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kyburgI blame the book I just read. Said book being ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
seanan_mcguire's 'Rosemary and Rue.'
If I had to explain this book in 25 words or less, I'd call it a mystery, set in present day San Francisco...
And it has fairies in it. But I don't mean Tinkerbell.
Very few people around me have read 'War for the Oaks' - even fewer know anything about the lore besides 'they have wings, right?' and maybe some mental leavings from the Gnomes books that were so popular back in the day.
I ask them to take what they know - and what-if that into 'what would that look like if it was still present today?'
I've gotten some very thoughtful stares, and then they want to see the book. Soon, I won't get it back again, I'm sure of it.
It's an urban fantasy mystery - all parts equal and seamless. You get expository tossed over the shoulder 'here, take this - you'll need it later, and oh by the way, this is how THAT works, don't touch it' in the midst of a very belieavable protagonist's struggle to find her footing, as well as find the answers behind a friend's murder. Find them quickly - or else.
The story clips along easily, the writing style is both lush, concrete...and spare. No words wasted, no unneeded side trips taken.
And I think you could hand this book to anyone wanting a good book to read - frankly, the violence is no worse than any fan fiction I read in my teens for Man From UNCLE - you might have to weigh handing it to a 14 year old, but you'd know your 14 year old better than I do - a preference for science fiction, fantasy or mysteries not required. You don't need to have preference for fae fic or some such. All questions are answered here, all things explained...while you're hanging on for dear life. It's a total romp.
I've got a dear friend in the hospital I might be able to visit on my way out to my mother's house this weekend - I think I'll leave my copy with him and buy some more later.
It's an excellent first book -
seanan_mcguire's 'Rosemary and Rue.' If I had to explain this book in 25 words or less, I'd call it a mystery, set in present day San Francisco...
And it has fairies in it. But I don't mean Tinkerbell.
Very few people around me have read 'War for the Oaks' - even fewer know anything about the lore besides 'they have wings, right?' and maybe some mental leavings from the Gnomes books that were so popular back in the day.
I ask them to take what they know - and what-if that into 'what would that look like if it was still present today?'
I've gotten some very thoughtful stares, and then they want to see the book. Soon, I won't get it back again, I'm sure of it.
It's an urban fantasy mystery - all parts equal and seamless. You get expository tossed over the shoulder 'here, take this - you'll need it later, and oh by the way, this is how THAT works, don't touch it' in the midst of a very belieavable protagonist's struggle to find her footing, as well as find the answers behind a friend's murder. Find them quickly - or else.
The story clips along easily, the writing style is both lush, concrete...and spare. No words wasted, no unneeded side trips taken.
And I think you could hand this book to anyone wanting a good book to read - frankly, the violence is no worse than any fan fiction I read in my teens for Man From UNCLE - you might have to weigh handing it to a 14 year old, but you'd know your 14 year old better than I do - a preference for science fiction, fantasy or mysteries not required. You don't need to have preference for fae fic or some such. All questions are answered here, all things explained...while you're hanging on for dear life. It's a total romp.
I've got a dear friend in the hospital I might be able to visit on my way out to my mother's house this weekend - I think I'll leave my copy with him and buy some more later.
It's an excellent first book -
