Jennifer W. (GeniusJen) reviewed Spell Hunter (Faery Rebels, Bk 1) (aka Knife) on + 5322 more book reviews
Reviewed by Breia "The Brain" Brickey for TeensReadToo.com
The first FAERY REBELS book, SPELL HUNTER, is a story about, you guessed it, faeries.
The story begins on a day in the life of a faery named Bryony. She is young, impetuous, and exactly like you would expect someone her age to be. Bryony lives with the others of her kind in a huge oak tree. The only faeries that are allowed to leave the tree are the gatherers when they are searching for food, or the Queen's Hunter when she leaves to protect the others and hunt for small animals.
Being in the oak for so long, the faeries have forgotten many of their arts and they have no magic to wield, except the Queen. Of course, Bryony, being young and immature, doesn't see this as a way of protecting their life, she sees it as a punishment, one that she doesn't want to endure. She wants to go outside, and when she does, she is almost grabbed by a human boy.
The Queen's Hunter, Thorn, takes her aside to show her exactly why they're not allowed near humans - a disease, deadly to them called The Silence, which as she is told by Thorn is caused by being around humans. After this incident, Bryony decides that what she most wants out of life is to be a gatherer.
It was so exciting to find out what was really in store for Bryony. I enjoyed this book so much. The author's descriptions were very real. When Bryony was hot inside the oak, I felt hot right along with her. R. J. Anderson has built a world unlike any I have read before. She has given us a fantastic world that resides right along ours, if we'd only stop and look.
Once I started reading, I had to make myself put it down. This is the first novel published by R. J. Anderson, and I am so looking forward to the next book in this series.
The first FAERY REBELS book, SPELL HUNTER, is a story about, you guessed it, faeries.
The story begins on a day in the life of a faery named Bryony. She is young, impetuous, and exactly like you would expect someone her age to be. Bryony lives with the others of her kind in a huge oak tree. The only faeries that are allowed to leave the tree are the gatherers when they are searching for food, or the Queen's Hunter when she leaves to protect the others and hunt for small animals.
Being in the oak for so long, the faeries have forgotten many of their arts and they have no magic to wield, except the Queen. Of course, Bryony, being young and immature, doesn't see this as a way of protecting their life, she sees it as a punishment, one that she doesn't want to endure. She wants to go outside, and when she does, she is almost grabbed by a human boy.
The Queen's Hunter, Thorn, takes her aside to show her exactly why they're not allowed near humans - a disease, deadly to them called The Silence, which as she is told by Thorn is caused by being around humans. After this incident, Bryony decides that what she most wants out of life is to be a gatherer.
It was so exciting to find out what was really in store for Bryony. I enjoyed this book so much. The author's descriptions were very real. When Bryony was hot inside the oak, I felt hot right along with her. R. J. Anderson has built a world unlike any I have read before. She has given us a fantastic world that resides right along ours, if we'd only stop and look.
Once I started reading, I had to make myself put it down. This is the first novel published by R. J. Anderson, and I am so looking forward to the next book in this series.
Stephanie S. (skywriter319) -
After a horrifying yet mysterious event known as the Sundering, the faeries who live in the Oakenwyld possess very little magic, and something seems to be killing them off, even as their queen, Amaryllis, forbids them to go outside the Oak, for fear that predators--such as crows and the terrifying humans--will destroy them even faster.
However, the Queen's Hunter, Knife, will not be satisfied with staying away from the humans. She ends up befriending Paul, a crippled human boy living in the nearby House. The more Knife learns about the humans, the more she thinks there is something fishy about her faery community's mistrust of humans. With Paul and her faery friends' help, Knife may be able to discover what is ailing Oakenwyld--but only at the cost of heavy sacrifices. What is Knife willing to do for love, even if the love is impossible?
The world of FAERY REBELS is instantly engaging, a space filled with danger, betrayal, creativity, and hope. Knife is a fantastic character, a young faery willing to follow her instincts and take risks; she reminds me a lot of Katniss from The Hunger Games, which was GREAT! I have no doubt that she will easily win the hearts of readers of all ages. R. J. Anderson spins a convincing world with strong supporting characters and an elaborate plotline, filled with interesting backstories. REBELS is a must-read 2009 debut novel. You will reluctantly put the book down at the end, sad because you crave so much more of Knife and Paul's world. Seriously, teat yourself to this marvelous fantasy novel, and then you, like me, will be eagerly awaiting what R. J. Anderson has for us next.
However, the Queen's Hunter, Knife, will not be satisfied with staying away from the humans. She ends up befriending Paul, a crippled human boy living in the nearby House. The more Knife learns about the humans, the more she thinks there is something fishy about her faery community's mistrust of humans. With Paul and her faery friends' help, Knife may be able to discover what is ailing Oakenwyld--but only at the cost of heavy sacrifices. What is Knife willing to do for love, even if the love is impossible?
The world of FAERY REBELS is instantly engaging, a space filled with danger, betrayal, creativity, and hope. Knife is a fantastic character, a young faery willing to follow her instincts and take risks; she reminds me a lot of Katniss from The Hunger Games, which was GREAT! I have no doubt that she will easily win the hearts of readers of all ages. R. J. Anderson spins a convincing world with strong supporting characters and an elaborate plotline, filled with interesting backstories. REBELS is a must-read 2009 debut novel. You will reluctantly put the book down at the end, sad because you crave so much more of Knife and Paul's world. Seriously, teat yourself to this marvelous fantasy novel, and then you, like me, will be eagerly awaiting what R. J. Anderson has for us next.
