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rainmisoa's review against another edition
3.0
peppypenguin's review against another edition
4.0
I can't say this book was a true piece of art. What I can say is that I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and so far, from what I've read and heard of Stiefvater, I really like her stuff.
She's good at writing good teen romance-action-fantasy novels. I've noticed that she develops her characters very well, sometimes in the simplest ways. Her writing is very good and she depicts a scene and her characters well. She tells her story in an interesting way.
"Ballad" is not, I feel, as good as the Raven Cycle. However, she delved into the world of music well and created an interesting, fantastical universe. I absolutely adored how she described and explained music and the creation of art, as well as how she managed to make the bagpipes an interesting Instrument. Metaphors were very obviously explained but that doesn't take away from the theory/theme of love and humanity she presents. She seems to have excellent wit as a writer, which is conveyed through James, as it adds to his charm as a loveable character.
Overall I would recommend the book. It's not a terribly long read, it's very interesting and will make the reader anxious for the characters, but offers a satisfying ending.
She's good at writing good teen romance-action-fantasy novels. I've noticed that she develops her characters very well, sometimes in the simplest ways. Her writing is very good and she depicts a scene and her characters well. She tells her story in an interesting way.
"Ballad" is not, I feel, as good as the Raven Cycle. However, she delved into the world of music well and created an interesting, fantastical universe. I absolutely adored how she described and explained music and the creation of art, as well as how she managed to make the bagpipes an interesting Instrument. Metaphors were very obviously explained but that doesn't take away from the theory/theme of love and humanity she presents. She seems to have excellent wit as a writer, which is conveyed through James, as it adds to his charm as a loveable character.
Overall I would recommend the book. It's not a terribly long read, it's very interesting and will make the reader anxious for the characters, but offers a satisfying ending.
jacquelinec's review against another edition
4.0
If I really enjoyed Lament, I loved Ballad. I actually preferred James as the narrator. Stiefvater resumes her engrossing, lyrical prose and, if you can get past Deirdre's occasional whining asides, you'll be wrapped up in it.
lcgerstmann's review against another edition
4.0
I was nervous about this book because I loved the first one so much (Lament) but I was pleasantly surprised. This one is the story of James and his involvement with a female fairy. Although the relationship between him and Dee (which I loved in Lament) was uncomfortable for me in this book, I really enjoyed James as a character was was happy to see him get over his unrequited love.
firefly99's review against another edition
3.0
It was ok. Again, interesting premise, could have Ben fleshed out more. The character I found most interesting, Sullivan, was definitely not explored as in depth as he could have been. 12 year old me would have loved it.
leonajasmin's review against another edition
3.0
I wasn't a huge fan of Lament, but the storyline in this one and the new POV character, James, were more interesting to me. This book wasn't outstandingly good, but its fault were less jarring and severe than the one's in Lament were.
classiccarissa's review against another edition
5.0
Appropriate that my final book of the year would also turn out to be my favorite. This was beautiful. I could feel bits and pieces of the characters as perhaps being prototypes for others, like Gansey being similar to Sullivan and James calling Nuala "Izzy" like Gansey calls Blue "Jane". It doesn't matter if its true or not, really, just fun to draw connections! I wish the series was finished, but I don't think it necessarily feels unfinished. Somehow, these felt like the most realistic teenagers I've ever read. There was an attention to actions I enjoyed too, an attention to EVERYTHING honestly and I loved every second. 11/10 will likely read again <3 it was a beautiful read
scrollsofdragons's review against another edition
Sullivan you seem a cool guy and Jamie I like you but I'm disinterested sorry and new character faerie girl you're disappointing and I'm not caring any to carry on. 121 pages I lasted but no more.
chluless's review against another edition
1.0
The quality of the writing and the plot was excellent but I just could not get into it.
I liked Lament and read Ballad a day or two afterwards but I just could not finish it. Lament was a page turner but unfortunately Ballad was not for me. I found myself bored and distracted. I didn't connect with the characters which I think was the source of the problem. I adore The Raven cycle and Shiver books but this one just didn't do it for me.
Maybe I will try picking it up again in the future, I hate leaving a book unfinished.
I liked Lament and read Ballad a day or two afterwards but I just could not finish it. Lament was a page turner but unfortunately Ballad was not for me. I found myself bored and distracted. I didn't connect with the characters which I think was the source of the problem. I adore The Raven cycle and Shiver books but this one just didn't do it for me.
Maybe I will try picking it up again in the future, I hate leaving a book unfinished.
rosetyper9's review against another edition
5.0
Ballad: A Gathering of Faerie is the sequel to Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception; together these books fit perfectly into the increasingly popular young adult genre but, unlike most of the other books sprouting up everywhere, these books don't contain fangs, they contain Fey. Ballad picks up a couple of months after the events of Lament, placing James, the unrequited best friend, as the main character.
The depth of research Stiefvater attained is increasingly obvious with the turn of each page. Ballad is chock full of amazing traditional Celtic faerie folklore and even a thoroughly researched Deity. "The Good Folk" have been an inspiration to thousands of writers throughout history; much of the folklore and faerie tales have remained consistent with each passing decade, and Stiefvater remains true to that tradition while adding her own flavor by revealing some folklore that is not popularly known. Her addition of Cernunnos, a traditional Celtic Deity usually depicted as representing for the dead, is what in my opinion pulled Stiefvater from researched well, to absolutely amazing. The plot was fast paced, action packed, and perfectly braided with the folklore and the characters.
The characters in this book were also, in my opinion, spot on. It has long been a belief from children's fables that faeries are a benevolent race of magical beings, but in this book, they are depicted as they originally were written, as a warning against the evils of magic. James is a typical teenage guy, with the addition of a genius musical talent and a smattering of psychic ability. Nuala is a not so typical faerie who trades musical inspiration in exchange for years of one's life. James's ability to recognize the faerie is the only thing that saved his life and brought these two characters together. The relationship that forms between Nuala is completely honest from the beginning and so different from the love that Dee and Luke shares in Lament. It was amazing that James could fall in love with Nuala even after everything that happens to him Lament; his ability to forgive and adapt is hopefully what will save the friendship that was destroyed by Dee being a selfish idiot.
At some points throughout the book Stiefvater could have let the reader into some of the secrets she was harboring earlier, it got a bit confusing in some areas due to what the reader is unaware of. Things of course become clearer at the end but, for a little while in the middle, the reader spends time trying to figure out the reasons for some of the inserted passages when there really is no need. It is suspect that they were written in an effort to foreshadow but as a young adult reader, it may have been too much. Overall this book was enjoyable, not as imaginatively pleasing as Lament but definitely not bad at all.
The depth of research Stiefvater attained is increasingly obvious with the turn of each page. Ballad is chock full of amazing traditional Celtic faerie folklore and even a thoroughly researched Deity. "The Good Folk" have been an inspiration to thousands of writers throughout history; much of the folklore and faerie tales have remained consistent with each passing decade, and Stiefvater remains true to that tradition while adding her own flavor by revealing some folklore that is not popularly known. Her addition of Cernunnos, a traditional Celtic Deity usually depicted as representing for the dead, is what in my opinion pulled Stiefvater from researched well, to absolutely amazing. The plot was fast paced, action packed, and perfectly braided with the folklore and the characters.
The characters in this book were also, in my opinion, spot on. It has long been a belief from children's fables that faeries are a benevolent race of magical beings, but in this book, they are depicted as they originally were written, as a warning against the evils of magic. James is a typical teenage guy, with the addition of a genius musical talent and a smattering of psychic ability. Nuala is a not so typical faerie who trades musical inspiration in exchange for years of one's life. James's ability to recognize the faerie is the only thing that saved his life and brought these two characters together. The relationship that forms between Nuala is completely honest from the beginning and so different from the love that Dee and Luke shares in Lament. It was amazing that James could fall in love with Nuala even after everything that happens to him Lament; his ability to forgive and adapt is hopefully what will save the friendship that was destroyed by Dee being a selfish idiot.
At some points throughout the book Stiefvater could have let the reader into some of the secrets she was harboring earlier, it got a bit confusing in some areas due to what the reader is unaware of. Things of course become clearer at the end but, for a little while in the middle, the reader spends time trying to figure out the reasons for some of the inserted passages when there really is no need. It is suspect that they were written in an effort to foreshadow but as a young adult reader, it may have been too much. Overall this book was enjoyable, not as imaginatively pleasing as Lament but definitely not bad at all.