Wisp of a Thing
A Novel of the Tufa
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4.3 • 25 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
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 Needsville, 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. 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.
Soon, Rob realizes that he is part of a greater story among the Tufa, and must break a timeless curse that haunts the town's past.
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
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Rob Quillen, a folk singer whose girlfriend died in a plane crash, seeks out the mysterious Tufa people in search of the song he believes will mend his broken heart. Though the Tufa appear to be a racially ambiguous Appalachian subculture, they're actually descendants of the Fae, capable of strange magics. Hunting his song, Rob becomes caught up in the fate of Curnen, a troubled girl under a terrible curse, and Stoney Hicks, a Tufa man who has been carelessly seducing and destroying women with his magical charms. Bledsoe brings a real warmth and a messy humanity to his modern-day fairy story, with strong characterization and a passionate love of music. Set in the same world as The Hum and the Shiver, this stand-alone novel feels more heartfelt and is written with a lighter touch, fulfilling all of the first book's early promise and hitting the sweet spot between glossy and gritty.
Customer Reviews
Fantastical hillbilly fairies
Once again, this author paints a masterpiece. Think of how much you loved bedtime stories and fairytales when you were a child. Think of your fondest memories of them. This is your chance to experience that and more as an adult in one written for an adult. The Tufa are every day people like you and I. Their stories are made up of good times and bad times. They live a hard life in the mountains of Tennessee. As the drama unfolds, we see they are much more than what appears to your average human. Their town, Needsville, can only be found by Tufa or those that the night wind sees worthy. And when the Tufa gather to play music, magic happens.
I loved this book. We see a lot of Bliss in it. Not so much of Mandalay. This story plays a big part in explaining Rockhouse’s life why he is like he is. Although he has always been an evil constant, I couldn’t help but feel a little bad for him because, after all, he was once such a powerful creature. I guess it would be more fitting to say I pity him now. There were also some really funny parts. I loved how someone called them all a bunch of hillbilly fairies. 🧚♂️
If you like audiobooks, you will love this one. The narrator is to die for. I hope he does more of the series. I have both the book and the audiobook and will be enjoying them again soon.