Newford is an unassuming city in the middle of somewhere, but what draws people to this place? It is like any other city. The residents deal with the same problems—poverty, crime, decay—so why is it special, different? Normal people inhabit the city—artists, musicians, laborers, waitresses—but underneath everything lies something mysterious. Newford is the in-between place where two worlds mingle and boundaries are crossed. Faeries, goblins, and native spirits interact with and inadvertently change the lives of unsuspecting city-dwellers. The Crow Girls cause mischief; Jilly Coppercorn uses her art to help a friend; and Meran Kelledy must rescue her husband from a hoard of goblins. These thirteen tales that mark the fifth collection of Newford stories are comprised of characters and situations that will be familiar to followers of de Lint’s writing. De Lint’s stories are simple yet complex in their beauty. He takes great care when telling a story. Never frivolous with words, de Lint focuses on the characters and how they learn and grow after interacting with these mystical beings. In his world, fantasy and reality coexist, and somehow, it makes perfect sense. These stories are like old friends—they are always around, and you can pick up right where you left off. If you want to get lost for a few hours, read these stories. Once you experience Newford, you will never want to come back to reality.—Jonatha Basye.