REVIEW: LAMENT

Lament
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Series: Yes, #1
UK Publisher: Scholastic
UK Release date: January 2011
Genre: Faerie
Kindly given to me by Sarah at Feeling Fictional

Deirdre is a cloverhand, gifted with the ability to see faeries and move objects with her mind. It is only when the mysterious and enchanting Luke Dillon helps her win first prize at the music competition that she realises her hidden gifts. But they are the very reason that he has turned up, because he is charged with the task of killing Deirdre.

Review: I’m not particularly a big fan of faerie stories but Maggie Stiefvater has a way of intrinsically weaving the plot, regardless of what it’s about, so into her characters that you can’t help but get swept up in their stories. And for me, Deidre is the kind of protagonist I love to love – humble and vulnerable on the surface and underneath she’s strong but still a good person.

The faerie aspect was balanced really well – Brendan and Una are obviously fair-minded, they live for beautiful music and dancing but they are still mysterious and wild. And then there’s Aodhan and Elanor who both really gave me the creeps. They’re out for blood and they enjoy it. What could be more scary? The descriptions of the faeries such as their smell and unusual looks add an extra layer and sensory element to the writing, instantly able to invoke a sense of fear or otherworldliness.

There are several subplots and facets to the story, such as Deidre’s family with her uptight controlling mother and suspicious catty aunt, and although they aren’t all explored in huge detail they still give the story depth, history, complexity and a sense of continuing mystery. This is still so much potential to look at the different factions of faeries as well as what will happen to Luke and Deirdre’s family that I naturally want to read on in the series. There are lots of first books in a series that I pick and kind of enjoy but wouldn’t bother reading the next book; but with Maggie Stiefvater and this series I do want to read on because I know undoubtedly that I will enjoy the rest of the series.

I honestly cannot find fault with the writing style because the plot flows so beautifully and naturally, bringing characters to life and giving a poetic, melodic quality to the story. I read Lament really quickly, lapping up each word and felt completely involved in the story. Few stories can do this from page one, but like her other novels Lament does this, pulling you straight into Deirdre’s life.

I’m seriously starting to think that Maggie herself has been touched by the fey because her writing is so magic, I love every word she writes!

Rating: 4*