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Hisses and Wings
Janet, a young woman whose forebearers were a race of banished faeries, learns of a song that might allow the Tufa to return to their ancestral home. But the song is guarded by Diago, one of the Nefilim, a race descended from angels.
Diago knows only too well that the song's power may be misused. Can Janet convince him to give up the song, and if so, does she have the wisdom to use it?
Diago knows only too well that the song's power may be misused. Can Janet convince him to give up the song, and if so, does she have the wisdom to use it?
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 4, 2014
1 person is currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Alex Bledsoe
67 books794 followersI grew up in west Tennessee an hour north of Graceland (home of Elvis) and twenty minutes from Nutbush (home of Tina Turner). I've been a reporter, editor, photographer and door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman. I now live in a big yellow house in Wisconsin, write before six in the morning and try to teach my two kids to act like they've been to town before.
I write the Tufa novels (The Hum and the Shiver, Wisp of a Thing, Long Black Curl and Chapel of Ease), as well as the Eddie LaCrosse series (The Sword-Edged Blonde, Burn Me Deadly, Dark Jenny, Wake of the Bloody Angel and He Drank, and Saw the Spider). the Firefly Witch ebook chapbooks, and two "vampsloitation" novels set in 1975 Memphis (Blood Groove and The Girls with Games of Blood).
I write the Tufa novels (The Hum and the Shiver, Wisp of a Thing, Long Black Curl and Chapel of Ease), as well as the Eddie LaCrosse series (The Sword-Edged Blonde, Burn Me Deadly, Dark Jenny, Wake of the Bloody Angel and He Drank, and Saw the Spider). the Firefly Witch ebook chapbooks, and two "vampsloitation" novels set in 1975 Memphis (Blood Groove and The Girls with Games of Blood).
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 14, 2014
I love magic. I love interesting ways to present magic. In Hisses and Wings, music is the source of mysterious power, and anyone who has ever been touched by a song can attest to the truth in this fantasy story.
The story involves a seemingly young fae woman named Janet, who pieces together a song that could return her people to their ancestral home. To learn the song, she must earn it from Diago, who is of the Nefilim, and to do so, she must prove her musical skill -- but does she have the wisdom to use such a gift properly? And is the goal she seeks worth the price that using this magic might cost.
This is a beautiful, bittersweet story, and though it is brief, it gives so much warmth and depth to the characters -- particularly the Nefilim. It also wonderfully expresses their culture, as supernatural beings, as well as a close knit community that is both familiar and welcoming.
My only complaint is that the magic of the music could have gone deeper with greater imagery of what it invokes for those playing and listening to it.
The story involves a seemingly young fae woman named Janet, who pieces together a song that could return her people to their ancestral home. To learn the song, she must earn it from Diago, who is of the Nefilim, and to do so, she must prove her musical skill -- but does she have the wisdom to use such a gift properly? And is the goal she seeks worth the price that using this magic might cost.
This is a beautiful, bittersweet story, and though it is brief, it gives so much warmth and depth to the characters -- particularly the Nefilim. It also wonderfully expresses their culture, as supernatural beings, as well as a close knit community that is both familiar and welcoming.
My only complaint is that the magic of the music could have gone deeper with greater imagery of what it invokes for those playing and listening to it.
December 19, 2014
Mystical creatures....magic....music...youth....discovery....chance encounters....self-interest....test of wisdom...
Magic abides everywhere--
In the gust of the wind
That carries sound;
In the fingers that strum
And glide on the frets;
In the lifted voice
That carries a melody.
Open your senses--
Listen for the song
Beneath the noise;
Feel the pounding
As though your heart;
Taste the sweet and bitter
That season the notes.
Be brave, venture forth--
A symphony awaits
One who searches
Across lands, through storms;
Tamp down your fears
But temper it with wisdom,
Be mindful when the ballad must end.
There are songs for all peoples,
Some for this or that tribe.
There are songs among kin,
Between friends, even rivals.
There are songs for the joyous
Alongside those for the wretched,
But there's one song that's just yours.
Magic abides everywhere--
In the gust of the wind
That carries sound;
In the fingers that strum
And glide on the frets;
In the lifted voice
That carries a melody.
Open your senses--
Listen for the song
Beneath the noise;
Feel the pounding
As though your heart;
Taste the sweet and bitter
That season the notes.
Be brave, venture forth--
A symphony awaits
One who searches
Across lands, through storms;
Tamp down your fears
But temper it with wisdom,
Be mindful when the ballad must end.
There are songs for all peoples,
Some for this or that tribe.
There are songs among kin,
Between friends, even rivals.
There are songs for the joyous
Alongside those for the wretched,
But there's one song that's just yours.
January 22, 2015
Alex Bledsoe continues to take me along for the ride. His characters seem real.
December 30, 2014
I was very excited to see a new Tufa story, and this did not disappoint. Nice to see a different point of view with the Nefilim. The song itself sent chills up my spine. Thought the Tom Petty reference was fun, especially when I heard the song on the radio the next day. My only regret was not being able to stay awake long enough to read it all in one sitting.
July 18, 2015
Music as a form of magic, written wonderfully about a young Janet who wishes her people return to their realm instead of hiding in this Earth. We meet musicians, we live the scenes of music being experienced blissfully and good characters that we want to know more about, the most being a small ;) connection between Raphel and Janet.
January 5, 2015
A darkly glittering little gem that leaves the reader groping for words like "magical," "mystical," and "lyrical." Accurate descriptions all.
And how wonderful to hang out with Diego again!
And how wonderful to hang out with Diego again!
May 9, 2015
3.5 stars
A meeting of two separate series, my curiosity is definitely peaked about the Frohock, and I also enjoyed the glimpse of a previously unknown Tufa.
A meeting of two separate series, my curiosity is definitely peaked about the Frohock, and I also enjoyed the glimpse of a previously unknown Tufa.
June 28, 2017
I got a free copy from T. Frohock in exchange for an honest Amazon review ages back. Time to port that over to Goodreads!
...And as I go looking for the review, I find that the novella now returns a 404. Weird.
Anyways, I read this without any prior knowledge of Los Nefilim (In Midnight's Silence by T. Frohock) or the Tufa (The Hum and the Shiver by Alex Bledsoe). The story explained it all (or almost all) without infodumping, and the dialogue was very strong. I read quickly, and this was a good way to spend an hour on a completely self-contained, fast-paced piece of fiction with openings for continued interactions or separate storylines.
I don't read a lot of urban fantasy, but this didn't dip into any of the annoying cliches like "woman in a leather corset in the woods at night" or "silently brooding gunslinger fighting off demons" that keep me away.
...And as I go looking for the review, I find that the novella now returns a 404. Weird.
Anyways, I read this without any prior knowledge of Los Nefilim (In Midnight's Silence by T. Frohock) or the Tufa (The Hum and the Shiver by Alex Bledsoe). The story explained it all (or almost all) without infodumping, and the dialogue was very strong. I read quickly, and this was a good way to spend an hour on a completely self-contained, fast-paced piece of fiction with openings for continued interactions or separate storylines.
I don't read a lot of urban fantasy, but this didn't dip into any of the annoying cliches like "woman in a leather corset in the woods at night" or "silently brooding gunslinger fighting off demons" that keep me away.
December 30, 2014
I really enjoy Alex Bledsoe's Tufa stories. And, this one is no different, it's about love and music and making the right choices. I wish it was longer but it is a perfect little taste while we wait for the next novel. The Long Black Curl.
T Frohock introduction of Los Nefilim was brilliant another type of magical beings that live and love and play music. And, she is promising another Nefilim story.
T Frohock introduction of Los Nefilim was brilliant another type of magical beings that live and love and play music. And, she is promising another Nefilim story.
December 12, 2014
The writing is a breath that winds itself well to enhance the story almost with a musical timbre. The subtleties of both cultures are readily apparent and form a dance that ebbs to and fro to stimulate ones imagination. For a short story I will be thinking about various elements for a time to mull over but also to enjoy the imagery that Mrs. Frohock and Mr. Bledsoe have created.
December 8, 2014
Immersion - fae and nephilim, yet I'm not lost. I'm entranced. The power of music. The wisdom of elders. The energy and pigheadedness of teenagers.
Loved bearing witness to this mind-melding exercise.
Loved bearing witness to this mind-melding exercise.
February 9, 2015
This was such a wonderful story. It held me from the first and I wasn't ready for it to end.
January 28, 2023
For all the Tufa fans
OMG...
I just want MORE. More Nefelim. More Tufa.
Not for ENTIRELY selfish reasons, because they do bring my heart ease, but because surely I am not the only one.
Sighs a happy poignant sorrowful mutterance.
OMG...
I just want MORE. More Nefelim. More Tufa.
Not for ENTIRELY selfish reasons, because they do bring my heart ease, but because surely I am not the only one.
Sighs a happy poignant sorrowful mutterance.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews