The Wood Wife

Rating:
Summary: Even if you hate fantasy, you'll love this book!
Review: Truly, this book begs for and deserves a wider audience. While fantasy novels seldom make the bestseller list, this one should have because it is far more. Windling's carefully wrought plotting, endlessly interesting and intriguing characters, and awesome use of not just the folklore of the Desert West, where she sets her tale, but of other traditions as well, make for an incomparable read. Yes, there's poetry; yes, there's the ever-compelling questions of aesthetics; and yes, there's magic realism to rival Garcia Marquez and Borges. And it's all so prettily done. This rich entwining of art, music, magic, poetry gracefully lifts this novel from the merely entertaining to the sublimely mythic. Tricksters tales, zydeco, natural history, and even a bit of Tam Lin and the Wild Hunt; not only can't you put it down, you don't want it to end.

Rating:
Summary: A Mesmerizing Page-Turner!
Review: What a magnificent first novel!!!Terri Windling caught me up in the first few pages and I couldn't let go until I had read ALL the pages!Maggie Black is a contemporary woman dealing with life in all itsfacets, as far as she knows. Maggiemoves to the desert to "bio" a fellow poet that she has corresponded with but never met. Hehas gifted her with his property in the Rincon Mtns. of Arizona. Andthere begins a magical, mystical tale of facets of life that few areable to see, of beings of alternaterealities. Through prose, poetry,and painting, Maggie begins to "see" the desert and its beings, as well as her human companions with an expanded consciousness. I foundthis to be a powerful novel. I loved it! I did remember some aspects of the novels by Carlos Castanedas of the magic of the desert. Great Book!!!