Ruby: The Red Fairy (Rainbow Magic: The Rainbow Fairies, No. 1) Review

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Ruby: The Red Fairy (Rainbow Magic: The Rainbow Fairies, No. 1) ReviewMy 4 year old found out about these books from a friend of hers. We've read the entire Rainbow fairy series out loud as bedtime stories.
I am a believer in encouraging children to read. If these books do this for your children, great. I could easily see how this could be the case. The author clearly understands 4-6 year old girl psychology and exploits it fully to create truly addictive series.
However, as a mom reading aloud to her child, I would have to say that the adventures in the books are almost nonsensical even given the premise of fairy magic (at least taken as a series--this particular book is not so bad), the dialog and vocabulary insipid, and the characters uninspiring.
Rachael and Kirsty solve problems not with common sense, bravery or ingenuity, but by using magic fairy bags given to them by the Fairy King and Queen. Their biggest challenges seem to be 1) running away from goblins (which look about 5 inches high in the illustrations) and 2) remembering to use the magic fairy bags when the goblins frighten them too much.
I also feel exploited. These books are $7 each, in series of addictive stories which could each easily be fit in one book. The Rainbow series alone will set you back $7*7=$49 if you pay the cover price of $6.99, and there seems to be no end in sight to the collections. Each book can easily be read in 1-2 sittings, so $6.99 doesn't get you much.
Another aspect which bothers me is this: the Rainbow fairies wear trendy teen age type clothing and are stick-thin. Rachael and Kirsty are extremely thin and trendy looking too. My 4 year old will be bombarded with these kinds of unrealistic body images by the media as it is. I don't want them appearing in her bedtime stories.
My advice (at least to parents who are going to read these aloud): don't start. There are so many better choices. Once you start, your child won't let you stop. So if you are going to read these, get them from the library. Make sure you can get the whole series since these are fast reads, with each story encouraging your child to read the next one.Ruby: The Red Fairy (Rainbow Magic: The Rainbow Fairies, No. 1) Overview

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Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception (Gathering of Faerie) Review

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Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception (Gathering of Faerie) ReviewAs a rule, I generally find the fiction directed at young women frustrating. So often, it's populated by Kicky Young Heroines with *just enough* strength and self-reliance to be bothered when they ultimately have to be rescued by the male love interest, but not quite enough to get out of trouble without his help. Too many authors lack the skill to create dramatic tension without placing the main character in a danger she just can't escape on her own, and the most dramatically convenient means of rescue is usually her love interest. The underlying message of, "no matter how strong you are, you're still a girl and girls get rescued by men who think they're pretty," is pervasive.
So, it was with certain reservations that I picked up Maggie Stiefvater's "Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception" on the recommendation of a friend. In my head I was already trying to think of diplomatic ways to compliment a Young Adult Faerie Book without having to point out Kicky Ineffectual Heroines and overly perky and harmless (or unreasonably malicious and evil) fae.
"Lament" blew all that right out of the water.
First, the core of the story is about women. Deirdre's relationship with her mother and grandmother, her relationship with her aunt, her relationship with the Faerie Queen, all played out across the story of a young woman making the choices that will determine the course of her life. The love story, though woven through the tale, supports the focus on Deirdre instead of overwhelming it; this is a refreshing change from the languishing heroine waiting for life to start for her and bemoaning her singlehood (usually because 'normal guys' can't handle her Special Uniqueness) until magically the perfect guy comes along who just happens to be [insert dramatic and predictable otherworldly cliche].
Part of this comes from the fact that Stiefvater balances the love interest with a strong core friendship that it can't replace, and part of it comes from the fact that like many of us, Deirdre has to make most of her really hard decisions alone, and she's faced with a lot of very realistic complication in the way she has to balance the relationships in her life. Stiefvater places her protagonist in situations where she has to acknowledge and consider the very different sorts of love and relationships in her life, and can't simply let fear or infatuation guide her choices. It creates a much better dramatic tension and a much better read than simply placing her in an inescapable danger.
Stiefvater's fae were another pleasant surprise. Instead of the benign, ethereal beauties or the deliberately evil monsters I've come to expect from popular fiction (not to mention the giggly little winged flower sprites), the fae in "Lament" are complex and subtle. The word most appropriate to the faeries of the older tales is 'perilous', and these fae most certainly are. Are they good guys? Are they bad guys? Neither, really; they're somewhere outside of morality and bound to older, simpler, more brutal laws than human perception of right and wrong. Stiefvater *nails* the notion of the faerie bargain and the faerie favor perfectly, capturing the layers of gift, threat, and obligation. She manages to make them alien and familiar enough to be completely unsettling.
The book is a satisfying and well-crafted read. I finished it in a single sitting, and have read it again since. And having done so, I can recommend it without reservation or hesitiation. Read this book. Seriously.Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception (Gathering of Faerie) Overview

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No Flying in the House (Harper Trophy Books) Review

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No Flying in the House (Harper Trophy Books) ReviewHello, I am 8 years old. We had a book fair at my school. I couldn't find anything, but finally I found this book. I looked at some of the pictures and I decided to buy it. I couldn't stop reading it, it was soooooo good! My homework is to read 20 minutes a day, but one day I read 120 minutes because this book was so good! I love this book, you have to read it!No Flying in the House (Harper Trophy Books) Overview

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Tears of the Moon (Irish Trilogy, Book 2) Review

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Tears of the Moon (Irish Trilogy, Book 2) ReviewThis is the second book in the Gallahers series. It is set in Ireland, in the little town of Ardmore where the Gallaghers have run the popular pub for 5 generations.
This story features the second Gallagher, Shawn, who is a musician, composer, cook, and dreamer and Brenna O'Toole. Shawn moved into Faery Cottage,with it's resident ghost, when Jude moved into the main Gallagher residence. Brenna O'Toole is the family friend and has grown up with the Gallaghers. She has always harbored a love for Shawn, and decides to do something about it in her usual pushy way. Their relationship changes drastically, and Carrick, Prince of the Faeries, is actively involved in getting them to resolve their differences into love. Brenna, of course, pushes Shawn too far, but he finally reveals some backbone and everything is worked out at the end.
This is a wonderful, warm and sometimes funny story, with the beauty of Ireland and the Irish lovingly portrayed. I personally liked Jewels of the Sun a little more than this one, as Brenna's character rubbed me wrong, overall the characters were pure Nora Roberts magic.
Well worth the wait! I hope Heart of the Sea comes out soon.Tears of the Moon (Irish Trilogy, Book 2) Overview

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The Iron Knight (Harlequin Teen) Review

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The Iron Knight (Harlequin Teen) ReviewI was ecstatic to receive this ARC from NetGalley. I finished this book over a week ago, but I haven't wanted to write the review, because that means the series is truly over and I'm sad to see it end. This is going to be one of those tough reviews to write, because I hate dissecting books I love.
Moving into the Iron Knight was almost jarring because this is Prince Ash's story. The contrast between Ash's voice and Puck's from Summer's Crossing is monumental. Whereas Puck is suffering, Ash is an emotional train wreck held together only by the strength of his determination. Also giving this book a different feel to it than the previous three is the fact that Meghan is pretty much absent. It surprised me, after it took me so long to warm up to her in the first place, that I actually kind of missed her. Meghan softens Ash and brings out a side of him that is ...almost warm --well, warm for a Winter Prince, anyway. But, as with the novella, once again, I delighted in getting to know the real Ash, not just the Ash we see through Meghan's eyes. However without Meghan there to strike a delicate balance between Ash and Puck, things are strained and precarious from the beginning.
After finally finding Grimalkin, the cait sith leads them to The Seer, the only one who can help Prince Ash with his quest to find a way to exist in the Iron Realm --and once The Seer is found the entire story is turned on it's ear. Truth be told, I didn't trust The Seer, as the fairy obviously has an agenda. If things were tense before, they are near impossible now. I read in fits and spells, partly because of the ever mounting tension, and partly because it was so good I was trying to savor and not miss a detail --or be interrupted. The journey was not what I expected, nor were the challenges. I had no idea where the story was headed and it was full of delicious twists and turns.
Only slightly disappointing is that, especially after reading Summer's Crossing, I want more of Puck's story now that the series has come to an end. I want to know what new adventures life has in store for him. And while I was glad she ended the book with a certain character, I felt a little odd over the situation. I won't spoil anything, but suffice it to say that it detracted from the story the tiniest of bits for me.
Considering Julie Kagawa originally wanted The Iron Fey to be a trilogy, leaving things with Meghan growing up and accepting responsibilities, I think she does a magnificent job of continuing the story. I would have been okay with ending with The Iron Queen, minus the epilogue, but I'm ever so grateful to her editor for convincing her to continue. This is so much better and brilliantly executed to boot. Not many people could have pulled off the constant anticipation without it becoming boring or frustrating. Though some readers may have trouble adjusting to Ash's voice and the lack of Meghan, I think it's brilliant. The gamble paid off.
As I come to the end of The Iron Fey, I find myself wanting to jump back to the beginning and start the series over again to gain new perspective. I love the that Julie Kagawa made me fall in love with this series slowly but surely. It's something I will read and re-read. The Iron Knight is due out October 25 from Harlequin Teen and it's worth the wait.
[...]The Iron Knight (Harlequin Teen) Overview

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