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Constance's husband, Johnathan, has gone missing. She is afraid he has tried to find a way into the Yonder, a place of lore and legend. After finding a guide to help her get there, Constance is partnered with a seeker whose job is to assist her in her search. Magpie, the seeker, is a disheveled, smelly man in a huge bearskin coat who attracts unwanted attention and seems to have no plan except to let chance encounters guide them. The Yonder changes people and often makes them forget things. Constance seems younger there, and the debilitating pain that causes her limp is no longer present. However, it is also a dangerous place. A greedy, power-hungry conjurer intent on ruling the lands of the Yonder and beyond has claimed Constance as his property. Magpie, too, has fears and secrets of his own. He made a deal with a powerful being, cheated Death himself, and must constantly shun any companionship. These two will interact with animals, tricksters, and enchantments while trying to outwit those who pursue them and discover what they are missing.
Samson's novel is a quest set in the lands of familiar little stories, or fairy tales. Readers will quickly recognize characters from "The Princess and the Pea," "Little Red Riding Hood," and many others. Samson's characters' travels weave in and out of the famous tales, adding little variations to each. The book feels like a combination of Michael Buckley's children's series, The Sisters Grimm, combined with John Connolly's darker and more adult novel, The Book of Lost Things. Both Samson and Buckley take characters and events from well-known stories and have them interact in new and interesting ways with their protagonists. The lore of the familiar is the backdrop against which their new inhabitants can operate and create original stories of their own (Samson even includes some prominent authors as side characters). This book is targeted at a slightly older audience than Buckley's but is not as dark as Connolly's. Samson and Connolly each have malevolent and dangerous antagonists, but Samson doesn't twist the story into the horror genre in the manner of Connolly. Both authors include a conclusion that highlights the power of storytelling as more than just entertainment. It can teach and guide not only those on the journey, but also those who hear its telling.
Samson's novel is noteworthy both for the clear, detailed sentences that paint a vivid picture of his world and the overarching narrative that is bewitching from start to finish. His worldbuilding is enthralling without being overwhelming as it slowly unveils both its fairy tale connection and the general rules that govern how things work in this new, fantasy place. The pacing is excellent, except for a short section that occurs pre-conclusion, where the inclusion of a couple of recognizable tales that aren't integral to the story briefly slows the narrative. However, moving to the conclusion puts everything right back on track and grabs any lost attention. Readers who love fairy tales and adventure stories, from the middle grades to adults, can expect to be captivated by this book and find themselves telling their friends of similar interests that they need to read it.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review
A 2022 Eric Hoffer Book Award Grand Prize Short List book