Book reviews

War For The Oaks
Emma Bull Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography Video
Emma Bull Books
New book search
Emma Bull Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of War For The Oaks
"

Doherty, Jul 2001, 13.95, 332 pp.
ISBN: 0765300346

Rhythm guitarist Eddi McCandry knows finally knows with this gig at Minneapolis' University Bar the band stinks and her former lover Stuart Kline has no talent. She realizes it is time to move on by leaving Stuart and InKline Plain for another rock and roll band, but one that plays music that came after the end of the Eisenhower administration.

    While Eddi suffers, the Seelie Court of Faerie select her as their human champion in the war with the Unseelie. To protect her, the Seelie send her a bodyguard. He is a large black male who turns into a nasty looking canine when danger arises. However, as Eddi adapts to having a guitar in two realms, her side is filled with dissension and treachery while the enemy wants to eliminate the mortal threat to their immortality.

    WAR FOR THE OAKS is a reprint of a Reagan era cult classic and no bull, the story line holds up as a superb example of urban fantasy. The tale is fast-paced and Eddi's humor lightens the tension just enough so that it lightens but does not overwhelm the plot. The story hooks the audience from the start because Eddi is a fabulous lead character and the range of Faerie persona seem real yet bizarre and exotic so that author Emma Bull avoids the pitfall of “Earthenizing” the race. Do You Believe In Magic? The answer is yes if you have read this wild ride through the Twin Cities.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

"Eddi's having a tough week - she's left her terrible band and her jerk of a lover - and that's before she's chased by a huge black dog and a sinister man through the late-night streets of Minneapolis. Soon Eddi discovers she's been chosen by the Seelie Court to act as a mascot during a war with the Unseelie Court. Eddi has to cope with her irritating new Phouka bodyguard, learn about the elves and magic, try to survive the Seelie Court's machinations, and - in her limited spare time - put together a new band. This is an incredible fantasy book, a classic of its kind, and a barrel of fun besides. Eddi learns about magic and has a romance with a magical guy."
Ivy, Resident Scholar

"In order for the fairies of the Seelie and Unseelie courts to kill one another in war, they have to have a mortal on their battlefield who will give them all mortality. The Seelie Court decides the Eddi will be that mortal, and they find her right after she's decided to quit the band she's in. A phouka (a creature that can change into both a man and a dog) is assigned as her bodyguard, because the Unseelie Court will now want to kill her. To pass the time and earn some money in the time before the war is supposed to begin, Eddi puts together her own band. She adjusts to the reality of fairies and makes friends with some of the ones she meets. Gradually she decides that something must be done to keep the fairies from all killing one another."
Melissa Cookson, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of War For The Oaks
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 16.7%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 33.3%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10%




FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy story on current Earth
Coming of age Yes
Youngster becomes - a powerful magician
Romance Yes
Romance plotlets: - falling in love with the enemy
Political power play Yes
Political plotlets - preventing/managing clash/war between govts/kingdoms
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Human/magical couple? Yes

Main Character
Identity: - Female
Profession/status: - musician
Age: - 20's-30's
Has magical/special powers? Yes
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Age: - long-lived adults
Has magical powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - mind control - can cast all sorts of spells
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Physique - average physique

Setting
Earth setting: - 20th century - during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Sex in book? Yes
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
Most similar books to War For The Oaks
A Kiss of Fate by Mary Jo Putney
Kiss of the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
A Greek God at the Ladies Club by Jenna McKnight
A Girl's Guide to Vampires by Katie MacAlister
A Taste of Passion by Patrice Michelle


Click here for more information about this book


Emma Bull Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Debbie  

SCHOLARS:


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Science Fiction books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Animal Story

Clones

Coming of age

Cultural problems, alien culture

Explore/1st contact/ enviro story

Family relations

GIANT monster(s)

Horror story?

Inner Struggle

Lifeform altered?

Mental/magical powers focus

Parody

Political power play

Religious overtones?

Repressive society story

Robots, Computers, VR

Romance

Spying & Investigations

Tech./$$$/Info hunt

Time Travel story?

Training/Apprent.

War or Invasion



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

Use our site!
17 FREE Sci-Fi Ebooks!
FREE "How to be happy" Ebook!
Funny Videos
Feedback


Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
Robert Segarra 6:23:18 PM
Deric Longden 3:20:15 PM
Colin Forbes 6:05:12 AM
Sue Grafton 5:50:04 PM
Jean M. Auel 12:32:16 PM
Livia Bitton-Jackson 11:27:55 PM
Mildred D. Taylor 12:30:06 AM
Dave Pelzer 1:03:36 AM
Mary Downing Hahn 8:19:22 PM
Anonymous 5:32:56 PM
Peter Abrahams 12:30:02 PM
Aline Countess of Romanones 9:56:28 PM
Suzanne Weyn 7:00:09 PM
Kim Rich 3:01:03 AM
Graham Greene 2:05:45 AM
Bo Caldwell 8:30:53 PM
Diana Marcellas 2:58:23 PM
LaVyrle Spencer 3:22:21 PM
Robb White 4:21:44 PM
Lilian Jackson Braun 10:21:26 AM

Silicon Valley
More message boards