Title: The Faerie Ring
Author: Kiki Hamilton
Genre: Teen Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Publication Date: September 27, 2011
Publisher: Tor Teen
ISBN-13 Book: 9780765327222
Source: I received a copy of the ARC for review from Teen [Book] Scene Tours. This is my honest review!
The Faerie Ring by Kiki HamiltonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
It is 1871 London, Tiki and her family of orphan children are just barely scraping by with what they can steal. When Tiki hops onto the boot of the carriage, her only thought is to get away from the man chasing her, but when she finds herself at Buckingham Palace, she thinks that stealing a little food for her family wouldn’t hurt—the royals have plenty more after all. When she’s spotted in the kitchens, she runs making her way through the maze of the palace. It is here that the Queen’s ring, first crosses her path. Tiki steals it hoping to sell it for money for her family, but the ring is more than it appears to be. It holds the key to a truce between the Royal family and the Faeries. Now with the ring no longer in royal hands the faeries are seeking the ring to destroy the truce and they will stop at nothing to get it.
At first I was a bit skeptical about this book. I have read a lot of fairy books of late, and to be honest, I am not a big fairy fan. This book had a historical aspect though that made it sound intriguing and so I gave it a try. I am so glad I did.
The Faerie Ring has to be one of my favorite reads this year. Hamilton does a marvelous job setting the story in the gritty Dickens’ London. I loved the fact that she includes references to Dickens’ Oliver Twist--it felt like she was paying homage to Dickens with her orphans and their story. She describes the cold, the dirt, and the places in such detail that you feel like you have been there.
The characters come alive, and are so well depicted that you want to meet them and befriend them. Their voices and their relationships ring true, and you just want to know more about them and their lives. Tiki is a wonderful character who cares for her friends and does the best she can to survive in a city where dying on the streets is a real possibility. She and her family of orphans stick together to help each other and to provide for each other. And Rieker is just plain charming—I loved him from the first time we met him in the tavern.
From start to finish this book was one I loathed to put down. Hamilton hooks you from the first page and propels you through the novel. The pacing is perfect. She holds your interest no matter what twists or turns the story takes. She is a master of setting and characterization.
Overall this is a fantastic book that you won’t want to miss. I fell in love with this story and my only regret is that it had to end. I want more. I loved these characters, I loved the adventure, and I loved the story. A perfect read, start to finish.
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