The Hum and the Shiver: A Novel of the Tufa (Tufa Novels)
The Hum and the Shiver: A Novel of the Tufa (Tufa Novels) book cover

The Hum and the Shiver: A Novel of the Tufa (Tufa Novels)

Mass Market Paperback – November 26, 2013

Price
$33.00
Publisher
Tor Fantasy
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0765365903
Dimensions
4.14 x 0.97 x 6.81 inches
Weight
5.6 ounces

Description

“Imagine a book somewhere between American Gods and Faulkner. In brief: a good book. Absolutely worth your time.” ― Patrick Rothfuss, New York Times bestselling author “As raw and bewitching as the music and magic that fuel it. I loved this book for many reasons--the bone-deep mystery, the setting, the music, and the harsh beauty of its characters. It gives a new meaning to well played .” ― Rachel Caine, New York Times bestselling author of Two Weeks' Notice “Haunting . . . A rustic version of ‘urban fantasy,' with its suggestion that there's mystery just around the corner, hidden behind even the dullest small-town facade.” ― Wall Street Journal “With a deep love for the mountains embedded in his language, Bledsoe crafts a deceptively simple story of family and community, laced throughout with the music and beliefs of a magical reality. Elegantly told.” ― Library Journal, starred review “This powerful, character-driven drama, set forth in superbly lucid prose, occurs against an utterly convincing backdrop and owns complications enough to keep everyone compulsively turning the pages. A sheer delight.” ― Kirkus Reviews, starred review “Bledsoe's rich, nearly poetic prose . . . captured me at page one and didn't let me go to the end. If you are a fan of urban fantasy, this is a book you need to add to your list today. There are secrets ancient and wild waiting for you to discover, and I enjoyed every minute.” ― Seattle Post-Intelligencer “Bledsoe turns standard urban fantasy tropes on their head. . . . The slowly unfolding mystery of the Tufa is a fascinating and absorbing masterpiece of world-building.” ― Publishers Weekly ALEX BLEDSOE is the critically-acclaimed author of the Tufa novels The Hum and the Shiver, Wisp of a Thing, Long Black Curl , Chapel of Ease, and Gather Her Round as well as the Eddie LaCrosse series: The Sword-Edged Blonde, Dark Jenny, Burn Me Deadly , and He Drank, and Saw the Spider.

Features & Highlights

  • The Hum and the Shiver
  • by Alex Bledsoe is an enchanting tale of music and magic older than the hills, and the first book in the wondrous Tufa series. . . .
  • "Imagine a book somewhere between
  • American Gods
  • and Faulkner. In brief: a good book. Absolutely worth your time."―Patrick Rothfuss,
  • New York Times
  • bestselling author, on
  • The Hum and the Shiver
  • No one knows where the Tufa came from, or how they ended up in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. Enigmatic and suspicious of outsiders, the Tufa live quiet lives in the hills and valleys of Cloud County. While their origins may be a mystery, there are hints of their true nature buried in the songs they have passed down for generations.
  • Bronwyn Hyatt, a pure-blood Tufa, has always insisted on doing things her own way, regardless of the consequences. Even though Tufa rarely leave Cloud County, she enlisted in the Army to escape the pressures of Tufa life―her family, her obligations as a First Daughter, and her dangerous ex-boyfriend. But after barely surviving a devastating ambush that killed most of her fellow soldiers, Private Hyatt returns to Cloud County wounded in body and in spirit. But danger lurks in the mountains and hollows of her childhood home. Cryptic omens warn of impending tragedy, and a restless "haint" lurks nearby, waiting to reveal Bronwyn's darkest secrets. Worst of all, Bronwyn has lost touch with the music that was once a vital part of her identity.
  • Now Bronwyn finds the greatest battle to be right here at home, where her obligations struggle with her need for freedom, and if she makes the wrong choice, the consequences could be deadly for all the Tufa. . . .
  • "A sheer delight."―
  • Kirkus Reviews,
  • starred review
  • Enter the captivating world of the fae in Alex Bledsoe's Tufa novels
  • The Hum and the Shiver
  • Wisp of a Thing
  • Long Black Curl
  • Chapel of Ease
  • Gather Her Round

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(178)
★★★★
25%
(149)
★★★
15%
(89)
★★
7%
(42)
23%
(136)

Most Helpful Reviews

✓ Verified Purchase

What a hunk of junk

This is another good idea that was not fully realized. A very short story stuffed with tedious details that have nothing to do with the story. We spend a good chapter coming to understand a haint that is visiting a family. Haints cannot be ignored and have important messages which must be heard. This particular haint appears on nearly ever page of the book, described in repetitive (and mostly ridiculous) gory detail. And it is ignored and we never hear its message. Seriously. Never.
Our protagonist is a young, sexually adventurous woman. You'll initially have the idea that this pocket of humanity is a bit more progressive than most- but no. The slut shaming is endless. Every woman in the book is rapaciously horny and every man is a) a docile farm animal who worships his woman or b) a vicious mysogenist filled with baseless, pointless rage.
They're magical...but so what? A lot of shoulder shrugging and guess work about what the "Wind" wants and hiding who they are and constant descriptions of music and people playing music and terrible lyrics to songs that have a lot of meaning to the characters but not to you.
And there are sequels!
5 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Good book, interesting premise

I enjoyed this story but it was not all it could have been. Although the tufa were interesting, the main character was not exactly one hundred percent likable. She leaves town to get away from a wild boyfriend whom she attracted because she was just as wild. She joins the service and returns a hero but she does not really remember why or how she was rescued. She returns home but is still somewhat rebellious and in the end strong words from her old boyfriend in front of her big brother ends up with them in a fight that ends badly. Her reaction is not approved of by her family. The ending is kind of vague, with her being in some kind of new relationship with her family but why or how is not really explained.
1 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Disappointing

This book had rave reviews from people I know, but I was less than impressed. The Tufa world could have been really well developed, but I felt like I didn't really get a sense of the culture. The characters were flat and boring, and overall the story was full of loose ends. This is the first in the series, and I don't feel like I need to continue reading. It's a quick read though, easy to get through.
1 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Causes Insomnia

Gorgeous. Addicting. Kept me up all night and late to work.
✓ Verified Purchase

I really liked the book!

THe book came in the condition as described, received quickly. Great price! And I really liked the book!
✓ Verified Purchase

Loved it!

Loved the story and can't wait to read the rest of the series
✓ Verified Purchase

Great Author

Great Book. I am going to read the series. Wonderful author with interesting prose with vivid imagery. Sort up like John Updike with a Southern cultural twist.
✓ Verified Purchase

Definitely Worth the Read!

I really got hooked on the Tufa Tales. I find the story a good balance between fantasy and reality, adding just enough to feed your suspension of disbelief. I look forward to the other books!
✓ Verified Purchase

Four Stars

Drawn out
✓ Verified Purchase

A slice of home

Having grown up in these Tennessee mountains, books that are set here tend to draw my attention. If that book is well written, it keeps my attention. These novels are set in northeast Tennessee and I grew up in southeast Tennessee but it is the same mountains. A lot of the language that seems 'out of place' to most people was music to my ears. My folks grew up here when it was so much more isolated than it is now so much of Alex's tales are like sitting listening to my mama reminisce about life in these hills.

The tale grabbed me. I finished it and went quickly to the second. Now I am waiting for the third to be delivered. When I finish it, I will go for the next one.