To Weave a Web of Magic: Four Stories of Fantasy and Exquisite Romance

great stories great plots!!! loved it!!:))

I love to read both fantasy and romance and found this anthology to be the perfect blend of the two genres. Patricia McKillip is one of my favorite authors so it is no surprise that her story is my favorite. Her pen paints stories as luminous and glowing as the works of art she is writing about. I loved this story about the power of dreams and illusions, and how love makes reality surpass all. I'd never read Lynn Kurland before, but I must say I too found this story "prequel-ish" -- yet I hope she will return to this world and write more. I adore Sharon Shinn's way of having her heroine's voice so down to earth as she tells of things fantastical. And Claire Delacroix's retelling of Melusine is heartbreaking. I was very sorry indeed to come to the end of the book. It may unnerve some romance fans who don't truly appreciate fantasy, but those who like a bit of otherworldliness with their romance won't be disappointed.

As you can guess, this book contains four completely separate stories. Each is a venture into fairie-land, as those lessons used to be told: dark, no happy ending guaranteed. Though the stories are not at all related, there is a common theme: learn to look beyond what you see. There is always something more, and often something richer, behind the appearance. The first story is a deus-ex-machina kind of tale, the second a true hero tale. The third is a story about angels, yes, but casts them more as a hybrid somewhere between humans and G-d. The final tale is the darkest, the truth behind an ages-old tragedy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good work of fantasy. (*)>

It's easy to get misled by the cover, which says these are stories of fantasy and romance. People will buy the book for either the fantasy or the romance, or perhaps both, and be disappointed that it's not all of one or the other, or a mix. I'm familiar with Delacroix and Kurland from the romance world, McKillip and Shinn from the fantasy world, and didn't expect McKillip and Shinn to be writing the romance stories, and Delacroix and Kurland to attempt something more in the fantasy side of things. I liked the snappy conversation from the Gorgon (McKillip), though yeah, it's pretty unbelievable that the hero manages to call her up from practically nothing. And it would've been really nice if they did live happily ever after. Kurland's story is not her usual fare, and I'm not surprised at the one-star ratings for her. The fairytale mode did pall, and more emphasis could've been placed on the 'present' instead. I did like the ending, though I'm not sure how sequels (this story is stamped 'prequel' all over) will read. You really need to have read Shinn's angel series to appreciate her story. It's not supposed to be blasphemous and is a welcome addition to the entire series. Delacroix' Melusine story was my least favourite. It was a good attempt at dark fantasy but entirely too depressing and I wanted happy endings. Romance readers are likely to be disappointed that the stories don't follow the usual 'and they met their princes and lived happily ever after' formula, but keep an open mind.

These four adult fairy tales are wonderful. Full of fun and fantasy. These are not erotic fairy tales, but wonderful journeys into the realms of myths, magic, and monsters. Sometimes the monsters are human.This was an exquisite experience. Each tale is very different, but all four are good. As with any good fairy tale the is a lesson to be learned in each. In one we have a painter who can't see what is really before his eyes.In two (my favorite) we have a delightful Lynn Kurland story, that reminds us sometimes our loved ones are not who we think they are.In three we find a world where angels are real and have a day to day relationship with man.In four one of the fey finds that being human is more than the flesh we wear.This book was like a breath of fresh air. Enjoy.

Patricia McKillip. Artist Harry Waterman feels like a failure because he lacks a muse to motivate him. That changes when Medusa calls him from a painting he drew. She plans to inspire him by pointing to a model Jo who vanished.Lynn Kurland. Using a cloaking spell, part Elfin Maher flees from her father because she refuses to wed her sire's choice of a spouse for her. Her father Robert wants to forge an alliance with Hagarth through his daughter. She refuses and seeks the help of King Harold to learn how to use a book of spells she possesses. However, her father insists she is a valuable asset to further his ambitions.Sharon Shinn. In Samaria, Jesse the fallen angel desires the young Manadavvi woman who returns his love. However, her mother insists her family is too important to have her marry a loser insisting the daughter will wed into a wealthy family or the next Archangel.Claire Delacroix. An elderly woman overhears two gossips discuss Melusine, a demon who chose to live in the mortal world to cast her evil influence on Raymond who she married and had ten children with him. The old woman informs the two women that Melusine came to this world out of love for Raymond. Is she a malevolent devil or a female in love?All four well-written romantic fantasies contain solid lead characters though in a couple of the tales the antagonist pales in comparison. Sub-genre fans will appreciate the quartet as all fun to read.Harriet Klausner