clairetrellahill's review against another edition
5.0
OH BOY, this book took all my preconceived fairy notions, shattered them into pieces, and then jumped on them for good measure. I looooooooooved this, it starts out with a young fairy curious about the human world and then branches out into the complexities of faery society (both before and currently), their relationship to (AND WITH) humans, art, creativity...... wow!!!! SO GOOD!!!
alicepages's review against another edition
3.0
Paranormal romance has taken a variety of stances on a the actions and lifestyles of fairies, but Anderson takes us back to traditional Victorian ideas about the mythical creatures, to little winged animals taking residence in hollow trees at the back of gardens and avoiding humans like the proverbial plague. Having said that, this novel actually plays out like a fairy-soap-opera focusing on the social life of fairy living, and the politics surrounding it, leaving magic to fizzle as a background issue, and I quite enjoyed this.
Our journey begins in the desperate world of a small fairy cluster, where magic is dying and the Queen has forbidden her subjects from leaving the confines of their home unauthorized. The story follows the curious and stubborn Bryony, a fairy who wants nothing more than to escape, and find a cure for the terrible silence, an illness killing off her people. As set-ups go, it's not anything unique, but Anderson gives the tale a few interesting dynamics. As I mentioned before, the plot focuses on the daily routine and lifestyles of a community of magic-less fairies. While keeping things traditional, Anderson manages to avoid the usual cliches. Taking us through the inexperienced perception of a young fairy is a stoke of ingenuity here. There are parts where our protagonist explores the intricacies of a human household, and I found myself pondering what it was she was looking at, working out objects by their context and description just as the character was doing so. Bryony herself is a solid and well-developed protagonist, and her personal struggles, especially towards the end, are believable and tension building. Her relationships with both humans and fairies are made particularly powerful by the comparison between the two worlds. It's a shame Anderson didn't choose to carry this further. The plot-line tends to move too quickly at times, particularly close to the beginning, pacing past some of the aspects of fairy aesthetics. Anderson misses opportunities to describe Bryony's home in order to push the plot forward.
Characters are individual, holding their own personalities and reasonings well, but lack deep exploration. I'm surprised first-person narrative wasn't used, because we only ever hear Bryony's narrative stand-point, leaving gaps where different thoughts and opinions of her counterparts could have been expressed.
Overall, I found this work refreshing, full of quiet excitement and surprising thought provoking scenarios, and adventure as it merges a fairy world with a believable fairy realm. It introduces a world you'll want to exist in the tree at the back of your garden. I'm excited for the next two.
What did you think of the book? Did you like this review? Think I can do better? Let me know in the comments at http://aliceradwell.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/knife-r-j-anderson/ I'd love to hear from you.
Our journey begins in the desperate world of a small fairy cluster, where magic is dying and the Queen has forbidden her subjects from leaving the confines of their home unauthorized. The story follows the curious and stubborn Bryony, a fairy who wants nothing more than to escape, and find a cure for the terrible silence, an illness killing off her people. As set-ups go, it's not anything unique, but Anderson gives the tale a few interesting dynamics. As I mentioned before, the plot focuses on the daily routine and lifestyles of a community of magic-less fairies. While keeping things traditional, Anderson manages to avoid the usual cliches. Taking us through the inexperienced perception of a young fairy is a stoke of ingenuity here. There are parts where our protagonist explores the intricacies of a human household, and I found myself pondering what it was she was looking at, working out objects by their context and description just as the character was doing so. Bryony herself is a solid and well-developed protagonist, and her personal struggles, especially towards the end, are believable and tension building. Her relationships with both humans and fairies are made particularly powerful by the comparison between the two worlds. It's a shame Anderson didn't choose to carry this further. The plot-line tends to move too quickly at times, particularly close to the beginning, pacing past some of the aspects of fairy aesthetics. Anderson misses opportunities to describe Bryony's home in order to push the plot forward.
Characters are individual, holding their own personalities and reasonings well, but lack deep exploration. I'm surprised first-person narrative wasn't used, because we only ever hear Bryony's narrative stand-point, leaving gaps where different thoughts and opinions of her counterparts could have been expressed.
Overall, I found this work refreshing, full of quiet excitement and surprising thought provoking scenarios, and adventure as it merges a fairy world with a believable fairy realm. It introduces a world you'll want to exist in the tree at the back of your garden. I'm excited for the next two.
What did you think of the book? Did you like this review? Think I can do better? Let me know in the comments at http://aliceradwell.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/knife-r-j-anderson/ I'd love to hear from you.
indywonder05's review against another edition
3.0
I would have given it two and a half if half stars were allowed. I just could not get into it. I felt like I forced myself to read the whole thing. In the end I liked it but just barely. I guess I liked elves but faeries aren't my thing.
mignonette_29's review against another edition
2.0
Best friend is someone you like to be with. Someone you can talk to about anything, and count on to help you whenever you need it.
craftingrama's review against another edition
4.0
It wasn't half bad although the beginning almost turned me off but I couldn't stop what I was doing and by the time I could I found the book was interesting after all. Wasn't too thrilled with the narrator but like the book once I got used to her it got bearable.
myendlessshelf's review against another edition
5.0
This book is incredible and one of my all-time favourites. Featuring a strong, courageous female lead whose journey to self-discovery is extremely well-developed. The supporting characters (both human, fairy and crow) are all fantastic and add a new level of depth to the story by weaving in their own.
This is a book I've come back to at various times in my life. However, only recently did I realise that there was a sequel - which I now must get!! I've spent so long wondering what happens to the fairies and now I can find out!
This is a book I've come back to at various times in my life. However, only recently did I realise that there was a sequel - which I now must get!! I've spent so long wondering what happens to the fairies and now I can find out!
in_emmas_library's review against another edition
4.0
Loved the faeries and how unique thier world is. knife was a great main character too, really determined to find out the truth about the humans
ladyfives's review against another edition
4.0
bro wtf…this was so adorable. I grabbed it out of a Free Little Library by my hotel before a plane ride, not expecting much at all besides a couple hours of easy diversion, but it was really fun with some unique faeries. (The lore of true names, thanking-as-a-faux-pas, unable to make art or create—I missed you all!) It went to some unexpected places as well, nicely balancing on that bridge between Middle Grade and Lower Young Adult.
also the first kiss really had me like (o･ω･o) !! It’s been so long!!
warnings for a disabled mc and some 2009 fiction attitudes about that but really I was braced for worse.
also the first kiss really had me like (o･ω･o) !! It’s been so long!!
warnings for a disabled mc and some 2009 fiction attitudes about that but really I was braced for worse.