War For The Oaks by Emma Bull

 

Eddi McCandry's life is in turmoil.  She has just broken up with her boyfriend, Stuart.  That also means the band in which they both played has also broken up.  She and her best friend who plays the drums in the band, agree to meet tomorrow to discuss what to do going forward and whether they should start their own band.  But before tomorrow, Eddi's life will change forever in a way she could never have predicted.

As she goes home, she encounters a large black dog near a fountain.  It seems to be herding her toward the water and as she nears, she sees a woman emerging from the water.  She is a beautiful woman but unearthly.  When she looks around, the dog has changed into a man.  Together, they tell Eddi that she has been chosen as the champion of the fae and that a war is about to occur.  It is unbelievable but watching the dog change back and forth to man and the cold beauty of the woman makes it conceivable.  

Eddi goes home with her head reeling.  Not the least of her consternation comes from the fact that the man/dog whose name is Phouka will now be her bodyguard and living in her apartment.  When the next day comes, she and her friend, Carla, start discussions about their new band.   Carla knows a keyboard player and they post notices and get a lead guitarist and a bass player.  But a new band is not all that Eddi is facing.

The Seelie Court of the Fae and the Unseelie Court are warring for dominance.  Eddi is shocked and changed forever when she witnesses the first battle and realizes that her new band members are also Fae.  She is pushed and pulled between the two sides with the Unseelie Dark Queen singling her out for manipulation.  Which side will win and will Eddi's life ever be the same?

This is a debut novel and thoroughly enjoyable.  It won the Locust Award for Best First Novel.  The book is filled with music and love and a sense that there is more to the world than what we see.  Eddi is an interesting heroine who defies the world to live life on her own terms and who is unstoppable  in attaining her goals.  This book is recommended for fantasy readers.