Forests of the Heart (Newford)

In this urban fantasy novel, Charles de Lint weaves together mythic traditions from multiple cultures. The Gentry—ancient, magical spirits from the Old Country—followed Irish emigrants to North America, only to encounter the manitou and other spirits already present in the New World. Generations later, the Gentry remain homeless wanderers on city streets, visible only to those with the sight to see them, appearing as men dressed in black. Bettina, part Indian and part Mexican, was raised by her grandmother to understand the spirit world. She lives in Kellygnow, a large old house on Newford's outskirts, and can see the Gentry. One night, one of the dark men follows her into the woods and takes her hand. Ellie, a young sculptor with magical abilities, has also been summoned to Kellygnow by a strange old woman to create a mask based on an ancient Celtic artifact—the mythic Summer King. Donal, Ellie's former lover, covets the mask, believing he can use it and the dark men for his own purposes. His sister Miki, a punk accordion player, stands on the opposite side of the Gentry's conflict with the Native spirits. All of Newford faces threat from this battle between human and mythic beings.