Books - urban fantasy - faeries
Sep. 2nd, 2010 03:35 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kikimoraOne of the recent subgenres in urban fantasy is the faery centered one.
I've checked out some of the books dealing with the fae. My two cents:
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa. Book 1 in the Iron Fey series. I gave it 4/5. Good strong heroine, interesting characters and engaging world.
Wings by Aprilynne Pike. Book 1 in the series. I gave it 3/5. It's good over all. But it feels like it lacks some umph. It's pretty straightforward. Despite really ineteresting and original take on the nature of the fae it is a little bland. On the plus side there were no annoying characters for me.
Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire. Book 1 in the series. Gave it 4/5. It had a bit of a rough start for me but about 50 pages in things go smoother and the plot tickens. Good characters. This, unlike the two books above is not YA and it shows. Less shallow characters and wordbuilding, really good plot. I like the main character. The fae and changelings are pretty distinct and once you get into this wolrd you want to learn more about it. It's not all pretty but it's interesting. The second book 'Local Habitation' is a little weaker - the plot didn't grab me the same way book 1 did.
War for the Oaks by Emma Bull. It's pretty much a classic in this genre. I rarely give 5/5 so this is more of a 4.5/5.
Urban Shaman by C.E. Murphy. Book 1 in the Walker Papers series. The main character is not fae or part fae and the series itself doesn't have faery centered plot in every book but faery are central to the first book. Not YA and the writing didn't grab me right away. I always find myself pushing through the first couple of chapters in this series only to get immersed completely later on. Distinct characters and interesting plot. 4/5 from me.
Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs. Book 3 in Mercedes Thompson series. 4/5 from me. Mercy is a great character. Strong but not perfect, smart and knows when to ask for help. Makes mistakes and pays for them. This book in particular is harsh on Mercy and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone triggered by descriptions/ mentions of rape. Other than that it is a great book.
Storm Born by Richelle Mead. Book 1 in the Dark Swan series. 3/5. This is my least liked series by Richelle Mead. It's not a bad read but so far I haven't quite got in the series. I'll probably check the second book at some point because I usuallly like Richelle's plots and characters and I didn't dislike them in the first book.
Tithe by Holly Black, Book 1 in the Modern Faerie Tales series. 2/5. It's been awhile since I read it but I remember having very mixed feelings about it. I could not relate to the main character, didn't like her at all. There were some stupid things she did that bugged me. I did like the worldbuilding and the plot (mostly). Haven't checked the second book.
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr. Book 1 in the series. 2/5. It sound really good at first, the blurb was inetresting, the premise has a lot of potenatial but the book deosn't live up to it. The characters are pretty one note and Aislinn and Seth are far too perfect for me to relate to. Especially Seth. That guy exists to be the perfect boyfriend for Aislinn. I do like the worldbuilding and the way the fae are portrayed. The plot is good but the charcters aren't strong enough to get me to read book 2. Unless I'll get really bored one day.
Hunting Ground by Patrcia Briggs. Book 2 in the Alpha and Omega series, thought counting the short story that started this series it should technically be book 3. The fae arenot main characters but theyr are crucial to the plot and there's significant fae character. 4.5/5.
Bloody Bones by Laurell K. Hamilton. Book 5in the Anita Blake series. When the AB books used to be readable. Fae are not the main characters but crucial to the plot. LKH delved far more into the subject of the fae in her second series: Mery Gentry, starting with Kiss of Shadows. But I wouldn't recommend them. The protagonist is too super speshul and perfect for me to enjoy reading about and her harem of guys are too one note and interchangable.
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins. Book 1 in the series. This is YA and fae are not technically main characters but they are featured along the witches and werewolves. A very good YA book.5/5
Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison. Book 1 in the Haollows / Rachel Morgan series. 3/5. The fae are present but they're of the small variety. Jinx is a really good charater though. Over all the series didn't grasp me and after book one I did not reach for book two. I disliked the protagonist too mucha dn felt that the book was too long.
And not yet read but on my to-read list:
Glimmerglass by Jenna Black. Book 1 in Faeriewalker series. I did not like this author's Morgan Kingsley books (The Devil Inside being book 1) but I'll give her a second try with this series.
Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan. Book 1in the series.
Lament. The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater. Book 1 in the series.
I've checked out some of the books dealing with the fae. My two cents:
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa. Book 1 in the Iron Fey series. I gave it 4/5. Good strong heroine, interesting characters and engaging world. Wings by Aprilynne Pike. Book 1 in the series. I gave it 3/5. It's good over all. But it feels like it lacks some umph. It's pretty straightforward. Despite really ineteresting and original take on the nature of the fae it is a little bland. On the plus side there were no annoying characters for me. Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire. Book 1 in the series. Gave it 4/5. It had a bit of a rough start for me but about 50 pages in things go smoother and the plot tickens. Good characters. This, unlike the two books above is not YA and it shows. Less shallow characters and wordbuilding, really good plot. I like the main character. The fae and changelings are pretty distinct and once you get into this wolrd you want to learn more about it. It's not all pretty but it's interesting. The second book 'Local Habitation' is a little weaker - the plot didn't grab me the same way book 1 did. War for the Oaks by Emma Bull. It's pretty much a classic in this genre. I rarely give 5/5 so this is more of a 4.5/5. Urban Shaman by C.E. Murphy. Book 1 in the Walker Papers series. The main character is not fae or part fae and the series itself doesn't have faery centered plot in every book but faery are central to the first book. Not YA and the writing didn't grab me right away. I always find myself pushing through the first couple of chapters in this series only to get immersed completely later on. Distinct characters and interesting plot. 4/5 from me. Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs. Book 3 in Mercedes Thompson series. 4/5 from me. Mercy is a great character. Strong but not perfect, smart and knows when to ask for help. Makes mistakes and pays for them. This book in particular is harsh on Mercy and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone triggered by descriptions/ mentions of rape. Other than that it is a great book. Storm Born by Richelle Mead. Book 1 in the Dark Swan series. 3/5. This is my least liked series by Richelle Mead. It's not a bad read but so far I haven't quite got in the series. I'll probably check the second book at some point because I usuallly like Richelle's plots and characters and I didn't dislike them in the first book. Tithe by Holly Black, Book 1 in the Modern Faerie Tales series. 2/5. It's been awhile since I read it but I remember having very mixed feelings about it. I could not relate to the main character, didn't like her at all. There were some stupid things she did that bugged me. I did like the worldbuilding and the plot (mostly). Haven't checked the second book. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr. Book 1 in the series. 2/5. It sound really good at first, the blurb was inetresting, the premise has a lot of potenatial but the book deosn't live up to it. The characters are pretty one note and Aislinn and Seth are far too perfect for me to relate to. Especially Seth. That guy exists to be the perfect boyfriend for Aislinn. I do like the worldbuilding and the way the fae are portrayed. The plot is good but the charcters aren't strong enough to get me to read book 2. Unless I'll get really bored one day. Hunting Ground by Patrcia Briggs. Book 2 in the Alpha and Omega series, thought counting the short story that started this series it should technically be book 3. The fae arenot main characters but theyr are crucial to the plot and there's significant fae character. 4.5/5. Bloody Bones by Laurell K. Hamilton. Book 5in the Anita Blake series. When the AB books used to be readable. Fae are not the main characters but crucial to the plot. LKH delved far more into the subject of the fae in her second series: Mery Gentry, starting with Kiss of Shadows. But I wouldn't recommend them. The protagonist is too super speshul and perfect for me to enjoy reading about and her harem of guys are too one note and interchangable. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins. Book 1 in the series. This is YA and fae are not technically main characters but they are featured along the witches and werewolves. A very good YA book.5/5 Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison. Book 1 in the Haollows / Rachel Morgan series. 3/5. The fae are present but they're of the small variety. Jinx is a really good charater though. Over all the series didn't grasp me and after book one I did not reach for book two. I disliked the protagonist too mucha dn felt that the book was too long.And not yet read but on my to-read list:
Glimmerglass by Jenna Black. Book 1 in Faeriewalker series. I did not like this author's Morgan Kingsley books (The Devil Inside being book 1) but I'll give her a second try with this series. Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan. Book 1in the series. Lament. The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater. Book 1 in the series.
