This is the second novel in de Lint's Newford series, and a re-read for me. It's a fascinating concept -- especially talented artists are able to use their paintings to open a gateway to another world, inviting in fairy-like beings -- and as always I appreciate the urban fantasy setting and his commitment to both art and social justice.
However, his protagonist, Isabelle, was a frustrating character who made a lot of bad decisions for almost the entirety of the novel. Some of it is, understandably, a function of the abusive relationships she has been subject to; they do a number on both her self esteem and her understanding of what's normal. But her actions are also the result of her own selfishness and obsession with art; she is willing to overlook or justify all manner of bad acts committed by Rushkin because of his artistic talent. It's one thing to separate the artist from the art, a topic that is especially relevant today. It's another to let the artist get away with murder because he's fascinating.
Late in the novel we meet another painter who serves as a marked contrast to Isabelle; I wish we could have spent more time with her.
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