ielerol's review
4.0
When I started this book I didn't realize it was intended to be the final one in the series. So when I saw that the initial POV characters weren't Tufa, I was worried I'd have similar problems as with Chapel of Ease. But no, after some initial setup, this book gets deep into Tufa business, fast, and I loved it.
The past couple of books had been hinting heavily that things would change for the Tufa. I was anticipating that they'd open up to more interaction with the wider world. While we don't see that explicitly happen in The Fairies of Sadieville, I can see how the ending sets up the possibility. The book answers a number of questions, but leaves lots of others open, and I like that. I don't want too neat a bow on everything.
Overall I think the Tufa series is possibly my favorite twist on several tropes I'm not otherwise fond of, European folklore transplanted to the Americas and secret magical beings living alongside humans undiscovered. Bledsoe has clearly thought a lot about how the Tufa could survive in secret, how they might change living in the mountains of Tennessee and how they might not. My small complaint about the series as a whole is the lack of Yunwi Tsunsdi. I was so excited when they showed up in The Two Weddings of Bronwyn Hyatt, since my number one question in all stories of European fairies in America is, what happened to the native folklore beings? Are only the European stories true? Was there a supernatural genocide alongside the human one and now the few that are left are on reservations too? Were you careless and mildly racist in your world-building and so the question never occurred to you?
...Anyway, it's a pet peeve, and I'm glad these books had answers, but I feel like flashbacks to the Tufa's original arrival in Cloud County were a real missed opportunity to bring them back in.
The past couple of books had been hinting heavily that things would change for the Tufa. I was anticipating that they'd open up to more interaction with the wider world. While we don't see that explicitly happen in The Fairies of Sadieville, I can see how the ending sets up the possibility. The book answers a number of questions, but leaves lots of others open, and I like that. I don't want too neat a bow on everything.
Overall I think the Tufa series is possibly my favorite twist on several tropes I'm not otherwise fond of, European folklore transplanted to the Americas and secret magical beings living alongside humans undiscovered. Bledsoe has clearly thought a lot about how the Tufa could survive in secret, how they might change living in the mountains of Tennessee and how they might not. My small complaint about the series as a whole is the lack of Yunwi Tsunsdi. I was so excited when they showed up in The Two Weddings of Bronwyn Hyatt, since my number one question in all stories of European fairies in America is, what happened to the native folklore beings? Are only the European stories true? Was there a supernatural genocide alongside the human one and now the few that are left are on reservations too? Were you careless and mildly racist in your world-building and so the question never occurred to you?
...Anyway, it's a pet peeve, and I'm glad these books had answers, but I feel like flashbacks to the Tufa's original arrival in Cloud County were a real missed opportunity to bring them back in.
graff_fuller's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.5
Like all books in this series...it has a different protagonist, but also uses and interacts with some of the other protagonists of the previous books and side characters.
This is the fullest of all the stories of the Tufa in our world. It may be the final book in the series, but it also may be just a way stop...along the way. We can see him writing more in this world...and in many ways...we hope he does.
The world building that has been built over six books has been incrimental, but this is the most SOLID it has appeared the entire time (even still, there is a LOT that we do NOT know).
Because time plays differently whenever you deal with the Tufa...we could get another book that butts up next to this book...or one twenty years from now.
We really enjoyed this series. It allowed many discussions on how we felt along the way. It was fun for us to read alternating chapters, but then also listen to it in audiobook format, too. The full experience. When Marie read...I was able to pick out things, and when I read, she did too. This was a great series for us to jump fully into. We read these six books in FIVE days. Thank you.
This is the fullest of all the stories of the Tufa in our world. It may be the final book in the series, but it also may be just a way stop...along the way. We can see him writing more in this world...and in many ways...we hope he does.
The world building that has been built over six books has been incrimental, but this is the most SOLID it has appeared the entire time (even still, there is a LOT that we do NOT know).
Because time plays differently whenever you deal with the Tufa...we could get another book that butts up next to this book...or one twenty years from now.
We really enjoyed this series. It allowed many discussions on how we felt along the way. It was fun for us to read alternating chapters, but then also listen to it in audiobook format, too. The full experience. When Marie read...I was able to pick out things, and when I read, she did too. This was a great series for us to jump fully into. We read these six books in FIVE days. Thank you.
katejeminhizer's review
4.0
I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley for an honest review.
What a lovely fantasy! I was unaware this was the conclusion of a series when I started reading it. This book is easily read separate from the series. I enjoyed the unraveling of the different timelines to explain the different aspects of the plot. While for some the clash between modern academia and those who live in the mountains away from “advanced” society might be unbelievable, it exists. Not only does it exist, but just as this story portrays there are underlying beliefs and superstitions. The author did a wonderful job of unveiling that culture. The Tufa story/people was intriguing and I am delighted to know I can go to the beginning of the series and get to know them more.
What a lovely fantasy! I was unaware this was the conclusion of a series when I started reading it. This book is easily read separate from the series. I enjoyed the unraveling of the different timelines to explain the different aspects of the plot. While for some the clash between modern academia and those who live in the mountains away from “advanced” society might be unbelievable, it exists. Not only does it exist, but just as this story portrays there are underlying beliefs and superstitions. The author did a wonderful job of unveiling that culture. The Tufa story/people was intriguing and I am delighted to know I can go to the beginning of the series and get to know them more.
csarakas's review
5.0
The last of the Tufa books, The Fairies of Sadieville ends the series on the perfect note: slightly bittersweet, with a mix of hurt and hope and just the right amount of magic.
Many of the characters we've shared stories with over the past four books make an appearance here, giving us time to catch up a bit on what's been going on in their lives. This is perfectly meshed with the newcomers to Cloud County - two college graduate students who find a silent movie that sends them on a quest to discover what happens to Sadieville, a coal town that disappeared without (almost) a trace. As with all things Tufa, there are layers and layers to the story, which ultimately lead us all the way back to when the Tufa were exiled.
Bledsoe does an amazing amount of worldbuilding in this book, filling in the gaps for those who have long wanted to know more about the Tufa and their origins. That he does so within the confines of a new mystery simply shows his deft skill at storytelling. Everything feels organic, and the story unfolds at the perfect tempo.
It's easy for fans to want an author to write forever about a beloved series, but in Sadieville, the stories of Mandelay and Bronwyn and Rock House and Bliss don't end. They just fade away into the next track on the album.
I'm looking forward to whatever that is.
Many of the characters we've shared stories with over the past four books make an appearance here, giving us time to catch up a bit on what's been going on in their lives. This is perfectly meshed with the newcomers to Cloud County - two college graduate students who find a silent movie that sends them on a quest to discover what happens to Sadieville, a coal town that disappeared without (almost) a trace. As with all things Tufa, there are layers and layers to the story, which ultimately lead us all the way back to when the Tufa were exiled.
Bledsoe does an amazing amount of worldbuilding in this book, filling in the gaps for those who have long wanted to know more about the Tufa and their origins. That he does so within the confines of a new mystery simply shows his deft skill at storytelling. Everything feels organic, and the story unfolds at the perfect tempo.
It's easy for fans to want an author to write forever about a beloved series, but in Sadieville, the stories of Mandelay and Bronwyn and Rock House and Bliss don't end. They just fade away into the next track on the album.
I'm looking forward to whatever that is.
karireads's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
branpender12's review
4.0
What a great way to wrap up this series! I really enjoyed this book but I do believe you could read it as a standalone and not missed anything from the rest of the series. There were some details from other books in the series, but it didn’t take away or add to anything in this book that would make them completely necessary. The book was fun and easy read. I devoured it in one day!
I liked that the story ended by revisiting the beginning. The pacing of the book is very fast and easy to follow along with which made it an easy finish to the series. The characters were very diverse and their interpersonal relationships were very lifelike and real.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves the Fae and modern fantasy books. Thank you for allowing me access to this title!
vailynst's review
4.0
Notes:
Currently on Audible Plus
Ya know, the story did not go quite the way I imagined that it would but it was still a good finish. If Bledsoe decides to write more books in either of his series, I would read them.
Currently on Audible Plus
Ya know, the story did not go quite the way I imagined that it would but it was still a good finish. If Bledsoe decides to write more books in either of his series, I would read them.
meg_wadlington's review
4.0
This is the last in the Tufa series. It is so hard when I try to describe this series. It takes place deep in the Appalachia mountains. Surrounding the lives and machinations of the “Tufa” people who are rumored to have been in the mountains before the Native Americans. They don’t mix well with others and when they do, things are unpredictable. Throughout all that they do, there is music threaded. Blue grass, folk, rock, country. Music is how the Tufa express their emotions, communicate, and produce their strongest magic...
lmwanak's review
3.0
Read my review at Lightspeed Magazine: https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/nonfiction/book-reviews-february-2018/