BOOK REVIEW - THE FAERIE RING by KIKI HAMILTON - THE FAERIE RING # 1

By : Kiki Hamilton
Published By ; Tor Teen
Released : Available Now
Details : Hardback, 343 Pages

RATING : 4.25 DEBUT STARS!!!

Book Blurb : Taken From Goodreads

Debut novelist Kiki Hamilton takes readers from the gritty slums and glittering ballrooms of Victorian London to the beguiling but menacing Otherworld of the Fey in this spellbinding tale of romance, suspense, and danger.


The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood.


Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen’s son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist.


Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty…



BOOK REVIEW:



I really enjoyed The Faerie Ring. I thought Kiki did a wonderful job of drawing the reader visually into London and the streets Tiki roamed, and the characters that Tiki came into contact with, whether she was stealing from them or borrowing a book from the kindly Mr Potts.


I quite liken her visual writing to be like Cassandra Clare. Seeing the streets of London and all the other places Kiki takes us to and the little details.


Tara Kathleen aka Tiki aka Teeks is the 16 yr old lead in this story. She does not hesitate to steal for her little family. Tiki does what she needs to do to put cheese, bread and coal on the table. I put myself in Tiki’s shoes and being a mother of 3 children myself I know I would do what I needed to do if my family was starving.


To live in the cold in Victorian London, trying to survive and spending your day on the streets dressed as a boy, filthy from head to toe, picking pockets to make sure something small was in your family’s bellies takes talent. There is no room for a conscience or your little family will starve or die from the cold. Tiki is very mature for her age and takes on quite a lot of responsibility and not everything goes according to plan. She is quick thinking, but is not always the wisest.


I love Toots, Shamus, Clara and Fiona who make up Tiki’s family of orphans.


The first book in this series is more about getting to know the characters, and introducing some Fey. I am looking forward to the next instalments in the series as we will get to understand more about Ms. Hamilton’s, Fey world. We get a small glimpse of the Otherworld, a taste of the dangers lurking and what the Ring means to humanity and what Tiki was willing to give up for humanity to keep her little Clara safe. Not necessarily the most well thought out plan on Tiki’s behalf , but she is only 16 and she is fiercely driven to protect her little family that she loves.


I really like Rieker. He is strong and believable. I probably would have liked to not hear the words, ‘ I love you ’ in this book . I think the relationship between Tiki and Rieker moved at a great steady pace , building trust is not an easy thing for Tiki. But , I would have liked a bit more left open about where that was heading, being a 4 book series I thought there was room to bring that later.


Prince Leo, I love how switched on his character is, now Arthur, hehe! is a little different. Prince Leo puts two and two together and is the smart one amongst the brothers. Leopold is a character I hope to read more about. He doesn’t let much slip by him.


Kiki has left some little snippets in The Faerie Ring I think as bread crumbs for further installments. I am rather interested in Isabelle.


Just a personal observation, I couldn’t help having a chuckle as the ring on the book cover is a tad girlie engagement ring looking and when you know where the ring ends up at the end of this book, I do have a thought that it could have been a more errrr...what’s the word. A ring that looked a bit stronger or bigger...well you know what I mean if you have read the book.


Kiki has a wonderful imagination and a great eye for writing scenes beautifully. I am looking forward to ‘The Torn Wing’ to see where Kiki takes us in her Fey world.

Michelle