
Singer of Souls by Adam Stemple
Singer of Souls is simply a wonderful little fantasy novel. It's especially impressive when you take into account that this is Adam Stemple's first adult novel (he previously collaborated with his mother, author Jane Yolen, on children's music books).
The story follows Douglas, a Minneapolis street musician who is addicted to heroin. Trying to get clean, he decides to go to Scotland (where his grandmother lives) to try and make a fresh start. In Scotland, Douglas makes a living as a street performer. His street act involves improvising lyrics about passers-by — creating a song about them on the fly. When performing in Edinburgh, one of the fey folk approaches him, and so Douglas discovers that he has special powers.
I was very pleasantly surprised by this novel. ... Read More