I would rate this book 4 1/2 stars. I truly loved it.

Recently, I've been having some not-so-good reading experiences with certain books. So, I've decided to stick to reading books by the authors that I love for a while.

This particular read has made me extremely happy. I can't wait to get my hands on "The Innkeeper's Song" by the same author.

I believe that by reading books from authors I know and trust, I'm more likely to have a great reading experience.

It's like coming home to a familiar and comfortable place.

I'm looking forward to delving into the world of "The Innkeeper's Song" and seeing what new adventures and emotions it will bring.

Hopefully, it will be just as wonderful as this one.

Here's the deal. I typically rate books based on my personal enjoyment, which doesn't always mirror their quality. Books like Tamsin pose a challenge. I can't precisely say I loved it, but I can most definitely assert that it's a well-written piece. And I didn't anticipate otherwise. I adore the way Peter S. Beagle writes. However, aside from one of my all-time favorites, The Last Unicorn, I just can't seem to establish a connection with his stories. It reminds me of Isabelle Allende in that her writing is beautiful, yet the stories kind of elude me. It's a pity, but I can state with confidence that both Beagle and Allende are great writers, even if I won't be picking up any more of their books.


One of the primary factors that prevented me from feeling more engaged was the slow pace of this read. The book has just over 300 pages, and we spend more than the first 100 pages delving into Jenny's, the main character's, background. I picked this up for cats and ghost stories, not for 100 pages of teenage whining. And here's another point - Beagle did an excellent job of capturing Jenny's voice. I would contend that not every teenager is quite like that, but her voice does sound genuine - authentically irritating. There was so much complaining and actual nastiness from her in the beginning that it took a long time to warm up to her. Of course, it's nice to witness the character development, and she is by no means a bad person. I liked her well enough by the end, but her personality definitely made it difficult to start with.


I liked her relationship with Mister Cat and found their situation highly relatable. Jenny relocates from the US to the UK, and of course, Mister Cat has to come with her. It means six months of quarantine, which is the same as what I endured with my cat when I moved abroad. I wonder if cats still need to be in quarantine for 6 months, though. In my case, it was much less, and I'm pretty sure the regulations here are stricter than in the UK. In any event, I knew precisely what Jenny was going through - all the paperwork, the vet visits, and the scornful look your cat gives you. And just all the longing and fretting about what will happen when you finally get your cat back - will he forgive you? So yes, cats were a significant reason why I wanted to read this book - the cover already reveals that there's a ghost cat, so this was bound to be interesting. Sadly, I found that the cats' roles weren't all that crucial. They were there all the time, but the story would have unfolded more or less the same had they not been there.


Things become far more interesting once Jenny and her family settle into their new Dorset home, which brings all kinds of legends and creatures to life. I was surprised; this book offered more fantasy than I expected. The ghost aspect primed me for mystery and paranormal elements, but I wasn't anticipating the appearance of fair folk. I truly appreciated that so many mythical creatures were included, and not just as some fantastical beings but a proper portrayal of their darker and trickier sides. It easily became the most captivating part of the book for me, and I wish there had been more of that rather than Jenny's backstory. I liked how there was also a great deal of history woven into the plot - I can generally appreciate a nice blend of fantasy and actual history.


It was never really a scary book - Tamsin is about the kindest ghost you can imagine, and I also loved the voice Beagle赋予 her. I will also say that I'm very certain that Jenny had romantic feelings for her. One could, of course, interpret this as platonic or sisterly love of sorts, but I don't think so. Perhaps it's because it's an older book that it isn't precisely spelled out, but so much of what Jenny says about Tamsin sounds more like romantic love than friendship - she even points out that she might feel that way about a man someday. You can read it either way, I suppose, but for those seeking paranormal stories with LGBT elements, I do think this one qualifies.


I was a bit disappointed by the mystery - I would have expected better from Beagle. Basically, I had a hunch about how things would play out (and it was rather generic), but the plot kept seeming to veer in a different direction. I started to believe I must be wrong, and a more original revelation was about to present itself. Sadly, things did end up happening much as I had anticipated. It wasn't exactly a bad thing, but I felt a little cheated, and not in a good way. It's not that Beagle had tried to make me expect something else; it's more that I didn't get the something else ending.


This is a well-written book that I can see appealing to a diverse range of people, and it's probably quite underrated. It has a slow start, which makes it hard to get into, but it's worth persevering. I'm glad I read it, but I won't be picking it up again, and I don't envision myself reaching for more of Beagle's books, despite adoring The Last Unicorn and truly appreciating his writing.

4.5 stars.

When her mother remarries, a 13-year-old girl makes a significant move from the bustling streets of Manhattan to a rather derelict English farm. Little does she know that this farm is haunted by a young woman from the Bloody Assizes. This is truly a hidden gem from Beagle, and it brings to mind the works of Dianna Wynne Jones.

The protagonist writes from the perspective of a young adult looking back on her adolescence. She cringes at her past self but is brutally honest about the fundamental unfairness of being a teenage girl. It's an incredibly immersive and authentic point of view. The setting is filled with rich domestic details, and the portrayal of a cultural Jew in a mixed-faith family evokes a deep sense of fellow-feeling in me.

As the story progresses, it becomes exuberant with British history and folklore. The protagonist finds herself madly in love with her flickering, striking young ghost, and the Wild Hunt screams through the sky.

It's not a perfect book, though. There are moments when the craftsmanship is a bit too obvious, especially in the tension-building and, more unfortunately, in the emotional resolution. At times, it tries to force a more lucent emotional resonance that might be better suited for a different work like "The Last Unicorn" rather than being content with the humble, sympathetic emotions within its own scope.

However, it's still incredibly fun, likeable, and magical, and it's delightfully open to queer readings. This book has been on my To Be Read list for ages, and I'm so glad that I finally got to it and found it completely worth the wait.

I gave this book four stars rather than five. The reason for this is that a five-star book is typically one that I would have an urge to read again. However, in the case of this particular book, I don't feel the need to do so.

I firmly believe that the story will remain etched in my memory without the need for a refresher. Peter Beagle has a truly delightful way of expressing himself. His unique writing style had me chuckling and marveling throughout the entire book.

There were numerous snippets that I wanted to read aloud, but I realized that unless the listener is also reading the book, they wouldn't be able to experience the same level of delight.

Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable read, but it just didn't quite reach the five-star mark for me.

With a contemporary setting and a ghost story as the foundation of the story, this is closer to A Fine and Private Place rather than The Last Unicorn or The Inkeeper's Song.

Being told in the first person by a thirteen-year-old girl (Jennifer - it comes from Guinevere, but she prefers Jenny), the success of the book will rely heavily on your initial reaction to the storyteller.

I was conquered and enchanted from the very first pages. I still remember what it means to be 13, shy but bloody-minded, self-conscious and aggravating towards my parents, street-wise in a big city (New York in Jenny's case) and with a full-blown imagination.

Jenny is forced to abandon her familiar territory and transplant to rural England and life on a farm. Beyond the obvious mystery of the ghost that Jenny tries to solve in her impetuous way, I think the book deals beautifully with two major themes.

First, there is a sense of place/home from the historical events that took place, the agricultural community living close to nature, the fickle weather, and the authors that were inspired and came to define the spirit of the country (Thomas Hardy).

Second, there is a sense of wonder and mystery from the mythical creatures popping out from every nook and cranny of the farm. They may be imaginary, but for Jenny they make the world she lives in more beautiful and interesting.

Best parts of the book for me came from Jenny's quirky sense of humor and her relation with Mister Cat - one of the most memorable animal companions in fantasy. The way she interacts with Mister Cat adds a touch of charm and warmth to the story, making it truly engaging and enjoyable.

I'm not entirely certain when I initially came into possession of this book, but I finally began reading it. If you have perused Peter S. Beagle's "The Last Unicorn", then you will have an appreciation for his writing style. Not only are the places and people brought to life vividly, but their emotions are as well. This book is a classic example of Beagle's work.

The narrative revolves around a teenage girl named Jenny who relocates with her mother and new step-family to an old farm in Dorset. As her stepfather endeavors to make the farm a prosperous home, Jenny discovers that the place is haunted. Among the ghosts, Tamsin, a 20-year-old young woman who passed away 300 years ago but is unable to move on due to something in her past, stands out. The story then weaves in and out, exploring what that thing is as Jenny attempts to assist Tamsin.

Although this story centers on a teenager and a young woman and their relationship, it can be easily read and enjoyed by any gender from junior high age and upwards. Beagle is a master of prose, and there are moments when the feelings of the characters leap right off the page and draw you in. It does commence a little slowly, but it's one of those books that you can't put down once you meet Tamsin and the real story gets underway. I would rate it 4.5 stars out of 5 because of its slow start, but given the rating system here, I'm not going to reduce it to less than it merits. It is a VERY good book.

The plot of the story was indeed interesting, but the characters! Oh my goodness, the characters. I understand this is a rather long piece, so here's a quick summary: I disliked everyone except Meena, Julian, and Mister Cat. And perhaps Tony, although he seemed rather superfluous. Also, when did teenagers start referring to smoking pot as "getting lifted"?

Now, let me elaborate on the top three most annoying characters in descending order, beginning with Jenny, the narrator. Jenny is truly quite funny, and at times, she is exactly like I was when I was a teenager. She is disgusted that her mother is in love, angry that she has to move to England, and generally awkward in that typical teenage way. Some reviews have claimed that "it's so realistic to see how Jenny grows and matures emotionally over the course of the book as she comes to love her family!" However, I disagree. Thirteen-year-olds don't feel bad about talking back to their parents! Every time Jenny says something to anyone, she immediately regrets it and spirals into shame. I initially felt sorry for her, but enough is enough. Yes, we understand that teenage girls are insecure, self-conscious, and ashamed of themselves and their actions. But it was just too much! In the words of the great Nancy Mitford, shame is a bourgeois notion, so if you're going to be a bitchy, own it.

Moving on to Tamsin and Jenny's mother, both of whom were Special Snowflakes, a trait I really despise.

Jenny's friendship with Tamsin revolves around her obsession with Tamsin's smile. When I was 13, I also had these intense, obsessive friendships, but I'm quite certain I never felt as if my stomach turned to chocolate sauce upon seeing a friend. Nor did I feel the need to constantly repeat how queasy I felt inside every time my friend smiled. This smile obsession reaches its peak when Tamsin reappears in the bathroom as Jenny is naked and examining herself. Jenny puts on a robe, assuring us it's not because she's shy, but because of the cold. She notices Tamsin's crooked smile and says, "You've got a beautiful smile for God's sake," I said. "I never saw a smile like yours. I'll do anything - I mean, people would do anything when you smile." Edit: I'm updating this because I realized that maybe Jenny is in love with Tamsin? More than just as a friend? Which is fine, but I still have no idea why on earth Jenny or anyone else for that matter would find her at all appealing. All we know about Tamsin is that she has a killer smile, she smells like vanilla, and that everyone who sees her falls in love with her. Oh, and on her deathbed she cursed her beloved to 300 years of misery. Oops! THIS IS NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE ME LIKE HER, PETER BEAGLE.

And finally, there's Jenny's mom. When I was growing up, my biggest fear was that my family would move to a new town and I would have to be the new girl at school and make new friends. Apparently, that fear still lingers because I want to punch Jenny's mom in the face for moving poor Jenny from New York City to England AND expecting her to be happy about it. I loathe everything about this woman. How she calls herself a Yank (which no American in the history of the world has ever done). How she is so irritatingly mushy in love and expects her 13-year-old daughter to understand and stop bringing her down. How her feelings are hurt because Jenny won't sing in front of her stepbrothers whom she literally just met on the way to their new house. How everyone loves her and thinks she is beautiful and the most wonderful piano teacher in the world, etc. Jenny comments that she can see why her father and her stepfather fell in love with her mother. Really? Please enlighten me, Jenny, because I think she's extremely annoying.

Ghosts and faes and creatures of the night

Peter S Beagle is an author whom I had the pleasure of meeting on one occasion. He is truly an engaging individual, brimming with captivating stories. One of the subject matters that Mr Beagle excels at is depicting a girl's encounter with the supernatural world. In his narrative, he presents the tale in a unique way, as if an inexperienced writer is jotting it down in a diary, yet without the typical "Dear Diary..." opening. The story initially commences at a leisurely pace. This is because a troubled teenager has just found herself in a setting that she has no inclination towards. However, everything changes when Tamsin, a ghost with her own set of problems, makes an appearance and introduces the girl to a world that she will ultimately come to embrace. It is indeed a remarkable read that keeps the reader hooked from start to finish.

If you happened to read my fangirl gushing about the wit, humor, and beauty of The Last Unicorn, then you're well aware that I'm a fan of Peter S. Beagle's writing. And given that my current "to read" list on Goodreads is pretty much everything he's ever written, it shouldn't surprise anyone that I've already found my way to another Beagle work. This time, it was Tamsin that thrilled me to the depths of my writerly soul, but in new and unexpected ways.

Any illusions I had that this book would be filled with the same dignified elegance as The Last Unicorn vanished with the use of the word "period" on the very first page. And no, it was not in the context of a grammatical discussion. At first, I was so jarred by how different the voice of the main character, Jenny Gluckstein, was from anything I would have expected from Beagle that I had to take a minute before I could move on. But I'm glad I did. It was worth getting over the culture shock.

The voice of the main character in this novel turned out to be just as magical as anything in The Last Unicorn, but with a sense of reality and tangibility to it. You see, the narrator is a 13-year-old girl from New York City whose mother, Sally, is getting married to an Englishman. Unfortunately for Jenny, this means that she is being uprooted from her life in Manhattan and transplanted with her new family to an ancient farm in Dorset, where her new stepdad has been hired to get the farm yielding crops again.

Nothing could have thrilled Jenny less. Awkward, pimply-faced Jenny had a hard enough time making friends in New York. She is apprehensive about moving to a foreign country, inheriting two stepbrothers she's never met, and has the general aversion that most children possess to seeing their parents change. Jenny recognizes that Sally is happier with her new husband than she's ever been and that she is doing everything possible to make things easier for Jenny, but she resists her mother at every turn. She is confused and overwhelmed, and it makes her behave badly. Her life in New York may not be perfect, but it's familiar and comforting and she doesn't want things to change.

But change it does, and in ways that Jenny could never have expected. The farm in Dorset has a rich history, you see, and that history isn't exactly lying dormant. Rather, it's rifling through the pantries at night, breaking the refrigerator, and sending a lingering smell of vanilla through the house. Led to investigate by her mentor in the study of coolness, Mister Cat, Jenny ends up coming face-to-face with ancient beings lurking in the secret world of Stourhead Farm, including a gentle, lovely ghost named Tamsin.

Through the course of the story, Jenny finds her destiny linked to Tamsin's. If she doesn't figure out the connection between Tamsin's past and the eerie night world of Stourhead Farm, her new friend may be doomed to a fate far worse than death.

I think the thing that struck me as most impressive in the beginning of the book was how believable and relatable Jenny was. For a grown man to inhabit the mind of a 13-year-old girl so ably and with such sensitivity is no easy thing, and Beagle pulls it off with more skill than some writers who actually once were 13-year-old girls. And the real feat is that, given her disgruntlement with the way her life is changing, Jenny says and does some unpleasant things to blameless people in the beginning and is not one bit less likable. Between the clear portrayal of what was so upsetting to Jenny about her circumstances and the fact that the story is told by a 19-year-old Jenny with the regret brought on by hindsight, you understand where she's coming from and see that she did come to repent for her past transgressions. In fact, the way she uses her crankiness to hide her sadness and discomfort actually becomes endearing, an accomplishment that could only be pulled off by the same man who once made a unicorn's arrogance seem charming.

And Peter S. Beagle does for English folklore what he did for the unicorn, and just as cleverly. It would be easy to read about boggarts and pookas and the Wild Hunt and to not be able to take them seriously, thinking of them as silly fairy tale beings with no weight or depth. But in Beagle's world, they have a reality to them, a seriousness and a grandeur that makes them both intriguing and intimidating. They feel almost historical, like details that the history books overlooked that truly capture the richness of English culture. So complex and wonderful was the world he created in the pages of this book, with its overlay of historical facts, that I was reluctant to finish it as I drew near the end. I didn't want to leave, to go back to my mundane life where a knock in my kitchen was just my dishwasher clicking to rinse and a storm was just a storm.

All of the characters are people you'd gladly spend time with, except where they're not meant to be. From good-natured stepfather Evan, to loving mother Sally, to quiet stepbrother, Tony (who is apparently quite the dancer), and that sweet bundle of curly-haired energy called Julian, you find yourself knowing and welcoming these people into your life, page after page. And Mister Cat makes me wish I had a creature in my life who could ooze unflappable competence that way, being more of a caretaker and companion than a mere pet.

And Tamsin. Oh, Tamsin. I don't wish to spoil you, dear reader, but prepare to fall in love. This whole book will make you fall in love, with the plot, the characters, and the vivid beauty of the writing, but Tamsin nestles atop this pile of literary achievements like a twinkling jewel.

So if you are looking for a beautifully written novel as relatable as a conversation with your best friend, but as surreal as waking up in the middle of a fairy tale, pick up your copy of Tamsin today. And I shall envy you the privilege of being able to read it for the first time as I go back for my second and third reads to soak in all the nuances!

I had high hopes for this book. I first read it in 8th grade. I can still vividly recall reading it in the landing of the staircase leading up to the 7-8 grade classroom, all curled up against the wall. It truly fascinated me. The vivid images of the black dog, the voices in the bathroom, and especially the image of a naked man (or so I imagined, as the book never actually stated it) running forever from the Wild Hunt.

The book mysteriously disappeared from my mom's library, and for the next seven years or so, I yearned to read it again. However, I'd forgotten the title. So, I finally posted a question on Reditt's What's that Book page, and someone told me it was "Tamsin."

Overall, it was good. I'm almost a bit sad that I read it again because the enchanting mystery surrounding it has significantly diminished now that I've reread it.

*Spoilers*

This book consists of two stories. One is the story of Jennifer Gluckstein (or "Jenny" as she insisted), and how she evolved from a pouty, miserable tween/young teenager into a daring adventurer. It's a coming-of-age tale. But it's also the story of Tamsin and how she cursed her lover Edric three hundred years ago to be forever chased by demons in the sky. The reason? Well, because he wasn't there when she ran back to him, even though Jeffreys had just told her that he'd "taken care of him," which probably meant he'd killed him. More on that later.

The two stories didn't mesh well together. The combination became "Jenny's cool supernatural adventures that made her chill out and not be such a bitch." Except she was still a bit of a bitch until the end, even to the Pooka at times. So, to emphasize, not such a complete bitch. Like, at the end, she was like, "Screw Tamsin, I just wanna see cool stuff again." That came across as extremely shallow.

Jenny was cool in some ways. Watching her duke it out with a boggart, the billy blind, the Pooka, and then evil Judge Jeffreys was exciting. But it didn't really fit into her character arc. She barely changed at all, even though the entire setup of the story, especially in the first hundred pages or so, was that she was a bitch and needed to change. And this story didn't contribute to that arc in any meaningful way. So, it felt like one story in the first act and then another story in the next two acts.

Gah. It's a personal pet peeve of mine when a narrator has little to no impact on the main events of the story. That's exactly what happened here. All Jenny did was befriend Tamsin, get her to remember things, and save her by shouting like crazy when Jeffreys was coming after her. That's it. She did nothing in the final climax except witness the events. The whole running scene confused me. They were running to a spot where Tamsin and Edric could disappear into the spirit world? I wasn't sure. And why did she have to run with them? I guess to avoid getting hurt by the Wild Hunt. But it wasn't her they were after. And she was actually holding Tamsin and Edric back.

All in all, I found Tamsin's story to be incredibly interesting. I want to hear it from her perspective. I want to know how it felt for her as a ghost remembering herself and how overjoyed she was to finally see her long-lost lover again, all battered from centuries of abuse that she'd inflicted on him. Jenny's perspective was like that of the Hunger Games in the Ballad of Songbird & Snakes book. It was a third-person narrative, from a distance, watching tiny figures run around and hurt each other. I want to be in the thick of the action, in the mind of the character who is feeling the most. I want to be Katniss. Or, in this case, Tamsin.

One last point. To expand further on the whole idea of Edric being chased by the Hunt. Jeffreys had supposedly been able to conjure the Wild Hunt to chase him for one day after killing him, but Tamsin cursed him when she couldn't find him. (And I understand her. She was in utter despair and felt like he'd abandoned her when she needed him most. But, he was dead?? The whole story revolved around this, and yet it falls apart like loose sand when you analyze it. Anyway.) So, her curse doomed Edric to run forever and ever in the sky. Poor Edric; he was just a kind, dreamy musician who fell in love with her from across the room.

Also, they are finally reunited after all those years, and I know this is a climax scene and they don't have much time for hugs and such, but all they do is look at each other again with love. Which is cute and romantic, but I wanted Edric to be a more fully developed character. I wanted him to run weeping to her after enduring so much, or even better, to be angry with her for what she'd done to him. And then for them to forgive each other in a very messy, human way. But, no. Just looking.

A random character is a Spirit of the Elder Tree or something??! This just seemed like a deus ex machina move to me. Sorry. I couldn't buy it. But then again, I wasn't believing much at all at that point in the story. Why couldn't she have just summoned down the Hunt? But I guess Tamsin needed to do it since she inflicted the curse. Also, the Huntsmen were so lame. Just standing there, shuffling their feet. I wasn't convinced by that either.

Sad. :( But I'm still glad I read it though.

A wonderful, funny, enchanting, and poignant story awaits! A young American teenager embarks on a new adventure as she relocates with her mother and stepfather to England. Their destination is a farm in Dorset, which holds a mysterious secret - it is haunted by a ghost who seems to have forgotten the reason for her lingering presence.

Beagle masterfully presents the concept of ghost-hood in a way that is both believable and refreshingly original. Through his vivid descriptions and engaging narrative, readers are drawn into a world where the boundaries between the living and the dead blur.

This tale is not just about a ghost; it is a story of a 300-year-old love story, filled with obsession and cruelty. It also follows the journey of the young protagonist as she grows from a child into a mature adult, facing the challenges and mysteries that come her way.

This was such a lovely book.

It truly captured my heart from the very first page. The story was engaging, filled with interesting characters and a plot that kept me on the edge of my seat.

The author's writing style was beautiful, painting vivid pictures in my mind and making me feel as if I was right there in the midst of the action.

I can't wait to write a proper review and share my thoughts with others.

This book is definitely one that I will be recommending to all of my friends and family.

It's a must-read for anyone who loves a good story and a bit of escapism.

I'm already looking forward to reading more from this talented author in the future.