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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gorgeously grotesque..., 23 Jul 2004
The first in a unique suite of novels based upon ancient European mythology, The Autumn Castle is a luscious fairytale fantasy penned by Kim Wilkins, the writer who has been named 'Australia's new queen of the supernatural'.In this beautifully crafted tale, Wilkins skilfully weaves together modern-day Berlin and the world of Christine Starlight - the daughter of a celebrity couple who died in the same car accident which left Christine in chronic pain - with the Germanic Brothers Grimm-esque faeryland of Ewigkreis, ruled over by the changeling princess Mayfridh. Then Mayfridh's kingdom - along with her counsellor Eisengrimm, a shapeshifter transformed by a curse, and the obstreperous witch and royal magic-weaver Hexebart, collides with Christine's life in a Berlin artist's colony with her painter boyfriend Jude. The two women each find themselves spellbound by the much-craved opportunities the other's world offers; Christine by the potential freedom from pain and traumatic memories that Ewigkreis can provide, and Mayfridh by the sight of a world in which her senses are heightened; with more vibrant colours and delicious tasting foods. In the middle of all this lurks the deranged billionaire Immanuel Zweigler, whose diaries form sections of the book and reveal his grand project - a sculpture formed from the bones of the species he despises most of all...faeries. There are no other writers quite like Kim Wilkins, and certainly none who can so effortlessly interlink the modern art world and human existence with the world of the old folk tales, and in such a compelling and addictive manner (just try assuring yourself that you'll just read one chapter before going to sleep, and see how well you can stick to it!). She is a gifted creator of characters - human, non-human, good, evil or somewhere in between - and it is not difficult to form attachments to them, and to care about what becomes of them. A delightful return to the magical mindscapes of childhood as seen through adult eyes, this is absolutely a must-read. Hexebart will find out if you haven't...
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