Shannon C.’s review of A Red Heart of Memories by Nina Kiriki Hoffman (no author site found)
Urban fantasy released by Ace 1 Oct 99

Before there was Laurell K. Hamilton, Charlaine Harris, et al, there were authors like Charles de Lint and Emma Bull writing what I’ve always thought of as urban fantasy. Their stories are set in our world, only with extra touches of magic hidden around every corner. Nina Kiriki Hoffman writes in this style of urban fantasy, and actually, this book came recommended to me through a review Charles de Lint did for The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Since Charles de Lint is one of my favorite authors of all time, I was hoping that I would really like a book that he did.

I wasn’t disappointed. After slogging through some books that were nothing if not grim and depressing, this story, which is about friendship, the transformative power of love, and overcoming one’s past, was a really nice palate-cleanser. It centers around Matt Black, (the Matt is short for Matilda, but I still think that’s an awesome name) who is just kind of drifting along. Matt talks to inanimate objects, and fixes them where she can. Then she meets Edmund, a sort of shaman, who is instructed by Spirit, to help Matt. The two of them then begin a journey up and down the West Coast, a journey of self-discovery and magic that will leave both of them forever changed and introduce them to a large cast of amazing characters.

I really liked both of these characters. Matt in particular is wonderful. She’s well on her way to moving on from the things that have happened in her past, but she’s not there. She’s kind of interfering and definitely something of a busybody, but she means well and I loved the way her relationship with Edmund evolved.

Edmund, though he seems very focused and serene, is troubled by a lot of things. His past is even more troubled than Matt’s, and his abilities are stranger. He’s wrestling with a lot of stuff, but he never manages to be annoyingly emo about any of it. Both he and Matt teach each other a lot, and it’s fun watching them.

The other characters are great, too, and some of them are fairly unlikely. My favorite was Gold, a bunch of sensual creative magic that tends to bond with people around it. I want something like Gold, which seems quite useful and practical.

The plot moves along from one thing to another, revealing quite a lot of complexity. I really liked the way the book was set up. I also found the prose vivid without being purple.

I like this kind of urban fantasy. I don’t need kick-ass chicks who fight bad guys without ruining their nail polish. I just need a quiet sense of wonder and some small, personal magic in order to make the story one I’ll enjoy.

Grade: A

Summary:
Matt (Matilda) Black possesses the unique ability to speak with inanimate objects and witness the dreams of other people. Alone, yet never lonely, she’s now found a kindred spirit in Edmund Reynolds – a wandering witch on a spiritual quest to help those in need. Together, these two special people who live outside of ordinary reality will embark on an odyssey of the imagination. They will look into the darkest depths of the past. And they will encounter things both wonderful and terrifying…

No excerpt could be found.