The Hum and the Shiver

The Tufa Novels, Book 1

By: Alex Bledsoe

Narrated by: Emily Janice Card, Stefan Rudnicki

Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

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?

©2011 Alex Bledsoe (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“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)

Riveting

Extremely well written and performed. Don't plan on working, eating, or sleeping until long after the last page turns.

A Modern Fairy Tale

A new take on Fairies here in the U.S. Very interesting, like to see more!

Enchanting!

I read this book several years ago and it was a story that always stuck with me. Being from Appalachia, there are just enough elements to this story, that makes you wonder, could there be some truth to this? Overall an enjoyable story and a pretty quick listen. The only criticism for me is that I wish some of the "songs" the story talked about were actually sung, instead of just read aloud.

Poor reading performance

I enjoyed the storyline. Didn't care for some of the language. I really did not like the reading. It sounded forced.

Unique story line and building of a history

Who are the Tufa? Great question that rings throughout the story. New customs and a history of a people. looking forward to the next in this series. And included in Prime! This is a wonderful discovery for an avid reader And listener!

Fantastic new paranormal

First book in series, there are two narrators and I think they do a wonderful job. I am familiar with Stefan Fudnicki, but not with Emily Janice Card. The story revolves around a group of people called the Tufa. They lived in an area of Tennessee, and was there when the first white men came to the area. I don't want to give away the story, because it progresses, and you find out things that will draw you into the characters. I can't wait for the next book in this series. I have read others by Ales Bledsoe, but I think this series will be something far above his others.

Amazingly captivating.

From start to finish, loved the story and kept wanting more. I will definitely get the rest of Alex Bledsoe books.

I love this series

The story is well done and the characters believable. The narration was fair, but certainly not outstanding. Would have been better with only one narrator.

Enjoyed

I was not sure after some of the reviews, but I did like enjoy the book. Not over the top. I can see where I would like to learn more about some of the characters, hopefully in the next book. But overall I did not feel cheated. The narrators where good.

slow start

very slow start, almost gave up few times! Glad i finished it. good characters & eventually a good story