Book Review: The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

THE IRON WITCH BY KAREN MAHONEY 
Reading level: Young Adult 
Paperback: 312 pages 
Publisher: Flux (February 8, 2011)
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble |Indiebound 
Interest: Magic & Faeries

When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed Donna Underwood’s father and drove her mother mad. Her own nearly fatal injuries were fixed by alchemy—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. Now seventeen, Donna feels like a freak, doomed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. Only her relationship with her best friend, Navin, is keeping her sane.

But when vicious wood elves abduct Navin, Donna is forced to accept her role in the centuries-old war between human alchemists and these darkest outcasts of Faerie. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous guy with faery blood running through his veins and secrets of his own, Donna races to save Navin—even if it means betraying everything her parents fought to the death to protect.

BOOK OPENING: 

DONNA UNDERWOOD'S JOURNAL:

My father died saving my life when I was seven years old.

I wish I found it easier to remember him outside of my dreams- where of course he is tall and  handsome, and over and over again saves me from the Wood Monster.

NOTABLE SCENE: 

"And Donna did the thing she'd never imagined that she would do. She swallowed, then carefully and slowly peeled off her long velvet gloves, feeling not unlike a burlesque act. Except an experienced burlesque dancer's hands wouldn't be shaking as much as hers were right now. She tossed her hair back and tried to meet Xan's eyes as she held both hands out, palms down, in front of her." -Page 115

Sigh....I really wanted to love The Iron Witch. That cover alone is breathtaking, isn't it? In the end, I walked away from the book feeling a bit underwhelmed. I've tried to break it down for you as best as I could..

HIGHLIGHTS:

Donna, the girl with the swirling iron tattoos, has lost so much. Not only did she lose her parents in a vicious attack, but she must struggle with a painful and embarrassing disfigurement. To make matters more bleak, Donna's father died protecting her during the attack, and her mother hasn't recovered since.

I loved Donna's background- the dark family tragedy, the mix of iron and magic for protection, the ancient alchemy principles- I ate that all up. Her story was extremely emotional- I loved the diary snippets in between a few chapters too. I was fascinated by her powerful, dangerous hands and wanted to learn all I could about the magic and science behind what happened to her. The fae background was both intriguing and sinister. But while the world-building was top-notch, the action constantly stumbled and stagnated for me. I do suspect, however, that this could be a series where each of the books gets better and better. Now that stage has been set, I think there is a lot of potential for more action and excitement.

 

LOWLIGHTS: 

With all that world-building, there seemed to be not enough room for character development. I also think Donna's character would've worked better in the first person. If Karen Mahoney had allowed us to get inside Donna's head, I think I would've connected much more to her pain, her insecurities and the storm of conflicting emotions within her heart. As it was, I felt a bit removed at all times. I was constantly aware of being the outsider, always looking in but never truly vested.

There were two potential love interests in the book.  Donna's best friend Navin, a regular guy whose life is endangered by mere proximity to Donna. Then there was Xan, the potential love interest. It was obvious from the start that Navin had feelings for Donna and as such, I knew that when she met Xan, there'd be a love triangle. I think the "love triangle" in YA has become so commonplace, that it's hard for me to get really excited by them anymore. But I really did enjoy Xan's character.  I'd like to learn more about him- the secret's he's hiding, his sad past, his heritage, etc.  In fact, I would say I'm more interested in reading the second book to learn about Xan than anything else! His romance with Donna was definitely too rushed though. Once again there was the "instant attraction" element, which seems to have become a staple with the YA genre and to be honest, is pushing me more and more into the arms of my adult books each time I encounter it.

As for the fae element, I personally like my fae to appear in human form. I like them   painfully beautiful, but with cold-hearted natures and capricious moods.  If you are expecting something like this—perhaps reminiscent of Melissa Marr, then you might be disappointed. So far, The Iron Witch only introduces us to "wood elves". For me, the characterization of the wood elves skewed the book so much younger than I had anticipated. At times I felt like I was reading a middle-grade novel, more Spiderwick Chronicles than Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely or Julie Kagawa's  Iron Fey.

FINAL SAY: 

Fans of Julie Kagawa's series may enjoy elements of The Iron Witch, but for me, the book fell way short of the mark. This book has a lot of potential with crisp, clean writing and a fascinating plot hook, but in the end, it just didn't capture my heart or my imagination. I thought the story was so slow to build, that by the time these did start to heat up, I was too far removed to fall hook, line and sinker into Donna' s world. 

1/2 Stars

Karen Mahoney is the author of The Iron Witch, the first book in a trilogy that continues in 2012 with The Wood Queen. She has also published stories about a kick-ass teen vampire called Moth in The Eternal Kiss and Kiss Me Deadly. Karen is British and currently lives near London with way too many books, though she dreams of one day living in Boston. She doesn’t mind if you call her Kaz. Official Website & Blog

Book Review: Entice by Carrie Jones

ENTICE BY CARRIE JONES 
Reading level: Young Adult 
Hardcover: 272 pages 
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (December 14, 2010) 
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Zara and Nick are soul mates, meant to be together forever. But that's not quite how things have worked out.

For starters, well, Nick is dead. Supposedly, he's been taken to a mythic place for warriors known as Valhalla, so Zara and her friends might be able to get him back. But it's taking time, and meanwhile a group of evil pixies is devastating Bedford, with more teens going missing every day. An all-out war seems imminent, and the good guys need all the warriors they can find. But how to get to Valhalla?

And even if Zara and her friends discover the way, there's that other small problem: Zara's been pixie kissed. When she finds Nick, will he even want to go with her? Especially since she hasn't turned into just any pixie. . . She's Astley's queen.

Book Opening: 
"Am I really not allowed to complain about being here?" I ask as we enter Bedford High School about an hour late for the winter ball."

"It's true. I can feel it. The truth he speaks is a warmth, gold and light brushing against my cheeks.


"Let me rescue him for you. Let me do this for you," he insists. His fingers brush against the fabric of my parka."- Page 80

"You will always be my granddaughter, Zara. That is who you are, damn it. Don't forget it. We are not defined by our species any more than our nationality or our gender. What we do, our choices, that's what defines us." - Page 33

ENTICE, the third installment in Carrie Jones' Need series, picks up where the last book ended. We find ourselves back alongside Zara, Issie, Devyn and Pixie King Astley. Besides trying to keep the town safe from the murderous needs of the pixies lurking in the shadows beyond the trees, Zara must find a way to save Nick. (And if you've read the last book, you know he is in some serious trouble indeed.)

 My favorite aspect of this series is still how well personalized Carrie Jones has adapted her pixies so that there is nothing else on the market quite like it. I love the blue-tinged skin, the glittering trails of gold dust, their strange, hierarchal ways and dark penchants for blood. Small-town rural Maine is the perfect backdrop for a series like this- it's like something out of a Steven King movie. You can almost feel the biting cold of a town where it never stops snowing, where roads twist and turn around dark corners. The ominous tree-lined forest is shudder-worthy. You know that evil waits beyond its borders- it will whisper your name, luring you in until you are trapped and it's too late. 

Astley has quickly become my favorite character. Though he is a pixie, he is also kind and just.
Tormented by the responsibility of his title, Astley is old beyond his years. I find his character striking, particularly in contrast to those of Zara, Issie and Devyn. Astley is wise beyond his years and his maturity shows when he interacts with them. Throughout the course of this book, I switched from wanting Zara to get Nick back, to wanting her to focus solely on Astley. I know I'm not supposed to, but I couldn't help it. He has become an important addition to the series, and brings a lot of tension and intrigue into Zara's world.

Zara on the other hand, frustrated me more in this book than ever before with her immaturity. I didn't like the way she didn't truly appreciate all Astley was putting on the line for her. (She is also way too liberal with the use of the word "squee"  which drives me crazy). I honestly thought at times that Astley was way too good for her. I hope in future installments Zara proves me wrong by gaining some much needed maturity and more of a back-bone when it comes to living up to her new role as Queen.  I can understand the enormity of her responsibility—the demands of being Queen, the stress of losing so many loved ones and of trying to get to a mythical place to save Nick (that may or may not exist). But I'd like to see her go through the process with a little more growth, and less of a juvenile attitude toward everything. For instance, it bothered me that she went to a school dance instead of going home to let her grief-stricken grandmother  know she was alive. How could she do that? It also bothered me that when Astley had her meet his subjects, she ran away like a child.

With all that being said, don't get me wrong- I still love this series. Instead of phobias or helpful facts about pixies, this time around Carrie Jones treats us to news "headlines" and blog posts from citizens of the town. I've always loved these little touches to the storyline – it's like a bonus cherry on top that provides insight into what's been going on and also establishes the general mood of pandemonium running rampant through Zara's world.  ENTICE doesn't end with quite the same shocker of a cliff-hanger, but it will make you anxious to read the next book.  I can only imagine what trials await!

BOOKS IN THE NEED SERIES

 

CARRIE JONES loves Great Pyrenees dogs, Skinny Cow fudgsicles, and potatoes. In addition to the New York Times bestsellers Need and Captivate, Carrie is also the author of Girl, Hero; Love (and Other Uses for Duct Tape); and Tips on Having a Gay (Ex-)Boyfriend. Carrie grew up in Bedford, New Hampshire, where she once had a séance with uber-comedian Sarah Silverman. She now lives in Ellsworth, Maine.
www.needpixies.com
www.carriejonesbooks.com

GIVEAWAY  

 One finished copy of ENTICE  and bookmark! 

*Courtesy of Bloomsbury Teen 

ENTICE 

BY CARRIE JONES 

Zara and Nick are soul mates, meant to be together forever. 

But that's not quite how things have worked out.

For starters, well, Nick is dead. 

Supposedly, he's been taken to a mythic place for warriors known as Valhalla, so Zara and her friends might be able to get him back. But it's taking time, and meanwhile a group of evil pixies is devastating Bedford, with more teens going missing every day. An all-out war seems imminent, and the good guys need all the warriors they can find. But how to get to Valhalla?

And even if Zara and her friends discover the way, there's that other small problem: Zara's been pixie kissed. When she finds Nick, will he even want to go with her? Especially since she hasn't just turned...she's Astley's queen

 

Official Rules:

1.You must be 13 year or older to enter.

2. Open to entrants with a valid U.S. mailing address only. 

3. Entries must be received by Midnight EST on January 15 2011. 

4. Once contacted, winners have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address.

5. To enter to win, simply fill out the form below. Good luck!  

FORM

Book Review: Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton

TYGER TYGER BY KERSTEN HAMILTON
Reading level: Young Adult 
Hardcover: 320 pages 
Publisher: Clarion Books (November 15, 2010)
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound

Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures--goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty--are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.

Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right. The goblins are coming.

BOOK OPENING: 
"Please, Teagan Wyllston's fingers curled in American Sign Language as she spoke. Trade sweater for banana? She leaned over the fence around the chimp enclosure. Come on Cindy, she coaxed. Be a good girl. Trade." 

 NOTABLE SCENE:
"Teagan threw off her sheet and ran down the stairs.

Finn was at the back door, his kit strap over his shoulder.

"You're leaving?"

"I am."

"But..why?"

"Because the cat-sidhe are not the worst things that follow me, tea. I'm sorry I brought them here."

"So there are shadows with nothing to cast them?"

"There are, and I'm hoping your brother didn't really see one. The best thing I can do for Aiden..for you..is leave. …" 

"Lock your door. Turn on all the lights. The goblins are coming."

Drawing heavily from Irish folklore and mythology, Hamilton brings the past to life with her own brand of goblins running amok around the normal city streets of present-day Chicago. From dark, cruel fae to reanimated cat corpses possessed by malicious sidhe spirits, these evil creatures kept me captivated right from the start. Some I had read about before, but many were entirely new. All seemed to be united though in one singular purpose-to torment and destroy as many lives as possible. 

Initially I assumed that Teagan's best friend Abby would be her biggest ally in the war against the goblins. After all, it was Abby who had the dream precluding their arrival, right? But Abby continued to dismiss Teagan whenever she  tried confiding in her.  Now shouldn't Abby have been the one person who actually believed Teagan before all others? This confused me a bit.  As for Tegan's younger brother Aiden, I know he was important to the plot, but I thought he tended to steal the show a little too much from time to time. I hope in the future the romance between Finn and Teagan is pushed front and center stage, while Aiden fades a bit more into the background.

At one point in the story, a span of several months was completely skipped. I suspect this was intentional, but some major events were glossed over that I would've liked to have been a part of.  I wanted to read how Teagan internalized them and managed to keep going through it all.  Which leads me to Finn….ahhh Finn. His character was so well-developed that he  made my heart race every time he appeared on the scene.  I ate up every scrap of information about his heritage. I loved that he was descended from the great Fionn MacCumhail and the Irish Travelers too. Hamilton's description of Finn's mannerisms and his tell-tale Irish brogue made him seem so real that I wanted to reach into the book and pull him out. 

The best aspect about TYGER TYGER for me was the way Hamilton reinvented elements of Celtic mythology and folklore in such a way that you really could imagine these things happening in any city- maybe even your own. In my opinion, the most thrilling moments were those in which Teagan, Aiden and Finn reluctantly entered the perilous sidhe world of Mag Mell. This was a place so dangerous that only one human ever made it out alive. I loved how this rag-tag trio of misfits banded together to take on Mag Mell, knowing full well that once they stepped in, they  might never be able to set foot out again.   

TYGER TYGER was a thrilling start to an electrifying new series. I have never read a book featuring goblins as downright scary as this. Fans of Julie Kagawa's The Iron King will definitely enjoy this book (I know I sure did). When Teagan enters Mag Mell to save someone she loves, I held my breath, savoring each page and enjoying the ride. Suspense, action and malicious sidhe creatures from long forgotten Irish folklore—what more can you ask for? I am eagerly awaiting the sequel, IN THE FORESTS OF THE NIGHT, debuting in 2011.  

1/2

Kersten Hamilton is a prolific children's writer known for her fast-paced, dramatic storylines. She is the author of twenty-four books for children and works with the house church movement in her home town of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Official Website

Book Review: The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

THE IRON DAUGHTER (IRON FEY, BOOK 2) BY JULIE KAGAWA
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Harlequin; Original edition (August 1, 2010)

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron Fey, iron-bound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her. Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's alone in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

"She leaned forward, looking utterly inhuman, and I fought the urge to run screaming from the throne room. "I have heard of your exploits, Meghan Chase, " the queen rasped, narrowing her eyes. "Did you not think I would find out? You tricked a prince of the Unseelie Court into following you into the Iron Realm. You made him fight your enemies for you. You bound him to a contract that nearly killed him. My precious boy, almost lost to me forever, because of you. How do you think that makes me feel?" Mab's smile grew more predatory, as my stomach twisted in fear."-page 23

Out of the fry pan and into the fire, that sure describes Meghan Chase's life. When we last left her in The Iron King, she had accomplished a huge feat. But did she get a chance to catch her breath? Not in the slightest. She was on her way to the Winter Court, escorted by Prince Ash himself. As The Iron Daughter kicks off, we find that Meghan is still in danger, but somehow the stakes seem even more dire than in the last book. All is not well with Ash. With Grimalkin conveniently absent and Puck recuperating, Megan must find the strength to stand alone. No longer knowing if she can count on Ash, she maneuvers among the fae with great precision. The Winter Court is a truly frightening world: one where the queen freezes humans alive at the drop of a pin and ravenous redcaps lurk in dark corridors. Meghan must remain sharp, focused and keep her wits at all times. She knows one wrong word, one misjudged display of feeling, one small misstep and she could fall into the hands of a faery bargain she can never escape from, or worse..the wrath of the Winter Queen herself. With tones reminiscent of Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series, The Iron Daughter plunges the reader into a world full of even more peril, romance and action than it's predecessor.

The Iron Daughter is an engrossing read made up of enigmatic characters with entertaining personalities. Favorite characters return and new ones are introduced. The inner workings of the fae court drip with intrigue and danger. Interwoven into the plot are intriguing elements of back story only hinted at in the first book. We find out why Puck and Ash are sworn enemies. Though heartbreaking, it adds a deeper level of understanding to both their personalities.

Meghan seemed more mature in this novel. She's been through so much and now, there's no going back. I enjoyed the growth in her character. In regards to the romantic elements with Ash, it was sizzling, though at times Meghan made me cringe with her neediness for him. Nevertheless, the world Julie Kagawa has created never ceases to impress me. This installment was by far my favorite, and a must have for any bookshelf. But be forewarned- The Iron Daughter ends with an incredible nail biter of a cliffhanger. It will leave you screaming for more.

The Iron Queen, releasing in 2011 is one novel I know I will be anxiously waiting to get my hands on.

About the Author:Julie Kagawa was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos, and frequent hurricanes. Julie now lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where the frequency of shark attacks are at an all time low. She lives with her husband, two obnoxious cats, one Australian Shepherd who is too smart for his own good, and the latest addition, a hyper-active Papillon puppy.

Official Website of Julie Kagawa.
Purchase The Iron Daughter at Amazon.com.

Book Review: Captivate by Carrie Jones

CAPTIVATE BY CARRIE JONES
Publication Date: January 5, 2010 (Bloomsbury USA)
Pages: 288 Pages
Reading Level: Young Adult


Zara and her friends knew they hadn't solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it. The king's needs grow deeper every day he's stuck in captivity, while his control over his people gets weaker. It's made him vulnerable. And now there's a new king in town.

A turf war is imminent, since the new pixie king, Astley, is moving in quickly. Nick nearly killed him in the woods on day one, but Zara came to his rescue. Astley swears that he and Zara are destined to be together, that he's one of the good guys. Nick isn't buying it, though Zara isn't as sure -- despite herself, she wants to trust the new king. But it's a lot more than her relationship with Nick that is at stake. It's her life -- and his.

Pixies are so troublesome, aren't they? Always battling over their precious turf or toying with unsuspecting humans for their own twisted amusement. Those pointed teeth are most unpleasant and gold dust does not come out in the wash. Why can’t they just play nice?

NEED was one of my favorite books last year and I couldn't wait to dive into its sequel. Captivate picks up soon Need ended. We find ourselves back alongside our heroes- Zara, Nick, Issie and Devyn. They have been keeping the forest free from the murderous needs of the dangerous pixies from the first book, as well as some new stragglers making their way into the sequel.

Carrie Jones did a fantastic job with the plot twists and turns for Captivate. The new elements surrounding pixie lore were intriguing and sparked my imagination with wonder at how the series will play out with the next installment. I enjoyed seeing Zara’s growth and her reactions to the dangerous situations she was forced to repeatedly face. Instead of phobias as chapter titles, we got to read amusing little lists with helpful facts about pixies. I thought this touch added to the storyline and also illustrated just how much Carrie Jones has personalized her pixies in this series. They are unique and unlike all the other books on the market. The gold dust, blue skin and their hierarchical ways are so intriguing that you can’t help but want to immerse yourself into their world and learn as much as you can.

My favorite aspect of Captivate though was Astley, the new pixie king who comes to town and stirs up a lot of changes for Zara. As much as I have always loved Nick, I have to admit that I started to want Zara to move on to Astley. Astley had that whole dark, mysterious and definitely dangerous bad boy appeal going on, and I am a sucker for that whole vibe. (For me, Nick wasn't as exciting as he used to be, and WAY too liberal with the use of the word "baby"!) I think Astley's addition into the story was an intriguing and important plot twist for Jones to build upon for future books.

The cliffhanger ending of Captivate blew me away – I absolutely had no idea that the story would take the turn it did, and I am most anxious to read the next installment!

Purchase Captivate HERE.
Read my Review of NEED.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Carrie Jones likes Skinny Cow fudgsicles and potatoes. She does not know how to spell fudgsicles. This has not prevented her from writing books. She lives with her cute family in Maine, but she grew up in Bedford, NH where she once had a séance with cool uber-comedian Sarah Silverman.

The Meyers brothers are from Bedford, too, so you’d think it would make Carrie funnier, coming from Bedford N.H. Obviously, something didn’t work.

Carrie has a large, skinny white dog and a fat cat. Both like fudgicles. Only the cat likes potatoes. This may be a reason for the kitty’s weight problem (Shh… don’t tell). Carrie has always liked cowboy hats but has never owned one. This is a very wrong thing. She graduated from Vermont College’s MFA program for writing. She has edited newspapers and poetry journals and has recently won awards from the Maine Press Association and also been awarded the Martin Dibner Fellowship as well as a Maine Literary Award.

Official Carrie Jones Website
Official Carrie Jones Blog

Book Review: Darklight by Lesley Livingston

DARKLIGHT BY LESLEY LIVINGSTON
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 320 Pages
Publisher: HarperTeen; 1 edition (December 22, 2009)

Much has changed since autumn, when Kelley Winslow learned she was Faerie royalty, fell in love with changeling guard Sonny Flannery, and saved New York City from a rampaging Faerie war band. When a terrifying encounter in Central Park sends Kelley tumbling into the Otherworld, her reunion with Sonny is joyful—but cut short. For they’ve been plunged into a game of Faerie deception and wavering allegiances in which the next move could topple a kingdom...or part them forever. The fans who flocked to Lesley Livingston’s Wondrous Strange will fall hard for Darklight, the soaringly romantic second book in the trilogy. Breathless high stakes and vividly magical characters make this a can’t-miss fantasy for readers of Melissa Marr and Holly Black.

It's been six months since young actress Kelley Winslow learned of her true heritage and fell in love with changeling guard member Sonny Flannery. Kelley dreams of the day when she will be reunited with Sonny. Her wish soon becomes reality, though not in the way she imagined. A violent encounter with a murderous leprechaun hurtles Kelley into the Otherworld, and back into Sonny's arms once more.

The magical, romantic saga that began in Wondrous Stage lives on with Darklight, the second installment in this enchanting series. Wondrous Strange captured my attention with the excitement of stage acting and the Celtic lore of the faerie world. It was a great book. But, Darklight? Well, Darklight took the series to another level for me. The plot became more complex, the characters more well defined and the twists more startling than I ever anticipated. I literally was on pins and needles this entire novel.

One thing that surprised me (and which I feel almost guilty over) was that instead of Sonny, I started wanting Kelley to be with Fennrys, one of the other Janus Guards. I liked the romantic tension sizzling in the air between them. Fennry’s was a great character to throw into the mix and spice things up with. A good love triangle will always capture my attention too!

The end of Darklight left me gasping in disbelief and wishing I could immediately jump into another book. It will be interesting to see how Sonny and Kelley’s relationship is resolved in the next installment!

Purchase Darklight HERE.

Lesley Livingston is a writer and actor. She holds a master’s degree in English, with a specialization in Arthurian literature and Shakespeare, from the University of Toronto. A principal performer and founding member of the Tempest Theatre Group, Livingston brings Shakespearean classics to life in productions and workshops for high school students across southern Ontario.

Learn more about Lesley and her novels at her official website & blog.

Book Review: Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

BALLAD: A GATHERING OF FAERIE
BY MAGGIE STIEFVATER

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 360 Pages
Publisher: Flux (October 1, 2009)


In this mesmerizing sequel to Lament, music prodigy James Morgan and his best friend, Deirdre, join a private conservatory for musicians. James' musical talent attracts Nuala, a soul-snatching faerie muse who fosters and feeds on the creative energies of exceptional humans until they die. Composing beautiful music together unexpectedly leads to mutual admiration and love. Haunted by fiery visions of death, James realizes that Deirdre and Nuala are being hunted by the Fey and plunges into a soul-scorching battle with the Queen of the Fey to save their lives.

Maggie' Stiefvater’s writing really is so addictive. It hooks you right from the start and seems to flow with a lyric all of its own. When I first read Lament, I was left wanting to learn more about one character in particular- James. There were quick little glimpses into his character, but not enough to satisfy my curiosity about him. I hoped that in the sequel we'd get to learn more about him. Let me just say, if you felt the same way- then Ballad will not disappoint you. Right from page one I knew that this was going to be an introspective novel. James practically jumped out of the pages and came to life for me, and I felt sad when it was over.

On the outside, James was this hilarious, talented charmer with a sarcastic sense of humor. But his character was so much more complex than that. Maggie Stiefvater enabled us to see James on a very personal, deep level. I think being allowed to get inside his head (and heart) made me fall even more in love with his character. It was almost heartbreaking at times to watch him deal with the roller coaster of emotions as Dee turned away from him and other more threatening events began to unfold. Every aspect of his personality was so endearing to me - the bag pipe playing, the smart alec one liners, the obsessive writing on his hand compulsion, his humorous t-shirts, etc. When I finished the book, I found myself actually missing James like he wasn’t just a fictional character. That’s how real his personality shown through in Ballad.

More than a companion piece than actual sequel to Lament, Ballad is told from the alternating points of view of James and an unusual faery we are introduced to named Nuala. This time around Dee is but a blip here and there- a reminder of James' painful feelings as he tries to build a life for himself at Thornking Ash and come to terms with the events of Lament. Most of the insight into what was going on with Dee was revealed through text messages typed but never sent to James. That really added a lot of suspense to the novel and was crucial to the plot. As for Nuala, she was a welcome muse for him and I found myself completely rooting for the two of them even though I knew she was potentially very dangerous for him to become involved with in any capacity whatsoever.

It’s almost like Maggie Stiefvater wrote Ballad as a love letter to James. If you liked James before, you will love him in Ballad. Maggie's writing hooks you right from the start and you become entranced in her stories and emotionally invested in her characters. I really believe it is impossible to put down a book of Maggie Stiefvater’s and walk away. With all that being said, Ballad exceeded my already high expectations by leaps and bounds. I desperately hope there will be more novels in this series.

Buy at : Amazon, Borders, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million
About Maggie Stiefvater-

All of Maggie Stiefvater's life decisions have been based around her inability to be gainfully employed. Talking to yourself, staring into space, and coming to work in your pajamas are frowned upon when you're a waitress, calligraphy instructor, or technical editor (all of which she's tried), but are highly prized traits in novelists and artists. She's made her living as one or the other since she was 22. She now lives an eccentric life in the middle of nowhere, Virginia with her charmingly straight-laced husband, two kids, two neurotic dogs, and a 1973 Camaro named Loki.


Visit Maggie on her Official Website, Facebook, Twitter and Live Journal.

You can purchase Ballad at Amazon HERE.