Five on the Fifth: Scary Faeries!
Five on the Firth is a new monthly column that will be featured every month on temporaryworlds. Each month I'll pick out a topic, and list five recommended books. If you feel that I've missed a necessary book under the topic, or just have another one you'd like to recommend, feel free to make a comment about it.
For a long time, fairies were cute little creatures featured cartoons and books for children, but over the past several years the trend has turned into portraying them as powerful and dangerous, just the way I like them! Below are five books which feature scary faeries.
Midnight Never Come by Marie Brennan
Genre- historical fantasy
Summary- In 16th century England, Elizabeth has been sitting on her throne for thirty years. Beneath the streets of London there is another monarch, Invidiana, the heartless queen of the faeries. Above ground, the young Michael Devin has just gained Elizabeth’s favor by becoming one of the elite Gentlemen Pensioners. Below, the fae Lune has fallen out of favor with the court, and begins to fear for her life. When she sees an opportunity to get back in her queen’s good graces, she takes it. This mission will bring her above ground to the world of mortals, where she and Michael Devin will come face to face, and learn about a pact between two queens that has shaped both Englands for decades.
One more thing- Midnight Never Come is the first in a series. The second book, In Ashes Lie, is already out and a third is planned.
Read my review
The Faery Reel: Tales from the Twilight Realm by Ellen Datlow and Terri WindlingGenre: Fantasy/short story collection/poetry
Summary- A collection of twenty short stories and poetry about faeries from all over the globe. Some of the contributes include Charles De Lint, Tanith Lee, Kelly Link, Holly Black, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Patricia A McKillip, Gregory Maguire, Neil Gaiman, and Emma Bull.
One more thing- Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling are editors of many short story collections, many which focus on the subject of fairy tales and folklore.
Read my review
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Genre- historical fantasy
Summary- Taking place during the Napoleonic wars, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrwll tells about an England where magic has completely disappeared. Magicians no longer practice magic, but study magic academically. That is until Mr. Norrell reveals himself. Unlike other English magicians, he can actually perform the spells that he studies, and he his determined to bring magic back to England. Unfortunately, the peculiar, nervous little man is not exactly what people expect to see in a magician, and when Mr. Norrell says that he wants to restore magic to England, he means that he should be its only magician. Then Jonathan Strange, a younger, more personable gentleman beginning to study magic, enters the story. Is England big enough for two very different magicians? And what impact will this mysterious Man with the Thistle Down Hair have on the story?
One more thing- The Man with the Thistle Down Hair is the trickster faery of the story. Susanna Clarke has also published a short story collection called The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories, which takes place in the same world.
Read my review
Valiant by Holly Black
Genre- urban fantasy
Summary- Valerie “Val” Russell doesn’t know anything about faeries. She lives a fairly normal life in the suburbs where she spends her time playing lacrosse, and hanging out with her best friend Ruth, and boyfriend Tom. That is until she discovers that Tom has been cheating on her with her own mother. Distraught, she runs to New York City, where she is taken in by a small group of squatters. From them, Val learns about the existence of faeries, and a powerful drug called Nevermore, which gives humans the power to do magic
One more thing- Scary Faeries is Holly Black's specialty and many of her other books fall under this topic. Make sure to also check out Tithe, Ironside, and her graphic novel series, The Good Neighbors which begins with Kin. She has also written the Spiderwick chronicles, which I am less fond of but falls under this topic.
Read my Review
Summer Knight by Jim Butcher
Genre- urban fantasy
Summary- Mab, the Winter Queen has approached wizard Harry Dresden with a difficult case, find the murderer of the Summer Knight. In return for solving this crime and completing two more tasks, she agrees to release Harry from the deal he made his faerie godmother when he was young. Initially, he turns her down, as making deals with faeries is never a good idea. Soon Harry discovers that he has no choice but to help the faerie Queen of Winter. If he doesn’t, the world will plunge into chaos.
One more thing- Summer Knight is the fourth book in The Dresden Files, a urban fantasy/mystery series about the only wizard listed in the Chicago phone book. It's also my favorite of the books currently released.
Read my review
Know of any books about scary faeries that you recommend? Any you suggest staying far away from? Share in the comments. I know I'm always looking for more!
For a long time, fairies were cute little creatures featured cartoons and books for children, but over the past several years the trend has turned into portraying them as powerful and dangerous, just the way I like them! Below are five books which feature scary faeries.
Midnight Never Come by Marie Brennan
Genre- historical fantasy
Summary- In 16th century England, Elizabeth has been sitting on her throne for thirty years. Beneath the streets of London there is another monarch, Invidiana, the heartless queen of the faeries. Above ground, the young Michael Devin has just gained Elizabeth’s favor by becoming one of the elite Gentlemen Pensioners. Below, the fae Lune has fallen out of favor with the court, and begins to fear for her life. When she sees an opportunity to get back in her queen’s good graces, she takes it. This mission will bring her above ground to the world of mortals, where she and Michael Devin will come face to face, and learn about a pact between two queens that has shaped both Englands for decades.
One more thing- Midnight Never Come is the first in a series. The second book, In Ashes Lie, is already out and a third is planned.
Read my review
The Faery Reel: Tales from the Twilight Realm by Ellen Datlow and Terri WindlingGenre: Fantasy/short story collection/poetry
Summary- A collection of twenty short stories and poetry about faeries from all over the globe. Some of the contributes include Charles De Lint, Tanith Lee, Kelly Link, Holly Black, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Patricia A McKillip, Gregory Maguire, Neil Gaiman, and Emma Bull.
One more thing- Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling are editors of many short story collections, many which focus on the subject of fairy tales and folklore.
Read my review
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Genre- historical fantasy
Summary- Taking place during the Napoleonic wars, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrwll tells about an England where magic has completely disappeared. Magicians no longer practice magic, but study magic academically. That is until Mr. Norrell reveals himself. Unlike other English magicians, he can actually perform the spells that he studies, and he his determined to bring magic back to England. Unfortunately, the peculiar, nervous little man is not exactly what people expect to see in a magician, and when Mr. Norrell says that he wants to restore magic to England, he means that he should be its only magician. Then Jonathan Strange, a younger, more personable gentleman beginning to study magic, enters the story. Is England big enough for two very different magicians? And what impact will this mysterious Man with the Thistle Down Hair have on the story?
One more thing- The Man with the Thistle Down Hair is the trickster faery of the story. Susanna Clarke has also published a short story collection called The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories, which takes place in the same world.
Read my review
Valiant by Holly Black
Genre- urban fantasy
Summary- Valerie “Val” Russell doesn’t know anything about faeries. She lives a fairly normal life in the suburbs where she spends her time playing lacrosse, and hanging out with her best friend Ruth, and boyfriend Tom. That is until she discovers that Tom has been cheating on her with her own mother. Distraught, she runs to New York City, where she is taken in by a small group of squatters. From them, Val learns about the existence of faeries, and a powerful drug called Nevermore, which gives humans the power to do magic
One more thing- Scary Faeries is Holly Black's specialty and many of her other books fall under this topic. Make sure to also check out Tithe, Ironside, and her graphic novel series, The Good Neighbors which begins with Kin. She has also written the Spiderwick chronicles, which I am less fond of but falls under this topic.
Read my Review
Summer Knight by Jim Butcher
Genre- urban fantasy
Summary- Mab, the Winter Queen has approached wizard Harry Dresden with a difficult case, find the murderer of the Summer Knight. In return for solving this crime and completing two more tasks, she agrees to release Harry from the deal he made his faerie godmother when he was young. Initially, he turns her down, as making deals with faeries is never a good idea. Soon Harry discovers that he has no choice but to help the faerie Queen of Winter. If he doesn’t, the world will plunge into chaos.
One more thing- Summer Knight is the fourth book in The Dresden Files, a urban fantasy/mystery series about the only wizard listed in the Chicago phone book. It's also my favorite of the books currently released.
Read my review
Know of any books about scary faeries that you recommend? Any you suggest staying far away from? Share in the comments. I know I'm always looking for more!