The best book I've read in a while! Wonderful and clever wrighting. This novel was originally released in 1987, and the eights pop culture vibe (especially the fashion) is a lot of fun.
Having seen this author pop up occasionally I made a mental note to check out her work. Interestingly, I chose this book which is said to be the novel that started urban fantasy. Some even call it an urban fantasy classic. Anyway i totally enjoyed the read even if it took place during the 1980s in Minneapolis and featured a rock and roll artist as heroine. (I am not a particular fan of rock and roll.)
Now to the book itself. Oaks combines adventure with music, fairies (fey), and romance. The key character is Eddi McCandry who plays a mean guitar and loves music particularly when she is playing with equally talented musicians. Her dream is to lead a band of her own.
Eddi is selected by the fey as the mortal who will bring determine the outcome of a battle between the Seelie Court and the Unseelie Court. Obviously, if the Unseelie Court wins the outcome for the city and humans is dismal and dark. As this portion of the book continues we meet the Phouka, an interestingly eccentric character who gains her trust not to mention that he is an outstanding fighting partner. So the battle begins and the story unwinds. It's a fast moving read that I found difficult to put aside.
The writing is such that it pulls the reader along, page after page with wonderful analagies to create the atmosphere needed for the story. Eddi's emotions are key to much of the telling. Yes, I found this an outstanding read and can recommend it highly to readers of fantasy.
While the context is definitely dated (late '80s), this book is well-written and, I'm sure, went a long way toward defining an entire genre. Worth the time for fans of urban fantasy/alternate realities.
I found this book difficult to get into, so I ended up not finishing it. I don't know if it was the characters or the storyline but it wasn't for me.
Sharp, lucid and full of beautiful phrases, War for the Oaks is the sort of book you read and never forget. The best urban fantasy ever written, in my opinion.
