Once Upon a Winter's Night

by Dennis L. McKiernan

Book Overview

From the bestselling author of the Mithgar novels comes a new version of a classic French fairy tale. A young woman marries a mysterious Prince, only to have magic steal him away-and, once upon a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451458400
• ISBN13: 9780451458407
• Release Date: July 2001
• Publisher: Roc
• Length: 380 Pages
• Weight: 1.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Quest for a Vanished Prince

Once Upon a Winter's Night (2001) is the first fantasy novel in the Faery series. It is a greatly extended version of the fairytale "East of the Sun and West of the Moon". In this novel, Camille and her family are disturbed one winter night by a great pounding on the door of their hovel. At first they do nothing, but the pounding continues. Finally, Camille suggests that Henri, her father, find out who is knocking. When Henri, opens the door, he immediately slams it shut and bars it. When asked about the knocker, Henri wails "A Bear! A white Bear!" Then once more comes the massive knock and the door shudders under the blow. Finally, Camille reopens the door and invites the Bear to enter. The single room is quite crowded after the Bear comes in and lies on the floor. A message tube is attached around the Bear's neck. The note within asks for Camille's hand in marriage and offers a sizeable bride-price. It is signed "Lord Alain, Prince of the Summerwood". Camille's mother Aigrette is convinced as soon as the bride-price is announced. Her five sisters tend to be favorable to the offer, although Lisette complains that she is the eldest and should be married first. Henri and Giles, the younger son, are against the whole idea, but Henri can only drag his feet and insist on more time. The Bear is told to come back in a week. Despite Aigrette's nagging, Henri is not really convinced to let Camille go. However, Aigrette hits upon the idea of a doctor for chronically ailing Giles and Camille begins to seriously consider marrying Alain. Although Giles continues to argue against the idea, Camille leaves with the Bear after he returns. After an arduous trip through Faery with the Bear, including a Red Cap attack in Winterwood, Camille finally arrives at Summerwood Manor. She finally meets Alain on the third day after her arrival. He is everything that she imagined, except that he is wearing a mask. In this story, Camille grows to love Alain and waits patiently to see him without his mask. After a trip back home, however, her mother's insinuations persuade Camille to sneak a look at his unmasked face and a violent wind takes away Alain and everybody within Summerwood Manor. Camille spends several days cleaning up the mess within the manor, but finally thinks to consult the Lady of the Mere. Lord Kelmot, a Lynx rider, shows her the way. The Lady indirectly advises her to look for Alain "East of the Sun and West of the Moon". She also gives Camille a staff and provides a sparrow as her companion. Kelmot offers to accompany her in her quest to locate Alain, but the Lady has advised her to only take the stave and sparrow with her. Camille meets many friendly people on the way and a few villains. Her own wit often suffices to thwart the villains, although a word of advice from her friends often becomes useful. She hurries as fast as she can, for she only has a year and a day and another month from the day Alain vanished, and she encou

A Faerytale of Love, Courage, and Strength

I recieved this book for Christmas last year from my husband. I have always loved fairytales. This one had me hooked by the first page. I fell in love with it and have not found another as good since. I have since then read it twice and am about to read it a third time. It is a great tale about love and what people do for true love. I would reccomend this to any adult who still loves fairytales. I am now pregnant and plan to read it to my daughter, only omitting a few scenes that are defined as clean sex. The fact that it was changed from Scandanavian and made with french twist drew me to it even more. It is a classic tale witha new twist that everyone should read.

Enchanting retelling

The author states this novel is a retelling of a short story he read as a child. A short story titled "East of the Sun and West of the Moon" written by a Scandinavian author. If it was a Scandinavian tale that inspired the author I can only say that Nordic bard was a lover of myths for I know it as a re-telling of one of my favorite classical Greek myths that I read as a child - the myth of Eros and Psyche (i.e. Love and Soul). Right down to the need for Alain (Eros) to wear a mask and hiding his true form to prevent a curse enacting. Right down to Camille (Psyche) invoking the curse when she sees Alain's true form unmasked by candlelight as he sleeps. Right down to the drip of the candle wax on Eros'- I mean Alain's - chest. And of Psyche's - I mean Camille's - subsequent quest to find her lover again and break the curse. For as the Greek myth makes clear, Love and Soul were meant to be together for the blessing of mankind.It was enchanting as a Greek myth and even more so as Mr. McKiernan's re-telling. Here the Greek myth is given life so compelling I think it better than the source. Unlike some previous reviewers I didn't have any problem with the occasional touches of archaic phrasing. They only happened sporadically and even then only in small touches. That must be something that is strictly a personal preference - you're either allergic to it or you're not. I actually liked it as it added to the over-all feel of what a myth should be when read. To anyone who likes myths and fairy tales this is a wonderful read. And if you ever get the chance - read the original myth from whence it came. You'll be glad you did.

New McKiernan, Same Great Story

Well, I just finished Once Upon a Winter's Night and my only problem with it is I can't wait for the sequal(s)! That's all that's bad about it... McKiernan definately has a winner on his hands. The book is _almost_ as good as his Mithgar arc, but totally in a different way. All I can say is it's magical. I felt like a little kid reading this book, because it defiantely has a fairy tale storybook feeling, but you can tell this one is written for us big kids too. It has very tasteful adult scenes including a little bit of intimacy and Dennis' trademark descriptions of battles, and all things magical. I think it is better than his other non Mithgar book, Caverns of Socrates, and will reach a broader audience, including female readers of fantasy and romance. The book is well written and everything ties together beautifully. You might even say there are even some "red slipper" token items sprinkled throughout that McKiernan always uses so skillfully. The book will may you think a lot about people, the world, and the nature of why we're all here. Bravo Dennis, and keep 'em coming!

An enchanting fantasy

Camille, the youngest of six daughters with a younger ailing brother, lives with her impoverished family near the end of the human world and the start of the fairy realm. She finds happiness singing while working in the field and playing games with her brother. The six female siblings have little hope for marriage because there is no money for a dowry. However, everything changes when a bear arrives at their hovel. The bear carries a message from Prince Alain of Summerwood stating he wishes to marry Camille and if his proposal is accepted he will pay a bride price that will leave her family in modest luxury. Camille and her brother say no, but the rest of her kin accept. Camille gives in when she realizes her brother can obtain needed medicine. Camille rides the bear through Springwood to Winterwood to Autumnwood until she finally reaches her destination of Summerwood. There she meets Prince Alain who wears a mask. Still, Camille and Alain begin to fall in love, but she tries to lift the curse that is destroying him without realizing the consequences of her actions. Still, she willingly will go into hell if need be to rescue her beloved. ONCE UPON A WINTER'S NIGHT is a superb adult fairy tale that children of all ages will enjoy. The story line is charming and magical as it takes readers on quite a ride in the realm of Fairy. Camille is a great female protagonist and the melancholy Alain, who finds brief respites with his beloved, is an enigmatic hero. Dennis McKiernan escorts fantasy lovers into an enchanted place that deserves more tales, perhaps those starring Alain's siblings and even a prequel starring his parents.Harriet Klausner