Books, Books, Books

[darkelf105]

Meh, I’m so boring it hurts.

 

Anywho, I finished O.R. Mellings’ novel Hunter’s Moon about a week ago. It was surprisingly good for a book that not only was classified as a YA but was directly marketed to teens and tweens (pretty sure I saw an ad for it in some teen thingy magazine) AND it had faeries in it.  It wasn’t Literature and it in no way shape or form holds up to something like The Wizard Of Earthsea or The Golden Compass or Sabriel or The Keys To The Kingdom or a whole host of other series. However, as I believe that this is her first novel, she is going to be something given a few years. Her writing already has the making for some very elegant prose (still a bit rough around the edges, with some descriptions rocking me out of the story and some out of character moments), but overall it was very, very good . Her scenes dealing with the darkness of Faerie had real menace and she actually had FOOD descriptions (and managed to make traditional Irish cuisine appetizing). Her characters were very likable, and except for a fast,  I have found my true love in only fifty pages arc, the story was very enjoyable. Her faeries were pretty well done, although not as edgy as I would have liked but it takes, I think, lots of experience to give faeries the kind of threatening beauty they should have. I did appreciate, however, that her creatures of Faerie weren’t twittery little butterflies and didn’t resemble D&D elves or assorted other bad fantasy clichés.  She has mas educacion in Irish history, philosophy, and mythology and adds very nice little bits into her work. I see there is a sequel (The Summer King) out and so I shall read it and hope that the series gets even more enjoyable with practice. So’s if you are looking for a faerie fix, recommend this, but if you can get your hands on Holly Black (Tithe, Valiant, Spiderwick) she is probably the slightly better read.

 

I am currently working on Monkey: A Journey To The West. It is a great story and a very good adaptation (I think, but couldn't say for sure as I am not familiar with Journey to the West except for what I learned from Saiyuki), but I need to get some books on Chinese philosophy, Buddhism, Taoism and mythology as I think I am missing huge chunks of the story's underlying themes. However, knowing next to nothing about those things, I am stll very much entertained.