This urban fantasy started out great, with Minneapolis rock musician Eddi finding herself chosen as a pawn in the eternal war in the world of faerie, a reality she hadn’t even known existed. The otherworldly battle scenes were the weakest part of the story—it was much more interesting to see Eddi’s relationship with her protector develop, as well as that of her band. While it was fun to read a story set in the Twin Cities (where I live), after a while the many, many familiar locations being introduced and described got a little much. Regretfully, I wanted to like this book more than I actually did.

This is a beautifully written book that is both poetical and fantastical. liked the mix of music and magic. All the characters were well defined, and I especially liked Eddi, Willy and the phouka.

This book is the kind you like to curl up with to read all in one day (maybe two). It’s cute in an eighties-movie way. Emma Bull incorporates themes of loyalty, friendship, and comments on the nature of humanity, but she manages to avoid the moralizing that was common in fantasy novels at the time she wrote War for the Oaks (i.e. Mercedes Lackey’s soapbox novels).

It’s not The Best Fantasy Ever, but it’s worth a read, and I’m horrified that I didn’t discover Ms. Bull’s work earlier.