The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

Title: The Faerie Ring
Author: Kiki Hamilton

Published: September 27, 2011 by Tor Teen
Pages: 352/Hardcover
Series: The Faerie Ring #1
Challenge: 2011 Debut Author Challenge, 2011 YA Historical Fiction Challenge
Source: bought

Summary: 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…

Review: How can I even start a review about The Faerie Ring? By telling you how awesome it was? Because it was awesome, oh how it was awesome. 

Starting off I knew something paranormal/strange was going to happen, but in the moment Tiki seemed like just a normal girl who was doing what she had to to survive. And that helped me to get in her head and understand her. She was a strong girl who didn't give up, especially when it came to the ones she loved. 

I could tell that Hamilton was trying to show that Tiki didn't really trust Rieker and Tiki herself even convinced me a few times that he wasn't to be trusted, but throughout the whole book I just couldn't see him as an untrustworthy guy. He just seemed so good. Maybe that's just me.

There wasn't any real mystery to the book because it was in third person so I pretty much knew what was going on with all of the characters even if they didn't know. What got me was the suspense. I knew what the characters were doing but would it work out? Would they save everyone? Would the faeries get the ring? All of these questions had me flipping the pages faster and faster until I got to the end.

Oh the ending. It really was quite nice. It wrapped up the story nicely and I know there's a sequel planned, but even if there wasn't the ending left it in a nice place to simply be a stand alone novel.

The Faerie Ring was a fantastic book! It had faeries and history and romance and thieves and just utter greatness. Go and read it! I'm begging you!

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

Title: The Vespertine
Author: Saundra Mitchell
Published: March 7, 2011 by Harcourt Children's Books
Pages: 293/Hardcover
Series: The Vespertine #1
Challenge: 2011 YA Historical Fiction Challenge
Source: e-ARC from publisher and NetGalley

Summary: It’s the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him.

When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.

Review: The Vespertine started off slow for me and it was hard for me to get into. But somewhere around the middle of the book things started to pick up. 

Saundra Mitchell has a very unique writing style. It's simple enough to draw you in, but it's complex enough to draw a vivid picture in you're mind of the story. I think her writing was one of the things that got the story going and drew me in.

I loved Amelia and Zora. They were believable as not only cousins but as friends too. Mitchell did a great job of making the relationships in this book realistic. I could see the friendship between the girls. They had fights like normal friends, but they always seem to patch things up. I wish there had been more light shed on Nathaniel though. It seemed like we only got to see a little of his life and how he works, but I definitely saw the attraction he and Amelia had for each other.

I was quite surprised by the ending. It seemed rather abrupt, yet I also had the feeling of closure, like it ended the way it should have. 

My one problem with The Vespertine is that there's no real information about why Amelia gets these visions or what the vespers really are. However, I liked the fact that these "talents" were based on the four elements (earth, wind, water, and fire). That added some originality and intrigue to the pot!

Overall The Vespertine was a historical novel that had fantastic writing that draws you in and characters to keep you there. It may have been slow to start and some plot points weren't that clear, but in the end this was a fantastic novel. 

Review: Prisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacColl

(summary and cover from goodreads)


London, 1838. Sixteen-year-old Liza's dreams of her society debut are dashed when her parents are killed in an accident. Penniless, she accepts the position of lady's maid to young Princess Victoria and steps unwittingly into the gossipy intrigue of the servant's world below-stairs as well as the trickery above. Is it possible that her changing circumstances may offer Liza the chance to determine her own fate, find true love, and secure the throne for her future queen?

Meticulously based on newly discovered information, this riveting novel is as rich in historical detail as Catherine, Called Birdy, and as sizzling with intrigue as The Luxe.

Review: If you like historical fiction you will love this book. It was wonderful! One of the best historical fiction novels I've read in a while. 

I loved Liza! She had a hard time adapting to her being a maid which made her easy for me to connect with because it gave some real emotion. She came from upper society and was privileged. But when that was taken away she had a hard time adjusting but she did it because she had to. Also, she didn't back down from tough situations. She knew what was right and was going to fight for it. 


Inside Boy was a wonderful little guy. He added some humor to the story and also helped to show what it was like in the palace when no one knows you're there. I felt like Will was in the story but at the same time it felt like he wasn't. His character didn't seem as developed as it could have been, So when he was mentioned or was in a scene I felt more like he was just being mentioned than actually being there (I know, I'm confusing). 


The great thing about this book was its historical aspect. Michaela did a great job with her research, and I particularly like the journal entries from Liza and Victoria. One thing that really endeared this book to me was the romance. I liked that it didn't dominate the story. The princess's problems were in the forefront and the romance was a bit of a side story. But even being a side story it seemed very well developed, for being a courtship in the 1800's, that is. I was definitely not expecting the ending as far as who was helping Sir John and the Duchess. 


So overall this was a very well written historical fiction novel with well pretty rounded characters and a great plot that never seems dull.   

Source: My personal library

Published: September 1, 2010 by Chronicle Books