True love, when it is meant to be, will always unite two people, no matter how long the journey. Jilly Coppercorn and Geordie Riddell, two beloved characters from Charles de Lint’s Newford contemporary fantasy series, are the focus of this story. Their story is finally told in Widdershins, the eleventh book published in the series. According to De Lint, readers can enjoy his books in any order since each story is self-contained. For Widdershins, though, I recommend reading The Onion Girl beforehand. Those two books comprise a self-contained arc within the larger series and deserve to be read in that order.

Widdershins has a Scottish origin and means to-go counter clockwise and their nature of Jilly and Geordie’s relationship lays claim to that definition. Following her car accident, detailed in The Onion Girl, Jilly grapples with its aftermath. Since the accident, she’s lost interest in her art and withdrawn from everyone she knew. Despite a tough upbringing, Jilly’s inherent optimism and ability to connect with all types of people shines through, a warmth that touches everyone she meets. Because she hasn’t come to terms with her past, Jilly is trapped in her own head and is transported to another world to finally confront it.

Upon learning Jilly was missing, Geordie set out for the world she’d gone to, intent on returning her home. And finally, to declare his love for her. However, he becomes a pawn in a world where animal spirits and fairies are trying to settle long-time grievances. De Lint draws upon Celtic and Native American mythology to coalesce his story to a satisfying conclusion.

However, I found the novel to be about a hundred pages too long, and the pacing lagged. De Lint excels at character development, and this book boasts a memorable cast of richly-drawn and unique characters. Jilly and Geordie’s portion of the narrative, however, was the most compelling.

Widdershins is a very good novel and a must read for de Lint fans like myself. My preference was for a more concise plot, concentrating on Jilly and Geordie, to enhance my reading pleasure. Remember, as I noted in the introduction, reading “The Onion Girl” first will enrich your experience of “Widdershins” and enhance your understanding of its interwoven plot lines and characters.

I’m going to take a break from the Newford series for a while. Eleven books are enough for me. I wholeheartedly enjoyed exploring the unique fictional world presented in my favorite fantasy series. Charles de Lint, thank you for creating a contemporary fantasy world that I can connect with on such a personal level.