A band falls apart when their leader falls under the spell of the blues. Gradually they get back together and make a quest to little town in rural California where the old ways have been forgotten.

The writer has quite a way with words and is able to get the sounds of music across in written prose. His characters are interesting. Their quest keeps things interesting that and I just wish I could’ve heard the music they were playing.

I received an ARC from net galley

I'm not much of a music lover and, according to my wife, I have terrible taste in music. However, I've always believed in the power of music and stories which use it as a supplement to magic are a great one. This is different from David Niall Wilson's urban fantasy series, though, like the Dechance Chronicles. Instead, this is Magical Realism. It is a place which the supernatural intrudes in on the "real" world in a way which is both beautiful and tragic.

The story is a variation on the myth of Robert Johnson, legendary blues man who supposedly made a deal with the Devil at the crossroads in order to play better than anyone else. It may or may not have happened depending on your beliefs (his son said his father's gift was from God) but it makes a hell of a story. David Wilson takes the premise and alludes to it many times while leaving our protagonist in the dark for much of it.

Brandt is a great character and feels utterly authentic. As a writer, I have sympathy for people who are passionate about their subject and the art form but haven't quite found the fame or fortune that might come with a better break. Truth be told, Brandt may not even be that good at what he does. He's perpetually drunk, lazy, and his devotion to his craft is spotty. He loves the music and feels impassioned by it but he has replaced the best of their band after his death while having a complete lack of respect for the other member (who he lusts after). They're going nowhere and he blames it on circumstance and bad luck than the reality.

Brandt isn't a bad guy, though. He's a man who deeply loves his craft even if it's questionable just how good he is at it. He's certainly capable of recognizing what is the best music, THE song if you will, and wanting it for its own sake rather than any desire for fame or fortune. He's a wholly believable in his relationships both failed and successful plus his friendships because I've known plenty of people who live in the moment like he and his friends.

Deep Blue is a novel more about experiencing music and it's power rather than explaining it, though. The prose is like a rhythm on page, getting us deep in the mind of its characters and explaining in epic flourishes what it means to be affected by the music. It's not going to be for everyone but is probably my favorite of David Niall Wilson's books.