The Wild Reel - Paperback

by Paul Brandon (Author)

When young Irish artist Natasha Newlyn paints, she hears music; a wild, secret symphony of ancient jigs and reels that accompany her stunning watercolor landscapes. Natasha lives in a small sea village in the far west of Ireland, the perfect place for her work...or at least it was until the dreams came. Starting as nothing more than vague erotic images, the dreams begin to grow. Then they begin to affect her art...and intrude into her real life. When an invitation arrives to attend her friend's wedding in Brisbane, Australia, Natasha seizes the chance to have a vacation and sort out her confused mind.

But there is someone else who can also hear her secret music. Someone unearthly and dangerous. Someone who covets her: Finvarra, the Faerie King of Connaught. He has decided that she will be his next bride, and to that end he will follow her to the other side of the world.

But the entire Irish Faerie Court is a little out of place in the sub-tropical streets of Brisbane, Australia; and like many things, winning the heart (or at least the soul) of a mortal just isn't as easy as it used to be.

Front Jacket

Praise for Swim the Moon
"Fluently and passionately wrought. Fans of Charles de Lint, and others who relish the music/folklore combination, should be delighted with thie debut fantasy."
--Kirkus Reviews

"By turns tender and tormented, this haunting, lyric Celtic rhapsody on the ancient theme of Selkies makes a bewitching debut novel. Definitely a writer to watch, Brandon has a vivid, original voice, full of poignant longing and haunting echoes."
--Publishers Weekly

"Brandon's first novel tells a compelling tale of one man's encounter with a creature born from wild magic. Recommended for most fantasy collections."--Library Journal

"Swim the Moon takes equal measures of realism, folklore, nightmare, and romance, brings them to a slow boil, and serves up a brew that has something of the power of the old whisky which Richard and Ailish share for a Christmas toast: 'The liquid burned over my tongue and trickled like molten metal down my throat. It was wondrously smoky, rich flavored and strong.... [T]hough I knew whisky didn't really improve once in the bottle, it was the thought of drinking something so old, so precious, that made it wonderful.' Give this book a taste - you may like its flavor."--Locus

Back Jacket

Praise for Swim the Moon
"Fluently and passionately wrought. Fans of Charles de Lint, and others who relish the music/folklore combination, should be delighted with thie debut fantasy."
--Kirkus Reviews

"By turns tender and tormented, this haunting, lyric Celtic rhapsody on the ancient theme of Selkies makes a bewitching debut novel. Definitely a writer to watch, Brandon has a vivid, original voice, full of poignant longing and haunting echoes."
--Publishers Weekly

"Brandon's first novel tells a compelling tale of one man's encounter with a creature born from wild magic. Recommended for most fantasy collections."--Library Journal

"Swim the Moon takes equal measures of realism, folklore, nightmare, and romance, brings them to a slow boil, and serves up a brew that has something of the power of the old whisky which Richard and Ailish share for a Christmas toast: 'The liquid burned over my tongue and trickled like molten metal down my throat. It was wondrously smoky, rich flavored and strong.... [T]hough I knew whisky didn't really improve once in the bottle, it was the thought of drinking something so old, so precious, that made it wonderful.' Give this book a taste - you may like its flavor."--Locus

Author Biography

Paul Brandon was born in darkest Kent, England. He met his future wife in an Irish pub in London, and decided to pack up and move to Brisbane, Australia to be with her. After a couple of years, he took a month or so to write Swim the Moon, which was a little idea that came to him while listening to a Celtic fiddle tune during tea on a Sunday evening.

When he's not writing, Brandon can be found playing guitar for Súnas, a Celtic band that plays in pubs around the Brisbane area. He is also the author of The Wild Reel.