3.0 

The Winding Road

By T. Thorn Coyle
The Winding Road by T. Thorn Coyle digital book - Fable

Publisher Description

If you believe that magic lurks just around the corner... If you love the tales spun by  Charles De Lint, T. Kingfisher, Garth Nix, and Holly Black...  

Meet Tom, the Rhymer of Ash Grove.

Welcome to Ash Grove, Oregon, a Shakespeare obsessed university town filled with artists, summer tourists, and fae creatures that stalk the streets at night...

Enter Tom Learmont, mild-mannered poet and professor of literature. Tom's life seems perfectly ordinary… But Tom has a secret not even their best friend knows.

Tom lost years—decades—trapped in Elfland. Underhill. Faery. Whatever you want to call it. Very few escape from there, and those that do? Well, it remains to be seen if Underhill ever releases its grip on heart and soul.

Tom has mostly adjusted to a quiet, introverted life back in the human realms, with Underhill a distant memory. Until one day, sitting on the porch swing of Tom's hundred-something year old Craftsman house... She appears. And yes, that's She with a capital S.

The Queen of Elfland has returned.

And not just the Queen. The powers from Underhill are back, the crows call out in warning, and Tom and their friends must face the gathering storm, and prepare to fight for their lives… and all of Ash Grove.

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The Winding Road Reviews

3.0
“Add to your TBR if you love: ✨Super inclusive ✨Poet MC ✨Agender Demi MC ✨Witches and Fae ✨Found Family ✨College Town Setting ✨Fae folklore ✨Magical Mystery ✨Finding Identity, Healing Trauma This is one of those quietly cozy books that settles in rather than sweeping you off your feet. Set in a liberal, Oregon college town, the story blends classic fae lore with a contemporary, academic backdrop that felt familiar, cozy, and lived-in. The inclusivity really stood out and felt fairly natural for the setting, which I loved. There is no question as to acceptance. Tom is a compelling protagonist in a subdued way; someone who’s survived something immense and otherworldly and is now trying to live quietly in the aftermath. The idea of losing decades to Faery and then having to rebuild a quiet human life afterward is genuinely compelling. Tom is a thoughtful, introspective protagonist shaped by that experience in such an interesting way. I appreciated the atmosphere, the mystery, and the looming threat remained somewhat cozy. I was consistently entertained, but I can’t pretend I was ever on the edge of my seat. Still, the world-building is genuinely interesting. I loved how traditional fae mythology was reimagined through a modern lens, and the college setting gave me a surprising wave of academic nostalgia. The writing itself is strong and clearly coming from a place of deep love for folklore and storytelling. It’s inclusive, thoughtful, and genuinely unique, with a strong sense of place and a lovely blend of fae lore and modern life. If you enjoy cozy, vibe-forward urban fantasy that prioritizes atmosphere and characters, this is absolutely worth picking up. Thanks to the author and Luna Blooms PA for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.”

About T. Thorn Coyle

T. Thorn Coyle worked in many strange and diverse occupations before settling in to write novels. Buy them a cup of tea and perhaps they’ll tell you about it.

Author of the Seashell Cove Paranormal Mystery series, The Steel Clan SagaThe Witches of Portland, and The Panther Chronicles, Thorn’s multiple non-fiction books include Sigil Magic for Writers, Artists & Other Creatives, and Evolutionary Witchcraft. Thorn's work also appears in many anthologies, magazines, and collections. 

An interloper to the Pacific Northwest U.S., Thorn pays proper tribute to all the neighborhood cats, and talks to crows, squirrels, and trees.

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