Faery Moon (2009)

This is the ebook version of Faery in Shadow reworked as a new title, containing the short story Brothers, and an afterward by Jane Francher. It's dark celtic faery fantasy. Take note - as Pratchett once said, elves are terrific: they beget terror. Although this has absolutely no connection with any of TP's lighthearted work. It instead features the fay, or fey, the Donne Sidhe of Scottish lore.

The short story Brothers opens the work, with Caith arriving back at his old family home, an isolated glen bounded by the Sidhe's woods. Bad blood surfaces and Caith becomes cursed by the Sidhe, and rather than bring his curse onto those he cares about, Caith leaves them forever walking the mortal world with a pooka - sidhe man/horse shapechanger - as his sole companion. Faery Moon takes up the tale an unspecified time later, with Caith and the Pooka Dubhain walking alongside a burn into another glen.

The pleasant streamway quickly becomes darker and as night falls Caith realises there are darker and older powers present, darker and older than even he, with his understanding of the Sidhe, can be happy about. When Dubhain the pooka vanishes, he is left to flee an ancient beast on his own. The small bright cottage with fair inhabitants seems like a welcome refuge. However Caith has had sufficient dealings with the Sidhe to know by now is he once again inveigled into their plots - a mortal tool, not subject to their limitations, with few choices left to himself.

This is perhaps the least well-crafted part of the story: Although it is told, as usual for Cherryh, in a tight third person where we only experience what Caith experiences, we don't get any insight into his mental world. Things happen; Caith responds. And we as a reader don't get any insight into why he made that choice - or if he saw other options available. This is actually quite vital pieces of information, because Caith is at all times potentially subject to both Sidhe and OldPower influence, but we never know. This disconnect also blunts our caring for Caith and the various wounds he suffers.

The rest of the story is grand though, a minor pawn caught up in the play between two great factions, with the kingdom on mankind potentially at stakes - and the pawn knows that neither side is that interested. Dubhain is wonderfully capricious as only a minor Sidhe can be, his lilting Scot's brogue may be a trifle difficult for some readers, but is generally very clear. There is a glossary of idioms if needed, but I found all words obvious from context. (Only one glaring error the distilled barley spirit is always Whisky in Scotland – Irish and US forms are whiskey). Caith doesn’t know all that is going on, but when he can control his temper he tries his best to ensure humanity survives.

It isn't quite clear how the Sidhe factions are divided in this tale. There is much lore available, and Cherryh has used the research she thought best, without necessarily explaining it all. This obviously makes the story more readable, but sometimes leaves the reader wishing for more details. It seems as if the Fay are divided fourways, once into Sun and Moon, and the other into Great and Small. Dubhain is clearly Moon - dark but in this instance not necessarily evil - but it's less clear if he's a minor Great, or a greater Small. Perhaps it doesn't matter. The hallmark of any good book – it leaves the reader wanting to research the topics more thoroughly.

Overall it's an engaging tale, captivatingly set in the Scottish highlands, featuring CJC's vivid imaginations of the other. If you enjoyed Ealdwood, read this for sure. If you're looking for the cuddly futures of Chanur you're in for a shock.
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