arthurbakerr

Holly Black has a magical and unique way of telling a tale that comes out well in this book. The story is dark, mysterious and whimsical; everything one needs in a good faerie tale. While the creatures and beings in the tale are based on mythical characters, they are presented in a brilliant new light that is simultaneously faithful to their origins and original in their execution. The protagonist is different, without being drearily cliche, which is a refreshing aspect that is often absent from young adult novels. However, the genre is still firmly in place and the book is written with nothing more than the necessary character development. While this can be a problem for some novels, it serves to satisfy the needs of the plot and manages to tick all the boxes without the feeling of being short-changed. There aren't any heavy themes that are translated for younger audiences, but if that's your thing, you can still find elements to feed that desire. Ultimately, this book does what it sets out to do and offers nothing above or below that goal. It is a fantastical tale of other worlds and the fascinating relationships and creatures that drive this magical reality. Sure, this book isn't something to be recognised alongside high literature, but it achieves what it intends to do with purposeful skill and enjoyable charm.

2022-10-21 05:37