Forests of the heart

The World Fantasy Award–winning author weaves the mythic traditions of many cultures into this urban fantasy novel.

In the Old Country, they called them the Gentry: ancient spirits of the land, magical, amoral, and dangerous. When the Irish emigrated to North America, some of the Gentry followed . . . only to find that the New World already had spirits of its own, called manitou and other such names by the Native tribes. Now generations have passed, and the Irish have made homes in the new land, but the Gentry still wander homeless on the city streets—appearing, to those with the sight to see them, as men dressed in black.

Bettina can see the Gentry, and knows them for what they are. Part Indian, part Mexican, she was raised by her grandmother to understand the spirit world. Now she lives in Kellygnow, a massive old house on the outskirts of Newford. At night, she often spies the dark men, avoiding them—until the night one follows her to the woods, and takes her hand . . .

Ellie, a young sculptor, also has magic in her blood, and can see the dark men. She has been summoned to Kellygnow by a strange old women to create a mask based on an ancient Celtic artifact—the mythic Summer King. It is a mask coveted by Donal, Ellie's former lover. He believes he can use the mask and the dark men for his own purposes. And Donal's sister, Miki, a punk accordion player, stands on the other side of the Gentry's battle with the Native spirits of the land. She knows that more than her brother's soul is at stake.

All of Newford is threatened, human and mythic beings alike . . .