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postitsandpens's review
4.0
Once again, just like with the first book, I was charmed the entire time I was reading this. September is a delightfully plucky, stubborn, strong girl, and I adore her problem-solving skills and determination. I also really liked the look at the "other" fairyland - that of the fairyland below - and the idea of shadows as their own entities. While I missed actual A-through-L and Saturday, I loved the addition of Aubergine, the night dodo, who I hope I'll see in future installments. All in all this book is just as satisfying as the first, and I look forward to reading the rest in the series.
judaroo's review
5.0
Just as satisfying as the first book. I love the descriptions of the characters - they’re as reach and detailed as a child’s imagination. This was the story I wanted at my magical make-believe tea parties when I was six.
lizaroo71's review
4.0
This is the second in the series. I found myself just as enamored with September's adventures here as in the first book [b:The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making|9591398|The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (Fairyland, #1)|Catherynne M. Valente|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1317793528s/9591398.jpg|6749837], but I felt like there were moments of confusion for me in this book.
I love the imagery Valente uses in her writing and I love the characters she develops. I just felt, at times, that I was unclear about what was happening and why.
I absolutely love the ending to this installment. Love it.
I love the imagery Valente uses in her writing and I love the characters she develops. I just felt, at times, that I was unclear about what was happening and why.
I absolutely love the ending to this installment. Love it.
gmkieran's review against another edition
5.0
For all that the story here is wonderful and powerful and happy and sad altogether, the best part of this book was the 2 chapters at the end. You have succeeded, Ms. Valente. This is not a retread of September's first adventure in Fairyland. It is, in fact, the best kind of sequel - one that tells a story all its own, without needing what went before or what may come after. Thank you!
lonelyhuman's review
4.0
This book was definitely darker than the first book, I love the twist that September’s kind act in the last book has taken. That being said, I feel like this book had a case of second book syndrome since I didn’t enjoy the plot as much as the first book.
melsdown's review
5.0
This book was just as good as the first in the series. It only took so long for me to read it as I had to keep returning it to the library and waiting my turn to check it back out. (The perils of reading during the school year, I suppose)
kaatiba's review
5.0
Somehow, wonderfully, like a second trip to Fairyland, this book is even better than the last. But it is better in the sense that it is New and Different, as both books are very very good, a feast and a romp and a revel all at once, though perhaps with more Heart than the first, if only because hearts grow and start out as barely there at all.
lmn9812's review
5.0
SPOILERS!!!
Words can not even begin to describe the brilliance of this book. I absolutely loved the first Fairyland novel, and I have to say the second one was even better! Again I was captivated by September (who's name I adore!) and the friends and foes she met in Fairyland. The prose again was almost poetic and filled with all the same wonderful whimsy and quirkiness as the first. I was a bit worried that the books would feel too similar, but it didn't - the material felt original, and I think it was very brave of Valente to change the location to the ominous, dark Fairyland below.
The book begins with September, who is just hitting that awkward stage between been a teenager and been a child. She doesn't have many friends at school and yearns to go back to fairyland and see all her friends again. But, alas, things don't turn out how she wishes when she finds herself in Fairyland. The shadows have left to go to Fairyland below, and magic is fading from Fairyland. September sets off to make it right, but to do that she has to go all the way to the bottom of the world, confront Halloween, her shadow and queen of Fairyland Below. On the way she meets Saturdays and A-through-l's shadow, who are all the things that the real Ell and Saturday are not and other new friends, Aubergine, a dodo and an old enemy that she never wanted to meet again.
September is a little older this time round. She is beginning to have a heart, to become more mature in her decisions and this is definitely seen throughout Fairyland Two. However, that doesn't mean she is any less brave, fiesty or strong willed as she was in the first book. In fact, she might be more brave! September is one of those very rare girl characters that doesn't rely on boys, or other people all the time - in fact she gets very annoyed when people think that! She is very independant, has extremely good morals and is a great role model for young girls! In this book we see her a lot more on her own - she isn't sure who she can trust and has to do a lot of thinking on her own and for herself rather then talking through ideas.
Now I love A-Through-L and Saturday, but I have to admit I am not a fan of their shadows. Shadows seem to be the secret desires and evil thoughts and the worst of a person, and although it was interesting to see another side to both of them, I really really really missed shy Saturday and Library obsessed Ell. I really hope they get more of a starring role in the next book. I loved Aubergine the Dodo and I loved the descriptions of Queer, Quiet and Questing Physicks!
The plot was excellently executed, there was always something interesting going on and little bits of hints kept the mystery of the shadows and Halloween and Fairyland Below alive. I loved this book wholeheartedly and I cannot wait till the next one comes out, in the mean time I will be ordering some of Cat Valentes other books.
*My ONLY criticism would be that loads and loads of interesting places and people were mentioned in the novel, and I want to know more about them! There needs to be some kind of map/map guide released so I can fangirl over that too!!
Words can not even begin to describe the brilliance of this book. I absolutely loved the first Fairyland novel, and I have to say the second one was even better! Again I was captivated by September (who's name I adore!) and the friends and foes she met in Fairyland. The prose again was almost poetic and filled with all the same wonderful whimsy and quirkiness as the first. I was a bit worried that the books would feel too similar, but it didn't - the material felt original, and I think it was very brave of Valente to change the location to the ominous, dark Fairyland below.
The book begins with September, who is just hitting that awkward stage between been a teenager and been a child. She doesn't have many friends at school and yearns to go back to fairyland and see all her friends again. But, alas, things don't turn out how she wishes when she finds herself in Fairyland. The shadows have left to go to Fairyland below, and magic is fading from Fairyland. September sets off to make it right, but to do that she has to go all the way to the bottom of the world, confront Halloween, her shadow and queen of Fairyland Below. On the way she meets Saturdays and A-through-l's shadow, who are all the things that the real Ell and Saturday are not and other new friends, Aubergine, a dodo and an old enemy that she never wanted to meet again.
September is a little older this time round. She is beginning to have a heart, to become more mature in her decisions and this is definitely seen throughout Fairyland Two. However, that doesn't mean she is any less brave, fiesty or strong willed as she was in the first book. In fact, she might be more brave! September is one of those very rare girl characters that doesn't rely on boys, or other people all the time - in fact she gets very annoyed when people think that! She is very independant, has extremely good morals and is a great role model for young girls! In this book we see her a lot more on her own - she isn't sure who she can trust and has to do a lot of thinking on her own and for herself rather then talking through ideas.
Now I love A-Through-L and Saturday, but I have to admit I am not a fan of their shadows. Shadows seem to be the secret desires and evil thoughts and the worst of a person, and although it was interesting to see another side to both of them, I really really really missed shy Saturday and Library obsessed Ell. I really hope they get more of a starring role in the next book. I loved Aubergine the Dodo and I loved the descriptions of Queer, Quiet and Questing Physicks!
The plot was excellently executed, there was always something interesting going on and little bits of hints kept the mystery of the shadows and Halloween and Fairyland Below alive. I loved this book wholeheartedly and I cannot wait till the next one comes out, in the mean time I will be ordering some of Cat Valentes other books.
*My ONLY criticism would be that loads and loads of interesting places and people were mentioned in the novel, and I want to know more about them! There needs to be some kind of map/map guide released so I can fangirl over that too!!
fallingletters's review
3.0
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS GENERAL CONTENT SPOILERS (as opposed to plot spoilers, or something.)
When I was about 75 pages into this book, I gave it a four star rating on Goodreads. I rarely rate books before I read them in their entirety – I have to be 90% certain that an early rating will be the final rating. I gave this book four stars because I was 90% certain that very soon A-Through-L and Saturday and maybe even the Green Wind would show up and really bring the story to life. When I reached the end of the book and they had shown up only for a celebration in the final pages, felt like the story was no longer deserving of four stars. I was so looking forward to spending time with these delightful characters and that did not happen. A lot of new characters were introduced, but I would only place Aubergine in the same group as Ell and Saturday, and even then she just doesn't have the same presence. I can understand that the author might have wanted to shake things up a bit, have some fresh new characters, but the Wyvern and the Marid were a major part of why I loved the first book, so I felt greatly letdown when they were not featured again.
That being said, a lot of things I loved about this first book were still present in this one – little creative tidbits, colourful prose, ties into the real world, the narrator, an interlude. I liked how it connected with the first book (Oh, the dear Marquess!) and how it continued to set up the next book for the missing fairies. However, the narrator’s distinct presence and the interlude with the crows were not nearly as strong as in the first book, so I found that a little disappointing as well.
Overall, this book is a good fun read and I would recommend it. I'm giving it three stars in comparison with the first book - I think it would be difficult to follow up the first book with another one just as good, so I'm not too disappointed. Read this book, just don’t expect as delightful and charming read as the first book.
When I was about 75 pages into this book, I gave it a four star rating on Goodreads. I rarely rate books before I read them in their entirety – I have to be 90% certain that an early rating will be the final rating. I gave this book four stars because I was 90% certain that very soon A-Through-L and Saturday and maybe even the Green Wind would show up and really bring the story to life. When I reached the end of the book and they had shown up only for a celebration in the final pages, felt like the story was no longer deserving of four stars. I was so looking forward to spending time with these delightful characters and that did not happen. A lot of new characters were introduced, but I would only place Aubergine in the same group as Ell and Saturday, and even then she just doesn't have the same presence. I can understand that the author might have wanted to shake things up a bit, have some fresh new characters, but the Wyvern and the Marid were a major part of why I loved the first book, so I felt greatly letdown when they were not featured again.
That being said, a lot of things I loved about this first book were still present in this one – little creative tidbits, colourful prose, ties into the real world, the narrator, an interlude. I liked how it connected with the first book (Oh, the dear Marquess!) and how it continued to set up the next book for the missing fairies. However, the narrator’s distinct presence and the interlude with the crows were not nearly as strong as in the first book, so I found that a little disappointing as well.
Overall, this book is a good fun read and I would recommend it. I'm giving it three stars in comparison with the first book - I think it would be difficult to follow up the first book with another one just as good, so I'm not too disappointed. Read this book, just don’t expect as delightful and charming read as the first book.