The Wild Wood

by Charles De Lint

Paperback, 2004

Status

Available

Call number

813.54

Series

Brian Froud's Faerielands (1)

Genres

Publication

Orb Books (2004), Edition: 1st, 205 pages

Description

Eithnie is a young painter who is acclaimed by the art world, until the critics start noticing that her work has lost the animating passion that had set her apart from the crowd. She returns to her cabin in Canada's remote woods, hoping to find a place where she can seek solitude and focus on her art. At first, Eithnie's muse remains elusive, but then beautiful and disturbing creatures start slipping into her sketches unbidden. The following days bring strange visitors bearing cryptic messages indicating that Eithnie may be bound by a promise made in a forgotten, magical childhood. The world of Faerie is clearly reaching out to her for help, and her ability to figure out what they need may mark the difference between their survival and their doom.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member maggie1944

I enjoyed this quickly read book because it is set in the north woods of Canada and the descriptions remind me so much of what I love about nature. It is a sweet story about a young woman artist dealing with her muses and faeries in the woods. It is also about change and being open to live. In the

end, it was a sweet, uplifting read but not hugely remarkable.

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LibraryThing member alethea

A lovely story by a master craftsman, with equally lovely illustrations. That the Faerylands series was never completed, and is currently availble only in un-illustrated reprints, is a great loss to the modern fanstasy field.

LibraryThing member nimoloth

I liked this lot. It was much more grounded in the real world than I expeted though. As in, a modern, real woman set in modern times with real friends and real problems. Usually I prefer pure fantasy, but I often enjoy mixed stories when I read them. She was likeable, and there wasn't really any

negative real world angst (to me, anyway). I mean, there are real problems, but it's not all bleak and hopeless.

Anyway, back to the story! It is an interesting, if vague, take on faerie - nothing is set in stone or clearly defined. But this gives it quite an ethereal air. It is written in quite a poetic, complex style too, perhaps characteritic of the author (I don't know his work). It was very beautiful to read, and good at evoking images and landscape. The characters are actually very likeable, and there is some "romance" is you can call it that. I couldn't see where the book was going either, until right at the end. Perhaps I just missed the obvious! But I like a bit of 'romance' in a book, when it's done tastefully and well, as this was.

Generally, the book was evocative and ethereal while still containing plenty of description - quite a tricky accomplishment, I think!

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LibraryThing member lmteske

I read this book shortly after it came out and loved it. This is not an action packed story, it is rather contemplative. The concept of the series was intriguing, I think it is sad they never completed it.

LibraryThing member LarissaBookGirl

Eithnie has always loved the Canadian woods, it was home to her and as an artist she has always found inspiration and comfort among the trees. But now something is different. There is a change in the air and the woods are full of whispers, shadows and visions that fill her with fear. For the first

time in her life the woods no longer feel safe, and so Eithnie flees.

In the desert plains of Arizona, a world away from her familiar landscape of trees, Eithnie discovers a new land, a new vision of inspiration, a new understanding for the sparse plains before her and for the wooded lands she left behind. Armed with new courage, Eithnie returns to her woods where she discovers a love she never thought possible and a new future in the woods that have always been home.

The Wild Wood is changing, there is a magic in the air and a presence among the trees. But there is also desperation, the woods are dying, crying out for help and only Eithnie has the power to save them, if she has the courage to accept the responsibility. A story of magic and romance, this first book in the Fairyland series is beautifully written by a masterful storyteller bringing to life the magical imagery of an enchanting illustrator.

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LibraryThing member Treebeard_404

For a book so short, this feels awfully unfocused. Although I felt the pay-off at the end, I was tempted multiple times to abandon the story. I think I will stick with de Lint's longer works, as I find them more satisfying.

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