This novel will appeal to fans of Charles DeLint with its urban approach to Irish mythology. At times I was mesmerized while at other times I just wanted to red line this book to death. It’s a tribute to the writing of Ackley-McPhail that I kept reading. I’d have to say that the horror element in this was very well done because at times I had to get up and turn the lights on.

Open with two weird characters who are sucked up by some equally weird cloud thingy then jump into the POV of someone else and you are going to have to work hard to keep me interested. Ackley-McPhail managed to do that with her tale of young Kara who decides to pawn the family violin even though it is a precious heirloom. The choice is hard but Ackley-McPhail makes it very believable when you realize what keeping the violin would mean. Basically it’s the house or the fiddle, young Kara.

We meet Kara’s strange mentor, Maggie, who recognizes the magic in the fiddle and in the girl. As the magic is released, more and more darkness gathers on Kara’s horizon. How she escapes this and regains her fiddle make for an interesting tale.

This is a long book and ultimately satisfying. The cover art is spectacular. Do be aware that this is an expanded/revised version of the same story from 2002. I can recommend this book with the caveat that if the proper use of the comma is important to you, you will need to put that aside. There is mad comma abuse in this book, but seriously the story makes it all worth while.

A sampling of the kind of writing you can expect:
“She began softly, barely drawing the bow across the strings. With each full-bodied, heartfelt note, Kara and Quicksilver gave voice to their joint suffering—the agony of watching Papa waste away, the weight of the bills and collection notices stacking up at home, and the sorrow of helplessly watching both parents suffer, powerless to help. As she continued, the rising, haunting tune unfolded with no predetermined path to restrict it. Mingled with the sorrow was Kara’s own exuberance for life, which even her heartache could not quell. The music took on its own life, filling the shop and carrying the two women along, leaving them in a kind of shock as it ended of its own accord.”

I very much enjoyed the tale of Kara and her fiddle. This urban fantasy offers a thrilling ride through a familiar landscape. 4 tombstones from the cranky Southern Bell.

Book Stats:

• E-book and Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: Mundania Press LLC (September 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159426354X
• ISBN-13: 978-1594263545

To purchase a print copy of Yesterday’s Dreams click here.
To purchase an electronic copy of Yesterday’s Dreams click here.

Books in the series in the order they should be read:
Yesterday’s Dreams
Tomorrow’s Memories

To visit the author’s website go here.

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