Mitchell,
Saundra. Mistwalker. Houghton Mifflin/Harcourt Brace
2014
310p
$16.99
ISBN 978-0-547-85315-4 hs Fantasy VG-BN
Slow-paced and meandering as fog and
mist, Mitchell’s novel examines the
aftermath of grief through a New England folk tale about Willa, who is grief-
and guilt-stricken by her brother’s recent death, and Grey, a spirit condemned
to live in an abandoned lighthouse until he collects one thousand souls. When a
romance develops between Willa and Grey, she is tempted to take Grey’s place
and break the curse on him, believing that her absence will have little impact
on her family or friends.
Grey has tried to retain the shreds of his humanity that still exist. He wants to be free of the curse that compels him to stay with the lighthouse, but despite his ability to call fog or dangerous weather, he states: “I’ve been a good steward for this town; better than most. I’ve been honorable. They’ve had a hundred years of my generosity, holding back the fog. So many good days for them. So many clear days. I’ve been patient. In all this time, I could have blinded hundreds of fisherman. Led them astray, helped their pretty little boats crash into rocks, hidden coming storms.”
Still, Grey is collecting souls. He keeps them in containers, and the souls are unable to complete their journey to the next plane of existence or find rest. Willa is unaware that Grey holds her brother’s soul captive.
Mitchell does a great job of creating an authentic setting. The small Maine fishing town rings true, especially the relationships and feuds that the long-time families share. These are tough, resilient folk, unafraid of hard work and harsh realities. These relationships and characters ring true, too. As with Brigadoon, readers will find themselves walking out of the mist and into the lives of this isolated village, and their thoughts may return to this haunting tale long after they have closed the covers.
Grey has tried to retain the shreds of his humanity that still exist. He wants to be free of the curse that compels him to stay with the lighthouse, but despite his ability to call fog or dangerous weather, he states: “I’ve been a good steward for this town; better than most. I’ve been honorable. They’ve had a hundred years of my generosity, holding back the fog. So many good days for them. So many clear days. I’ve been patient. In all this time, I could have blinded hundreds of fisherman. Led them astray, helped their pretty little boats crash into rocks, hidden coming storms.”
Still, Grey is collecting souls. He keeps them in containers, and the souls are unable to complete their journey to the next plane of existence or find rest. Willa is unaware that Grey holds her brother’s soul captive.
Mitchell does a great job of creating an authentic setting. The small Maine fishing town rings true, especially the relationships and feuds that the long-time families share. These are tough, resilient folk, unafraid of hard work and harsh realities. These relationships and characters ring true, too. As with Brigadoon, readers will find themselves walking out of the mist and into the lives of this isolated village, and their thoughts may return to this haunting tale long after they have closed the covers.
Summary: Willa discovers that the legendary spirit of the lighthouse is
actually a young man trapped inside it
until he collects 1,000 souls.
Should Willa sacrifice herself to free him?
Ghost stories, Spells-Fiction --Hilary Welliver
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