The Hum and the Shiver (Tufa, #1)

Mar 02, 2012 Colleen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: group-read, fantasy

2.5

As the book opens we are introduced to the main protagonist, Bronwyn Hyatt, a daughter of the Tufa - a mysterious people who live in Appalachian country in Tennessee. After getting a general introduction, we are introduced, a little bit, to the culture and the ways of the Tufa - and this I found interesting. I was curious as to who they were and where they were from, and I found their heritage and their customs to be interesting and definitely wanted to know more about them.

Then the book seem...more

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Jun 17, 2011 Jordan Price added it

I was lucky enough to score an advance copy of this novel, and once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down until it was finished…and even now, I can’t stop thinking about it.

The blend of magic and the mundane is something I try to achieve in my own work, since I think the more real the mundane details feel, the more the magic can shine. This book feels so authentic I never question that I am right there in the story.

Bronwyn Hyatt is a war hero returning from Iraq to her home in East Tennessee t...more I was lucky enough to score an advance copy of this novel, and once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down until it was finished…and even now, I can’t stop thinking about it.

The blend of magic and the mundane is something I try to achieve in my own work, since I think the more real the mundane details feel, the more the magic can shine. This book feels so authentic I never question that I am right there in the story.

Bronwyn Hyatt is a war hero returning from Iraq to her home in East Tennessee to recuperate from her injuries. Everything about her is complicated—her personality, her relationship to her parents, her relationship to her ex, and to her own past. I’m enthralled by Bronwyn. I feel like she’s real. She’s tough in a way that most female protagonists pretend to be tough, but she doesn’t come off as a male protagonist with a name-change who needs to overcompensate for her gender. She owns her sexuality. Yet she’s vulnerable, not sexually, but in the places where her brain injuries have left her with gaps where her music once lived. And that seems like a more intimate vulnerability for her. Music is critical to Bronwyn and her people, and of everything that had been stripped from her when she’d been taken by enemy forces, the loss of her songs is the greatest tragedy.

Things I particularly loved were the dialog, which lilted and flowed and conveyed a great sense of place, and several wonderfully placed details, such as Aunt Raby’s upstairs walker. The writing is not wordy by any means, and the skillful placement of just the perfect detail anchors the story without bogging it down with lines and lines of description.

How does Bronwyn fit—in her family, in her community, in her music, and in her own skin? All the while she figures that out, signs and omens augur tragedy for her family, her people try to force her to commit to a marriage she doesn’t want, and two delightfully horrible bad guys converge to drag everyone into the darkness of their own personal inadequacies externalized.
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Mar 11, 2012 Laurel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read a quote fom Neil Gaiman today, speaking of how the word spiritual is often over used these days. I agree with his summation, and therefore do not make this statement lightly. Something in this story spoke to me. I don't come from a mythical people with music in my blood, but there is a way about people who are from a common place. It's something we can spot in a stranger, and they'll often be people we can relax around. We all have the same stories and secrets to tell one another. Hum and...more

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Jun 01, 2012 aPriL MEOWS often with scratching rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, finished-reading-but-i-hated-it, why-does-everyone-love-this-ick-ick

Disappointing. I won't be continuing with this series. I much prefer his sword fantasy series. This went off the rails because Bronwyn Hyatt makes no sense to me. She is a very strange character, starting with her killer instincts, her pride and love for family and they return the affection, yet she takes pleasure in the masochism of giving blow jobs to every man, literally, in town. She is First Daughter, pure blood, raised with respect, but she's a damaged teenaged soul giving blow jobs to who...more

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Jul 21, 2012 Snail in Danger (Sid) Nicolaides marked it as maybe-read-sometime

Shelves: fantasy-fiction

I saw this in the library and it caught my eye. Bounced off his more famous work, The Sword-Edged Blonde; but I was curious to see someone writing about a female soldier from the (US) south in a fantasy novel. The Tufa gave me kind of a Magical Native American vibe, and it was slightly jolting that Tufa is the name of a rock. For Bledsoe's comments on the Tufa and the group they are somewhat based on, the Melungeons, see here.

I may come back to this sometime. I do like that someone decided to wr...more

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Jan 18, 2012 Logan Masterson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Skin your song iron with Alex Bledsoe’s The Hum and The Shiver

When Bronwyn Hyatt returns to Cloud County, Tennessee on medical leave, she trades the war zones of Iraq for a more personal kind of battle. In her home town of Needsville, they called her The Bronwynator long before her “heroic” action in a foreign land. But age and experience have changed her. Bronwyn is no longer a rebellious teen. She’s a determined young woman, hell-bent on choosing her own path in life, regardless of what her pa...more Skin your song iron with Alex Bledsoe’s The Hum and The Shiver

When Bronwyn Hyatt returns to Cloud County, Tennessee on medical leave, she trades the war zones of Iraq for a more personal kind of battle. In her home town of Needsville, they called her The Bronwynator long before her “heroic” action in a foreign land. But age and experience have changed her. Bronwyn is no longer a rebellious teen. She’s a determined young woman, hell-bent on choosing her own path in life, regardless of what her parents, friends and community think is best. This is more than a coming-of-age tale, and the community is more than just an Appalachian village.
The Hum and The Shiver by Alex Bledsoe

Bronwyn is one of the Tufa, an enigmatic people with dark hair and clear skin who keep to themselves and hear omens on the wind. They already lived in the valley when the first European explorers crossed the Appalachian Mountains into east Tennessee, and are steeped in ancient traditions and the song of the hills.

Amidst the fanfare of her homecoming, Bronwyn must find her own song again and make a new place for herself among the Tufa. The haint that waits outside her window offers no more comfort than her hell-raising ex-boyfriend or the omens of death that surround her family.

Alex Bledsoe, author of Dark Jenny and The Sword-Edged Blonde, is a contemporary fantasist of the highest order. He approaches his subject with great care, avoiding the heavy-handedness that dominates commercial genre fiction. His characters are richly developed, and his prose is tight and evocative with just enough room to grow.

The Hum and The Shiver had me worried at the first paragraph. Therein the phrase “intimately acquainted” appears, and this was enough to make me set my fresh review copy aside for a couple of days. I raise this objection after describing tight prose because “intimately acquainted” was the only piece of prose that was objectionable. Frankly, it set me to worrying in vain, because the worst that followed was an oxford comma here and there, and once I picked the book back up, I couldn’t put it down without effort.

Seriously, I paced my reading because the end approached too fast, an end that was satisfying and complete, if not entirely “happy.”

And therein lies one of the most notable qualities of The Hum and The Shiver. It’s not a string of conveniences or an over-the-top epic. The subject of destiny is approached with all the care one expects of Charles DeLint or latter-days Stephen R. Donaldson. Alex Bledsoe straddles the line of literary and contemporary fantasy in The Hum and The Shiver, blending the native histories of bluegrass and Appalachian culture with a provocative through-line and an infusion of darkling fantasy.

Humor, mystery, conflict and family are weighted evenly throughout the narrative, as Bronwyn finds her place in the world of the Tufa, facing her woes without the hope of a fairytale ending. But then, that’s the nature of the night wind.

As an interesting side note, I’d like to mention that I am personally not a huge bluegrass fan. While I do enjoy a live session, I generally prefer the Celtic music from which bluegrass originated. Much of my reading was done to the strains of The Pogues, Black 47, Capercaillie and Carbon Leaf, and the prose fell in step with nary a hitch.

I highly recommend The Hum and The Shiver. Skin that song iron and explore the world of the Tufa.(less)

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Jul 10, 2012 drey rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, urban-fantasy

This is a story about faeries that isn’t really about faeries, instead it’s a story of a girl whose lifelong rebellious nature leads her away from her hometown in the mountains to the deserts – and war – in Iraq.

Bronwyn Hiatt returns home a war hero – at least, the military says so – but she doesn’t remember much about her ordeal. Now she’s back in Needsville, TN, she has to deal with omens and portents to a death in her family. Nobody knows whose death, but so far the signs point to her mother....more

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Feb 11, 2012 Maria rated it 4 of 5 stars

Starting off mysteriously with what seems a simple tale of descendants of fairies trying to blend into the Appalachian mountains without being detected as fairies, this book then delves into various themes: (1) what it means to grow up in an insular community with community expectations of one's destiny that confine and restrict a character; (2) what a "war hero" is; (3) how to reconcile coming back home and reshaping one's identity after having left a community; (4) clan/tribal identity and lon...more

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Jan 11, 2012 Craig rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, generalfiction

Kind of an urban fantasy set in Appalachia. There was *huge* potential in the concept here, but it was partially wasted by some weak writing. I loved the idea of the Tufa, the clanish, human-ish fairies who've lived in an isolated valley since before the colonization of America. Their culture is revealed slowly in the book, which is a good thing, but it's sometimes done in an awkward and poorly thought out way. Character development is sometimes very well-done, and very sketchily done at other t...more

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Dec 19, 2011 Matthew (Bibliofreak.net) rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Hum and the Shiver (2011) is the first novel in Alex Bledsoe's Tufa series. Set in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, the novel builds on an old Appalachian myth, and imagines a race of mysterious, dark-haired people, known as the Tufa. Although their origins have long since been lost, the insular community of mountain folk desperately cling to the traditions of their ancestors, passing their mystic songs from one generation to the next. The novel centres on Bronwyn Hyatt, a young Tufa w...more The Hum and the Shiver (2011) is the first novel in Alex Bledsoe's Tufa series. Set in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, the novel builds on an old Appalachian myth, and imagines a race of mysterious, dark-haired people, known as the Tufa. Although their origins have long since been lost, the insular community of mountain folk desperately cling to the traditions of their ancestors, passing their mystic songs from one generation to the next. The novel centres on Bronwyn Hyatt, a young Tufa woman, who has recently returned from the Iraq war following a harrowing accident and abduction. Touted as a war hero by the outside world, Bronwyn is known in the Tufa community, from her teenage years, as a promiscuous hell-raiser. The plot follows Bronwyn as she recovers from her injuries, relearning the Tufa ways and dealing with old acquaintances, new suitors, and an underlying threat to both her family and the wider Tufa community.

Bledsoe stitches the Tufa's world neatly to our own, creating a patchwork reality that one can easily identify with. Indeed, the novel has much to say about our own reality; from the role America plays in the world, to the treatment of minorities and the vulnerable by those who struggle to deal with diversity and difference. At its heart though, The Hum and the Shiver is about family, tradition, and community, about making one's way in the world whilst respecting one's roots. Bronwyn provides the perfect centre point for this, a rebellious youth who feels oppressed by the weight of her family's history. The themes are universal, and the supporting characters are drawn sensitively and provide identifiable conflicts for Bronwyn, whether they are Tufa or not.

The plot is subtly constructed, moving at a gentle pace as it creates the world of the Tufa. This is a sign of an author comfortable with his style and respectful of his audience, never feeling the need to contrive scenes of explosive energy to hold the attention, but instead delicately relaying a tale of intrigue and mystery. Sadly, in contrast to the measured style there are phrases that grate and sentences that are poorly constructed. These are infrequent but glaring, and inhibit the overall flow of the story. Towards the end of the novel too, some characters begin to lose shape, acting to propel the plot rather than maintaining behaviour consistent with the personality drawn for them.

In Bronwyn, Bledsoe has created an engaging character and one that many readers will be drawn to. However, although Bronwyn is portrayed as a rebel and someone who has enjoyed a wild and reckless youth, this is occasionally overdone. In particular, one finds the frequent sexual references wearing and more than that, indicative of a mild lechery on the author's part towards his provocatively created protagonist. That aside, the novel works well as an introduction to the Tufa series, and Bledsoe's subtle blend of realism and fantasy makes the work accessible to a wide audience. (less)

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Nov 02, 2011 Sherri rated it 5 of 5 stars

An unfamiliar world set in a familiar one, urban fantasy set in the Tennessee hills, a war hero and a descendent of the Tuatha du Danen. This is a very hard story to catorgize, I think it is it's own genre that pulls you in with it's engaging characters. I can't wait for the next book in this new series.

FROM THE COVER:
No one knows where the Tufa came from, or how they ended up in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, yet when the first Europeans arrived, they were already there. Dark-haired, en...more

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Oct 09, 2011 Annmarie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fairy-tales, fantasy, music, urban-fantasy

I'm not quite sure how I'd categorize this novel... fiction with fantasy elements, or urban fantasy but set in the rural mountains of Tennessee, although it doesn't have the action filled plot of most urban fantases. Fans of Charles de Lint might like it. It's a quiet novel. Bronwyn, or the "Bronwynator", is a young woman coming back as an injured war hero to her small rural community, whose members don't really care about her heroism but want her to take up the mantle of being a "First Daughter...more I'm not quite sure how I'd categorize this novel... fiction with fantasy elements, or urban fantasy but set in the rural mountains of Tennessee, although it doesn't have the action filled plot of most urban fantases. Fans of Charles de Lint might like it. It's a quiet novel. Bronwyn, or the "Bronwynator", is a young woman coming back as an injured war hero to her small rural community, whose members don't really care about her heroism but want her to take up the mantle of being a "First Daughter" among them.

You see, this community has been living in these hills since before the Europeans arrived, as the story goes, although they aren't Native American; they call themselves the Tufa. They have a very musical tradition, with a supernatural slant, and they all look like each other and keep to themselves. Bronwyn would like to pick up her mandolin again, but her injuries and/or trauma have made her forget how to play. Lucky they heal very fast at home in the hills. She also must contend with portends of death in her family, a haint (ghost) that wants to speak with her, the expectations of her community that she stay there (I was going to say "to conform", but really they seem to do whatever they want so what's to conform to?), and a bad-news former boyfriend who wants to bring her back to her wild, rebellious, sexually free days again (a bit graphic in parts, this book, fyi, not so much a "crossover" YA book, even though the protagonist is 20). An attractive brand new preacher trying, unsuccessfully, to gain congregation members among the Tufa, a psycho cop, and a dispirited reporter who starts to discover his Tufa heritage also feature.

The plot could have had more to it, the preacher and reporter parts felt a bit tacked on, Bronwyn felt rather guy-like rather than ringing entirely true as a wild girl (but it worked ok), and the whole thing somehow felt thin. It's a family drama, really, but the characters weren't deeply developed in my view. It felt like this book was setting up the scene and community for later books, though I don't know if sequels are planned. However, the setting was well-realized and the idea of hillbilly folk music as the supernatural underpinnings and the isolated Tennessee community as modern day fairies was novel and appealing. (less)

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Sep 28, 2011 Theresa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Bronwyn Hyatt was the quintessential wild child before she left the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee for the desert of Iraq when she enlisted in the Army. But her fate is changed forever when a violent abduction turns her into a famous war hero as her rescue is broadcast on live television.

When Bronwyn returns to her quiet family home there are those who think she'll return to her former ways and once again live up to her reputation as the "Bronwynator,"-- including her former boyfriend Dwayne. But...more Bronwyn Hyatt was the quintessential wild child before she left the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee for the desert of Iraq when she enlisted in the Army. But her fate is changed forever when a violent abduction turns her into a famous war hero as her rescue is broadcast on live television.

When Bronwyn returns to her quiet family home there are those who think she'll return to her former ways and once again live up to her reputation as the "Bronwynator,"-- including her former boyfriend Dwayne. But there are larger problems looming for Bronwyn when omens begin to show that death is looming for her family and a persistent ghost, known as a "haint," insists that Bronwyn needs to deal with the pain of her past in order to be ready for the tragedy that awaits her.

For the Tufa, the mysterious people that have inhabited the Smoky Mountains longer than the earliest European settlers, Bronwyn's status as a war hero means nothing against her obligations as a First Daughter and her duty to learn the songs of her ancestors. But Bronwyn's music has left her in the wake of her trauma, and she doesn't know if she can recapture it-- or the magic that is part of her heritage.

Anyone who has read the Eddie Lacrosse series by Alex Bledsoe might be expecting The Hum and the Shiver to have a similar action oriented sensibility. But this is a quiet story in many ways. Bronwyn may have pushed the limits in her youth but her experiences in the Army have tempered her need to defy authority at every turn. That isn't to say that she's submissive-- far from it-- but the needs of her family, and her people, have finally taken their proper place in Bronwyn's world view. And it's the milder aspects of the story that take center stage. The music and the relationships between Bronwyn, her family and her trouble-making ex-boyfriend, as well as a new potential love interest, make up the bulk of the story. It's mostly about the characters and their interactions rather than a series of events.

The interesting thing about "The Hum and the Shiver" is that the characters frequently don't do what you expect. Even though Bronwyn comes home hailed as a hero, her family isn't that impressed; and it takes quite a while before the book begins to explain why it is frowned upon for a Tufa to leave their home. Bronwyn's parents are by turns loving and abrasive and there are moments when they aren't that likable-- much like any real family.

Bledsoe is also very good at writing about touchy topics. It would be easy to inject some political bias into a book that features a character that has just come home from a controversial war, but the narrative walks a fine line that doesn't heel to any one point of view but doesn't dodge the subject either. Religion is also something that is brought up, quite gently, thanks to a main character that is also a minister. Again, Bledsoe is respectful without being judgmental toward any particular belief-- something I really appreciated.

"The Hum and the Shiver" has a very earthy sensibility. Topics like sex and death are presented frankly among the Tufa characters, which adds to the mystery behind just what the Tufa are exactly-- a mystery I won't spoil here. I will say that the reveal doesn't come swiftly and it's somewhat unexpected when it does arrive-- I found myself rereading a few passages to make sure I understood that what was happening was literal and not metaphorical. And if I had one minor critique of the book it would be that the two sections of the book are very different and don't immediately jibe. That said-- I liked the overall effect and the way that part of the story played out.

Reading "The Hum and the Shiver" reminds me why Alex Bledsoe is one of my favorite authors. Whether he writes sword and sorcery, vampire fiction or contemporary fantasy the writing is solid and believable. The characters are all finely drawn without being overly idealized. And, most importantly, the stories are always written with an understated sense of humor. "The Hum and the Shiver" is a lovely piece of contemporary fantasy and well worth the time.

4 and 1/2 out of 5 stars.(less)

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Sep 27, 2011 Stephanie Lorée rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, para-urban-fantasy, reviewed

(No Spoilers) At its core, THE HUM AND THE SHIVER is a story about a girl. Bronwyn is recovering from an incident while deployed in Iraq, and both her body and spirit are on the mend in her hometown. But the place she lives isn't simply some rural part of Appalachia, it is a community of secrets. Her people, the Tufa, are insular and quiet. Bronwyn is neither.

The characters in this story are amazing and real. I loved Bronwyn for her attitude, her development, and most of all her flaws. She is a...more (No Spoilers) At its core, THE HUM AND THE SHIVER is a story about a girl. Bronwyn is recovering from an incident while deployed in Iraq, and both her body and spirit are on the mend in her hometown. But the place she lives isn't simply some rural part of Appalachia, it is a community of secrets. Her people, the Tufa, are insular and quiet. Bronwyn is neither.

The characters in this story are amazing and real. I loved Bronwyn for her attitude, her development, and most of all her flaws. She is a modern woman with a strength that goes deeper than her military pursuits. She makes mistakes, some fairly terrible ones, and I still found myself rooting for her.

What shines the most about THE HUM AND THE SHIVER is Bledsoe's talent for world-building. He has created a rich setting, spun from both European and American myths, that seems real enough to touch. I won't reveal any spoilers, but I was blown away by the new take on an old myth and delighted to see a contemporary fantasy that was neither urban nor far-fetched. It could exist, this small town in the hills of Tennessee where the Tufa make their home, and if it does I got to experience it firsthand.

The writing is clear and beautiful. Bledsoe has a knack for the modern tone, creating vivid and emotional scenes without over-writing. The pace is slower as Bronwyn deals with her inner turmoil and the issues surrounding her home. For readers who want a super pulse-pounding adventure, this probably isn't your bag. But if you prefer as I do, the gradual unfolding of a story, you'll adore THE HUM AND THE SHIVER.

If I had anything to complain about, the plot seems a bit thin at times as the story focuses on the revelation of the town's and Tufa's secrets (and Bronwyn's recovery). But when it kicks into high-gear, it packs a lot of punch.

THE HUM AND THE SHIVER is about courage and--when boiled to the basics--growing up, Bronwyn is a fantastic heroine, and a thoroughly enjoyed her story. Highly recommend for lovers of contemporary fantasy, urban or paranormal, and this would be a great "bridge-book" for high fantasy readers who want to dip into modern waters.

Content Warning: PG-13 (mild language, mild sexual content, some violence, mature themes: alcohol, drugs, violence against women)

Rating: 4 Stars(less)

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Sep 27, 2011 Lenore Webb rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have been reading The Hum and the Shiver by Alex Bledsoe. And it has taken me to a world not here but still not quiet far away. One that seems to just be on the cusp of reality. It is there in the songs from the Tufa I am floating. A world that is part mythology, part folk tale and part reality. When the first Europeans came to the Smoky Mountains, the Tufa were already there, quietly living in the hills and valleys of Cloud County, their origins lost to history. But there are clues in their m...more I have been reading The Hum and the Shiver by Alex Bledsoe. And it has taken me to a world not here but still not quiet far away. One that seems to just be on the cusp of reality. It is there in the songs from the Tufa I am floating. A world that is part mythology, part folk tale and part reality. When the first Europeans came to the Smoky Mountains, the Tufa were already there, quietly living in the hills and valleys of Cloud County, their origins lost to history. But there are clues in their music, stories hidden in the songs they have passed down for generations.

It is interesting when you find a world that you did not know yet seems to call to your soul. Giving a sense of peace that makes you feel protective of it. The Hum and the Shiver tells the story of Private Bronwyn Hyatt, a true daughter of the Tufa. Bronwyn has returned from Iraq, wounded in body and spirit, only to face the very things that drove her away: her family, her obligations to the Tufa, and her dangerous ex-boyfriend. But more trouble lurks in the mountains of her childhood home. Cryptic omens warn of impending tragedy, and a restless haint lurks nearby waiting to reveal Bronwyn’s darkest secrets. Worse yet, Bronwyn has lost touch with herself and with the music that was once part of her. With death stalking her family, will she ever join in the song of her people and let it lift her onto the night winds?

I challenge you to read this one if you like fantasy. I challenge you to read this one if you like folk tales. But more so I challenge you to read this if you like to travel in a book. ALEX BLEDSOE grew up in Tennessee, and draws much of his inspiration from his homeland. He’s been a reporter, editor, photographer, and door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman. He is also the author of the Eddie LaCrosse books—The Sword-Edged Blonde (Tor, 2009), Burn Me Deadly (Tor, 2009), and Dark Jenny (Tor, 2011). He lives with his family in Wisconsin. Keep up with him on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace, and read his blog (less)

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Sep 26, 2011 Deborah Blake rated it 5 of 5 stars

I fell in love with Alex's writing with the publication of his first book, THE SWORD EDGED BLONDE. Who wouldn't love a guy who could create a world that is a cross between traditional sword and sorcery and a hard-edged detective novel...and pull it off beautifully. Genius, I tell you. The Library Journal called it "A well-crafted gem of a tale," which sums it up pretty well, I think. And the two books that followed it in the series just got better. (Number four is coming soon.)

Now there is THE H...more I fell in love with Alex's writing with the publication of his first book, THE SWORD EDGED BLONDE. Who wouldn't love a guy who could create a world that is a cross between traditional sword and sorcery and a hard-edged detective novel...and pull it off beautifully. Genius, I tell you. The Library Journal called it "A well-crafted gem of a tale," which sums it up pretty well, I think. And the two books that followed it in the series just got better. (Number four is coming soon.)

Now there is THE HUM AND THE SHIVER. Here's the blurb from the back of the book:

No one knows where the Tufa came from, or how they ended up in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, yet when the first Europeans arrived, they were already there. Dark-haired, enigmatic, and suspicious of outsiders, the Tufa live quiet lives in the hills and valleys of Cloud County. While their origins may be lost to history, there are clues in their music—hints of their true nature buried in the songs they have passed down for generations.

Private Bronwyn Hyatt returns from Iraq wounded in body and in spirit, only to face the very things that drove her away in the first place: her family, her obligations to the Tufa, and her dangerous ex-boyfriend. But more trouble 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 will need to summon the strength to take her place among the true Tufa and once again fly on the night winds. . . .

The Tufa are a fascinating people with secrets hidden underneath their secrets, and Bronwyn is an imperfect and tortured protagonist who nonetheless captures your heart. Bledsoe's writing is as sharp, evocative, and forceful as any author I have ever read; he draws you so deeply into the East Tennessee world of the Tufa, you are shocked to put down the book and find yourself on the couch at home. You live and breath and sing with the Tufa, and ache and cry and wonder with every character in this entralling book. There is magic hidden on the gravel roads of Cloud Country; the kind of magic that could only come from the creative mind of the amazing Alex Bledsoe.
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Jul 07, 2011 Fence rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sff

Bronwyn Hyatt is coming home. A war hero. Or so some people say, others say she hasn’t changed a speck from the trash Tufa slut she was before she left, but to her family all that is important is that she is home. Back among the Tufa. And who are the Tufa? Well that no on seems quite sure of. They’ve been in the mountains of east Tennessee since before anyone can remember. Closely knit, and prizing musical ability, they live apart from other people. And Bronwyn is a true, pure-blooded Tufa, a Fi...more Bronwyn Hyatt is coming home. A war hero. Or so some people say, others say she hasn’t changed a speck from the trash Tufa slut she was before she left, but to her family all that is important is that she is home. Back among the Tufa. And who are the Tufa? Well that no on seems quite sure of. They’ve been in the mountains of east Tennessee since before anyone can remember. Closely knit, and prizing musical ability, they live apart from other people. And Bronwyn is a true, pure-blooded Tufa, a First Daughter. But a haint is visiting, and there are ominus signs everywhere her people look.

hum and the shiverFirst off I really enjoyed parts of this book. It is well told and it certainly kept my interest. My usual 5 minutes read before heading to work this morning was a little longer than planned because I got so engrossed in the story. But that doesn’t mean it was all positive. I had a slight issue with the idea of “pure-blood” and with the separate roles for men and women within Tufa society. Actually thats a bad way of putting it, but saying that such and such was a woman’s song, whereas a different one was a man’s didn’t sit well with me. However at the same time it was clearly a cultural thing, as was the importance of blood-lines. And even that part of it was being questioned by characters in the book. So points for that :)

I liked Bronwyn as a character, I’m not sure I got her all the time, but that’s okay. I got enough of her to not get too annoyed at her mistakes. The rest of the family is less well drawn than she is, but there are other characters there. The pastor in particular I thought was a good character. All too often in fiction being religious is short-hand for being crazy. That isn’t the case here, which is nice :)

This is a very different book from the previous ones I’d read by Bledsoe, but is shared some aspects. Easy to read, engaging, and with plenty of humour.

It also has the feel of a book in a series, well a ‘verse more likely I think. And I’d be interested in reading more if that were the case.(less)

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Dec 28, 2011 Ranting Dragon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ashik

http://www.rantingdragon.com/the-hum-...

Contemporary fantasy often becomes urban fantasy, to the exclusion of all other forms. A few stories fall outside the urban subgenre barriers, such as American Gods by Neil Gaiman, and fall well. The Hum and the Shiver by Alex Bledsoe is set in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee and would best be described as rural fantasy. Owing to the less hectic feel of the backwater area, it comes off as much more intimate than most contemporary fantasy.

Well written...more

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Nov 11, 2011 C rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-recommend

Recommended by Sherri at work. Really enjoyed it, and like her, I'll be checking out more of his writing.

Modern Fantasy/Paranormal Fiction. Very rural setting, but still a flavor of "Urban Fantasy" to it.

I flipped the book over and happened to notice the comments on the back of the book come from Charles de Lint and Orson Scott Card. Not a surprise on either one. The "flavor" reminded me of de Lint. There's a touch of Gaiman's Neverwhere in there, as well, I feel.

A good escape read: hearty enoug...more

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Mar 08, 2012 K. Bird rated it 5 of 5 stars

You know how sometimes you go to a party with a group of good friends and some people you don't know get invited, but somehow, on that one night, everyone gets along great, laughs, sing songs, and you wish you could get together every week like that but you know it was just that special energy of that one, night?

Well that's what reading The Hum and the Shiver is like, only its the Tufa who are the new friends and Needsville in the Tennessee mountains that's the party.

Prvt Bronwyn Hyatt is parade...more

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Oct 05, 2011 Maurynne rated it 5 of 5 stars

This one was a true original take on Faerie and the "rural fantasy" subgenre that I have loved since Zenna Henderson's 'People" books. It's a small genre but these are the books I keep lovingly on my shelves: Elgin's Ozark trilogy, Kimbriel's Kindred books, the Crafters, Mountain Magic, Hoffman's Thread That Binds the Bones and offshoots. (o yes, and Sharyn McCrumb's Ballad series, though they are marketed as mysteries). Fine, fine writing, all of them. And now, The Hum and the Shiver--and hopef...more

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Oct 07, 2011 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a curious book for me. The book starts out shrouded in dark mystery. Bronwyn Hyatt who returns from Iraq a hero finds herself back at home where she ran. The town which is where you first see the dark mystery is a comfort to Bronwyn and a curse. She is happy to be back home to heal, but fears what will be asked of her. No, she fears what will be demanded of her. She's never been one to sit and let others decide her fate, so she now has to balance what is good for the community and what...more This was a curious book for me. The book starts out shrouded in dark mystery. Bronwyn Hyatt who returns from Iraq a hero finds herself back at home where she ran. The town which is where you first see the dark mystery is a comfort to Bronwyn and a curse. She is happy to be back home to heal, but fears what will be asked of her. No, she fears what will be demanded of her. She's never been one to sit and let others decide her fate, so she now has to balance what is good for the community and what is good for herself.

At first you might think this is one of those stories where you meet the backwoods mountain people who shun all forms of technology. Thankfully this isn't one of them. The people are quite educated and worldly even if they prefer to keep to the community from which they were raised. However, the darkness we often associate with this type of closed community is there. We just don't know what will happen when the light of knowledge pierces the dark. Will we find good people or evil? Ah, no... I will not reveal that. *evil laugh* But I will say that it is the fact of their very nature that is put to the question.

These people have a secret sign language, a way private that they greet and bless each other. They are also deeply connected to music. Music that may bring either the hum or the shiver to your soul. Of course we also deal with haints (ghosts) who often either help by imparting knowledge or wisdom or even something more sinister. The Tufa people have a way of dealing with haints as well. It is all done cautiously and reverently.

I also enjoyed the secondary characters in this story. Even the preacher, Craig Chess plays a big part. I enjoyed the way he tried to pierce the silence of the community with patience and an open mind and heart. He did want to get them into church, but really he wanted to know more about the people. He doesn't mind being in a place where the majority would be called heathens in any other church. So, those that might worry, there is no preaching even from him. However, he does make an interesting contrast for the story.

I give this story 4 stars. It is a different type of paranormal story. It also makes you want to know what their voices and songs really sound like.(less)

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Nov 07, 2012 Nicole rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Nicole by: SF Squeecast

Shelves: audiobooks, favorites

Alex Bledsoe's The Hum and the Shiver is very nearly perfect as far as I'm concerned. I listed to the audiobook, which was beautifully narrated by Emily Janice Card (daughter of Orson Scott Card). I'm happy I experienced the audio format, because it slowed down my reading and really let me savor the novel. I've never been so glad to commute in my life.

What did I love about this novel?

The entire cast of characters was complex and fascinating, particularly Bronwyn Hyatt. She's a war hero, a reluc...more

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Jan 11, 2012 Gabby rated it 3 of 5 stars

As a fantasy novel, this is definitely different than anything I've ever read. Some put it out there as contemporary fantasy, since it's set in our time, even with mentions of modern-day technology.

The novel centers around Bronywn of the Tufa, a mysterious people that live in the backwoods of Tennessee. Not much is known about them, except they all have very similar physical characteristics, and they all love and are good at music.

The author does a good, albeit slow, job of bringing this story o...more

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Jan 11, 2013 Fred Fisher rated it 4 of 5 stars

I got this in audio book version from the library to listen to while on a long drive and at work. This was a very enjoyable book that drew me in and by the end I cared about the characters and was sad that I had finished it. The descriptions of scene and emotions of the characters were vivid and were easy to picture in my mind's eye. I normally don't like characters who sing, or I should say, I don't like authors who write out the poetry of a song, but in this case, it was appropriate. Perhaps b...more

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Oct 28, 2011 Craig rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a really excellent novel. The cover is boring and the title is dumb so I'm afraid it may miss some of its audience, but I really enjoyed it. The story concerns a woman returning home from war after having been wounded and tortured, and closely paralells the Jessica Lynch events and examines the phenomenon. It's also the story of abuse of power in law enforcement, the story of a Christian minister trying to deal with people who don't want to buy what he's selling, coming to terms with fam...more

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Aug 19, 2011 Gef rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, dark-fantasy

I received an advance uncorrected proof of this novel early in the summer, eager to read my first Alex Bledsoe novel after hearing good things about Blood Groove and Dark Jenny. But what I wasn't expecting, even after reading the plot summary on the back of the book, was the kind of story Alex had cooked up in The Hum and the Shiver.

Set in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, Private Brownyn Hyatt has returned home to great fanfare as a wounded war hero from Iraq. She doesn't feel like a hero, howe...more I received an advance uncorrected proof of this novel early in the summer, eager to read my first Alex Bledsoe novel after hearing good things about Blood Groove and Dark Jenny. But what I wasn't expecting, even after reading the plot summary on the back of the book, was the kind of story Alex had cooked up in The Hum and the Shiver.

Set in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, Private Brownyn Hyatt has returned home to great fanfare as a wounded war hero from Iraq. She doesn't feel like a hero, however, emotionally wounded as well as physically. Her real healing begins once back home with her parents and younger brother in the hills outside of town, among her people, the Tufa, a rather mysterious race with no known origin--they were simply there when the European settlers arrived. Music plays heavily in the Tufa heritage, and it's through Brownyn's reintroduction to music through her mandolin, Magda, she hopes to start feeling normal again.

But, a haint is looming around her family's home, a ghostly omen that waits for Brownyn with a threat of death in the family--and not necessarily hers. If spirits weren't haunting enough, her past comes back to visit her as well. A wild child with a reputation as "The Brownynator", her restless spirit is still trying to find its way, as her ex-boyfriend tries to rekindle their hard-edged romance, and reporters lurk around every corner to get her life story. Not to mention, a new preacher in the area is compelled to get to know the aloof war hero, too.

While I originally thought this novel would concern itself primarily with the haint and its deathly premonitions, and what Brownyn must do to prevent someone close to her from dying, the book is much less plot driven than it is hinged on the strength of its characters. Brownyn is at once tough as nails, but vulnerable to her fiery demeanor and aimless recovery. And the specter of death poses as much a threat to her reliving her trauma in the war as it does to enduring any impending tragedy in the family. She's the kind of girl, who at arm's length would earn the reputation as promiscuous and an all-round bad seed, but there's a genuine and sympathetic story to how she earned that reputation.

The supporting characters came off equally strong too, with a steely father who wants to protect his daughter without coddling her, and a mother who is relieved to have her home, yet harbors her own tumultuous emotions around Brownyn's return and future. The preacher is likable as well, offering a great outsider's view of Brownyn and the Tufa, as he tries to learn more about her and build a congregation among a people with no need or want of him and his religion. Even the "villains" are spared the standard template and given sincere motivations for their behavior. Her ex-boyfriend might be a grade-A dick, but at least you learn why and can relate to a small degree.

The book does take its fantastical turn about halfway through, and honestly, I found it a bit jarring when it happened. I was worried it might throw the pace of the novel off and send the story veering off into left field, but once those elements were finally brought out into the open, it all seemed to fit quite well. I did find there was one character, the reporter with a Tufa connection, to be a bit tacked on, it didn't really hinder the story. As a whole, the book is as much a modest bit of magic as the Tufa. Strong storytelling, damn near perfect characterization and dialogue, and a wholly satisfying end. I'm even more eager to read more of Alex's work after reading The Hum and the Shiver, and I bet you will too.(less)

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Sep 23, 2011 William Bentrim rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Hum and The Shiver by Alex Bledsoe

This book features an insular clan of slightly askew folks whose talents for music dominate their lives. A mysterious clan that chooses to avoid society at large and has secrets that are never to be told.

Bronwyn Hyatt is a likeable rebel in this book. She tried to escape her fate and her family. Her unwillingness to accept authority resonated with me and I’m sure with many others. Her personal habits are meant to shock and yet if you flipped her gender her...more

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Oct 04, 2011 Clockstein Lockstein rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Hum and the Shiver by Alex Bledsoe is hopefully the first book in a series about the Tufa people of the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Bronwyn Hyatt is returning home a decorated war hero and international celebrity after her capture by Iraqis and subsequent rescue. But she's unsure about how she feels returning home to everything that she fled years ago, including her reputation as the Bronwynator. As a Tufa, there are expectations upon her, especially as a First Daughter, that she's spent h...more

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Dec 12, 2012 Barac Wiley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Loved it. Just loved it. I've certainly been fond of the author's Eddie LaCrosse series, with its modern-tinged fantasy mysteries and well realized characters, but it feels more well trodden than The Hum and the Shiver's backwoods Tennessee and hard-used Iraq vet returning home to her mysterious, clannish kinfolk. The folklore of the Tufa and their particular gifts, charms and culture are nicely thought out and fairly original, and nudges towards their true nature are sprinkled gently throughout...more

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