Brides in the Dark is a “modern fairy tale” that plays on a much older category of folktale: the Swanmay/Selkie/Other shapeshifter who must marry whoever stole the skin that enables them to change their shape. In this setting, men capture various kinds of shapeshifter fairy brides. One town goes into a forest to find their brides, another hauls their brides out of the sea. In Our Protagonist’s town, men go up into the mountains, and lure their brides out of the air.
(It is not explained why the men are kidnapping fairies to have their kids. Patrick does ask his father why there aren’t any women born in the town. I found his father’s non-answer to be extremely disturbing.)
Our Protagonist is young man named Patrick who is about to embark on this journey up the mountain to catch a wife. Who he draws down from the sky is an angry harpy named Stella. Because Patrick is not a horrible person, he actually talks to the harpy and they make a deal. Stella agrees to be his bride on the condition that he lets her speak to his mother. Again, because Patrick is not a horrible person, Patrick agrees to this.
There is some development of Patrick and Stella’s relationship as they work together to hide that Stella can still speak, and still has her wings. (Oh, did I forget to mention? The captured brides not only get their wings cut off and hidden, they are also made mute.) Patrick has to contend with what he’s been taught by his father versus what he’s managed to learn from his mother. (Patrick’s emotional intelligence is much higher than just about anyone in the town.)
This is a thoughtful, emotionally complex story with interesting characters. Mohr’s writing style brings to mind both Robin McKinley and Patricia McKillip. (Maybe more McKinley than McKillip.) That is, a richly described setting combined with smart conversation and a deep internal dialog. This is a good read, and the narrative pulls you along to the very end. (You may end up reading the whole thing in a few hours.)
This review is based on an advanced copy received from NetGalley.
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