Orfeia
Joanne M. Harris

Gollancz £14.99. ISBN 978-1-473-22995-2 hb.

Joanne Harris is best known for Chocolat and similar novels. But in recent years she has been writing books based on myths and ballads. The Testament of Loki and The Gospel of Lokishow the events in Asgard leading up to Ragnarok from Loki’s perspective. And Loki is also a primary character in her young adult novels Runemarks and Runelights, which are set post-Ragnarok.

Recently she has been writing a series of novellas spinning off from Child Ballads. A Pocketful of Crows (Child 295, The Brown Girl), The Blue Salt Road (The Great Selkie of Sule Skerry), and the book under review, Orfeia. This is based on the ballad King Orfeo, which is itself a version of the story of Orpehues and Eurydice.

Fay Orr’s daughter has died, and she cannot come to terms with the loss. She has a vision of her daughter asleep in the hall of the Hallowe’en King, and resolves go there and wake her. Guided by the words of various ballads, she travels through phantasmagorical lands, London Beyond, London Beneath, Nethermost London. She crosses the river Dream to reach the Shadowless Lands of the Hallowe’en King, and challenges him for her daughter. The result of this challenge is not what we expect, but is satisfying.

The book is beautifully illustrated by Bonnie Helen Hawkins. Its account of love and grief and memory touched me deeply, and have remained with me. Highly recommended.

Facts & Fiction 119. November 2021.
©Daniel Cohen