Thursday, July 21, 2011

Wayfinder-C.E. Murphy

Wayfinder
C.E. Murphy
Del Rey, Sep 6 2011, $15.00
ISBN: 9780345516077

Dafydd ap Caerwyn the elf from the Faerie Barrow-lands sought in the mortal realm a Truthseeker, a person who could tell veracity from lies. He finds her in Boston; Lara Jansen agrees to help him determine who killed his brother Merrick. A witness says he committed fratricide, but he knows he is innocent. It turns out that Merrick was responsible and the witness saw an illusion. A severely injured Dafydd is sent back to his world in the hopes that the healers there who use magic an cure his injuries.

Lara follows him from earth and discovers he was near death and the healers couldn’t help him so he was placed in the Drowned Lands in the vague hope he might heal. Lara and Aerin the elf woman go there to ascertain whether Dafydd was healed. Before they reach him the sea god Lyr informs her she might find her beloved if she passes the trials and when they do they find Daffyd alive he learns Merrick will go to any lengths to get what he wants. The trio must get back to Dafydd’s father before Merrick reaches him, but instead they find themselves back on earth.

The direct sequel to the Truthseeker is an outstanding urban fantasy that effortlessly moves back and forth between the two planes. In the Barrow-lands, the Seelie and Unseelie are on the brink of civil war due to the latter believing the former drowned their lands. The stay in Boston is disastrous but they can’t fix what was destroyed as time is running out with Barrow-land royal rules dictating the politics. C.E. Murphy provides a strong voice as the truth may set Daffyd free but at what cost?

Harriet Klausner

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