Long Black Curl (Tufa Series #3)

by Alex Bledsoe

Overview

Star-crossed lovers reunite in Long Black Curl, part of Alex Bledsoe's acclaimed contemporary fantasy series, where fairy magic is hidden in plain sight and age-old rivalries simmer just beneath the surface


"Reading Long Black Curl makes me so happy that there are authors writing real North American-based mythic fiction: stories that incorporate the Americas where many of us live, infusing them with their own folklore and mythology-one that sits so well it feels like it's always been a part of us." —Charles de Lint

In all the time the Tufa have existed, only two have ever been exiled: Bo-Kate Wisby and her lover, Jefferson Powell. They were cast out, stripped of their ability to make music, and cursed to never be able to find their way back to Needsville. Their crime? A love that crossed the boundary of the two Tufa tribes, resulting in the death of several people.

Somehow, Bo-Kate has found her way back, and fueled by vengeful plans to change the town forever. The only one who can stop Bo-Kate is Jefferson, but even he isn't sure what will happen when they finally meet. Will he fall in love with her again? Will he join her in her quest to reign over the Tufa? Or will he have to sacrifice himself to save the people who once banished him?


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

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780765376558
Publisher:	Tor Publishing Group
Publication date:	04/26/2016
Series:	Tufa Series , #3
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.10(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

ALEX BLEDSOE is the critically-acclaimed author of the Tufa novels The Hum and the Shiver, Wisp of a Thing, Long Black Curl, Chapel of Ease, and Gather Her Round as well as the Eddie LaCrosse series: The Sword-Edged Blonde, Dark Jenny, Burn Me Deadly, and He Drank, and Saw the Spider.

Editorial Reviews

Reading Long Black Curl makes me so happy that there are authors writing real North American-based mythic fiction: stories that incorporate the Americas where many of us live, infusing them with their own folklore and mythology-one that sits so well it feels like it's always been a part of us.” —Charles de Lint

“Long Black Curl is an intricate and multifaceted story. It's no secret that music stirs the soul, and combining that with a folk-tale setting makes a deeply heart-rending novel. While this is third in the Tufa series, new readers will be more than able to enjoy the story, and fans will especially appreciate the progression of characters and events.” —RT Book Reviews

“Long Black Curl is an emotional story full of hate, jealousy, revenge, and tragedy. It borders on horror. There is beauty, though, whenever music is present.” —Fantasy Literature

From the Publisher

03/30/2015
Bledsoe’s third tale (after Wisp of a Thing) of the Tufa—Appalachia-dwelling descendants of the Fae, all possessing great musical talent—sees two of their own returning, after a long exile, to fight for leadership of the community. Bo-Kate Wisby feels slighted by the Tufa and wants revenge. She starts by eliminating Rockhouse Hicks, a longtime leader recently fallen on hard times. As the two factions of the Tufa react to this power vacuum, they recall Bo-Kate’s former lover, Jefferson Powell, the only one who understands her weaknesses. Meanwhile, Bo-Kate has recruited a legendary musician, thought dead for decades, to help her achieve her bloody goals. The core concept is solid and fascinating; the execution strikes just the right tone between fantastic and tragic. Bledsoe plays with lyrics and atmosphere, incorporates folklore and superstition to good effect, and even toys with alternate history for further resonance. The slow-building plot works well with the extended cast of characters, but the climax and conclusion feel rushed. Agent: Marlene Stringer, Stringer Literary Agency. (May)

Publishers Weekly

05/15/2015
The power balance between the Tufa of Cloud County, TN, a group divided for centuries into two rival factions, is upset by the return of Bo-Kate Wisby. Once banished, Bo-Kate has found a way back and wants to unite the Tufa under her own control. First she must eliminate the malevolent force that was Rockhouse Hicks and then she targets the leader of the rival faction, young Mandalay Harris. VERDICT More details emerge of the history and traditions of the Tufa in this third outing (after The Hum and the Shiver and Wisp of a Thing). While it's great to see characters like Mandalay and Bronwyn from earlier books, it is the vividly drawn, seductively destructive Bo-Kate who dominates this story. Bledsoe combines folk music, fae myths, and the regular rhythms of life in an isolated rural community for another magical tale.

Library Journal