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ameliecdps's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars but more like 2.5? I honestly don't know how to rate this books. I read it really quickly and was kind of invested in the story, but also it was really boring? Nothing really happened for most of the book and then there's these big secrets being revealed and still nothing really happens and then the book is over? I don't know. It was just bland.
mediaevalmuse's review against another edition
4.0
I usually have little patience for fantasy novels with fairies in them - I’ve been let down a lot, so now, I tend to only read them when they are recommended to me by someone I trust. A friend suggested I give Holly Black a try, and I’m very glad I listened. This book was not only beautiful and scary at the same time, but full of characters that I grew attached to very easily. There were some moments that I thought could have been handled better, but they did not diminish my ability to enjoy this book as a whole, so I very much recommend this novel to anyone who has an interest in fantasy featuring fairies.
Things I Liked
1. Portrayal of Fairies: I’m probably generalizing, but a lot of fantasy I’ve read that feature fairies portrays them as simply supermodels who play at human-like politics or mustache-twirling villains (or both). While this novel does make clear that many fairies are beautiful and that courts exist, it also weaves fairy lore into the world of Fairfold so that they truly feel Otherworldly (emphasis on the Other). There was enough distance between humans and fairies that at no point did I feel like they were similar creatures, which is mostly why this book worked for me.
2. Characters: I easily became attached to Hazel, Ben, and Jack as soon as I met them. Each character had their own problems to grapple with throughout the course of the narrative: Hazel had to find out who was causing her to lose time and for what purpose, Ben has to manage his romantic desire to fall in love and the double-edged sword of his musical abilities given to him by fairies, and Jack is a changeling raised by humans who feels called to his people despite his resistance. All of these personal struggles also fit in nicely with the main plot, so I never felt anything was particularly shoehorned in.
3. Storytelling: Not only is Black’s prose magical, but the overall structure of the book weaves together a number of stories that give the whole narrative a storybook feel. The focus moves between past and present without feeling disconnected, and magic and lore are woven in to the fabric of the novel so expertly that everything felt quite natural.
4. Treatment of Queer Characters: I loved that this book has a gay character (Ben) whose story doesn’t revolve around his sexuality. His sexuality isn’t hidden, either, and though his desire to fall in love is one of his major character traits, it didn’t dominate the book nor exist solely on the sidelines. As a result, there was something very fairy-tale-like in his romance plot.
Things I Didn’t Like
1. Alderking: As an antagonist, the Alderking didn’t quite capture my interest. He seemed like a character who explains a lot of things and acts cruel, which, in my opinion, didn’t make him compelling. There was a moment when Hazel went to the fairy revel and the Alderking just... dumped a lot of info on her? Basically, there was a big block of information that was just told to Hazel, and while I think a little bit of this was ok, I would much rather have characters piece together info or find it out gradually (to add more suspense). The Alderking also references a lot of things that we don’t actually see woven into the rest of the book (like court politics), so it was a bit too much for me. I almost feel like fairies are more Otherworldly the less we know about them, and for the Alderking to be just a wealth of information, it made him feel less fairy-like.
Recommendations: I would recommend this book if you’re interested in fairies, fairy tales, fairy magic, dubious bargains, knights, bards, quests, magic swords, dark forests, and forest magic.
Things I Liked
1. Portrayal of Fairies: I’m probably generalizing, but a lot of fantasy I’ve read that feature fairies portrays them as simply supermodels who play at human-like politics or mustache-twirling villains (or both). While this novel does make clear that many fairies are beautiful and that courts exist, it also weaves fairy lore into the world of Fairfold so that they truly feel Otherworldly (emphasis on the Other). There was enough distance between humans and fairies that at no point did I feel like they were similar creatures, which is mostly why this book worked for me.
2. Characters: I easily became attached to Hazel, Ben, and Jack as soon as I met them. Each character had their own problems to grapple with throughout the course of the narrative: Hazel had to find out who was causing her to lose time and for what purpose, Ben has to manage his romantic desire to fall in love and the double-edged sword of his musical abilities given to him by fairies, and Jack is a changeling raised by humans who feels called to his people despite his resistance. All of these personal struggles also fit in nicely with the main plot, so I never felt anything was particularly shoehorned in.
3. Storytelling: Not only is Black’s prose magical, but the overall structure of the book weaves together a number of stories that give the whole narrative a storybook feel. The focus moves between past and present without feeling disconnected, and magic and lore are woven in to the fabric of the novel so expertly that everything felt quite natural.
4. Treatment of Queer Characters: I loved that this book has a gay character (Ben) whose story doesn’t revolve around his sexuality. His sexuality isn’t hidden, either, and though his desire to fall in love is one of his major character traits, it didn’t dominate the book nor exist solely on the sidelines. As a result, there was something very fairy-tale-like in his romance plot.
Things I Didn’t Like
1. Alderking: As an antagonist, the Alderking didn’t quite capture my interest. He seemed like a character who explains a lot of things and acts cruel, which, in my opinion, didn’t make him compelling. There was a moment when Hazel went to the fairy revel and the Alderking just... dumped a lot of info on her? Basically, there was a big block of information that was just told to Hazel, and while I think a little bit of this was ok, I would much rather have characters piece together info or find it out gradually (to add more suspense). The Alderking also references a lot of things that we don’t actually see woven into the rest of the book (like court politics), so it was a bit too much for me. I almost feel like fairies are more Otherworldly the less we know about them, and for the Alderking to be just a wealth of information, it made him feel less fairy-like.
Recommendations: I would recommend this book if you’re interested in fairies, fairy tales, fairy magic, dubious bargains, knights, bards, quests, magic swords, dark forests, and forest magic.
alexandrajs's review against another edition
3.5
It’s rare that I want a fantasy book to be substantially longer, but I really needed more from this! More lore, more world-building, more character development, etc. It just felt choppy and rushed at times.
henniebooks's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
I wasn't a huge fan of the writing, perhaps because I read the Czech version. Who knows? I might give it a try in English as well.
I liked the scenery and the idea of it but I did not care about the main characters. I just couldn't connect with her and found her slightly boring. However, I did like the Faeries.
I wasn't a huge fan of the writing, perhaps because I read the Czech version. Who knows? I might give it a try in English as well.
I liked the scenery and the idea of it but I did not care about the main characters. I just couldn't connect with her and found her slightly boring. However, I did like the Faeries.
marleya's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
katietimms's review against another edition
4.0
A fun little dabble in faerie land. To me it deffinitly felt like the beginnings of Holly Black's unique style of faerie story-telling that really came to fruition in the cruel prince books. Not as enjoyable but still a romp.
grayjay's review against another edition
4.0
This was a quick light read. It is a fun, dark fairy tale that draws from Sleeping Beauty. A fairy prince lies sleeping in a crystal case in the forest near a small town. For generations, it is the spot where the local teenagers have their parties, and the prince, in his sleep, soaks up the stories of their lives, their hopes and dreams, and their weaknesses...