With the help of a mentor and an anonymous benefactor, Jilly Coppercorn has overcome abuse, addiction, and a stint in juvie. Though she still strug...
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reviews
Dec 01, 2008
Jensownzoo
rated it: 
Another installment in the life of Jilly Coppercorn, inhabitant of the wonderful imaginary city of Newford, created by the author Charles de Lint. Previous stories have clued us into Jilly's early life and generally how Jilly's life worked itself out at the end, but this novella fills in a bit of the gap in the middle. This tale originally was supposed to be a short story but went overlong.
I was a little less enchanted with this Newford story than I have been with the others simply More...
I was a little less enchanted with this Newford story than I have been with the others simply More...
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Mar 12, 2009
Amanda
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I spent a great deal of time being angry at Mr. de Lint for introducing me to a Jilly that's completely wrong. And while I'm still miffed at him for jilting me, I'll forgive and forget for long enough to dive into the city of Mireya. A mysterious fantasyland in the afterlife, Mireya is the place where milk and honey flow. It's a place where you get what you deserve and all the sweetness of life rains down on you. But does Jilly really, I mean REALLY, want to stay???
Duh. Of course More...
Duh. Of course More...
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Apr 10, 2008
Audrey
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I still maintain that Charles de Lint is one of my favorite authors, though I've been somewhat disappointed by his work in the past couple of years. What has happened, honestly, is that I've grown to recognize some of the weaknesses in his writing -- a heavy-handedness with exposition, a certain kind of preachyness -- but his stories are still good stories, at the core. The issue here, with Promises to Keep, is that most of this stuff is already known, if you know Jilly from his other novels. Ev
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Jan 29, 2012
Indrani
rated it:
Disclaimer: I love De Lint's work, and the likelihood of giving him a bad review is very slim. This slim little volume reads more like a stretched-out short story than a "novel", and at 181 pages of actual writing, I have a hard time calling it such.
Those familiar with De Lint's fictional setting of Newford will find themselves in familiar territory, especially if they've read "The Onion Girl" and "Widdershins". "Promises to Keep" fills in mor More...
Those familiar with De Lint's fictional setting of Newford will find themselves in familiar territory, especially if they've read "The Onion Girl" and "Widdershins". "Promises to Keep" fills in mor More...
Jan 18, 2012
Alkatraz
rated it: 
All right, so I'm partial. I love Charles De Lint!! His novels always take me to a new place, a new adventure. In this case, my favourite character, Jilly Coopercorn, is in her early twenties. She has only just cleaned up her life and is attending Butler University, studying Fine Art. Jilly is given an invitation to see a band preform and so walks through a doorway to an afterlife.
I say "an afterlife" because, as the book says, there could be several. Jilly is given everythin More...
I say "an afterlife" because, as the book says, there could be several. Jilly is given everythin More...
May 11, 2011
All Things Urban Fantasy
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Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
Confession time: This is my first ever Charles de Lint book. And yes, I’m suitably embarrassed that I run a blog called All Things Urban Fantasy and haven’t read the Father of Urban Fantasy. In my defense, I discovered the genre through Buffy, and it was quite a while before I even heard about Charles de Lint. My ignorance excuse ran out a long time ago, but I still shied away because once I understood exactly who de Lint was and what he More...
Confession time: This is my first ever Charles de Lint book. And yes, I’m suitably embarrassed that I run a blog called All Things Urban Fantasy and haven’t read the Father of Urban Fantasy. In my defense, I discovered the genre through Buffy, and it was quite a while before I even heard about Charles de Lint. My ignorance excuse ran out a long time ago, but I still shied away because once I understood exactly who de Lint was and what he More...
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May 28, 2011
Laura
rated it:
I love Charles de Lint, and I love his Newford books. I haven't read all of them, but I've read most of them.
This book fills in some of the story of Jilly's past. She's referred to these events frequently, and she's told the story of how she emerged from her life of abuse before. There's another part of her story that I haven't encountered before, a part where she explores a world that isn't the same Otherworld that Newford has such a strong link to, but a world the de Lint explo More...
This book fills in some of the story of Jilly's past. She's referred to these events frequently, and she's told the story of how she emerged from her life of abuse before. There's another part of her story that I haven't encountered before, a part where she explores a world that isn't the same Otherworld that Newford has such a strong link to, but a world the de Lint explo More...
Aug 19, 2009
Kerry
rated it:
Another excellent book in the Newford series. I was particularly happy to read this one as I had just finished read The Onion Girl and it was good to go back to period in time where Jilly's life was on more of an upswing. Even though the story took us through some of the darker points in her history, it also took us through recovery and hope... which to me seemed liked a promise for her post-Onion-Girl prospects.... sort of a, "she did this once, she can do again" mentality.
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May 18, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
Promises to Keep was a wonderful first experience with de Lint and left me wanting to explore more of his work. While the book did feel a little drawn out and some of the flashbacks did seem a bit repetitive, it was easy to overlook in favor of de Lint’s superb prose. The story of Jilly Coppercorn is rough and incredibly humbling and the respect with which de Lint treated her life should be noted as it kept him from going over-the-top when he easily could have. The lack of obvious fantasy could
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Mar 15, 2008
Marian
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Interesting, this book just seemed like a way to continue a story line from another book, "Widdershins". It didn't have enough tension as a stand alone book.
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Oct 13, 2011
Monique
rated it:
This was a decent book (perhaps "novelette" is more accurate), but as I've read in other reviews - if you've read any other books in the Newford series, you're pretty sure how it's going to end, so there's no sense of suspense. It also doesn't build the characters in any great detail, and is rather short. So it's kind of a fan service for Jilly fans, except that the plot is defanged for anyone who's already familiar with Jilly. I would recommend that if you're interested in Charles
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Jan 01, 2009
Anna
rated it:
I fell in love with the city of Newford and its inhabitants when I first read The Onion Girl. I wanted to move there and seek out Jilly Coppercorn and everyone else. I was excited when I found out Charles de Lint wrote another Newford book and ran out and bought it.
This book started out a short novella but de Lint was having so much fun writing it, he turned it into a novel.
I was underwhelmed by this book because he didn't bring in the same raw life and raw magical fe More...
This book started out a short novella but de Lint was having so much fun writing it, he turned it into a novel.
I was underwhelmed by this book because he didn't bring in the same raw life and raw magical fe More...
Sep 30, 2011
Shellie (Layers of Thought)
rated it:
4.5 stars actually.
Original review posted at Layers of Thought.
An accessible and life-affirming novella which takes the reader on a trip from the dark stages of addiction and abuse to a kind of whole-ness; set in a realistic and magical setting.
About: Young Jilly Coppercorn, our story's narrator, has not had an easy life. The victim of abuse of various kinds – much of it at the hands of family members - it has been a struggle to stay alive, let alone clean an More...
Original review posted at Layers of Thought.
An accessible and life-affirming novella which takes the reader on a trip from the dark stages of addiction and abuse to a kind of whole-ness; set in a realistic and magical setting.
About: Young Jilly Coppercorn, our story's narrator, has not had an easy life. The victim of abuse of various kinds – much of it at the hands of family members - it has been a struggle to stay alive, let alone clean an More...
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Nov 07, 2007
JG (The Introverted Reader)
rated it:
This is Charles de Lint.
Promises to Keep is a novella about everyone's favorite Newford artist, Jilly Coppercorn. But this time we're seeing Jilly when she's fresh off the streets and getting started as a student at Butler University. The transition isn't easy, especially when Jilly's best friend from her street days shows up with an offer Jilly finds hard to refuse.
Apparently this started out as a short story about Jilly, but it grew into this little book. I devoured More...
Promises to Keep is a novella about everyone's favorite Newford artist, Jilly Coppercorn. But this time we're seeing Jilly when she's fresh off the streets and getting started as a student at Butler University. The transition isn't easy, especially when Jilly's best friend from her street days shows up with an offer Jilly finds hard to refuse.
Apparently this started out as a short story about Jilly, but it grew into this little book. I devoured More...
May 19, 2011
Carole-Ann
rated it:
Like most of Charles de Lint's stories, this is full of magic, morality, and soul-searching.
This is the back story of Jilly Coppercorn, and one needs to have read most of the other Newford books to understand events and other people involved. It's not really a stand-alone book, but the full flavour won't come through without knowledge of the other characters.
That said, de Lint never fails in his writing, and his subtle gelling of past, present, and future never fails to p
This is the back story of Jilly Coppercorn, and one needs to have read most of the other Newford books to understand events and other people involved. It's not really a stand-alone book, but the full flavour won't come through without knowledge of the other characters.
That said, de Lint never fails in his writing, and his subtle gelling of past, present, and future never fails to p
Mar 15, 2008
Kristen
rated it:
It's no secret that I adore CdL's writing, and Jilly Coppercorn is one of my favorite of the Newford characters. Although at first I was disappointed with the length of this book (under 200 pages), upon completing it, I'm totally satisfied with it.
Jilly really is one of my favorite literary characters. She's been through to hell and back, and made the conscious choice to change things around. Widdershins, a full-length novel about her, really affected me in its themes of surviving a More...
Jilly really is one of my favorite literary characters. She's been through to hell and back, and made the conscious choice to change things around. Widdershins, a full-length novel about her, really affected me in its themes of surviving a More...
Apr 26, 2009
Aimee
rated it:
I enjoyed this book, although I would say it's more like looking at an old photo album with the Newford characters, especially Jilly, than anything else. I am glad he left Jilly in a good place at the end of Widdershins and this isn't a "new" story of her life. Like others, I found the city the most intriguing character in the book. Although not "fantasy", read "The Brief History of the Dead" for similar after-death city stories.
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Jul 14, 2010
Tom
rated it:
another fine tale from de Lint, this one about one of his best characters, jilly coppercorn. it's a story about promises made to others and made to oneself and the problems that can arise when someone between worlds tries to do something good for a friend left behind.
de Lint's writing about jilly is tough and honest, which is all the more reason to like and respect both of them.
de Lint's writing about jilly is tough and honest, which is all the more reason to like and respect both of them.
Jan 30, 2010
Catherine
rated it:
Jilly is undoubtably my favorite DeLint character. This glimpse back into her youth and how she became the bright, charming person she is, is another gem.
I love Jilly's insistence that she earns what she has, not that the easy road be given to her just because she was victimized as a child.
I love Jilly's insistence that she earns what she has, not that the easy road be given to her just because she was victimized as a child.
May 31, 2008
Leslie
rated it:
I have a very short and demanding attention span, and this book was able to grab it. It was the first book by Charles de Lint I've read. I knew he mixes the urban environment with the supernatural and fairy tale world, but I didn't know what else to expect, and I thought this book was a good place to start because it's short.
The book is about a young girl named Jilly, who comes from a harsh family and childhood and enters the foster care system to befriend a girl named Donna. Afte More...
The book is about a young girl named Jilly, who comes from a harsh family and childhood and enters the foster care system to befriend a girl named Donna. Afte More...
Feb 12, 2012
Gwyneth
rated it:
This is the back story of Jilly Coppercorn, born Jillian Carter, one of my favorite recurring characters in Charles De Lint's Newford stories. It's the story of how she overcame an abusive childhood, with the usual de Lint foray into a parallel fantasy world.
Apr 07, 2010
Marie
rated it:
As usual De Lint provided me with a novel that I couldn't tear myself away from.
With a view of homelessness and addiction, human nature, belief, magic, and beauty, De Lint always provides a magnificent world for people to fold themselves into.
Brilliant!
With a view of homelessness and addiction, human nature, belief, magic, and beauty, De Lint always provides a magnificent world for people to fold themselves into.
Brilliant!
Dec 24, 2008
Jill
rated it:
This glimpse back at Jilly's past is a real treat for those of us who thought that we wouldn't get to meet Jilly again in any new works. The usual blend of reality and magic present in all of DeLint's works is definately here and welcome :)
Jun 01, 2011
Julia
rated it:
From September 15, 2008:
I love love love Jilly Coppercorn and her search for family and community in Newford is why I read de Lint. Whether reading about her or Geordie or Lily from Someplace to Be Flying or Maxine and Imogene from The Blue Girl they are all magic and create magic. This book is slight, and not necessarily where I would recommend a newcomer to Newford should begin. But to those of us who have all the maps internalized, it's one that has to be read.
More...
I love love love Jilly Coppercorn and her search for family and community in Newford is why I read de Lint. Whether reading about her or Geordie or Lily from Someplace to Be Flying or Maxine and Imogene from The Blue Girl they are all magic and create magic. This book is slight, and not necessarily where I would recommend a newcomer to Newford should begin. But to those of us who have all the maps internalized, it's one that has to be read.
More...
May 10, 2008
Kirsten
rated it:
On the jacket copy, Charles de Lint mentions that this short novel began as a short story and grew into a novel. This is very obvious in reading the novel, unfortunately. Despite its reliance on de Lint's stock characters (Jilly Coppercorn, Geordie Riddel, etc.), this would have been a pretty strong short story. Instead, it's padded out with still more flashbacks to Jilly's terrible early life, and in general feels repetitive and overly long. Also, not to be totally nitpicky, but some of it
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Sep 21, 2009
Katlet
rated it:
Charles de Lint might be my all-time favorite author. I love his Newford series, and this book doesn't disappoint. It's a short novel about Jilly - telling part of her past life, before we meet her in his other novels. I love the world he's built in this series.
Sep 12, 2009
Frank
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Wonderful story about Jill Coppercorn's early life. We learnn alot more about where she comes from. She is one of my favorite fantasy charcters.
Jun 29, 2011
Val
rated it:
Enjoyable...tells the story of Jilly's early adult life and her first conscious magical experiences.
Jan 21, 2009
Tracy
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Found this by accident the other day. Another Newford book. Though difficult, pacing myself to enjoy seeing old friends again.
May 18, 2011
Debra
rated it:
So nice to finally learn more about Jilly's backstory. A nice addition to the Newford series.
