, too many threads, too many stories that have to be interwoven and while they all rely on one another, there's just too many. And honestly, I don't know which story I would want to leave out, but he was able to get all of them included here and it is at last published. And I love his musical dedications, too. It was one of the reasons I am so attracted to his work, is his love and inclusion of music. ( )

In his introduction to this rewrite of his early work, de Lint tells us that he was advised by a wise editor to choose between writing "secondary worlds fantasy" like this book and contemporary fantasy. He chose the latter and has become on of the masters of the sub-genre. But he could have been a contender in the alternative, as this book proves. It is not clear how much rewriting has taken place, but if this is essentially a relatively youthful effort, then it is a good one. Lots of familiar elements, of course, but a good tale, well told, that builds to a well worked climax.
It's a bit of a struggle finding de Lint's books in the UK and even in the US I only managed to find this and one other. But I will persevere on my hunt as his "contemporary" fantasy is something Of which I need regular doses. ( )

Way too high fantasy for my current tastes. While it was very interesting to read de Lint's intro, this style of story isn't to my taste (lots of mythological exposition, changes focus between multiple parties). Being de Lint, however, his gorgeous writing made me care about each of those parties by book's end... it just felt like work getting through the first half. ( )

You would think that either when this book was originally written (30 years ago) or when it was just recently published, SOMEONE one would have edited this poor thing. This has some of the worst typos and just editing mistakes that I've ever seen. Like, at the end of one sentence apparently the author was trying to decide if "himself" or "ourself" was the best word choice. What it says is "himselfourself." REALLY??

This book just really wasn't worth it. I stuck it out because it's de Lint, but honestly I think I only kept reading it because I was in bed and too lazy to get up to get a different book.