The Only Song Worth Singing - by Randee Dawn (Paperback)

About the Book

"Childhood friends Patrick, Ciaran, and Malachi would've been happy to play music for coins on the streets of Dublin, but when their sound - a blend of traditional tunes and rock styling - lands them a record deal, they also get their first tour of America. As they gather fans, however, they also get the attention of three sâidhe, fairies straight out of Irish tradition who play by their own rules"--

Book Synopsis

"Dawn's experience as a music writer comes through in her vibrant, authentic portrayal of the band's sound and interpersonal dynamic. This fresh spin on favorite urban fantasy tropes will delight fans of Charles de Lint. "-Publishers Weekly

Childhood friends Patrick, Ciaran, and Malachi would've been happy to play music for coins on the streets of Dublin, but when their sound - a blend of traditional tunes and rock styling - lands them a record deal, they also get their first tour of America. As they gather fans, however, they also get the attention of three síiacute;dhe, fairies straight out of Irish tradition who play by their own rules.

Mal finds himself beleaguered by a prankster whose malicious tricks make him think he's losing his mind, while Ciaran falls hard for a hanger-on whose primal sexuality saps the life from him. Patrick can save them - if he's willing to trust the superstitions he learned during a painful childhood he thought he'd left behind long ago.

But the only thing that matters more than music to Patrick? His friends.

The Only Song Worth Singing is an upmarket mythic novel about blood, craic, and rock and roll. Set in the 90s at the height of the Celtic rock boom, it should appeal to fans of Alex Bledsoe and Alice Hoffman alike.

Review Quotes

"Dawn (Tune In Tomorrow) offers a potent and propulsive blend of Irish legend-inspired urban fantasy and Celtic rock. In 1996, the rock band formed by childhood friends Patrick, Ciaran, and Malachi heads from Dublin to the U.S. for its first international tour. While wandering the streets of Boston late at night, each member separately meets a different oddly familiar stranger who speaks to them in Irish and magically interferes with their future. Mal refuses to engage with the stranger and soon is plagued with bad luck; Patrick, who was raised on legends he no longer believes in, gets some much longed-for answers about his peculiar, difficult childhood; and Ciaran makes a deal to exchange his life force for musical talent beyond his wildest dreams. As he steadily grows thinner, weaker, and more dependent on this mystical stranger, it's up to Patrick and Malachi to figure out exactly what manner of creatures have found them and how to save Ciaran's life. Dawn's experience as a music writer comes through in her vibrant, authentic portrayal of the band's sound and interpersonal dynamic. This fresh spin on favorite urban fantasy tropes will delight fans of Charles de Lint."-Publishers Weekly

"The heart of Daisy Jones and the Six with the soul of A Court of Thorns and Roses.... A scintillating plot and an emotional wallop."--Aidan Prewett, author of Woodstock at 50: Anatomy of a Revolution

"Blends myth with the power of music and a brotherly bond to tell a story that's suspenseful and extremely romantic in all possible directions. I loved it!"--Delia Sherman, award-winning author of The Porcelain Dove

"Randee Dawn's rich Hiberno-English narrative--interspersed with Irish Gaelic--brings The Only Song Worth Singing a vibrant dimension without affectation. Music is a living thing that makes magic feel real - and Dawn knocks this elusive aspect out of the park. Her story of a touring band provides an authentic illustration of the hardships and joys of the road, including the interpersonal tension between band members. Her story proves that whether in speech, song - or a work of fiction - words have tremendous power." --Beth W. Patterson, award-winning recording artist, road warrior, film music infiltrator

"A dark, parasitical fairy tale, The Only Song Worth Singing is sex, myth, and rock and roll all the way down to its bass-beating heart. It's a story of faith, friendship, and brotherhood -- of learning your roots, and finding your place, even if that means standing between one world and the next." -- C. S. E. Cooney, World Fantasy Award-winning author of Saint Death's Daughter

"With The Only Song Worth Singing, Dawn has crafted a sweeping epic that takes you from a thatched cottage in the countryside, to the bustle and glam of New York, to the green and magical place where it all began, against the backdrop of Irish folklore. Truly a magical, musical, must-read."--Jennifer Allis Provost, author of The Poison Garden

"When you hear a song you love so much that you wish you could live inside it for weeks, feeling it rush through you and touch you in ways only art can, this book can scratch that itch with long nails."--Meg Elison, award-winning author of Number One Fan

About the Author

Randee Dawn is a Brooklyn-based author and journalist who writes speculative fiction at night and entertainment and lifestyle stories during the day for publications like the New York Times, NBCNews.com, Variety, The Los Angeles Times, and Emmy Magazine. Her debut novel, Tune in Tomorrow, was published by Solaris. Publishers Weekly said of Tune in Tomorrow: "Dawn balances over-the-top drama and comedy with genuine intrigue to create a fun story with plenty of heart." Lightspeed praised it as "an excellent read if you're looking for something to make you smile... well worth your time."