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seanpatricklittle's review against another edition
5.0
I haven’t been as taken by a series of books and a writer’s abilities as I have Bledsoe and his Tufa novels in quite some time. There’s something about the world Bledsoe has created in his fictional Cloud County and this race of displaced fairies, the Tufa, which makes me desperate to know more. I want to know all their secrets!
In the Tufa books, Bledsoe has a whole people to take stories from, a sort of Spoon River Anthology of backwoods rural folk. There’s no central character to his stories, usually. Instead, the community of Needsville and the Tufa people become the protagonist. This means that Bledsoe can approach the community from any angle. There is a multitude of characters that can grace his pages, and endless wealth of stories to tell.
In GATHER HER ROUND, the fifth outing in Cloud County, the community of Tufa have been struck by a tragedy: a monster pig, bred and raised domestically but released and gone feral, has killed one of their own. Hard to think a catalyst like this could turn into a love story, but the Tufa say that all songs are love songs.
Like the other books, Bledsoe’s prose is tight and effortless. It compels you to read more. His affection for his characters is evident, and his grasp on the community as a whole is total. The greatest travesty is that it takes a year (or more) for a new Tufa novel to emerge from this fertile landscape he’s created and I’m stuck waiting, desperate for the next one, the images and ideas of the most recent book plaguing me like an earworm that gets stuck in your head and leaves you humming the same song for weeks.
All of these books are fantastic. GATHER HER ROUND is no exception, a five-star novel in every way, shape, and form. Alex has said that the sixth trip through Cloud County is on its way. I will have to wait patiently for it to arrive, because I’m sure it will be another must-read novel.
In the Tufa books, Bledsoe has a whole people to take stories from, a sort of Spoon River Anthology of backwoods rural folk. There’s no central character to his stories, usually. Instead, the community of Needsville and the Tufa people become the protagonist. This means that Bledsoe can approach the community from any angle. There is a multitude of characters that can grace his pages, and endless wealth of stories to tell.
In GATHER HER ROUND, the fifth outing in Cloud County, the community of Tufa have been struck by a tragedy: a monster pig, bred and raised domestically but released and gone feral, has killed one of their own. Hard to think a catalyst like this could turn into a love story, but the Tufa say that all songs are love songs.
Like the other books, Bledsoe’s prose is tight and effortless. It compels you to read more. His affection for his characters is evident, and his grasp on the community as a whole is total. The greatest travesty is that it takes a year (or more) for a new Tufa novel to emerge from this fertile landscape he’s created and I’m stuck waiting, desperate for the next one, the images and ideas of the most recent book plaguing me like an earworm that gets stuck in your head and leaves you humming the same song for weeks.
All of these books are fantastic. GATHER HER ROUND is no exception, a five-star novel in every way, shape, and form. Alex has said that the sixth trip through Cloud County is on its way. I will have to wait patiently for it to arrive, because I’m sure it will be another must-read novel.
looloolibby's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jaymeks's review against another edition
4.0
Fucking amazing. Each book has consistently gotten better, and is definitely building to something. Cannot wait to see what's next!
valjeanval's review
4.0
The Hum and the Shiver is one of my favorite books of all time, but the others in the series have had diminishing returns for me. This one, however, was my favorite since that first one. I love reading this series while in Tennessee, as it feels like I walk outside into the Fae woodlands. Also, conceptually this book is Jaws but with with a pig and also Fae, so sort of playing to my wheelhouse. There's a few points I thought were a bit glossed over, but all in all a nice incentive to finish off this series. If you'd given up after Chapel of Ease, I'd say it's worth coming back for this one.
graff_fuller's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
There is a LOT of good in this story, but it felt very heavy.
As we were reading it (together), we were discussing possibilities...and Marie told me that the end would be a sad one. We wanted it NOT to be sad, but we KNEW it would be...and it was.
It could've been a whole LOT sadder, and thankfully the author had pitty on us, but still.
The idea of the music and the power it holds, especially by a Tufa, was prevalent in this story. That was one aspect that we wish could've changed the outcome, but nope.
This was just not our favourite story, but it does NOT mean it wasn't good. We are loving this series and the importance that it is instilling in us readers.
We are excited to move on to the next story...now.
As we were reading it (together), we were discussing possibilities...and Marie told me that the end would be a sad one. We wanted it NOT to be sad, but we KNEW it would be...and it was.
It could've been a whole LOT sadder, and thankfully the author had pitty on us, but still.
The idea of the music and the power it holds, especially by a Tufa, was prevalent in this story. That was one aspect that we wish could've changed the outcome, but nope.
This was just not our favourite story, but it does NOT mean it wasn't good. We are loving this series and the importance that it is instilling in us readers.
We are excited to move on to the next story...now.
rosemary_quintet's review against another edition
4.0
The song in chapter 29 is real by the way, and you should go listen to it on Youtube! It's called "Against the Black" by Jen Cass and Eric Janetsky.
vailynst's review against another edition
4.0
Notes:
Currently on Audiblre Plus
I love how the stories never lose a touch of otherness. In the first two books, it was the Tufa that held the most mystery. Later, the stories show glimpses of other mysteries that are a part of this world and that is pretty cool. =)
Currently on Audiblre Plus
I love how the stories never lose a touch of otherness. In the first two books, it was the Tufa that held the most mystery. Later, the stories show glimpses of other mysteries that are a part of this world and that is pretty cool. =)
suzjustsuz's review
4.0
4+ stars
Bledsoe is a master at creating a world and a story with the things he doesn't say, and his Tufa series is a shining example of how the art of subtlety can creep inside you and blossom. Now into book five I find that the vague sense of haunting that accompanies the setting and the characters of this series only serves to accentuate the duality of also feeling like I'm coming home when I start a Tufa story. Gather Her Round is at once a warm, welcoming blanket and a chilling, dark knot in your stomach.
I consider this series one of this year's finds and I look forward to more to come.
Bledsoe is a master at creating a world and a story with the things he doesn't say, and his Tufa series is a shining example of how the art of subtlety can creep inside you and blossom. Now into book five I find that the vague sense of haunting that accompanies the setting and the characters of this series only serves to accentuate the duality of also feeling like I'm coming home when I start a Tufa story. Gather Her Round is at once a warm, welcoming blanket and a chilling, dark knot in your stomach.
I consider this series one of this year's finds and I look forward to more to come.