War for the Oaks by Emma Bull

     There is something very enticing about the genre of urban fantasy. The possibility that the world of Faerie coexists with modern society does not seem so far-fetched when reading one of these novels. Works such as Tithe, by Holly Black, and Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman, are able to hold my complete attention. I become so enraptured by the story that I forget that I'm reading. War for the Oaks had the same effect, with its interesting characters and engaging plot. This story focuses mainly on finding one's own path.
Eddi is presented vulnerable, left her boyfriend, quit the band and is left in a financial mess. Although she is a victim of a circumstance, she soon transforms into a heroine of sorts. This novel was delved fully into female empowerment. The two courts of Faerie are led by intimidating queens. While the characters of Willy and the phouka seem to be in charge, Eddi reverses that with her own domineering qualities as the story moves along.
  
    The relationship of Eddi and the phouka mimicked the tale of Beauty and the Beast. The phouka, besides having the ability to transform into creatures, has a very agressive personality. He is constantly making a nuisance of himself, and purposely annoys everyone. It is interesting that he is never given a name. By calling him "the phouka" the author reminds us that he is supernatural. While, Eddi is not described a gorgeous woman, she has attractive qualities and is able to command the attention of others. And just like the tale, she is unhappy with the phouka's constant presence at first but unknowingly develops feeling for him by the end.

     After I finished reading, I found that I was a bit disappointed by some of the story's elements. While each character was very unique, there was little to no background information presented on any of them. The ending was quite abrupt, and the "battle" of the bands seemed a little strange after all that had occurred. While music played a major role as the base of the story, it was employed as an unconventional tool in deciding the fates of Faerie. The dramatic atmosphere came and went in the span of a couple of pages, and felt rushed. I felt that the mood was disrupted by some unnecessary, sporadic silly comments by the minor characters.

     Aside from that, I found this to be a great urban fantasy novel. I had never heard of the title or the author prior to seeing it on the recommended reading list. Using music as a source of power fits so well into the realm of fantasy. Melodies can manipulate a person's mood, and thus can control people. I have read other fantasy tales that utilize music as their primary theme, but this book really dove into the heart of it and presented it very well.