Faery in Shadow

By C.J. Cherryh

Book Overview

Avoiding other humans because of the curse placed on him, Caithe mac Sliabhan nevertheless aids a strange couple who claim to be husband and wife but look like twins to Caith and who are under the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345372794
• Release Date: July 1994
• Publisher: Del Rey
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 1.0" x 4.0"

Customer Reviews

Faerie emerging from the Shadows

First... dear lovers of the Sidhe (Faerie Folk), ... it is only fair to reveal that years ago when this book wasn't even available in the U.S.A. we wrote to the author and she very kindly gifted us an autographed copy, so we were already inclined to love it, particularly because we already loved her book(s) The Dreaming Tree. C. J. Cherryh is one of the few modern writers who has a genuine understanding of the Sidhe, who in this work are equivalent essentially to Virtues, Powers, or Dominions in angelic hierarchy. It is a good novel and clever and it ends, at least for these elves, in a very satisfying way. We just wish she'd write more in this genre. kyela, the silver elves

A sadly neglected gem

Caith mac Sliabhin has been cursed by the Sidhe. He wanders the world an outcast, with his companion Dubhain, a pooka who appears sometimes as a dark-haired youth, sometimes as a black horse. In a valley where things are somehow terribly wrong, they meet a beautiful young couple who need their help...a couple who may not be what they seem. Though set in a Celtic fantasy world reminiscent of The Dreamstone and The Tree of Swords and Jewels, this book is more like Cherryh's "human among the aliens" SF, such as Hunter of Worlds or Foreigner. The aliens, in this case, are the Sidhe. These aren't J.R.R. Tolkien's elves. They are like forces of nature, unmoved by, perhaps even unable to comprehend, the things that are important to mortals. Yet one gets the feeling that they are fond of Caith, in their inhuman way. Poor Caith. Cherryh has a knack for hard-edged fantasy, and it's on fine display here. As in Rusalka, magic works in this universe according to rules and limitations that make it seem almost like science. The characters also have more of an edge than you commonly find in fantasy. Cherryh's characters are always interestingly flawed, but Caith and Dubhain are especially so. Caith has had an exceedingly rough life, and has good reason for carrying the chip on his shoulder he does. He's basically a decent guy, but his hot temper and stubbornness often get him into trouble. As for Dubhain...well, he's a dark Sidhe, a pooka whose job it is to take horse form, lure men onto his back, then drown them. Talk about having a dark side! Nevertheless, he has a sort of elemental innocence that makes it easy to forgive his mischief. What Pat Nussman called "the magic circle" - a situation where a pair of characters are forced to rely on only each other for trust and friendship - is quite literal here. Caith has been damned by Faery, more because of the family he was born to than anything he did to deserve it. He avoids human company for fear of bringing his misfortune on others. Dubhain is similarly damned for the crime of doing a good deed. In a moment of weakness, he rescued Caith rather than drown him, and for this failure, he was bound to Caith by geas. They are each other's punishment...but also friends, as much as human and Sidhe can be. Dubhain is wicked and feckless and not entirely trustworthy, but humans need companionship, and he's all Caith has - the only being it's safe for him to be with. Dubhain is a loyal friend, as much as a dark Sidhe can be, but he's not human, and doesn't live by human rules. He can't give gifts without strings attached; every kindness must be balanced by a cruelty, however small. It's just his nature, and Caith understands this, even as he curses it. They are devoted to each other, but neither will ever admit it. They taunt and tease each other incessantly, using sarcastic terms of endearment more suitable for lovers than friends. This book is a sequel to "The Brothers," a story fr

Celtic Mythology Wonder

This is a great story based in the ancient UK . Celtic honor, and horror. The secret problem with the book is that it is the second part of a story that is available in Ms Cherryh's collected short stories. If you have enjoyed her ancient Russia stories and The Dreamstone stories, you will enjoy this rare gem.

One to Read again and again

I'm a picky reader. I've about read my copy of this issue to death, and probably will come back for more. Caith is very believable and Dubhain is everything a pooka should be. What a pity it's out of print (hint hint you publishers out there). Want more!