Linda Review: The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

September 27th 2011, Tor Teen/Macmillan
352 pages, Hardcover
Bought
First in The Faerie Ring series
Young Adult Fantasy

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…

Opinion:

This book sat on my bookshelf, untouched for months. Then, a month ago, the title and cover caught my eye once again. A fabulous cover for an equally fabulous book.

From then on, I was lost in the world of faeries and Victorian England. The book follows Tiki, an orphan in the streets of England. She happens upon the home of Queen Victoria and manages to steal the precious faerie ring. She doesn’t know the consequence everyone has to pay if the rebelling faeries come into possession of the ring. The tentative line between their world and the faerie world could be destroyed.

To Tiki, the ring is the answer to her and her adopted siblings’ prayers. They are all skilled pickpockets, with only each other and their meager supplies to depend on. With the ring hidden, she finds herself constantly running into Rieker, a fellow pickpocket. This charming boy though, is much more involved in the secrecy of the ring than she realizes.

Tiki is a strong character. She cares for the orphans living with her and dreams of a better future. It was so easy to like her. I was cheering her on to get past all her obstacles. I loved that she got to dress up and step into a world of royalty for a while. That was something for her to grasp on and hope for.The romance was cute with a few surprises that made the book even more enjoyable. Any fans of fae can appreciate the spins of magic in the plot that involves the ring. The blending of historical fiction with fantasy was artfully done.

This was such a sweet book. The quick and suspenseful read helped me get over a reading slump. London in the 1800s seemed enchanting from Tiki’s point of view. I loved the adorable ending and seriously can’t wait to get my hands on the second book in this series.

Rating:

The elusive Linda-saurus: @book_ninja

Mover and shaker by day, book-ninja by night. Only native to Florida. Afraid of small children but has an affinity to the elderly. Beware of her sarcastic humor.

Categories: 5 stars, First, Kiki Hamilton, Linda, Review, Series, The Faerie Ring, Young Adult