The FalconerAuthor: Elizabeth May
Publisher: Chronicle Books, 336 pages
Expected Publication Date: May 6, 2014
*ARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
From Goodreads:
Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, was destined for a life carefully planned around Edinburgh’s social events – right up until a faery killed her mother.
Now it’s the 1844 winter season and Aileana slaughters faeries in secret, in between the endless round of parties, tea and balls. Armed with modified percussion pistols and explosives, she sheds her aristocratic facade every night to go hunting. She’s determined to track down the faery who murdered her mother, and to destroy any who prey on humans in the city’s many dark alleyways.
But the balance between high society and her private war is a delicate one, and as the fae infiltrate the ballroom and Aileana’s father returns home, she has decisions to make. How much is she willing to lose – and just how far will Aileana go for revenge?
Review:
There was a lot to like about this book. Aileana is a strong yet damaged character who wants to avenge her mother's death. She's learned how to kill faeries from a mysterious guy named Kiaran so now she's all badass. She's an assassin who actually kills and she has no problem doing it and in fact, gets a rush from it.
Aileana and Kiaran have an interesting relationship. It's more of an alliance with Kiaran as her mentor even though he doesn't tell her anything (which was quite frustrating). I do wish that we actually got to see their relationship develop. Instead, the book starts with them already knowing each other and he's already taught her how to kill faeries. To see that transformation from gentle society girl to faerie assassin would have been fascinating and I felt like it kept me from being really emotionally invested in their relationship.
There are steampunk elements in the book with Aileana tinkering with different inventions. Great secondary characters, like Derrick the pixie, who adds humor to an otherwise pretty dark book.
It's fast-paced, filled with action and fighting scenes, and that ending...complete and total cliffhanger. In the middle of a scene cliffhanger. Really frustrating, I have to say.
Posted by: Pam
I've been eyeing this one for awhile now. It looks like something that's right up my alley. That cliffhanger ending makes me nervous though. Maybe I will just wait until the next one comes out.
ReplyDeleteI definitely liked it (especially an assassin who actually kills), but that ending…I was like, WHAT?? It just ended. If you can wait, I would. ~Pam
DeleteMiddle of the scene cliffhanger!? Boooo. I've been looking forward to this book even though I rarely, if ever, read about faeries, but that makes me kind of hesitant...I'm LOVING this cover, though. I used to have red hair like that (dyed, of course) and whenever I see this cover it makes me want to go back to it. Lol. Great review!
ReplyDeleteI know, the ending was so frustrating. Why do authors do this? Why do editors let them get away with it? If it ends in the middle of a scene, I wouldn't consider it a finished book. Oh well.
DeleteAnd I used to have red hair too (but not that red). I've been thinking about starting a list of all the books where the MC has red hair. What is up with that?? ~Pam
This one sounds really good but I've not had good luck with historical books so I'm a little hesitant to read it, but I may see if my library has it :) Great review!
ReplyDeleteLet me know what you think if you end up reading it! I've had mostly good luck with historical. A Mad, Wicked Folly is straight historical and really good. And I absolutely loved the Infernal Devices series. ~Pam
DeleteAshley is currently reading this I think! I think I will like this one but by the sounds of that cliffhanger I may want to wait until the next book comes out before I become invested.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see what she thinks. And yeah, cliffhangers. They're killing me. I've been trying to not read series unless they're done, but it's obviously not happening. Oh well! ~Pam
DeleteI have this one but haven't managed to get to it yet, it looks like a lot of fun. But TOTAL CLIFFHANGER?!? I can't be having that, might have to wait till the sequel actually releases before I start it ;)
ReplyDeleteIt seems like so many authors are ending books in cliffhangers! Why???? ~Pam
DeleteSo this one is coming up for me to read and review later this month. It just sounds like m kind of book. I'm worried about the cliffhanger though. I hate those and hate waiting forever to find out what happens in the next book!
ReplyDeleteI know, and I have the worst memory so I'll have to reread. I'm trying to read as many finished series as I can, but there's so many great new books that come out and most of them are series, so I just can't help myself! ~Pam
DeleteIt's great that you liked this one, Pam! I absolutely LOVED it, and yes that cliff-hanger ending killed me! I cannot believe how long we will have to wait to see what happens.
ReplyDeleteI would have loved some background between Aileana and Kiaran, as well, but I don't think that it impeded the overall greatness of the novel. I just think it would have been an awesome extra. :D
All of these cliffhanger endings are killing me!
DeleteAnd yeah, even some flashback scenes would have helped or maybe even a chapter or two from Kiaran's POV. Just a bit more, but I did really enjoy the book. ~Pam