Book Review: Lament (Books of Faerie #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

Summary:
Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a cloverhand - one who can see faeries.

Unexpectedly, Deirdre finds herself infatuated with a mysterious boy named Luke, who enters her ordinary life, seemingly out of thin air. But his interest in her might be something darker than summer romance. When a sinister faerie named Aodhan shows up with deadly orders from the Faerie Queen, it forces Dee right into the midst of Faerie. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is James, her wisecracking but loyal best friend.

Deirdre had been wishing her summer weren't so dull, but taking on a centuries-old Faerie Queen isn't exactly what she had in mind.
 
Review:
I like Maggie Steifvater.  Her writing is enthralling and unique.  Reading a Maggie Steifvater book is calming for me; it's something about the way she develops her characters and sets the stage for her love story.  Like Shiver, Lament's plot that floats  from point A to point B with all of the excitement of an Enya song.  It's hard to get too worked up about the main characters being in danger when I've been lulled into a stupor by Stiefvater's lyrical prose.  But that is a good thing.  There aren't too many authors who can influence my emotions like that. 

I thought Lament would have more of a faerie influence than it did.  To me, the book was more about Deidre finding herself and finding love for the first time.  There were faeries, and a faerie conflict, but the book takes place in Deidre's hometown.  There are no treks to the NeverNever (like in The Iron King, for example).  I really enjoyed the fact that Deidre plays the harp.  I kept imaging harp music the entire time I was reading. 

Guess what, Maggie Steifvater?  I'm saving the sequel to LamentBallad (along with Melissa Marr's Radiant Shadows) as my ICE book for the next time I'm home from work sick.  That is a rare distinction here at I'd So Rather Be Reading! 

Just One Gripe:
What's up with this current trend of teenage girls falling in love with centuries-old guys?  It's kind of creepy. 

The Best Thing About This Book:
Steifvater's lyrical prose.

Appropriate for a younger audience:
Yes

Score:
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Setting/Imagery: 3/5
Originality: 3/5
Ending: 4/5
Total Score:  18/25



4 comments:

  1. Hey Kelli, I'm here from the blog hop and just wanted to say that your blog is really interesting, and your reviews are insightful and great!

    I'm interested in hearing more from you, so I'll definitely be back!
    Thanks for the review. :)

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  2. So I have a feeling this one is right up my alley! :) Go Maggie!... I am surprised that the sequel made you "sick day" list

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  3. i actually liked his series lol although shiver hmm not so much great review as always :) hey Kelli! hey Nats *waves*

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