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Rating: 
Summary: More info on the Brian Froud Faerielands series
Review: More info on the "Brian Froud Faerielands" series: Charles de Lint's lovely novel, "The Wild Wood," was the first book in a 4-book series based on Brian Froud's exquisite artwork. The second novel is also highly recommended: "Something Rich and Strange" by Patricia McKillip. The series was cancelled by the original publisher after the first two books, but the third book is now available in both U.S. and U.K. editions: "The Wood Wife" by Terri Windling. The art is tied-up with the original series producer so we were not able to use it, but Brian Froud's fans may be interesterd to know that text is indeed inspired by Brian's art, and he painted a new cover for the UK edition. The fourth Faerieland book is "Hannah's Garden" by Midori Snyder, and it's quite a wonderful story. Look for it to come out sometime in the next 2 years.
Rating:
Summary: More info on the Brian Froud Faerielands series
Review: More info on the "Brian Froud Faerielands" series: Charles de Lint's lovely novel, "The Wild Wood," was the first book in a 4-book series based on Brian Froud's exquisite artwork. The second novel is also highly recommended: "Something Rich and Strange" by Patricia McKillip. The series was cancelled by the original publisher after the first two books, but the third book is now available in both U.S. and U.K. editions: "The Wood Wife" by Terri Windling. The art is tied-up with the original series producer so we were not able to use it, but Brian Froud's fans may be interesterd to know that text is indeed inspired by Brian's art, and he painted a new cover for the UK edition. The fourth Faerieland book is "Hannah's Garden" by Midori Snyder, and it's quite a wonderful story. Look for it to come out sometime in the next 2 years.
Rating: 
Summary: DeLint adds a realistic and eerie feel to some old myths
Review: Set to the backdrop of Brian Froud's beatiful and haunting pictures of creatures of the Fairy world. DeLint manages to weave himself a tale that is both undeniably eerie in it's realisticness and also leaning a bit towards being flat when it comes to characterization. But none the less managing to create a beautiful tale that earns itself a place on the figurative 'fantasy' or 'Urban Fantasy' bookshelf as a keeper.The story follows the exploits of Eithnie, a young artist seeking solitude to regain some of her previous creative talent in the isolated wilderness. In a remote cabin set a per usual the Canadian backdrop, DeLint amazingly weaves a tale bringing to life the old myths of fairy's or the fae, a race of beings that seem to haunt Eithnie's drawings and her dreams. DeLint proceeds to shed a new idea on some old myths of the Fairy even offering suggestions as to what they are and connecting the ancient supernatural beings of our legends across the continents adding a flavor of Japanese Mythology through a side character that although is appealing never really manages to fully distinguish himself from the backdrop of the story. If I had to pick one flaw from his novel is the lack of real characterization that I noticed seems to plague DeLint, creating realistic characters that one certainly loves but never really giving them a shinning 'touch' that really makes them stand out in ones mind. Though told from the point of view of Eithnie, I never felt reading the novel that I really got to know what it is that makes her tick though all the evidence was presented there. The intricate yet simple story created here is haunting in it's realistic tones. DeLint is a master of taking usually unbelieveable ideas and weaving them into a story that mananges to sucessfully suspend our disbelief. At some points one will walk away and have to 'adjust' to the real world and realize that all that DeLint has created is not real. While Froud's eerie, haunting and and memoriable pictures illustrate the novel they also manage to 'suspend that disbelief' that what you are reading is how the world actually functions. When an author manages to do that, it means he or she has suceeding in telling a good story and DeLint certainly does this. This story is not one too be missed and certianly earns itself a place on the bookshelf.
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Summary: Stepping between worlds
Review: This is not a fairy tale for children. There's too much of everything in it: fear, love, certainty, and uncertainty. There isn't any "happily ever after." The story ends up happy, for as long as we can see it, but the ever after has a dark cloud hanging over it. Froud and DeLint have written a compact story about a modern woman's encounter with the other side of nature. It comes and goes at the edge of her mind, until it takes her in completely. When it does, she finds a man there - someone who seems to step between the worlds at will. Each chapter starts with some of Froud's spidery artwork. Unfortunately, the artwork isn't the book's main content. The story mostly makes up for that disappointment, though. It's a completely modern story, but projects a timeless sense of mystery. This one is definitely worth coming back to.
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Summary: Unforgettable...
Review: Well, what can I say? Charles De Lint has done it yet again...he's masterfully woven another evocative tapestry of magic, mystery, faeries and characters you can't help but love :) Charles De Lint's words flow smoothly off the pale page and into the imagination of those who Believe...and Brian Froud's illustrations leave their magical imprint on the soul of those who search out the fae eyes glowing in the darkened forests... So what is The Wild Wood about, I hear you ask. Well... Eithnie is a woman confounded and confused by the recent spate of Faerie visitations and the cryptic messages these wild creatures bring... "You must remember" Pleads the Masked Woman... Remember? Remember what? A childhood so magical it now seems unreal and impossible...a past filled with the haunting image of a field of bones... Eithnie must remember her past before it's too late to fulfill the promise she made... If you love Charles De Lint's enchanting stories and can't make it through the day without gazing upon the Faerie images brought to life by Brian Froud, then this book is a must! If you haven't read any of Charles De Lint's work, then I recommend you set aside a weekend, stock up on the herbal teas, this book (Greenmantle, Moonheart and Yarrow are a recommendation too) and get set to be whisked off to places of such magic and surreal reality, that time will cease to exist. Blessed Be.
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