Faerie Tale (1988) is a standalone dark fantasy novel by Raymond E. Feist, best known for his Riftwar Cycle series. Departing from high fantasy, this book blends contemporary horror with ancient Celtic folklore, set in the woods of upstate New York.
The story follows Phil Hastings, a screenwriter, and his family, who move to an idyllic rural home only to discover the land is a gateway to the Unseelie Court—a realm of malevolent fairies from Celtic myth. As children go missing and nightmares bleed into reality, the family confronts creatures like the Pooka and Nuckelavee, whose games are as cruel as they are enchanting. Feist subverts fairy-tale tropes with visceral horror, where wishes have teeth and old-world bargains demand modern blood.
For similar reads, try The Call (2020) by Peadar Ó Guilín for a YA take on Irish fairy horrors, or Little, Big (1981) by John Crowley for lyrical, multigenerational fey magic. Fans of Feist’s Magician may enjoy his pivot to folklore’s sharp edges here.
