Juniper Wiles

Three decades ago ... pre-Amazon, really ... I stumbled across a hardcover book in a brick-and-mortar bookstore in Victoria B.C. and bought it, out of curiosity. The dust jacket was wood green with a yellow-orange-ish panel stretching across showing translucent fairies dancing in the forest. My first encounter with Charles de Lint, my first encounter with the fictional Canadian city of Newford, sitting on the border of mundane and faerie. I was hooked, and I have been ever since. Give me Charles de Lint and Newford, and I buy it unseen.As I did with "Juniper Wiles" - as I understand from the introduction the first story in a series around this new character Juniper "Joon" Wiles, TV / movie actress and painter artist who is back in Newford again and gets to relearn Newford while being thrown into solving a deadly mystery. But this story is told in very much a different style from your usual Newford books, and CdL points that out right away in his introduction. What if ... the story was told in the style and manner of "modern urban fantasy"? What if ...?CdL pulls this off. After all, he knows Newford, and he knows his art. But it all feels different now. When Juniper learns about the mythical connections of the Newford gang, it's more often telling than showing the events and insights so wonderfully crafted in former books. The POV, the writing style, and the story idea behind are more gritty, world changing even, if you will, with dire threats of the most heinous sort, and it more reminds you of some off-the-shelf current trends in urban fantasy.Then again, CdL made no secret about what he was doing here from the beginning. He cites influences, and the text itself brims with meta text and - sometimes - only thinly veiled allusions of the critical kind towards current events from our world, reflected in the story. You will recognize those immediately. I admit, I was taken aback at first - not the CdL I'd come to love and admire. But trusting CdL I stuck through it and, I believe, it's worth it. Reaching out beyond his usual base, he challenges you to also follow the meta text and the meta levels and think and reflect. And the warm twinkle in his eye comes through occasionally, nevertheless. You can read the story as it stands and enjoy it, but there is so much more if you read the text closely. I may be wrong - after all I am only one reader, and maybe I'm projecting. But to me it seems he's experimenting quite a few things "off his chest". I'm looking forward to what may come next.With that caveat - and the caveat off me possibly being horribly wrong in my reading ... the book is well worth it, and I did enjoy it very much after all. Comes recommended with six stars. ("Uhm .. where can I click this sixth one?")

This was... Like coming to meet the family ypu love.I really enjoyed going back and getting to see the characters, and meet the new ones.The style is a little different, so if you're looking for the same thing, don't. It is still Charles De Lint. It is also a little more...harsh? Maybe.Regardless, I like the strong characterization and would really like more of Juniper and the community.

As with so many of Charles De Lint's book length stories, my first impulse on finishing his new book, Juniper Wiles, is to go straight back to the beginning and read it all over again.A fun story, lots of interesting plot twists and turns, and a larger than usual cast of characters, all of them well realized and memorable, and many of them old and dear friends.It's just this gift he has...

Who would not wish to return to Newford, to revel in that magical community? This newest visit via the adventures of Juniper Wiles fulfills my heart's yearning to "dive right in" to the newly rippling literary waters that Charles chose to swim in. Once again, the mayhem that ensues is infused with a broad sense of deep caring and personal transformation, true friendship, mythical beings, worlds betwixt and between, pain and healing. This playful skip into the light and dark of the mythical realms is aesthetically nourishing, taking us into the colorful matrix of artists, musicians, canine companions, faeries, ghosts and so much more.

Having a Charles de Lint book to read while waiting for the pandemic to end instills some hope that the world might return to a new and better normal. Maybe like his characters, we can all learn to be a little more appreciative of those invisible people who make our own lives so pleasant and comfortable even when theirs are more dangerous than usual. Thank you.

I may be biased as Charles Dr Lint is one of my favorite authors. I have been an avid reader of his for years, and I grab his books as soon as they come out. This book did not disappoint. It has the same heart and love of magic that all of his books have,and I love that he returned to Newford. It's like seeing good friends that you haven't seen for years and falling back into form as if no time had passed at all. De Lint has a way of drawing you in and keeping you engaged. This book is no exception.A must for any fan of true urban fantasy.

This little book is exactly what I wanted and needed! That Newford magic, Jilly and the crew with all their humor and magic, and now Juniper, encompasses everything from myth and legend to fan fiction and movies, anything that has ever captured minds and hearts. De Lint's world has always been a place of wonders and I'm always excited for a new doorway appearing to let me in again.

I'll start with the fact that I love anything Charles writes about his fictional city of Newford. It's a place I would live to live. His characters are all touched by magic and mystery and to be able to visit Newford again after so long was a little like going home.In this book we meet a new character who is rediscovering herself and also discovering some new things about herself. I don't want to do spoilers so I'll just say, do yourself a favor and give it a read.

Like a whisper from the past...I opened this book a little worried that my memories of past reads would make this new book feel awkward and the spell would be broken after so long. I should not have worried. As the first words worked their magic I was back in the world I remembered and loved. Charles deLint is a master storyteller, inviting us into his worlds and allowing us to be friends with all characters and catch up with them. Welcome back everyone.

You can go home again. After years away from Newford, Charles de Lint’s fictional city where magic can be real, de Lint has returned with Juniper Wiles. Once again, we meet up with beloved Newford characters, including artist Jilly Coppercorn, who is mentoring former actress Juniper Wiles. Having made her name and good money playing young detective Nora Constantine, after the show ends, Juniper returns to her hometown of Newford where she finds herself embroiled in a mystery filled with magic and danger.If you’re familiar with de Lint’s Newford books, other favourite characters, in addition to Jilly, make an appearance. Although this book is Juniper’s story, it wouldn’t be Newford without help from friends. Jilly and her friends may be older now than they were in previous outings, but age has not withered them by any means. I am happy that they are older, yet nevertheless as active as ever with their various artistic endeavours, and that their friendships and connections still are strong.Reading Juniper Wiles is like returning to one of your favourite places in the world. There’s definitely danger, but there’s warm comfort in being able to read a new Newford story. I found myself purposely trying to read it slowly and even took reading breaks simply because I didn’t want it to end. I can’t wait for any additional possible future adventures for Coppercorn and Wiles, and I am very grateful that de Lint decided to revisit Newford.

I'm a big fan of Charles de Lint's urban fantasíes. His characters are complex, and his stories explore the magic of everyday if we be paid more attention- the magic of love, hope, life, living, the wild creeping into the concrete square. This latest novel is up to his usual high standards, and is thoroughly enjoyable. It returns to his fictional world of Newford which fans will know from previous short story collections and novels e.g. Dreams Underfoot, Moonlight and Vines. Introducing.new characters, it appears to be to pay homage to a certain TV show of which I am also a fan, bringing a Buffy style character onto centre stage. Anyway, thoroughly recommended.

Charles de Lint's books are always such a joy to read. My only problem is reading too quick and then wishing for the next impossibly soon. Back to the previous ones then.

If you've read any Charles de Lint, this needs no introduction. If you haven't, what are you waiting for. I love all de Lint's novels but, like a lot of his fans, I have a really soft spot for those set in Newford. This is a welcome return to the old crowd with a lovely new addition in Juniper. His books show you the magic of everyday life and make you feel that real magic is all around. They live with you long after you've finished them. There really isn't another author like him. I can't praise them enough