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The Hum and the Shiver Audiobook
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(3.04) - 563 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
In this valley songs live … and kill.
No one knows where the Tufa came from or how they ended up in the mountains of east Tennessee. When the first Europeans came to the Smoky Mountains, the Tufa were already there. Dark-haired and enigmatic, they live quietly in the hills and valleys of Cloud County, their origins lost to history. But there are clues in their music, hidden in the songs they have passed down for generations.
Private Bronwyn Hyatt, a true daughter of the Tufa, has returned from Iraq, wounded in body and spirit, but her troubles are far from over. Cryptic omens warn of impending tragedy, while a restless “haint” has followed her home from the war. Worse yet, Bronwyn has lost touch with herself and with the music that was once a part of her life. With death stalking her family, will she ever again join in the song of her people and let it lift her onto the night winds?
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"In this created world of the Tuftas, Bledsoe has given us an outstanding story and wonderful characters. Mixing magic with a war hero, superstitions with instruments and songs , haints and omens, a family must come together with their history and their place in the world and finding a way to be true to their culture while at the same time true to themselves. Very enjoyable and novel read."
— Diane (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Imagine a book somewhere between American Gods and Faulkner…Absolutely worth your time.”
— Patrick Rothfuss, #1 New York Times bestselling author -
“It’s a mixture: folk tales and folks songs, updated with a dose of Sex and the City. Or, you might say, a rustic version of ‘urban fantasy,’ with its suggestion that there’s mystery just around the corner, hidden behind even the dullent small-town façade.”
— Wall Street Journal -
“Bledsoe turns standard urban fantasy tropes on their head by reimagining modern elves as a tiny, isolated ethnic group unsure of their own origins…The slowly unfolding mystery of the Tufa is a fascinating and absorbing masterpiece of world-building.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“[Bledsoe] crafts a deceptively simple story of family and community, laced throughout with the music and beliefs of a magical reality. Elegantly told, this series opener…should attract a wide readership beyond genre fans.”
— Library Journal (starred review) -
“This powerful, character-driven drama, set forth in superbly lucid prose, occurs against an utterly convincing backdrop and owns complications enough to keep everybody compulsively turning the pages. A sheer delight.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Awards
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One of the 2011 Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books: Science Fiction and Fantasy
The Hum and the Shiver Listener Reviews
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Deborah, 8/4/2015
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" 3.5 stars. Good urban fantasy, better on the plot setup and background than on the actual dialogue and characterization. Some of the colloquialisms sounds a bit strained, but the book kept me coming back to read more every day. "
— Jeff, 2/17/2014 -
" Delightful. Different from my usual reads. Hardcore, likable characters. Slower pacing, but I anticipated that... I soaked up the words, environment, culture. Totally recommend to fans of literary fiction and/or those who are looking for something engaging that's out of their norm. "
— Nell, 2/10/2014 -
" Are there more? I want to know more about the Tufa. i have not been this drawn in by characters in a LONG time. I found myself looking them up on the internet. "
— Cindy, 2/8/2014 -
" I LOVED THIS. Very unique book, I liked how the supernatural was very understated. Also one of the best titles ever. "
— Suz, 1/30/2014 -
" Absolutely LOVED this story and how it unfolds. This story has a wonderful mix of small town folks, family history, haints, tradition, music and magic-of-sorts. "
— Velvet, 1/16/2014 -
" I was reluctant to read a book by an author I know. I tried that once and could not progress past the first two pages. Not so with The Hum and the Shiver. I was enthralled, devoured it in two day's time, and can hardly wait for the sequel. Kudos, Alex! "
— Jennifer, 1/13/2014 -
" She came home to a heroes welcome, and must adjust to her home community's (and ex-boyfriend's) expectations. Hinted magic gradually becomes more overt as the climax comes "
— Kathyred, 1/13/2014 -
" This was pretty good. I sort of choked it down whole in a couple days. I recommend it. "
— Vanessa, 1/13/2014 -
" If the author had put more complexity into the resolution of the mysterious Tufa peoples, I would have given this 5 stars. A page-turner that lacked a strong finish "
— Mary, 11/5/2013 -
" I enjoyed this book and was sorry to see it end. I want to read more of Alex Bledsoe! "
— Judithosc, 11/2/2013 -
" Not my usual kind of fantasy, but a nice change of pace. Really interesting world building for a book that is basically set in the real world. I don't normally care what a book's title is, but I have to say this one really grabbed me. Once I heard that title I pretty much had to read this book. "
— Liam, 10/21/2013 -
" Readers seem to either love or hate this book. I loved it, and can't wait for the next in the series. "
— Ruth, 7/29/2013 -
" For me, the story itself was a little flat but the author is a good writer. "
— Casey, 3/22/2013 -
" I am a fan of mythology. Saying that, this book weaves an old mythology into an Appalachian tale and makes it seem quite natural. The origins of the magic didn't really hit me until well into the book and kept it interesting to the end. "
— Leona, 3/17/2013 -
" This book surprised me and turned out to be a fantasy-type book. I read it because i wanted to see how it ended. If you like books about "haints" and omens, you will probably enjoy this. "
— Sue, 3/16/2013 -
" A thoughtful and emotional introduction to the Tufa. One where you're not sure what's magic and what's real. A host of sympathetic and engaging characters mike this a delight to read. "
— Karen, 3/1/2013 -
" Interesting read. Actually I listened to the audio version. Well produced and acted. It doesn't necessarily go where you think it is going so that made it more interesting. I don't regret the read and plan to try the next book. A solid story that keeps your attention. "
— Mark, 7/25/2012 -
" The more I think about this book the more I like. A few rather facile tricks but I would read more by this author. "
— Judy, 6/3/2012 -
" So far, this book has me enthralled and engaged! What will happen next? I like the idea of a genuine American low or urban fantasy. - now having finished it, I can say that it was a fun page turner. I will be looking fir the next one. "
— Sydney, 10/18/2011 -
" Absolutely LOVED this story and how it unfolds. This story has a wonderful mix of small town folks, family history, haints, tradition, music and magic-of-sorts. "
— Velvet, 10/5/2011
About Alex Bledsoe
Alex Bledsoe grew up in west Tennessee, an hour north of Graceland. He’s been a reporter, editor, photographer, and door-to-door vacuum-cleaner salesman. He has published more than fifty short stories on topics as diverse as big-game hunters, mermaids, modern witches, Victorian gentlemen, and country musicians. He has two sons and lives in Wisconsin.
About Emily Janice Card
Stefan Rudnicki first became involved with audiobooks in 1994. Now a Grammy-winning audiobook producer, he has worked on more than five thousand audiobooks as a narrator, writer, producer, or director. He has narrated more than nine hundred audiobooks. A recipient of multiple AudioFile Earphones Awards, he was presented the coveted Audie Award for solo narration in 2005, 2007, and 2014, and was named one of AudioFile’s Golden Voices in 2012.