Book Review: Lament

Lament (Books of Faerie #1)

By: Maggie Stiefvater

Published By: Flux

Publication Date: October 2008

Page Count: 325

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or IndieBound

Source: Purchased by Reviewer

Audience: Young Adult - Fantasy

Today I'm reviewing an old favorite that I read way before Reading Lark existed. Many of the Larks are huge Maggie Stiefvater fans, but somehow, we didn't have a review for her fey series. I'll be back tomorrow to share my thoughts on book #2, Ballad.

Lament was my first Stiefvater experience and as such I have always loved it even more than I loved the Wolves of Mercy Falls series. This novel will always hold a special place in my heart. The fey haven't always been my favorite supernatural beings. In fact, I often shy away from novels that feature them extensively, but there was something about this one that drew me in from the beginning. As with all of her novels, Stiefvater creates characters that are compelling and her writing is beautiful.

The novel focuses on the musical talents of Deirdre Monaghan, aka Dee. Her music is so beautiful and haunting it has drawn the attention of the queen of the fey. Assassins have been sent to silence her before she can draw more attention, but she finds herself drawn to the handsome strangers who have suddenly shown up in her small town. As she tries to figure out what's happening, she has the support of her best friend, James. Their friendship is one of my favorite things about this duology. 

Lament is a dark story laced with celtic mythology and star-crossed lovers. These are not the sweet Tinkerbelle sort of fey - these are the dangerous, kill you while you sleep, feral sort of fey. As such, the ending was brutal on my heart and mind.

My favorite aspect was learning about mythology that was largely unfamiliar for me. The notion of a cloverhand was intriguing and new. I also was a big fan of the musical connection.

One Last Gripe: There was a bit of instalove in this one.

Favorite Thing About This Book: the Celtic lore

First Sentence: He didn't know how long he'd been clinging there.

Favorite Character: Dee

Least Favorite Character: The Faerie Queen

Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a painfully shy but prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a cloverhand—one who can see faeries. Deirdre finds herself infatuated with a mysterious boy who enters her ordinary suburban life, seemingly out of thin air. Trouble is, the enigmatic and gorgeous Luke turns out to be a gallowglass—a soulless faerie assassin. An equally hunky—and equally dangerous—dark faerie soldier named Aodhan is also stalking Deirdre. Sworn enemies, Luke and Aodhan each have a deadly assignment from the Faerie Queen. Namely, kill Deirdre before her music captures the attention of the Fae and threatens the Queen's sovereignty. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is James, her wisecracking but loyal best friend. Deirdre had been wishing her life weren't so dull, but getting trapped in the middle of a centuries-old faerie war isn't exactly what she had in mind . . .