Gather Her Round

The fifth book in Alex Bledsoe's Tufa series, Gather Her Round centers on a rural Appalachian community descended from Irish fairies who maintain their ancient magical traditions through music and song. A young woman's death by a wild boar in the Tennessee woods sets off a search through the forest by members of the close-knit Tufa community, including her boyfriend Duncan Gowen and his friend Adam Procure. Traditional folk ballads and original compositions weave throughout the narrative, with songs like "Lily of the West" and "Against the Black" serving as both plot elements and connections to the Tufa's supernatural heritage. The novel explores themes of loss, vengeance, and the ways ancient magic persists in modern rural America, examining how isolated communities preserve their secrets and traditions across generations.

Readers found this fifth entry in the Tufa series maintains the blend of Appalachian folklore and modern fantasy established in previous books. The mystery plot and dark tone kept many engaged, though some noted it feels less complex than earlier installations. Readers liked: - The exploration of grief and consequences - Integration of folk music and supernatural elements - Growth of secondary characters - Standalone accessibility for new readers Readers disliked: - Slower pace compared to previous books - Less development of the main Tufa community - Some found the ending unsatisfying - Multiple reviewers mentioned difficulty connecting with the protagonist Ratings: Goodreads: 4.01/5 (505 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (52 reviews) One reader on Goodreads noted: "The folklore elements shine, but the mystery feels predictable." Several Amazon reviewers praised the atmospheric writing while commenting that the story takes longer to build momentum than earlier books in the series.

The Wild Hunt by Ronald Hutton A folklore scholar pieces together historical accounts of supernatural beings in rural Appalachian communities through generations of eyewitness testimonies.

Silver on the Road by Laura Anne Gilman A coming-of-age tale follows a young woman's journey through a reimagined American frontier where folk magic and dark creatures lurk in the territories.

The Hum and the Shiver by Alex Bledsoe The first book in the Tufa series explores a remote Tennessee mountain community whose residents carry ancient Celtic magic in their blood.

Those Across the River by Christopher Buehlman A Depression-era professor moves to a small Georgia town and discovers the inhabitants maintain a blood pact with creatures in the forest.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater A tale of ancient Welsh kings, ley lines, and supernatural forces unfolds in the mountains of Virginia as local teens encounter old magic.

🎵 The Tufa series draws inspiration from the real-life Melungeon people, a mysterious ethnic group found in the Appalachian Mountains whose origins have been debated for centuries. 🌿 Celtic folklore often connects music with supernatural power, particularly through the concept of "fairy music" which was believed to enchant listeners and bridge the mortal and magical worlds. 🏔️ The Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, where the story is set, contain some of the oldest mountains in the world, formed approximately 300 million years ago. 📚 Alex Bledsoe grew up in west Tennessee and frequently incorporates elements of Southern folklore and music into his works, drawing from his personal experiences in the region. 🎻 Appalachian folk music, central to the story, evolved from Irish, Scottish, and English ballads brought by settlers in the 18th century, blending with African American blues traditions.