The Fair Folk

THE FAIR FOLK is a wonderful anthology full of fair and foul stories of the Fae that will keep you enthralled from beginning to end. Within the pages of THE FAIR FOLK seven authors give versions of different fae stories, some sinister others bright and lithesome. Join these wonderful authors as they take you on a journey of the race known as “the fair folks.”

The Kelpie (Patricia A. McKillip) tells a tale of a carefree life of a bunch of bohemian artists, whose lives, love, and laughter are the norm until one is confronted by a watery being that is more powerful than they ever expected.

Ms. McKillip writes a wonderful tale that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat and anxious to know more with each page. With her imaginative and descriptive storytelling, be prepared to be lost within the pages of The Kelpie.

In Except the Queen (Jane Yolen and Midori Snyder), a tale is woven about two sisters exiled from their immortal realm who must make their way through a world not full of the magic they have known.

These two wonderful authors captivate the reader with their imaginative story of two sisters, exiled and alone in a place that magic is not the norm. Masterful and descriptive, these two authors captivate the reader from start to finish, leaving them breathless for more.

UOUS (Tanith Lee) weaves a story of a woman who is granted three wishes from one sinfully sexy elf, with a hidden agenda. What is she going to do when something never comes free of charge?

This story was one of this reviewer’s favorite in the whole anthology. Full of hidden meanings, exquisite details and captivating characters, Tanith Lee will weave a spell around you as you read UOUS.

In Grace Notes (Megan Lindholm), an eager brownie helps a hapless slob and takes up residence with him. What proceeds is a comedy where this brownie begins to clean house and he finds his entire world turned upside down.

Grace Notes had this reviewer smiling as the exquisite brownie turned one man’s world upside down and inside out. With exquisite details, the characters stand out and manage to keep the reader on the edge of their seat waiting for the next corner to be revealed.

The Gypsies in the Wood (Kim Newman) introduces an intrepid investigator whose latest case pits him against a band of sinister fairy folk. Will this investigator get to the bottom of things in time or will the tables be turned by the sinister Fae folk?

Dark and sinister, this was definitely the darker version of a fae story. Ms. Newman captures the reader right from the beginning and seamlessly draws the reader into her web of enchantment, mayhem, and nasty fairy folk.

Finally in The Embarrassment of Elves (Craig Shaw Gardner), this author weaves a gem of a story about a long suffering magical apprentice and the less than enchanting creatures around him.

This was one of the best tales in this whole anthology. Captivating and detailed, this is truly one of the best fae stories around. Mr. Gardner definitely delivers a Fae story that is not your typical one.

THE FAIR FOLK as a whole definitely delivers a one-two punch with its seamless blend of different fae stories. Blending right into one another, each delivers something different to keep the readers attention. Weaving captivating characters within the imaginative stories, the reader will be taken on a wild ride within these pages. Run to grab this wonderful fantasy anthology and be prepared to be lost within the fair folk, where there are those who are fair, some who are foul and all are fantastic.

April 2007