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booksandladders's review against another edition
3.0
Actual Rating: 2.5*
I really enjoyed [b:Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception|3112850|Lament The Faerie Queen's Deception (Books of Faerie, #1)|Maggie Stiefvater|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1265410418s/3112850.jpg|3144132]. I thought it was the perfect mix of faerie mythology and Irish mythology that blended together with how great Dee and Luke were together. Therefore, I should have loved the sequel, Ballad. However, I did not.
I didn't like the shift from Dee and Luke to James and Nuala. Their characters and story were not nearly as engaging as Dee and Luke's had been. I was mostly just waiting for the story to be over rather than really enjoying myself. I think most of this stemmed from the fact that Nuala was not likeable and was constantly butting in to where she was explicitly told she was not wanted: James's life. And James, while funny, was too much. I couldn't relate to him at all except when it came to realizing he was better off without Dee in his life because he found better friends who actually cared about him.
The plot for this one was meh. I liked that it brought all the characters together and showed us the darker side to the fae that Stiefvater had created but I was kinda bored with how much time it took to get there. I felt like there were a lot of filler aspects to this one to make it a full novel rather than a novella. I also would have liked actual scenes from Dee rather than her weird text messages (with bad grammar, which is how people texted in 2009 but not how people text now and it drove me up the wall). I felt like Dee was wasted in this one because she was such a huge, important part of James's life and was given cameo scenes at best.
But, Stiefvater's writing was flawless again. Even though I wasn't a huge fan of the plot or characters, I was still engrossed in the writing and the world. I loved the descriptions of both the faerie world and the human world and how they intertwined. I loved that we got to see the faerie world from a faerie who wasn't quite faerie or human because it gave us a different perspective than what we had seen before. This version felt more real than what we saw in [b:Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception|3112850|Lament The Faerie Queen's Deception (Books of Faerie, #1)|Maggie Stiefvater|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1265410418s/3112850.jpg|3144132] because it wasn't as romanticized in a sense.
I do recommend this one, still. Especially if you loved [b:Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception|3112850|Lament The Faerie Queen's Deception (Books of Faerie, #1)|Maggie Stiefvater|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1265410418s/3112850.jpg|3144132]. You can also read this one as a standalone, but I would recommend reading them both if you are going to read this one anyway. I hope that if there is another book to this series that it shifts its focus back to Dee and Luke because they are much more interesting than James and Naula.
Books and Ladders | Queen of the Bookshelves | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
I really enjoyed [b:Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception|3112850|Lament The Faerie Queen's Deception (Books of Faerie, #1)|Maggie Stiefvater|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1265410418s/3112850.jpg|3144132]. I thought it was the perfect mix of faerie mythology and Irish mythology that blended together with how great Dee and Luke were together. Therefore, I should have loved the sequel, Ballad. However, I did not.
I didn't like the shift from Dee and Luke to James and Nuala. Their characters and story were not nearly as engaging as Dee and Luke's had been. I was mostly just waiting for the story to be over rather than really enjoying myself. I think most of this stemmed from the fact that Nuala was not likeable and was constantly butting in to where she was explicitly told she was not wanted: James's life. And James, while funny, was too much. I couldn't relate to him at all except when it came to realizing he was better off without Dee in his life because he found better friends who actually cared about him.
The plot for this one was meh. I liked that it brought all the characters together and showed us the darker side to the fae that Stiefvater had created but I was kinda bored with how much time it took to get there. I felt like there were a lot of filler aspects to this one to make it a full novel rather than a novella. I also would have liked actual scenes from Dee rather than her weird text messages (with bad grammar, which is how people texted in 2009 but not how people text now and it drove me up the wall). I felt like Dee was wasted in this one because she was such a huge, important part of James's life and was given cameo scenes at best.
But, Stiefvater's writing was flawless again. Even though I wasn't a huge fan of the plot or characters, I was still engrossed in the writing and the world. I loved the descriptions of both the faerie world and the human world and how they intertwined. I loved that we got to see the faerie world from a faerie who wasn't quite faerie or human because it gave us a different perspective than what we had seen before. This version felt more real than what we saw in [b:Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception|3112850|Lament The Faerie Queen's Deception (Books of Faerie, #1)|Maggie Stiefvater|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1265410418s/3112850.jpg|3144132] because it wasn't as romanticized in a sense.
I do recommend this one, still. Especially if you loved [b:Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception|3112850|Lament The Faerie Queen's Deception (Books of Faerie, #1)|Maggie Stiefvater|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1265410418s/3112850.jpg|3144132]. You can also read this one as a standalone, but I would recommend reading them both if you are going to read this one anyway. I hope that if there is another book to this series that it shifts its focus back to Dee and Luke because they are much more interesting than James and Naula.
Books and Ladders | Queen of the Bookshelves | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
sarahstockwell's review against another edition
3.0
OK, so I started out loving this book. I couldn't put it down, and when I wasn't holding it, randomly found myself thinking about the characters and processing the narrative. I love the snarky dialogue and Stiefvater's poetic descriptions. But the climax left me lacking. I felt sure with the build up that the climax would have more punch, but it didn't, at least to me.
asma_aj's review against another edition
4.0
Following the events during the summer, James and Dee are accepted at Thorn-King Ash, a school for the musically talented, but James knows there's something more to this school. Struggling with his feelings for Dee, James goes chasing after faeries at night, and he comes across Naula, a solitary fey who won't think twice about killing him for his gift. As James and Naula play a dangerous game, the Fearies have their own plans of freedom, one that could endanger the whole school.
If I'd thought the first book was all fast and insta-love, but still wow, THIS one blew my mind with it perfection! I LOVED James' point of view. He was solid, witty, crisp. To read the rest of the review, visit A Reading Kabocha @ http://areadingkabocha.blogspot.com
If I'd thought the first book was all fast and insta-love, but still wow, THIS one blew my mind with it perfection! I LOVED James' point of view. He was solid, witty, crisp. To read the rest of the review, visit A Reading Kabocha @ http://areadingkabocha.blogspot.com
readerpants's review against another edition
4.0
ETA July '12: Just as good -- probably even better -- upon rereading!
I'm a little embarrassed by how much I'm enjoying this. Reading it makes me feel like I'm back in high school, in all of my unbearably geeky, repartee-laced, Ren-Faire-attending... um, glory. There's an adult, readerly part of me that know this isn't a great book, but my inner adolescent is reveling in the sarcasm and earnestness and celtophilia. I think I would have adored this book when I was a teen; but since I fit a particular mold of geek that's still floating through middle and high schools today, I think it's going to make some contemporary teen readers pretty happy too.
James's voice is a real improvement over Dee's (which made up the last book), and while the text messages are irritating at least there aren't too many of them. The James/Nuala storyline is somewhat compelling, but it's really the voice and the setting that makes the book -- a music nerd boarding school in an idyllic setting with cool young teachers and an inordinate number of witty, deep, teen Celtic folk musicians struggling with love and death (intertwined, of course)? It's like Simon's Rock meets Charles de Lint. My inner 17-year-old is all hot and bothered and totally wants to go. My adult self is completely amused and feeling nostalgic for nerd camp. Both selves think it's kind of awesome.
I'm a little embarrassed by how much I'm enjoying this. Reading it makes me feel like I'm back in high school, in all of my unbearably geeky, repartee-laced, Ren-Faire-attending... um, glory. There's an adult, readerly part of me that know this isn't a great book, but my inner adolescent is reveling in the sarcasm and earnestness and celtophilia. I think I would have adored this book when I was a teen; but since I fit a particular mold of geek that's still floating through middle and high schools today, I think it's going to make some contemporary teen readers pretty happy too.
James's voice is a real improvement over Dee's (which made up the last book), and while the text messages are irritating at least there aren't too many of them. The James/Nuala storyline is somewhat compelling, but it's really the voice and the setting that makes the book -- a music nerd boarding school in an idyllic setting with cool young teachers and an inordinate number of witty, deep, teen Celtic folk musicians struggling with love and death (intertwined, of course)? It's like Simon's Rock meets Charles de Lint. My inner 17-year-old is all hot and bothered and totally wants to go. My adult self is completely amused and feeling nostalgic for nerd camp. Both selves think it's kind of awesome.
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.
luna_rondo's review against another edition
2.0
Nuala is the best thing. James is the best thing.
But Dee ruins everything for me.
But Dee ruins everything for me.
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.