Wisp of a Thing: a unique contemporary fantasy where magic is hidden in plain sight and age-old rivalries simmer just beneath the surface
Alex Bledsoe's The Hum and the Shiver was named one of the Best Fiction Books by Kirkus Reviews. Now Bledsoe returns to the isolated ridges and hollows of the Smoky Mountains to spin an equally enchanting tale of music and fairy magic older than the hills.
Touched by a very public tragedy, musician Rob Quillen comes to Cloud County, Tennessee, in search of a song that might ease his aching heart. All he knows of the mysterious and reclusive Tufa is what he has read on the Internet: They are an enigmatic clan of swarthy, black-haired mountain people whose historical roots are lost in myth and controversy. Some people say that when the first white settlers came to the Appalachians centuries ago, they found the Tufa already there. Others hint that Tufa blood brings special gifts.
Rob finds both music and mystery in the mountains. Close-lipped locals guard their secrets, even as Rob gets caught up in a subtle power struggle he can't begin to comprehend. A vacationing wife goes missing, raising suspicions of foul play, and a strange feral girl runs wild in the woods, howling in the night like a lost spirit.
Change is coming to Cloud County, and only the night wind knows what part Rob will play when the last leaf falls from the Widow's Treeand a timeless curse must be broken at last.
Enter the captivating world of the fae in Alex Bledsoe's Tufa novels
The Hum and the Shiver
Wisp of a Thing
Long Black Curl
Chapel of Ease
Gather Her Round
Industry Reviews
-Beautifully written, surprisingly moving, and unexpected in the best of ways.- --Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author of Ashes of Honor on Wisp of a Thing-This beautifully handled drama of Appalachian music and magic once again comes complete with fascinating characters, a persuasive setting and intriguing complications. Bledsoe's on a roll.- --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) on Wisp of a Thing-Captures the allure and the sometimes sinister beauty of the Appalachian backwoods, filled with myths, haunted by ghosts, and touched, always, by death.- --Library Journal, starred review on Wisp of a Thing-Bledsoe brings a real warmth and a messy humanity to his modern-day fairy story, with strong characterization and a passionate love of music.- --Publishers Weekly on Wisp of a Thing-A chilling mix of fantasy, realism, and a touch of horror.- --Booklist on Wisp of a Thing-As raw and bewitching as the music and magic that fuel it. I loved this book for many reasons--the bone-deep mystery, the setting, the music, and the harsh beauty of its characters. It gives a new meaning to well played.- --Rachel Caine, New York Times bestselling author of Two Weeks' Notice on The Hum and the Shiver-It's a mixture: folk tales and folk songs, updated with a dose of Sex and the City. Or a rustic version of 'urban fantasy, ' with its suggestion that there's mystery just around the corner, hidden behind even the dullest small-town facade.- --The Wall Street Journal on The Hum and the Shiver "Beautifully written, surprisingly moving, and unexpected in the best of ways." --Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author of Ashes of Honor on Wisp of a Thing"This beautifully handled drama of Appalachian music and magic once again comes complete with fascinating characters, a persuasive setting and intriguing complications. Bledsoe's on a roll." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) on Wisp of a Thing"Captures the allure and the sometimes sinister beauty of the Appalachian backwoods, filled with myths, haunted by ghosts, and touched, always, by death." --Library Journal, starred review on Wisp of a Thing"Bledsoe brings a real warmth and a messy humanity to his modern-day fairy story, with strong characterization and a passionate love of music." --Publishers Weekly on Wisp of a Thing"A chilling mix of fantasy, realism, and a touch of horror." --Booklist on Wisp of a Thing"As raw and bewitching as the music and magic that fuel it. I loved this book for many reasons--the bone-deep mystery, the setting, the music, and the harsh beauty of its characters. It gives a new meaning to well played." --Rachel Caine, New York Times bestselling author of Two Weeks' Notice on The Hum and the Shiver"It's a mixture: folk tales and folk songs, updated with a dose of Sex and the City. Or a rustic version of 'urban fantasy, ' with its suggestion that there's mystery just around the corner, hidden behind even the dullest small-town facade." --The Wall Street Journal on The Hum and the Shiver Beautifully written, surprisingly moving, and unexpected in the best of ways. Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author of Ashes of Honor on Wisp of a Thing This beautifully handled drama of Appalachian music and magic once again comes complete with fascinating characters, a persuasive setting and intriguing complications. Bledsoe's on a roll. Kirkus Reviews (starred review) on Wisp of a Thing Captures the allure and the sometimes sinister beauty of the Appalachian backwoods, filled with myths, haunted by ghosts, and touched, always, by death. Library Journal, starred review on Wisp of a Thing Bledsoe brings a real warmth and a messy humanity to his modern-day fairy story, with strong characterization and a passionate love of music. Publishers Weekly on Wisp of a Thing A chilling mix of fantasy, realism, and a touch of horror. Booklist on Wisp of a Thing As raw and bewitching as the music and magic that fuel it. I loved this book for many reasons--the bone-deep mystery, the setting, the music, and the harsh beauty of its characters. It gives a new meaning to well played. Rachel Caine, New York Times bestselling author of Two Weeks' Notice on The Hum and the Shiver It's a mixture: folk tales and folk songs, updated with a dose of Sex and the City. Or a rustic version of urban fantasy, ' with its suggestion that there's mystery just around the corner, hidden behind even the dullest small-town facade. The Wall Street Journal on The Hum and the Shiver" Beautifully written, surprisingly moving, and unexpected in the best of ways. "Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author of Ashes of Honor on Wisp of a Thing" This beautifully handled drama of Appalachian music and magic once again comes complete with fascinating characters, a persuasive setting and intriguing complications. Bledsoe's on a roll. "Kirkus Reviews (starred review) on Wisp of a Thing" Captures the allure and the sometimes sinister beauty of the Appalachian backwoods, filled with myths, haunted by ghosts, and touched, always, by death. "Library Journal, starred review on Wisp of a Thing" Bledsoe brings a real warmth and a messy humanity to his modern-day fairy story, with strong characterization and a passionate love of music. "Publishers Weekly on Wisp of a Thing" A chilling mix of fantasy, realism, and a touch of horror. "Booklist on Wisp of a Thing" As raw and bewitching as the music and magic that fuel it. I loved this book for many reasons--the bone-deep mystery, the setting, the music, and the harsh beauty of its characters. It gives a new meaning to "well played." "Rachel Caine, New York Times bestselling author of Two Weeks' Notice on The Hum and the Shiver" It's a mixture: folk tales and folk songs, updated with a dose of "Sex and the City." Or a rustic version of urban fantasy, ' with its suggestion that there's mystery just around the corner, hidden behind even the dullest small-town facade. "The Wall Street Journal on The Hum and the Shiver"" "Beautifully written, surprisingly moving, and unexpected in the best of ways." "--"Seanan McGuire, "New York Times" bestselling author of" Ashes of Honor" on "Wisp of a Thing" "This beautifully handled drama of Appalachian music and magic once again comes complete with fascinating characters, a persuasive setting and intriguing complications. Bledsoe's on a roll." --"Kirkus Reviews "(starred review) on "Wisp of a Thing ""Captures the allure and the sometimes sinister beauty of the Appalachian backwoods, filled with myths, haunted by ghosts, and touched, always, by death." "--Library Journal, " starred review on "Wisp of a Thing" "Bledsoe brings a real warmth and a messy humanity to his modern-day fairy story, with strong characterization and a passionate love of music." --"Publishers Weekly "on "Wisp of a Thing""A chilling mix of fantasy, realism, and a touch of horror." "--Booklist" on "Wisp of a Thing ""As raw and bewitching as the music and magic that fuel it. I loved this book for many reasons--the bone-deep mystery, the setting, the music, and the harsh beauty of its characters. It gives a new meaning to "well played."" --Rachel Caine, "New York Times "bestselling author of "Two Weeks' Notice "on "The Hum and the Shiver ""It's a mixture: folk tales and folk songs, updated with a dose of "Sex and the City." Or a rustic version of 'urban fantasy, ' with its suggestion that there's mystery just around the corner, hidden behind even the dullest small-town facade." --"The Wall Street Journal "on "The Hum and the Shiver" "This beautifully handled drama of Appalachian music and magic once again comes complete with fascinating characters, a persuasive setting and intriguing complications. Bledsoe's on a roll."--"Kirkus Reviews "(starred review) on "Wisp of a Thing""Bledsoe brings a real warmth and a messy humanity to his modern-day fairy story, with strong characterization and a passionate love of music."--"Publishers Weekly "on "Wisp of a Thing""A chilling mix of fantasy, realism, and a touch of horror.""--Booklist" on "Wisp of a Thing""Beautifully written, surprisingly moving, and unexpected in the best of ways.""--"Seanan McGuire, "New York Times" bestselling author of" Ashes of Honor" on "Wisp of a Thing""As raw and bewitching as the music and magic that fuel it. I loved this book for many reasons--the bone-deep mystery, the setting, the music, and the harsh beauty of its characters. It gives a new meaning to "well played"."--Rachel Caine, "New York Times "bestselling author of "Two Weeks' Notice "on "The Hum and the Shiver""It's a mixture: folk tales and folk songs, updated with a dose of "Sex and the City." Or a rustic version of 'urban fantasy, ' with its suggestion that there's mystery just around the corner, hidden behind even the dullest small-town facade." --"The Wall Street Journal "on "The Hum and the Shiver" for "The Hum and the Shiver""Beautifully written, surprisingly moving, and unexpected in the best of ways.""--"Seanan McGuire, "New York Times" bestselling author of" Ashes of Honor""Bledsoe crafts a deceptively simple story of family and community, laced with the music and beliefs of a magical reality." --"Library Journal", ""starred review"This powerful, character-driven drama, set forth in superbly lucid prose, occurs against an utterly convincing backdrop and owns complications enough to keep everyone compulsively turning the pages. A sheer delight."-Kirkus Reviews, starred review "It's a mixture: folk tales and folk songs, updated with a dose of "Sex and the City." Or a rustic version of 'urban fantasy, ' with its suggestion that there's mystery just around the corner, hidden behind even the dullest small-town facade." --"The Wall Street Journal"
