Fantasy Life

"Fantasy Life" crosses so many genre lines it's hard to say precisely what the book is. For the purposes of this review, I'm treating the book as a fantasy and encouraging people with young adult readers to consider it. A number of themes weave through the plot of this book: stewardship, conservation, coming of age and self acceptance--for both a mother and her child. Rusch writes about the Oregon I saw when we drove along the beaches there. It's a beautiful place, but a tough place. In spots, "Fantasy Life" also has a very strong gothic feel. Well worth a read for young and old alike.

I think Kristine Kathryn Rusch is one of the more interesting authors to snag my attention so far this new millennium. Her earlier Sci Fi works have some original concepts and good pacing. This is her first foray into the Fantasy realm that I'm aware of, and it's a worthy addition to her bibliography. The coast of Seavy County, Oregon, is a reservation of sorts for all of the world's remaining magical water creatures - the "mythical" mermaids, sylkies, water sprites, etc. of legend. For over one hundred years the Buckinghams, a resident family of Anchor Bay, have been stewards and sworn protectors of these various beings. Now mysterious deaths are threatening this special coexistence, and four generations of Buckingham women must forget their internal feuds and pull together, using their psychic powers to discover the source of the threat. I love Rusch's take on the disappearance of magic from our planet, her explanation for the steadily declining lack of sightings that goes hand in hand with our steadily eroding environment. I can also see a distinctly SF bias in her characters' reactions to the supernatural events surrounding them; they almost seem detached and unsurprised at the paranormal, as if astronauts expecting to discover and explore strange new worlds and all the attendant alien species therein. This is something I have noticed in the writings of other crossover novelists, and I can't decide if this rationalistic flavor is a refreshing twist on the Fantasy genre or a detraction from it. Perhaps because Anchor Bay's residents are so pragmatic about the otherworldly beings that they coexist with, the author never gets around to delving into the fascinating creatures, their relationships, their cultures, their intimate interactions with humans. Where then is the wonder and awe that so poetically defines Fantasy? As a novelist, Rusch did live up to her own standards. The plot was a very good blend of action, character development and steadily unfolding mystery. Rusch does seem to have a good handle on human psychology and she uses it effectively. I just wish that so much of it wasn't uncovered in the form of tardy flashbacks because to me that speaks of manipulation more than good plotting. Another note of discontent, publishers please take note: the cover is very badly done and misrepresents the contents of the book. For the record, there were no dragons or unicorns in Seavy County, and the painter seems to have been very confused about the light source. Didn't this well-published author have enough clout to deserve better artistic representation? Anyway, despite a few dangling plot threads and a budding romance subplot that seemed to go nowhere, I enjoyed the notion of Seavy County enough to be forgiving in the event of a future series. All else aside, the writing is good and the setup has great potential. So, four stars and thumbs up to Rusch for her boldness in breaking into a new genre. -Andrea, aka Merribe

Fantastic. Incredible. Rusch takes the indefinable qualities that make Oregon and it's people what they are, and somehow binds them into book form. As a native Oregonian, it's frustrating to read a book set in Oregon, and realize that the author likely hasn't ever even been here. As I read "Fantasy Life" it was apparent that she's one of us. She's a local. And even better... she managed to put it to paper.People think different here. It's nice to see it shared.

The book is beautifully written. The characters are given depth that make them feel real. The complexity of the relationships between the 4 pivotal, female characters will be familiar to anyone who has a family not from the world of Donna Reed. The author offers an excellent blend of fantasy, mystery, and suspense. I could not put the book down. I needed to know what would happen next. It's been a long time since I devoured a book the way I did this one. An wonderful read. Should be a future classic in the field of fantasy literature.

Lyssa Buckingham divorced her husband when his mental illness threatened to harm their ten-year-old daughter Emma. The young girl couldn't understand why she wasn't allowed to see her father. One day she decided to bicycle over to her former home and go swimming. When she gets in the water her father tries to drown her and using powers she never knew she possessed she sets him on fire and kills him.Once Lyssa learns what happened she knows she must return to Anchor Bay, Oregon to the house where she was born. She needs her mother and grandmother, who she turned away from, to teach Emma to control her powers. However returning home will provide no haven and ultimately wil, prove dangerous for her and the other Buckinghams. The fantasy creatures they have protected for over a century are planning to destroy everything the family holds dear.This novel will appeal to fans of fantasy, romance, horror and those readers who like a work that is refreshingly unique. The four Buckingham women are powerful, not because of their powers, but because of their determination to keep faith with the sentient beings who are under their protection. Lyssa learns that a person can't run away from one's destiny and the Buckingham women realize they are stronger together than apart. Kristine Kathryn Rusch is a talented storyteller who provides her audience with a great tale.Harriet Klausner