Author: Elizabeth May
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Page Count: 378
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, Faeries
Rating: Entertaining
Source: Kindle Copy (influenced to purchase by Stacee!)
Links: Goodreads IndieBound Amazon Barnes & Noble
Synopsis:One girl's nightmare is this girl's faery tale
She's a stunner.
Edinburgh, 1844. Eighteen-year-old Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, has everything a girl could dream of: brains, charm, wealth, a title—and drop-dead beauty.
She's a liar.
But Aileana only looks the part of an aristocratic young lady. she's leading a double life: She has a rare ability to sense the sìthíchean—the faery race obsessed with slaughtering humans—and, with the aid of a mysterious mentor, has spent the year since her mother died learning how to kill them.
She's a murderer.
Now Aileana is dedicated to slaying the fae before they take innocent lives. With her knack for inventing ingenious tools and weapons—from flying machines to detonators to lightning pistols—ruthless Aileana has one goal: Destroy the faery who destroyed her mother.
She's a Falconer.
The last in a line of female warriors born with a gift for hunting and killing the fae, Aileana is the sole hope of preventing a powerful faery population from massacring all of humanity. Suddenly, her quest is a lot more complicated. She still longs to avenge her mother's murder—but she'll have to save the world first.
The first volume of a trilogy from an exciting new voice in young adult fantasy, this electrifying thriller combines romance and action, steampunk technology and Scottish lore in a deliciously addictive read.
Initial Thoughts: Thoroughly enjoyed. totally excited for the sequel.
loved Aileana! she was such a badass!
loooooooved Derrick and Gavin!
Really excited to see where this trilogy takes us!!!
Full review:
"But I've already grown so used to lying, I don't think I can do anything else."
^ Wholly relatable, Aileana.
Honestly, is this book something entirely unique? No
Does this book have stand out characters that are unforgettable? Maybe one or two.
Is this book set uniquely? Maybe? (actually not sure. Scotland isn't exactly a new place to set a novel)
Is this book something I've read before? Yes. Similar things exist in many places....
But do I care? Not really.
Because this book may not be unique and the writing isn't "blow me away good" but it still is very well written, and the characters and plot kept me intrigued. I was entertained by this novel. Enough to keep me reading. Enough to make me want to read the sequel. Enough to make me feel invested in these characters' fates. Enough to make me actually care about the fate of this world.
I loved the incorporation of fae and May did this in a way that I haven't seen before. I loved learning about them all, and I loved the little manifesto at the end that gives a more in-depth description of the fae and which ones are more dangerous and things such as that. (Plus, Derrick's comments within were as hilarious as he was within the novel)
I was so intrigued with the premise and the plot that, although there are some semi-uniteresting parts... I didn't care. I cared about the characters and their motivations. I cared about Aileana... even though she annoyed me a couple times. Not nearly as often as Kiaran did... GAH.
But I cared enough to ignore the fact that the love triangle bothered me. (And I'm only really commenting on this now) But gahh. I hate love triangles. Although it was small, and insignificant to the plot. It just seemed to be there. And both boys are actually necessary for her to reach her goal. There was something that was closer to the end that really intrigued me...
Speaking of the end, it left it so open for the sequel and that's what really makes me want to continue reading... how it ended. Because before the last 15-20% I really didn't have a lot I was over the moon in love with. A few cool sections weren't enough to have me fully invested. But authors like May know how to pull you in at the last moment and really make you care. I appreciated how she drew us in with this revenge plot. And although it stayed true to the idea, it became so much more than that.
You shouldn't turn down an offer to be cared for. Some people aren't fortunate enough to receive one."
Gavin was one of my favorite characters and I will be upset if we don't get more of him in the sequels. Derrick is lovable and snarky and sassy and everything I love in pixies (lol because I haven't read another book in recent time that have a pixie as a large character but still he's absolutely wonderful and can't wait to see more of him) Kiaran McKay isn't much more than a broody love interest. Aileana was pretty badass. And Catherine is a great friend throughout this novel and if I was in any of this situations I would need someone as strong and supportive as she is. I doubt we'll see much of her in the sequels but I sincerely hope we do.
Consensus: Tropes aside, The Falconer is an interesting novel with good writing, some steampunk mixed in lightly, and a compelling story one I think is worth a read. It's a real quick read and the side characters really make the story, at least for me.
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