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Red Shoes
When a young dancer burns to death on stage, her friend Genét Shilling wants to know why. That puzzle leads Genét through strange underworlds, upending everything she thought was real.
An urban faerie tale from the author behind MAGE, DELIRIA and POWERCHORDS, RED SHOES explores a realm where music becomes magic, love death and energy converge, and time is just a state of sound.
An urban faerie tale from the author behind MAGE, DELIRIA and POWERCHORDS, RED SHOES explores a realm where music becomes magic, love death and energy converge, and time is just a state of sound.
- GenresUrban FantasyFiction
465 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2021
7 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 25, 2022
A fun read that delivers a strong sense of people and community. The opening has Genét and other characters witnessing an unusual and horrific situation. The lives of the characters come across well, again helped by an emphasis on community, plus locations. As a reader I was introduced to their normal lives and the levels of disruption and stress was made clear. The many implications were interesting to learn about. An investigation slowly reveals threads of betrayal and darker forces afoot.
Plenty of fun moments, such as calling out horror clichés, which sometimes does not save the characters from said situation. Some interesting violent scenes, from near confrontations to escalating martial art sparring. These moments also included highlighting that characters were in a different head and body state; the emphasis on the psychology was put across well, a character’s ego and hubris included. As the story progressed, Genét returned to her paranoia and speculation, plus the presence and implication of magic, insights were gained. Not just Genét by herself, but also friends, family, and others.
Written in clear language, with a hint of technical details when warranted. Whilst a few sections repeated, upon reflection as to whether this was a pro or a con, I think they were pro, as those moments were appropriate to the character’s stresses. Overall great pacing and rising tension. I listened to the audio version, which was excellent.
I think this book will be enjoyable to any reader of Urban Fantasy, definitely a recommendation. A bonus for role-players of games like Mage, Deliria, Powerchords, or any other Urban Fantasy, Horror, etc., genres, this story sits wonderful at the middle of a Venn diagram, lots here for a gaming group to use in their games.
Plenty of fun moments, such as calling out horror clichés, which sometimes does not save the characters from said situation. Some interesting violent scenes, from near confrontations to escalating martial art sparring. These moments also included highlighting that characters were in a different head and body state; the emphasis on the psychology was put across well, a character’s ego and hubris included. As the story progressed, Genét returned to her paranoia and speculation, plus the presence and implication of magic, insights were gained. Not just Genét by herself, but also friends, family, and others.
Written in clear language, with a hint of technical details when warranted. Whilst a few sections repeated, upon reflection as to whether this was a pro or a con, I think they were pro, as those moments were appropriate to the character’s stresses. Overall great pacing and rising tension. I listened to the audio version, which was excellent.
I think this book will be enjoyable to any reader of Urban Fantasy, definitely a recommendation. A bonus for role-players of games like Mage, Deliria, Powerchords, or any other Urban Fantasy, Horror, etc., genres, this story sits wonderful at the middle of a Venn diagram, lots here for a gaming group to use in their games.
February 16, 2023
A red hot dance number
Red Shoes sets out to be a story of magical initiation, friendship and the transcendent power of music, and succeeds.
From the moment weirdness storms into Genét's life she struggles with the sureality of not only the initial conflagration but the hostility those responsible for it throw her way. Genét is fortunate to have knowing friends and a history that glimpsed beyond the veil of normality once before as the strangeness creeps into her life again. As the events put strains on these friendships the cast respond in honest and individual ways, some eager for the fray and others not wanting anything more to do with the eldrich disruptions.
The lions share of stress is directed at Genét, and pushed to her limits and beyond she finds power outside those boundaries in a fantastic climax that blurs the lines of super, and natural. The seeds for future stories with this character rest in fertile ground, and I can not wait to see what grows there next.
I listened to this story on audio book and enjoyed every moment of it. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys modern fantasy stories.
Red Shoes sets out to be a story of magical initiation, friendship and the transcendent power of music, and succeeds.
From the moment weirdness storms into Genét's life she struggles with the sureality of not only the initial conflagration but the hostility those responsible for it throw her way. Genét is fortunate to have knowing friends and a history that glimpsed beyond the veil of normality once before as the strangeness creeps into her life again. As the events put strains on these friendships the cast respond in honest and individual ways, some eager for the fray and others not wanting anything more to do with the eldrich disruptions.
The lions share of stress is directed at Genét, and pushed to her limits and beyond she finds power outside those boundaries in a fantastic climax that blurs the lines of super, and natural. The seeds for future stories with this character rest in fertile ground, and I can not wait to see what grows there next.
I listened to this story on audio book and enjoyed every moment of it. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys modern fantasy stories.
February 6, 2022
An interesting urban fantasy tale about dance and abuse, both in chemicals and sentiments.
Its strongest point being the narrative, which is written in a modern and accessible language, without being simplistic.
It is for patient readers, though, since the descriptions are quite thorough and the point usually takes some pages to be reached.
Its strongest point being the narrative, which is written in a modern and accessible language, without being simplistic.
It is for patient readers, though, since the descriptions are quite thorough and the point usually takes some pages to be reached.
March 4, 2022
Another amazing book! Love this author’s work!
April 9, 2022
So let’s talk about the novel Red Shoes by Satyros Phil Brucato – one of my favorite books of the past few years.
“Following the ugly death of a friend, young dancer Génet Shilling descends into strange underworlds, upending everything she thought was real. An urban faerie tale from the author behind Mage, Deliria and Powerchords, Red Shoes explores a realm where music becomes magic, love, death and energy converge, and time is just a state of sound.”
Indeed, our hero Génet descends and ascends in equal measures throughout this excellent book. From basement raves to holy rituals, she is a remarkably real and believable character in a world both thoroughly grounded – and utterly surreal.
Fans of Mage and Deliria will be unsurprised to find that the creative force behind these games is able to draw a convincing world of hidden magic. I appreciated that Génet had qualms about the wisdom of the path she chose, or of going down the rabbit holes of Riverhaven. While a strong character, she is human, with doubts and fears drawn as truly as her strength and courage.
Phil’s writing is eloquent, but still direct. There isn’t a lot of over-flowery prose in this urban faerie tale, but it still evokes the world he wants you to see, making it an easy read in the best senses of the phrase. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the weirder and less healthy the environment is, the more care he takes in rendering it, which was a real treat. You can picture her apartment, but you can *feel* the rituals she enacts within. You can picture the dance studio, but the basement is what gets under your skin.
The majority of the characters are never cookie-cutters, and even the antagonists (at least, the mortal ones) are given at least some sympathetic aspects and moments to show regret, fear, or at least acknowledgement of the harm they have caused to others. I do not, and never will, like her sparring partner, but he’s not some cardboard dojo dunce.
One interesting aspect of this stood out for me while reading the book: The remarkably sympathetic portrayal of the men and women on the police force. My usual circles don’t include those sentiments, and it was interesting – maybe even pleasantly so – to see Detective Fallon as one of the “good ones” in the book. In his extensive author’s notes, Phil mentions that this book was written before the murder of Breonna Taylor in 2020 in a surprise police raid, which is understandable. Still, it is interesting how their painted humanity surprised me more than the actions of the inhuman adversaries …
Here as well, let’s point out that our protagonist and her friends are “… a (bellydance) troupe full of just white chicks.” This point is addressed and resolved – though by telling, not showing – by the end of the novel, and POC are represented well throughout the rest of the book. Still, it is something the more cautious reader may find off-putting in the first few chapters.
Another item which might stand out to those less steeped in fantasy and its subcultures is the number of references to books, movies, and particularly games within the genre. While it sounded to me like I was talking to a friend, someone unfamiliar may find themselves slightly thrown here and there. None of this is germane to the plot, you don’t need to have read Ambrose Bierce to follow along, but it was frequent enough to merit a mention.
Still, these are, to me, minor quibbles. The energy with which Phil embraces magic, dance, and music sings and sizzles across the pages. I recommend it without reservations and look forward to the sequel, Black Swan Blues.
“Following the ugly death of a friend, young dancer Génet Shilling descends into strange underworlds, upending everything she thought was real. An urban faerie tale from the author behind Mage, Deliria and Powerchords, Red Shoes explores a realm where music becomes magic, love, death and energy converge, and time is just a state of sound.”
Indeed, our hero Génet descends and ascends in equal measures throughout this excellent book. From basement raves to holy rituals, she is a remarkably real and believable character in a world both thoroughly grounded – and utterly surreal.
Fans of Mage and Deliria will be unsurprised to find that the creative force behind these games is able to draw a convincing world of hidden magic. I appreciated that Génet had qualms about the wisdom of the path she chose, or of going down the rabbit holes of Riverhaven. While a strong character, she is human, with doubts and fears drawn as truly as her strength and courage.
Phil’s writing is eloquent, but still direct. There isn’t a lot of over-flowery prose in this urban faerie tale, but it still evokes the world he wants you to see, making it an easy read in the best senses of the phrase. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the weirder and less healthy the environment is, the more care he takes in rendering it, which was a real treat. You can picture her apartment, but you can *feel* the rituals she enacts within. You can picture the dance studio, but the basement is what gets under your skin.
The majority of the characters are never cookie-cutters, and even the antagonists (at least, the mortal ones) are given at least some sympathetic aspects and moments to show regret, fear, or at least acknowledgement of the harm they have caused to others. I do not, and never will, like her sparring partner, but he’s not some cardboard dojo dunce.
One interesting aspect of this stood out for me while reading the book: The remarkably sympathetic portrayal of the men and women on the police force. My usual circles don’t include those sentiments, and it was interesting – maybe even pleasantly so – to see Detective Fallon as one of the “good ones” in the book. In his extensive author’s notes, Phil mentions that this book was written before the murder of Breonna Taylor in 2020 in a surprise police raid, which is understandable. Still, it is interesting how their painted humanity surprised me more than the actions of the inhuman adversaries …
Here as well, let’s point out that our protagonist and her friends are “… a (bellydance) troupe full of just white chicks.” This point is addressed and resolved – though by telling, not showing – by the end of the novel, and POC are represented well throughout the rest of the book. Still, it is something the more cautious reader may find off-putting in the first few chapters.
Another item which might stand out to those less steeped in fantasy and its subcultures is the number of references to books, movies, and particularly games within the genre. While it sounded to me like I was talking to a friend, someone unfamiliar may find themselves slightly thrown here and there. None of this is germane to the plot, you don’t need to have read Ambrose Bierce to follow along, but it was frequent enough to merit a mention.
Still, these are, to me, minor quibbles. The energy with which Phil embraces magic, dance, and music sings and sizzles across the pages. I recommend it without reservations and look forward to the sequel, Black Swan Blues.
April 25, 2022
I finished this last night. I quite enjoyed it.
It was a slow burn that accelerated during the last third, and it felt very much like a Cult of Ecstasy story in tone and theme.
The characters all felt very realized, and they all had their own voices. I loved that.
I loved that the magick was subtle, and Phil did a great job introducing it; it can always be tricky doing so in a story where magick is not really known among the masses.
I found Phil’s Spotify playlist (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/19j...) for the novel and listened to it as a I read. It added a great deal of ambience. I suggest you do the same!
Looking forward to another installment!
It was a slow burn that accelerated during the last third, and it felt very much like a Cult of Ecstasy story in tone and theme.
The characters all felt very realized, and they all had their own voices. I loved that.
I loved that the magick was subtle, and Phil did a great job introducing it; it can always be tricky doing so in a story where magick is not really known among the masses.
I found Phil’s Spotify playlist (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/19j...) for the novel and listened to it as a I read. It added a great deal of ambience. I suggest you do the same!
Looking forward to another installment!
March 4, 2022
From the first sentence, one is drawn into the characters' world. Mr. Brucato writes in a style that brings you along for the ride in the mind of the protagonist. All the characters come to life in a way the reader can see their authenticity, foibles, pride, vanity, compassion, curiosity, etc.
Combining magic and "real" life seamlessly, one is pulled page by page through the novel until its conclusion. It's a refreshing take on urban faerie tales and the realm where darkness, light, magic and love meet.
Combining magic and "real" life seamlessly, one is pulled page by page through the novel until its conclusion. It's a refreshing take on urban faerie tales and the realm where darkness, light, magic and love meet.
September 7, 2024
Dear authors,
Ever run into a book that makes you question if you are doing everything you can to make your story great?
So about this story...
For openness, I did get this book in a trade with the author but I did buy the Audible. I'm very happy I did.
I was a fan of his work from the RPG days and thought it was going to feel like something out of White Wolf/World of Darkness and there are definite elements there but not because he is pulling from an RPG. He sculpted the RPG and this world from his vast knowlege of art, magic, occultism, and fairy tales. Mr. Brucato knows how to get you wrapped up in a magical noir tale of drugs, betrayal, trying to find a reasonable reaction to unreasonable circumstances, and the power and powerlessness one can feel in that situation. The story, centering on a young woman who just wants to know what happened to her friend and gets pulled into a world of art, music, lovecraftian horrors, insistant goddesses/magical entities, and a plethora of people who tell her to back away even when she really should. Unlike many protagonists I have read in this space, the MC isn't an idiot. Oh there are things she doesn't know, and she is putting all the pieces together like a good hero should but when she makes stupid mistakes, she knows how stupid they are and even catches herself.
I will warn you. There is a trigger warning on the front and it's there for a reason! About halfway the story took such a terrifying turn I was shocked to my core. I have never been in that situation and I felt helpless.
Like any magical working, come in with your eyes open and willing to embrace the emotions that come because there will be emotions.
Great job!
Ever run into a book that makes you question if you are doing everything you can to make your story great?
So about this story...
For openness, I did get this book in a trade with the author but I did buy the Audible. I'm very happy I did.
I was a fan of his work from the RPG days and thought it was going to feel like something out of White Wolf/World of Darkness and there are definite elements there but not because he is pulling from an RPG. He sculpted the RPG and this world from his vast knowlege of art, magic, occultism, and fairy tales. Mr. Brucato knows how to get you wrapped up in a magical noir tale of drugs, betrayal, trying to find a reasonable reaction to unreasonable circumstances, and the power and powerlessness one can feel in that situation. The story, centering on a young woman who just wants to know what happened to her friend and gets pulled into a world of art, music, lovecraftian horrors, insistant goddesses/magical entities, and a plethora of people who tell her to back away even when she really should. Unlike many protagonists I have read in this space, the MC isn't an idiot. Oh there are things she doesn't know, and she is putting all the pieces together like a good hero should but when she makes stupid mistakes, she knows how stupid they are and even catches herself.
I will warn you. There is a trigger warning on the front and it's there for a reason! About halfway the story took such a terrifying turn I was shocked to my core. I have never been in that situation and I felt helpless.
Like any magical working, come in with your eyes open and willing to embrace the emotions that come because there will be emotions.
Great job!
July 14, 2024
Urban fantasy/horror novel by the guy who, as its long-time developer, made Mage: The Ascension the game that it is. As such the book - which I didn't read but listened to as an audiobook - often reminded me of themes and elements of the game, e.g. subjective reality.
This is a well-written novel about a believable protagonist, both in background as well as how she deals with the events she becomes part of.
The book bills itself as "a Riverhaven novel"; I have no idea if there are any others or if this is meant to be the first in a series to come, but I'd recommend Red Shoes to anyone who likes a good modern urban fantasy or is looking for something that can, with very little effort, be read as a Mage novel without the game speak.
Good book, pretty good narrator on the audio.
(And I love the cover illustration. It made me look up (and follow) the artist on Instagram...)
This is a well-written novel about a believable protagonist, both in background as well as how she deals with the events she becomes part of.
The book bills itself as "a Riverhaven novel"; I have no idea if there are any others or if this is meant to be the first in a series to come, but I'd recommend Red Shoes to anyone who likes a good modern urban fantasy or is looking for something that can, with very little effort, be read as a Mage novel without the game speak.
Good book, pretty good narrator on the audio.
(And I love the cover illustration. It made me look up (and follow) the artist on Instagram...)
March 4, 2022
A great read
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews