Under the Earth, Over the Sky

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This story is very much a fairy tale in its telling; it gave off similar vibes as the writings of the Brothers Grimm, but with more attachment to the characters and less bloody violence.

Firstly, I must talk about the writing - it is both simple and lyrical, a song without music and words that feel so...so loved that they resemble a dream when uttered. Or at least a far away memory that's become so blurry but still holds that warmth that wraps around you like an old comfortable blanket. In truth, I would not mind a prequel story leading up to the fateful day Iohmar discovered the child in the woods. I’d love a deeper look into the world of Latwill and its struggle with the rippling. Of the centuries before “the child” when Iohmar was but a child himself. I’d love to meet his parents, know the war and the sacrifices that had to be made. Of how Iohmar and Rúnda met and how their relationship formed. Of the dynamic of the two kingdoms, and what may lay beyond them. I have so many questions I’d like answered. Right off the bat, I’m going to tell you that this book was not exactly what I was expecting, which is always a bit disappointing, but if I had gone into it knowing what it was actually going to be like then I still would have enjoyed it. See, I was expecting it to be more of a cozy, sort of slice-of-life-y father/son bonding book about the trials of raising a baby. However, this book is actually an intricate, lyrical, description of nature and love and magic. The prose is intoxicating. As I read, it felt like floating into the magic of the woods. The movement and magic in Latwill are vivid and surreal. I appreciated the unique and delicate descriptions, and the original twists on the classic fae legends and lore. Goodreads Librarians are volunteers who help ensure the accuracy of information about books and authors in the Goodreads' catalog. The Goodreads Libra Goodreads Librarians are volunteers who help ensure the accuracy of information about books and authors in the Goodreads' catalog. The Goodreads Librarians Group is the official group for requesting additions or updates to the catalog, including:

This item contains adult content

But if you are looking to be swept away in magical descriptions with unique fae creatures and cradled in flowery language, then this is exactly what you need. Graphic designer, weird-thing writer, and expert daydreamer Emily McCosh. She currently resides in California with her parents, two canine companions, a single fish, a single tree swing, and an endless cast of characters who might use some etiquette training. Her work has been published in places including Nature: Futures, Flash Fiction Online, Galaxy’s Edge, and Shimmer Magazine. The way time passes and the seasons change add to atmosphere. The way mysteries unfold kept me intrigued and wanting more. And the payoff for those mysteries was top tier storytelling.

Under the Earth, Over the Sky is now on my must-read-again list and will be recommended to everyone I know. But I promise you, I read this masterpiece in practically every free moment I had, even if it took me longer to finish than I’d like to confess. The storyline itself was amazing too considering it was slow but still held my attention till the end. There was a clear goal in mind but then it didn't solely revolve around that goal, there were other smaller things and day to day life weaves in instead of one driven purpose. The whole ending and reason for the shadows was a bit predictable but I don't think I would have been able to guess correctly if I didn't write myself and so look at books with the analytic view of a writer. It was very nicely foreshadowed and didn't have any gaps or plot holes though which is impressive. PDF / EPUB File Name: Under_the_earth_over_the_sky_-_Emily_McCosh.pdf, Under_the_earth_over_the_sky_-_Emily_McCosh.epub Though there was a mystery element to the story, the stakes did not feel very high. This really contributed to its fairy tale-ness, because when you read a fairy tale or fable, you usually know that good people have a good ending. So, it was kind of relaxing in that way. You don’t have to constantly be worrying about the whole world crashing and burning around them really and I liked that. Until a human family can be found for the child, Iohmar will look after him. The winds of Látwill sweep fairies through the starry sky, the forests capture the feeble-minded with their dark song, and even Iohmar, King Beneath the Earth, is subject to the will of the immortal mountains, so even the best-laid schemes can go awry.Lastly, there were some minor writing issues, head-hopping in the beginning, some overly convoluted descriptions that lose the meaning they’re trying to impart, the use of synonyms that don’t make sense (when something feels wrong, and the author uses feels incorrect instead) but they are easy to ignore in an otherwise gorgeously painted world. The other way the author got me was with the stunning illustration work, done by none other than herself! I really appreciate that extra step of effort!

There is a mystery element to this book that I wasn’t expecting, but quite liked. There are spooky shadows that keep appearing to Iohmar, seeming to want something from him, but not communicating what that is. And then there the ripplings, shimmering creatures that were long ago enemies and are now popping up again, much to Iohmar’s horror. Learning about him, his insecurities and issues hit very close and i just had to fall in love with him. As I said before, the wording of this book is just absolutely stellar. Everything is described so beautifully and if you close your eyes, you can picture yourself in the magical forest, you can almost smell the earth in the underground scenes, or feel the heat of the sand in the desert. I’ve never read Tolkien (yes, I know, I'm the worst), but from what I’ve heard, this story and his writings share lengthy nature descriptions. So if you are in the mood for that, then this would be a great read for you. The living forest aspect of it also reminded me somewhat of Narnia. Authors, if you are a member of the Goodreads Author Program, you can edit information about your own books. Find out how in this guide.

The story begins with the fae king, Iohmar, discovering a human infant in his forest. The baby’s mother has just died, and the virtually immortal fae is at a loss as to what to do with the child. He is forbidden by his own laws from taking the baby, yet he also feels compelled to do so. As a result of learning that the baby’s father is a nasty person, Iohmar chooses to temporarily house the infant at his Fair Halls. The last chapter ruined all the goodwill the book had because the MC basically went "I know he doesn't love me" when IT IS SO DAMN OBVIOUS HE LOVES YOU AND HE EVEN TOLD YOU NOW SHUT THE HELL UP AND STOP HIDING IN YOUR ROOM