Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale

Amazon.com

Sixteen-year-old Kaye Fierch is not human, but she doesn't know it. Sure, she knows she's interacted with faeries since she was little--but she never imagined she was one of them, her blond Asian human appearance only a magically crafted cover-up for her true, green-skinned pixie self. First-time author Holly Black explores Kaye's self-discovery and dual worlds in her riveting, suspenseful novel Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale. The book has its faults: it slips into shock-value mode; the descriptions are often overwritten (sunset on the water looks like the sun slit his wrists in a bathtub); the language is overly, unnecessarily explicit; and the writing often unpolished. Still, the story's pull is undeniable, and readers under its spell will be hard-pressed to put the book down.

The novel begins in a bar in Philly, where Kaye's alcoholic rock-singer mother's boyfriend tries to kill her. For their own safety, mother and daughter quickly move back to grandma's on the New Jersey shore where Kaye grew up. This ugly turn of events was all rigged by the Faerie world, as it turns out, a world Black describes in deliciously vivid, if rather overblown, detail. Kaye, a drinking, smoking, foul-mouthed high school dropout in the land of mortals, soon finds herself embroiled--as a human sacrifice, no less--in a battle between Faerieland's Seelie and more malevolent Unseelie courts. The beautiful, mysterious knight Roiben, torn between worlds himself, falls in love with Kaye--the brave, clever changeling--against his better judgment. Throughout the electrifying journey to the horrific underworld of this modern faerie fantasy, teen readers will relate to a hard-luck tough girl who feels alienated, discovers her best qualities in the worst of circumstances, and finally finds a place between worlds where she can feel at home. (Ages 13 and older) --Karin Snelson

Book Description

Welcome to the realm of very scary faeries!

Sixteen-year-old Kaye is a modern nomad. Fierce and independent, she travels from city to city with her mother's rock band until an ominous attack forces Kaye back to her childhood home. There, amid the industrial, blue-collar New Jersey backdrop, Kaye soon finds herself an unwilling pawn in an ancient power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms -- a struggle that could very well mean her death.

Customer Reviews:

Loved it!.......2007-10-07

... definately dark, there is foul language, but I loved both this book and Valient. Can't wait to read more

Don't waste your time...the book is as foul as the language in it !.......2007-10-05

Foul language, sexual content, drugs, drinking....this is an adult book written about a teenager, not a YA book. It should'nt be in the YA section at all. There is hardly a paragraph without the 'F' word in it. The author seems to be completely going for shock value, rather than real dialogue. The characters seem to have no redeeming qualities to make me like them whatsoever. Don't waste your time....trash

Rough writing, good anyway: not for 12-year-olds.......2007-09-27

"Young Adult" is an ambiguous category, and this book is not really for 12-year-olds, as stated in one of the press reviews, but truly for the young adult; the protagonist is 15, and the reader should be about that age due to mild sexual content and the glorification of shoplifting and smoking. (Kaye's shoplifting experience helps her save the day: not a nice message.)

The writing is amateurish; some passages have misused words and awkward grammar, and I agree with the reviewer who said that some bits are overwritten. Nonetheless, the characters are well drawn, and the descriptions of fairies very evocative, reminding the reader of Rosetti's Goblin Market or Bosch's paintings.

As a first novel, it's pretty good. I'm interested in reading some of Black's more recent work. I hope she's gotten herself some more brutal help with editing, as the rough writing is really the only thing standing between "pretty good" and "wow".

Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale.......2007-09-21

This book could have been better. It has a good plot, but I just didn't like how it was written. It seemed like it went by too fast. Certain important things weren't described enough, and when something dramatic happened I didn't feel like anything special was happening, because it was all written the same way.

Still, the story was good. I might read the sequels, but I think that depends on whether or not I get to them.

YUCK! I hate the foul language! .......2007-09-20

I honestly didn't get very far into the book due to foul language. Just though other potential readers might want to be aware.

Average customer rating:

It's ok.....
one of the best books if you love urban fantasy
Great read - positive lessons
F-bomb used repeatedly, porn, etc FILTH
A modern fairy tale

Valiant: A Modern Tale of Faerie
Holly Black
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0689868235

Book Description

When seventeen-year-old Valerie runs away to New York City, she's trying to escape a life that has utterly betrayed her. Sporting a new identity, she takes up with a gang of squatters who live in the city's labyrinthine subway system.

But there's something eerily beguiling about Val's new friends. And when one talks Val into tracking down the lair of a mysterious creature with whom they are all involved, Val finds herself torn between her newfound affection for an honorable monster and her fear of what her new friends are becoming.

Customer Reviews:

It's ok............2007-09-02

Between the deeper more mature reading I do, I like to search the young reader books for fast mindless reads. I really enjoy this section of the book store.(Tarmora Pierce, Stephenie Meyer are some of my favorites) Although I wouldn't recommend this book to young readers at all. It's filled with bad language, drug use and casual sex. I didn't feel that it really expressed the wrongness of that behavior though it tried in the end. All in all I wouldn't have finished it if I didn't enjoy it on some level but I wouldn't recommed it to teens.

one of the best books if you love urban fantasy.......2007-08-06

all of these books tie reality, living life on the edge, and faeries together. valiant was my favourite out of them all though, because i loved the character lollie so much.

after reading all the installemtns to this series, i was lucky enough to meet holly black and cassandra claire at a signing and talk about the genre they have helped flourish, they call it 'urban fantasy'.
it's quite amazing, as long as you're okay with things turning onto the fantasy side from reality.

Great read - positive lessons.......2007-08-06

I loved this book! I am a parent and I agree this book is appropriate for grades 9 and up. I think this book expertly explores problems some teens face: mother problems, boy friend problems, best friend problems, divorce, drugs and running away. It works through them all in a very positive and realistic manner. I thought it was a great read for adults as well as teens. The author totally convinced me that the world she created exists. Since this book is written in such a REAL setting (NYC) I don't think you have to be a fantasy lover to get sucked into the plot. And to those parents who have read other reviews listed here about the language and moral content I say - The language and the concepts are a necessary tool of the author in communicating her message. Holly Black explicitly describes the act of shooting up and the resulting high - it is with a fictitious substance - but it's easy to make the correlation to our world. Personally, I like where she takes the whole drug discussion. I'm not sure how the average teen sees it, but as a parent I see an excellent moral resolution. I think this book does a great job of tapping into the complexities of the current teen generation. Read this book!

F-bomb used repeatedly, porn, etc FILTH.......2007-08-03

Do you want your young adult or child reading a book that uses every foul word over and over? How about talking about porn and lesbians? F-bomb, F-bomb Fbomb S-bomb on every page, over and over. My 10-year-old checked this out from the library (he's an advanced reader) and after the fifth page he threw this down and started crying. Shame on the publisher for putting this in a young adult category, or publishing such filth at all.

A modern fairy tale.......2007-07-20

I am seventeen years old and I think that this novel is perfect for kids my age. It has sex, violence, drugs and supernatural elements. It was so fun to read and always kept me on my feet. It is one of those books were you feel as though you are the main character falling in love with the people she is and enduring all of her troubles. This book is amazing. I recommend it to all teenagers. My boyfriend and I have both read and loved this book so although the main character is a girl, all genders can enjoy this brilliant novel!!

Enchantment Of The Faerie Realm: Communicate with Nature Spirits & Elementals

Average customer rating:

An enchanting read for sure!
Disappointing...
A different apprach.
Great book on Faeries
Fantastic, Informative & Fun!

Enchantment Of The Faerie Realm: Communicate with Nature Spirits & Elementals
Ted Andrews
Manufacturer: Llewellyn Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0875420028

Book Description

Forests, lakes, mountains, caves-even your garden-are alive with nature's spirits. Enchantment of the Faerie Realm can help you commune with elves, devas, nymphs, gnomes, and other faerie folk. With just a little patience and persistence you can learn to recognize the presence of these mysterious, magical creatures.

New interior design

Customer Reviews:

An enchanting read for sure!.......2006-04-26

I enjoyed every page of this book. It is certainly one of the most informative books on the faerie realm I have ever read, packed not only with facts about each kind of elemental but also exercises to help the reader easily make contact with faeries. And I admit I cried off and on throughout this book as well. I dearly love all faeries and elementals, and it is easy to see the author has a heart for them too. If you feel the same, you will find this to be a very special book. One I highly recommend, since it has enriched my life in many ways.

Disappointing..........2005-05-04

I was used to Ted Andrews writing in a style that was methodical, approachable, accurate, and mystical. Unfortunately, I do not think he is well acquainted with this subject, and I don't think he is comfortable with working with the Fey. I hold nothing against him--the rest of the works I have read which he authored are very well done. However, I would not recommend his foray into the Faery realms. I believe he needs to do some more work if he truly wants to improve this work. I would encourage him to take some time, meditate, learn, and put out a revised edition of this book at some time in the future.

A different apprach. .......2005-03-01

This book is written awkwardly. Ted Andrew makes an attempt to mix modern style faery communication with the older shamanic approach. It just doesn't work. Though the content is good, very well researched and accurate, this book offers very little information on faeries. It is not too good for reference. For reference on faeries, try Edain's Witch's guide to faery folk. This book is more about how to connect with the faeries, yet the guided meditations are not very effective. Half the book is on meditations and it gets a little boring.

Great book on Faeries.......2003-07-19

This book was one of better books and one of few book printed other than a opinion which from what i seen with other review you will see same.i would get this book just for infomation and just ingore his view go with your heart and also read the legends and myth and then decide.Stewarts books and Mc Coy book A witched guide to fay folk has good infomation. Just do your reseach.Still a good book.

Blessed Be;

Fantastic, Informative & Fun!.......2002-06-20

This is one of my favorite Ted Andrews' books. It is easy to read, fun and very well organized. It lays a foundation so that people can begin to reconnect to Nature and the Faerie World. The exercises are amazingly effective and he inspires the reader to explore the spirits of Nature. I have read his books and attended his workshops, including workshops on this particular book and his depth of knowledge and experience is amazing. And yet he makes the material accessible to everyone, regardless of their experiences. He helps the reader to remember what we all once knew. He inspires us to seek out new doorways to this magical realm.

Average customer rating:

Not Free SF Reader
From Ghoulies and Ghosties and Things that go bump in the night, Good Lord Protect Us.
Thank you Mrs. Lyle
A slight but welcome departure for Feist
Long Time Reader

Faerie Tale
Raymond Feist
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0553277839
Release Date: 1989-01-01

Book Description

Phil Hastings was a lucky man-he had money, a growing reputation as a screenwriter, a happy, loving family with three kids, and he'd just moved into the house of his dreams in rural of magic-and about to be altered irrevocably by a magic more real than any he dared imagine. For with the Magic came the Bad Thing, and the Faerie, and then the cool. . .and the resurrection of a primordial war with a forgotten people-a war that not only the Hastings but the whole human race could lose.

Customer Reviews:

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

A wonderfully creepy 'urban' fantasy. Probably his best book after Magician. A family moves to a house near a strange location. They get in out of their depth and need expert help when something that should not be real comes calling, and injures one them. An example of this sort of tale handled expertly.

From Ghoulies and Ghosties and Things that go bump in the night, Good Lord Protect Us........2007-07-09

First Sentence: Barney Doyle sat at his cluttered workbench, attempting to fix Olaf Andersen's ancient power mower for the fourth time in seven years.

Phil Hastings, his wife Gloria, his daughter Gabbie and their twin boys Patrick and Sean move from Sunny California to an old farmhouse in upstate New York whose land includes virgin forest. They soon find they have more to contend with than they expected. Unexpected, and unexplainable, encounters with strange creatures, the boy's acknowledgement of "the Bad Thing" living under a bridge and Gabbie's almost sexual encounter with a farrier who died over a hundred years ago are only some of the strange goings on which threaten the family.

I love this book and read it every year or so on Midsummer's Day (June 24th). However, this is not your child's faerie tale even though it involves brotherly love and courage. It is fantasy; it is horror. It is creepy, dark, at times violent, at times sexual and always a page-turner. Those who love Celtic myth and Shakespeare will recognize magical elements of The Fool, elf-shot, Trooping Faeires, and more. It is one of those rare books that makes you feel as though it "could" be possible and causes even non-Catholics to wish for a vial of holy water, a silver sword and a true faerie stone.. Each time I read it, I find myself researching the legends and faerie folk involved, looking for erl-king hills and avoiding faeire rings at midnight on Midsummer's Night and All-Hallow's Eve. Next year, I'll remember to start earlier in the day so I'm not up until midnight finishing it. At least I wasn't in the woods. It's the blending of fantasy in contemporary life which, to me, makes this book so compelling, frightening and memorable.

Thank you Mrs. Lyle.......2007-06-12

This book was given to me by my high school biology teacher (and mother to one of my best friends) in the early '90's. I had zero interest in fairy or fantasy tales at the time, but I found this book to be very engaging. There are certain books that I can pick up at any time and instantly be transported. This is one of those books. The setting is quaint. The characters are realistic. The story is suspenseful.

It's hard to pinpoint what it is that is so attractive about a book like this. You know how a certain smell will sometimes trigger a memory that is very pleasant, and for a few moments you are suspended in that time and place? That's what this book does for me. I wish MR. Feist would try his hand at something like this again. I have not been able to get into any of his "High Fantasy" stories.

Pick it up sometime. You won't be moved to tears, and you're life won't change because of some profound metaphorical meaning buried inside. You will be entertained, though. This is a great one to read around Halloween!

A slight but welcome departure for Feist.......2007-05-06

I have long hailed Feist as the best author of fantasy, breaking through onto the scene with the stunning Riftwar Saga.

It was, then, that I started this book with a mix of excitement and trepidation, unsure of the outcome, given its more contemporary setting.

The book details the arrival of a well-off family to upstate NY (from California). After their arrival, sightings are made of strange creatures, stranger encounters take place with unsettling characters, and the sense of impending danger looms. Against this is the discovery of hidden areas of their new house containing items belonging to the previous owner, along with wild tales of buried treasure, and the nearby location of a fairy hill.

The book has something of a snowball effect, starting a little slowly, with enough of the unusual, fantastic or creepy to keep the reader's interest piqued. As it progresses, the reader finds him/herself increasingly involved in the story, to the point of not wanting to put it down. In short, the book is excellently paced.

True, Feist's normal strength is character development, and while it seems a little weaker this time, the wealth of celtic mythology that he throws our way more than makes up for it.

With the great concept, and the final epilogue hanging in the air, one has to wonder why no other books in this vein were ever written...

I thoroughly recommend this book :)

Long Time Reader.......2007-01-12

I have read all of Feist's Midkemia tales with great joy. This is the first time I have picked up Faerie Tale for a try. It certainly is not a typical Feist story. Certainly it is edgier with sex and violence. While it does have celtic mythology, it is a modern horror novel to be sure. Written with his natural good style, the story was easy to get into. While I wouldn't put it as high as some of my all time favortie horror novels, it was a good enjoyable read with plenty of creepy things. I woud love to see him give the dark fantasy field another go.

Chronicles of Faerie #1: The Hunter's Moon (The Chronicles of Faerie)

Average customer rating:

Enjoyable... for a Tween or Young Teenager
Interesting start, but feels incomplete, like it's just the author's draft copy...
Compelling and beautifully written novel for any age
A well-written, entertaining, novel
Predictable, but entertaining all the same...

Chronicles of Faerie #1: The Hunter's Moon (The Chronicles of Faerie)
O.R. Melling
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0810958570

Amazon.com

An Irish Canadian author's lauded fairy fantasies are updated and introduced to U.S. fantasy readers for the first time in O.R. Melling's Chronicles of Faerie. The first volume, The Hunter's Moon, follows two cousins, Gwen and Findabhair, as they backpack around Ireland in search of the country's magical past. But the girls go too far when they dare to spend the night in a known fairy mound. Finn is stolen away by the dark king of Faerie to become his bride sacrifice to the Great Worm, or Hunter. It is up to timid Gwen to rescue her intrepid cousin, and she wonders if the task will be too much the first time she catches a glimpse of the Little People at play. "Gwen quaked inside. This wild abandon…was beyond anything she could imagine…Exquisite chaos." But with the help of a fairy doctress and her handsome grandson, Gwen assembles a rag tag team of heroes determined to bring Finn back -- even if it means the destruction of Faerie itself.

Melling's scholarship is evident. In fact, some readers may wonder why she just didn't write a nonfiction book about Ireland's rich folklore, as her characters often step clumsily out of the narrative to spout a factual, yet hyperbolic speech about a particular cave, lake or legendary creature. But while Melling's writing is less successful when her characters are on this side of the Veil, her descriptions of Fairie are sweeping and romantic. Fans of writers like Midori Snyder or Clare Dunkle are sure to enjoy them. (Ages 10-15) --Jennifer Hubert

Book Description

Finally available in the U.S., this Canadian bestseller is a romantic and atmospheric tale of two teenage girls caught in the world of Faerie.

When she arrives in Ireland to visit her cousin Findabhair, American Gwen expects a fun backpacking trip to sites of the fairy lore they're both fascinated with. What neither cousin knows is that it's the summer of the Hunter's Moon, a dangerous time for mortals to meddle in the kingdom of Faerie. The girls camp out, and deep in the night Finn is kidnapped by the handsome Faerie king! In Gwen's quest to save her cousin, across beautifully evoked settings of modern-day and mystical Ireland, the spunky heroine's biggest challenge may be convincing Finn she needs to be saved! This is the first in a much-lauded and best-selling series from Canada by O.R. Melling, praised as "great stuff, beautifully told" by the Toronto Sun. It's been updated and expanded and is perfect for teen girls who like the work of Anne Rice, Holly Black, and Annette Curtis Klause.

Customer Reviews:

Enjoyable... for a Tween or Young Teenager.......2007-07-28

While I enjoyed some of the moments of the book, the flow seemed awkward and there were times when I felt the characters were a little too one dimensional and contrived.

Once I was finished reading the book, I gifted it to a girl who attends the same ballet school as my daughter. She later said she absolutely loved the book. Perhaps the teenage girls in the book were more "realistic" to a twelve-year-old than a thirty-something-year-old. Or maybe free books just read better than $8 books do.

Overall, good brain candy for a quicky read and an interesting and fun look into the world of the fae, but nothing that drove me to wanting to read more of the Chronicles of Faerie books.

Interesting start, but feels incomplete, like it's just the author's draft copy..........2007-02-17

The idea of "The Hunter's Moon" is that two cousins age 16), one Irish and the other Irish American with a shared love for folk lore are meeting up for the first time in years to back pack Ireland. During thier back backing the more rextroverted one is kidnapped by the fairy king and her cousin sets out to save her, despite her wishes. What follows is a endless tireless account of her journey (predictable in her personal changes: she steps out of her shell and learns to accept herself) and Celtic mythology.

As an Irish American teenager who traveled to Ireland last year, the book was extremely amusing to read with the constant references to tourist atttractions in Dublin, Irish music by Dropkick Muprheys and so forth. The mentions of Irish landmarks like the Hills of Tara and various other locations were fun and the portrayal of Irish culture were certainly interesting to read about (though the wide spread use of hitchhiking as transportation is disturbing...)

The characters were interesting to read about, but weren't exactly believeble (the romance between Finn and the fairy king seems forced and false, but we're meant to belive that it's true love; the relationship between Gwen and her leading man is similar). Furthurmore, I felt that the characters had the potential for me to identify with them, but the author's failure to give them any kind of past (Siblings? Gwen's home city? Childhood? Even a disticnt age?) detracts majorly.

However, my problems with the book is that up to the last quater of it, the time line didn't flow very well. The events occurring (another interaction with the fairy, another friendly stranger) could be the climax or an introduction: the styles and writing were extremely similar. Also, I had trouble decided if the characters were stereotypes or jsut actually how the Irish were. The beautifully handsome fairy king, wise woman with history, spunky Irish teenager with fantasy obsession.

Compelling and beautifully written novel for any age.......2007-01-17

Two cousins from two different parts of the world who share the same name and a passionate belief that faery exists, set out on a summer vacation in Ireland. Gwen, the US cousin, is tentative and dreamy. Findabhair, the Irish native, is passionate, beautiful and impulsive.

At Tara, they dare to spend the night in a Faery mound. Finn answers the call of the Faery King. Gwen is left behind to rescue her.

Time is running out--Hunter's Moon approaches and if Gwen can't get her cousin back, Finn will become the annual sacrifice to the Great Wyrm.

"The Hunter's Moon" is an amazing fantasy adventure told by someone who really KNOWS Irish folklore. Melling's education qualifies her to write non-fiction, yet she's choosing instead to educate us with enchanting tales of Irish folklore.

I highly recommend "The Hunter's Moon" for fantasy lovers of all ages. The story itself is delightful. The guides included relating to Gaelic language and Irish folklore are amazing.

A well-written, entertaining, novel.......2005-09-01

I really enjoyed O.R. Melling's novel. It's a fun coming-of-age adventure in which the main character, Gwen, develops her own strength and learns how to outwit the fairies. At first she is overshadowed by her beautiful cousin Findabhair. But when her cousin is kidnapped, Gwen must go on a quest throughout Ireland to recue her. Melling does an excellent job weaving in traditional fairy myth with beautiful descriptions of modern-day Ireland. Though the plot is thin in places I found the novel as a whole to be entertaining and enjoyable.

Predictable, but entertaining all the same..........2005-07-03

'The Hunter's Moon' has an interesting enough plot-an Irish girl is stolen by the faeries, and her visiting cousin must save her. This book is somewhat educational, providing the reader with interesting info on Ireland. O.R. Melling, according to the 'About the Author' thingy on the flap, was born in Ireland and studied Irish history.
Anyway, back to the story. I especially like the characters...the heroine, Gwen, is by no means perfect. She's short, slightly overweight, and has an *interesting* personality. The faerie king is the kind of person you're unsure about, not knowing whether he's good or evil.
One thing I didn't like about this book was the plot itself was extremely predictable. I won't say much, so not to reveal the ending, but let me just say you know exactly who's going to fall in love with who(the summary on the front flap gave most of that away...), and you pretty much know how it's going to end, or at least close to it. This book occasionally got boring, but I noticed after I read it that the only times it was boring was when the faeries weren't around, heh heh.
All in all I think this is a wonderful choice for fantasy lovers, or people who are interested in Ireland. Although it's a predictable sort of fairy tale, it serves as an enjoyable read.

Deliria: Faerie Tales for a New Millennium

Average customer rating:

Breathtaking RPG...
Deliria: My Thoughts
One of the best storytelling games out there
Beautiful book
A Postmodern Manual for the Realms of Enchantment

Deliria: Faerie Tales for a New Millennium
Phil Brucato
Manufacturer: Smoke, Mirror & Muse Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1932115005

Book Description

What is Deliria?

It's a setting where ordinary people face an extraordinary world. Like the heroes of traditional faerie tales, these men and women are normal folks whose lives suddenly upend, pitching the old rules out the nearest window. And like those traditional heroes, these modern-day Jacks and Beautys must face challenges of body, mind and spirit... or face dark consequences.

Deliria is a realm of innocence, challenge and transformation. A place where the tales you tell are yours. A place where hope remains the bravest force, and cleverness brings giants down.

Deliria's Prime Codex contains:

Roleplaying rules for any venue--tabletop, street theatre, and Internet;
A setting that ranges from coffee shops to kingdoms;
A realm where broken hearts mean more than broken bones;
Lore about faerie tales and the lessons they provide;
Many tales about Deliria's domain;
Art that strides beyond cliché;
And inspirations and affirmations about who we are in our world and what can do to change it.

Customer Reviews:

Breathtaking RPG..........2007-07-13

Fair Disclosure: I have NOT played this game, nor have I read the book cover to cover. Matter of fact, the book has just recently come into my possession for the first time. THAT said, I felt very compelled to write this review if only because the book is so damn breathtaking. "A Work of Art" is not too high an accolade for it. The page design and typesetting that went into this book are top notch. What I've read so far seems VERY well written. The artwork - both hand rendered & computer animated - is incredible. At 42 years of age, you'd think I might be able to separate the forest from the trees, so-to-speak, and recognize a good RPG under layers of schlock layout and typesetting, bad grammar and fair to miserable art. I can't. Sadly, once you are exposed to RPG books of this caliber, it's difficult to "go back."

Currently this title is selling for as little as $12.00 Used on Amazon. I sell many RPGs on Amazon, but there's no way I'll sell this for $12. Think I'll read further for a while... Cheers.

Deliria: My Thoughts.......2007-05-29

This is a combination of two posts that I wrote about Deliria, originally posted at The Gamecrafters' Guild (http://www.gamecrafters.net).

I just finished reading Phil Brucato's Deliria, and I have mixed feelings. The first three chapters are all setting and atmosphere, and they're completely awesome. Brocato uses a lyrical style throughout that's almost conversational, almost poetical, and very, very appealing. The ideas presented are really cool; the whole thing is basically a presentation of faerie tales in modern times, talking about how traditional archetypes have updated themselves (in some cases), and how the faerie realm fits into our modern world of magnets and miracles. Those first three chapters are just cool, in a way that few other products are.

Once he got into the mechanics of the game, my interest started to wan a little bit, though. It's not that the mechanics are bad; quite the contrary. They seem easy to learn, simple and fast to use, and they make use of a really cool card-driven core mechanic that I find very appealing. They're described well, even if the descriptions are a bit stream-of-consciousness and out of order. The problem is in the tone.

I just can't shake the feeling that Brucato thinks he knows the right way to game. While he's describing the mechanics, he frequently makes derisive references to mechanics like hit points and "push-button spellcasting", references which are clearly aimed at popular RPGs like D&D and even White Wolf's games. He doesn't describe his mechanics and play style as being different, as they are; he describes them as being better, on a higher level than those lesser mechanics. He doesn't use those words, but the implication is clear, at least in my mind. Now, I'll be the first one to say that mechanics like hit points (or reasonable facsimiles thereof), or D&D's Vancian spell system (or White Wolf's system of Disciplines/Gifts/Whatevers) are far from perfect. They have their problems, and they're not right for everyone. I happen to think they work well for the games that they're a part of, but I also recognize that that is my opinion, and I recognize that "push-button spellcasting" wouldn't jive with a setting like Deliria, where magic is supposed to be fundamentally mysterious and unpredictable. Not only that but, to his credit, Brucato has created a very cool system of largely story-driven magic, with few mechanical aspects, that (if handled correctly by the GM and the players) would probably succeed in preserving the mystery of magic within the game.

However, I find the frequent jabs at other systems to be in extremely poor form. An RPG should be a game first and foremost, and should never be a forum for airing the author's personal agenda (that's what blogs are for, right?). If he doesn't like D&D, that's fine; more power to him. His need to be different from D&D probably made Deliria a better game in the long run. But let's try to keep the name calling to a minimum, shall we?

Now, I said that the mechanics of the game were cool, and they are. They seem to be easy to learn and they seem to lend themselves to fast play, and they certainly support the setting. The only real problem I have is with the Vitality trait. On the surface, Vitality looks like hit points (though Brucato repeatedly tells us that they're more than mere hit points) in that they are points that measure how close you are to dying. What's kind of wonky, to me, is how you lose and regain Vitality. When you're injured enough to lose Vitality, you don't lose a number of Vitality points, you lose a fraction of your overall Vitality score. So, the higher your Vitality, the more Vitality points you lose when you're injured. Further, you recover Vitality over time based on your Spirit score at a fixed rate, so the more Vitality you have, the longer it takes to recover. Does anyone else see the problem here? Brucato says that a person with a higher Vitality is more alive than one with a low Vitality, but let's look at an example:

Bob has Body 5, Mind 5, Spirit 5, for Vitality 15. Joe has Body 2, Mind 2, Spirit 5 for Vitality 9. They both take the exact same injury, one that reduces their Vitality scores by 1/2. Bob now has 7 Vitality left, while Joe has 4. Now, each day Bob and Joe each recover Vitality equal to their Spirit score; this means that it will take Joe one day to recover his Vitality, while it will take two days for Bob. So, their injuries affect them in the exact same way, but the character with the lower Vitality recovers quicker. Does anyone else think that it seems like a disadvantage to have a high Vitality? This is compounded by the fact that there doesn't really seem to be any other advantage to having a high Vitality. You can share and steal Vitality, and I can get behind doing so from a story standpoint, but from a mechanics standpoint I'm not sure there's much incentive to do so. You can also spend all but one of your Vitality to automatically succeed on an action but again, the guy with the higher score gets hosed by that one.

What really confuses me is that Brucato already has a very cool, elegant system of narrative injury in the game, whereby injuries are largely story elements with very few hard-coded mechanical effects. The danger of this is that it means that you die when the GM says that it's narratively appropriate for you to do so, but this can be mitigated by playing with a good GM. To me, this system makes Vitality a bit superfluous. Also, the concept of sharing Vitality or stealing Vitality could easily be handled entirely by story elements (as injuries are), or by the temporary reduction or exchange of Body, Mind, or Spirit points. Personally, I have suspicions that Vitality is only in the game because Brucato needed a third Heart Grace (already having Deliria and Fortune), and couldn't think of everything else. This wouldn't be a bad thing if he hadn't made the trait so utterly useless by trying to make it different from hit points.

Now, I really, really don't want you to get the impression that I didn't like the book. I did. Overall, it was very, very good. However, these are the two major things that really bugged me while I was reading it, and I just needed to air my criticisms. I hope that they're taken in the spirit that they're intended: as me wanting a really good book to be even better.

One of the best storytelling games out there.......2007-02-06

I've been roleplaying for ages it seems. I've seen systems come and go. This is one that I hope, I truly hope, will stay around for time to come. Deliria is not a hack and slash game, so if you want D20 dungeon hopping style, this isn't for you. However, if you are a "storytelling" kind of gamer and GM, then you'll love this. The world setting is not as precise and specific as, say, Mage or Vampire, but, that can work with what you find. You can modulate the world as much as you want, defining this and that area, while having realistic characters to march through the happenings. The system itself is fairly easy to get use to if you are use to storytelling style of systems that are out there. It has its own unique flavor, but you will get a hang of it quite quickly. The artwork in the book is beautiful, simply charming. All in all, I think that if you enjoy more of a thinking man's (or woman's) style of play and worldsystem, then this is the best one out there for you.

Beautiful book.......2006-03-25

I haven't yet gotten the chance to play Deliria, but the book is fantastic, for the most part.

The artwork is an amazing variety of tradition drawing and painting as well as photos and computer graphic art.

The writing is also very good, though, for those (like myself) who are familiar with either White Wolf's World of Darkness or with Neil Gaiman's books (Neverwhere in particular), much of it will feel familiar. Of course, Brucato did significant work on Mage: the Ascension, so the similarity between the views of magic between the two games should be unsurprising (though the game systems are quite different).

My complaints about the book (which are why it gets 4 stars instead of 5):

1) The organization (first 4 chapters are setting, last 3 are system) at first seems to make sense. But, as I read it I realized it has a negative impact on the narrative. So, the end feels extremely anticlimactic. Sure, it's an RPG book, so ending with a bunch of tables for difficulties for magic effect shouldn't be surprising. But, I had gotten accustomed to Brucato's narrative style, so the end (which was purely a matter of structure) felt like a let down. Probably would have been less noticeable if the book had been less narrative. So, this says both good and bad things about the book.

2) There are SEVERAL unclear places/errors. So, be sure to download the Compact Patch from the Laughing Pan website (www.laughingpan.com). It provides essentially clarification and correction of things that were very confusing in the Prime Codex.

Overall, a great book that presents an exciting setting and a promising set of systems. I can't wait to be able to try it out myself!

A Postmodern Manual for the Realms of Enchantment.......2004-04-02

"The best way to find Faerie is not to walk but to sing," writes Phil Brucato in this beautiful and poetic book that deconstructs the line separating Pagan spirituality from role-playing games. A large and gorgeous book, this is a colorful excursion into a mysterious world that is just around the corner, if not closer to you than you are to yourself. Let me make a confession up front: I am not a gamer (role-playing or otherwise), and so although I've had a review copy of this book for some time now, I've resisted writing about it, thinking I'm not qualified to do so. But as soon as I took just enough of a glance into the book to be beguiled by its enchantments, I knew I needed to give it my enthusiastic endorsement, not because of its quality as a gaming manual (more knowledgeable critics have already done as much), but because of its shimmering and ever-so-mysterious way of continually beckoning its readers to look for the weird places that exist just beyond the corner of the eye-and, once a connection with such a faerie-portal is made, to actually allow it to work its irrevocable magic on our lives. This book is many things: postmodern narrative, gaming instruction manual, art gallery, and extended meditation on the creative process. Like a fine old Irish shanachie, Brucato never settles for revealing his treasures in a simple and straightforward manner; instead, he buries subtle and tantalizing clues to what he's really about in odd and off-center moments in his text. What emerges is a profound and meaningful exposition of the alternating glories and horrors of the Faerie realm, and our complicity as human beings in creating, preserving, and ultimately destroying the energies and impacts of magic in our lives. It could be argued that there is no such thing as "Pagan theology" since Paganism is a path of experience, not dogma. But if we dare to believe that theology emerges out of stories and myths and dreams, then this lovely and darkly mysterious work just might be an eloquent work of Pagan theology for our time...masquerading as an RPG.

The Celtic Twilight: Faerie and Folklore

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Faerie Folklore of a Shadowy Ireland of Celtic Mysteries !

The Celtic Twilight: Faerie and Folklore
W. B. Yeats
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0486436578

Book Description

Rooted in myth, occult mysteries, and belief in magic, these stories are populated by a lively cast of sorcerers, fairies, ghosts, and nature spirits. The great Irish poet heard these enchanting, mystical tales from Irish peasants, and the stories' anthropologic significance is matched by their timeless entertainment value.

Customer Reviews:

Faerie Folklore of a Shadowy Ireland of Celtic Mysteries !.......2005-05-03

In Celtic Twilight, originally published in 1902, Yeats recites several accounts of encounters with the faerie folk and with the people of Ireland of the time which gives us insight into Irish folklore, myth and legend.

Yeats associates poetry with religious ideas and sentiment. And, I believe that he saw himself as writing for Ireland, but a shadowy Ireland of Celtic mysteries and legends, not the Ireland of the modern day. By modern day, of course, I relate this to the modern day of Yeats in the late 1890s and early 1900s.

In the introduction to Celtic Twilight Yeats states; "I have therefore written down accurately and candidly much that I have heard and seen, and, except by way of commentary, nothing that I have merely imagined. I have, however, been at no pains to separate my own beliefs from those of the peasantry, but have rather let my men and women, dhouls and faeries, go their way unoffended or defended by any argument of mine."

I got the strong impression from reading Celtic Twilight that Yeats actually believed in the existence of the faeries. Not just as some myth or legend, but as actual beings that exist in this world, though perhaps unseen by the common man. He wrote each story as if it was something that actually happened, having been related to him by the storyteller, or perhaps that which he had seen for himself in some past time, now recalled as he set pen to paper.

There is a depth to Yeats' writing that lies just below the surface, something that's perceived more than seen. The idea that perhaps magic and the faerie folk are alive in the world of today, but unseen, or perhaps only seen from time to time as a fleeting shadow until one knows just where to look.

It is interesting to note that Yeats was heavily involved in occult studies and practices as part of the Madame Helene Blavatsky's,Theosophical Society and later, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and finally in 1912 the Ordo Templi Orientis.

This would have certainly influenced his outlook on life and his belief in, and dare we say ability to see the unseen things of this world.

I too ask myself from time to time; just what unseen things exist in this world. Perhaps Yeats has seen that which other men can only hope for, or that which they turn away from in dread given the course of their spirits.

Yeats also makes a profound observation: "The things a man has heard and seen are threads of life, and if he pull them carefully from the confused distaff of memory, any who will can weave them into whatever garments of belief please them best."

I found Yeats' observation of particular interest, especially when it comes to theological or philosophical thought. If it is those things that we hear and see in life that forms the fabric of our beliefs, then surely we must take care that that which we see and hear forms strong enough threads so that the fabric we weave is not shoddy.

Yeats' works help us build those strong threads in our lives. For, he certainly influenced the world at large with his writings. In 1923 Yeats was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, and in 1934 he shared the Gothenburg Prize for Poetry with Rudyard Kipling.

The Princess and the Pea (Faerie Tale Romance)

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An entertaining read
delightfully original, fast-moving, very well written
A wonderful read!

The Princess and the Pea (Faerie Tale Romance)
Victoria Alexander
Manufacturer: Love Spell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0505520915

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An entertaining read.......2000-07-08

THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA is a bit hard to find, as it is out of print, but it is worth the search. It's an entertaining version of the princess and the pea fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson. Set in 1895, the "princess" is Cece, an America heiress in her early twenties whose family thinks it time for her to be married. The "prince" is the Earl of Greystone (hey, wasn't that Tarzan's title?), who desperately needs to marry an heiress to repair his family estates and fortune. The two fall in love at first sight, both unaware of the other's true identity and circumstances. The Earl then dumps Cece, as he must marry for money. When he discovers she's an heiress, he thinks all turned out perfectly. Cece soon sets him straight, and he must earn his way back into her good graces. The Earl's mother sets many tests for Cece to pass before true long conquers all. Cece is a strong heroine, well able to deal with stuffy peers and meddling mothers-in-law. A delightful and entertaining story. Be sure to find this one!

delightfully original, fast-moving, very well written.......1998-08-26

Fans of Arnette Lamb, Nora Roberts, and Marsha Canham will enjoy the wit and pace of Alexander's books. The dialogue is natural and the writing refreshing for those tired of books written at a junior-high reading level. This book in particular was very entertaining; I learned many things about that period and Alexander even made the emerging automobile industry a fun read - much more interesting than it sounds (in England, drivers had to have someone walking in front of the car waving a red flag).

A wonderful read!.......1998-01-16

Ms. Alexander is a really good writer, and she just gets better with every book! It is very hard to portray humor and passion in the same book and do it well, but she excels at this Herculean task. I highly recommend this book!

Faerie Lord: The Faerie Wars Chronicles (Book 4) (The Faerie Wars Chronicles)

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Faerie Lord: The Faerie Wars Chronicles (Book 4) (The Faerie Wars Chronicles)
Herbie Brennan
Manufacturer: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 159990120X
Release Date: 2007-12-26

Book Description

It has been two years since Henry left the Faerie Realm and he has still not adjusted to life back in the Analogue World. But when Henry finds a middle aged Pyrgus in Mr. Fogarty’s backyard, he is compelled to return to the world he left so suddenly. A mysterious plague is spreading throughout the Realm causing faeries to age rapidly. No one knows what is causing it or how to cure it. Pyrgus has a plan that Henry must be a part of but can’t include his sister, the Faerie Queen, no matter how much she persists. However, almost immiediately upon Henry’s return, an unlikely person transports him away from the Realm and he is forced to fend for himself in a hostile land.
Elsewhere, Lord Hairstreak, Brimstone and Chalkhill are putting their own plan into motion that may be the undoing of the entire Realm without their even realizing it. The final installment of the Faerie Wars Chronicles is riveting presents and exciting and riveting conclusion to the adventures of Henry Atherton and the Faerie Realm.

Average customer rating:

A enjoyable afternoon read
I found the romance in this book to be exceptional.
cute!

Cinderfella (Faerie Tale Romance)
Linda Jones
Manufacturer: Love Spell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost | Romance | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0505522756

Customer Reviews:

A enjoyable afternoon read.......2002-07-16

I have always been drawn to the tale of Cinderella. I love the whole idea of the handsome,rich,kind prince finding true love in a beautiful,poor,kind girl and making her his own. Well this story is the same except the roles are reversed. The hero, Ash is a handsome, poor, kind farmer who prides himself on doing things his way and not taking handouts. The heroine, Charmaine, is the beautiful, rich, kind, liberated woman who has always secretly loved Ash. She comes back home to Kansas for a visit and finds her whole world turned upside down.
She has very specific ideas about marriage and love and thinks she will never marry, her father has other ideas.

This is a light story that makes for an enjoyable afternoon read.

I found the romance in this book to be exceptional........1999-08-03

I really liked this book because their was so much romance between the two main characters (Charmaine and Ashe). The story is also intriguing and the characters are believable in their dillemas. I thought the relationship and the romance between the two main characters was exceptional. I could not put this book down. I think the only flaws were that some of the situations in the book seemed a little eccentric (i.e. the shotgun wedding), but the same situations added to the story. Overall, I thought this was an exceptional book and I will definitely look for Linda Jones books in the future to read. I give it a 5 star rating!!

cute!.......1998-12-25

This is a light, cute, fun read. Execellent for a rainy day, or a day when you'd like to be left alone. A nice spin on an often told tale.

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