Review: The Fallen Kingdom - Elizabeth May

The Fallen Kingdom by Elizabeth May, published by Gollancz on 15th June 2017

Goodreads synopsis:
Aileana Kameron, resurrected by ancient fae magic, returns to the world she once knew with no memory of her past and with dangerous powers she struggles to control. Desperate to break the curse that pits two factions of the fae against, her only hope is hidden in an ancient book guarded by the legendary Morrigan, a faery of immense power and cruelty. To save the world and the people she loves, Aileana must learn to harness her dark new powers even as they are slowly destroying her.

Review:
I have been longing for this book ever since I finished the last page of  'The Vanishing Throne'.  The wait has been unbearable but was oh so definitely worth it.  What a spectacular conclusion to The Falconer trilogy.  This was without doubt my absolute favourite book in the series and I never wanted it to end.  It was a truly spectacular read and one of the best books of 2017.  I loved it so, so much!  If you are a fan of this series then you will not be disappointed. 

'The Fallen Kingdom' has everything you would want and more!  It had humour, some deftly comical moments, sadness and romance and so many exciting scenes that you will find it impossible to put it down. 

The story starts with the resurrection of Aileana who is struggling to remember who she is.  Something is different.  She has no memories of her past and doesn't recognise the people who she is closest to.  As she strives to regain her identity, she is also tasked with breaking the curse which is destined to destroy her world and the people she loves. 

I loved every single page of this book.  Aileana is one of my favourite literary characters ever and her story is one that has entranced me from the very beginning.  I couldn't wait to find out what would be the final outcome for her and her fae King Kiaran and I had my fingers crossed for them the whole way through.  As much as I love Aileana, I truly think that there is something to love and adore about nearly every character in the series, even those who seem past redemption.  One of my personal favourites is Derrick the pixie who is always given the best lines and who shows his heroic and loyal side yet again in the story.  Never was there another pixie quite like him.

I thought that the plot was fantastic.  Nail bitingly exciting and epic in scale.  There were so many brilliant moments and the twists and turns of Aileana's journey have been incredible to follow.  I bow down to Elizabeth May.  She has written one of the best YA fantasy trilogies that I've ever read.  I can't wait to see what she writes next and I will definitely be putting her on my auto-buy list. 

An incredible conclusion to a spectacular trilogy.     

Review: The Vanishing Throne - Elizabeth May

The Vanishing Throne by Elizabeth May, published by Gollancz on 19th November 2015

Goodreads synopsis:
Aileana took a stand against the Wild Hunt, and she lost everything: her home, her family and her friends. Held captive by her enemy, and tormenting herself over her failure, escape seems like only the faintest possibility. But when she gets her chance, she seizes it . . . to rejoin a world devastated by war.

The future is bleak. Hunted by the fae, running for her life, Aileana has only a few options left. Trying to become part of a society scarred by – and hiding from – the Wild Hunt; trusting that a fragile alliance with the fae will save her; or walking the most dangerous path at all: coming in to her own powers as the last of the Falconers . . .

Review:
This is the book that I had been waiting all year to read.  The sequel to the phenomenal 'The Falconer' which was an absolutely five star read, I was over the moon to finally get my hands on a copy and I wouldn't wait to see what lay in store for Alieana and her friends next.  Plus, look at that awesome cover!  Who wouldn't want to pick this book up and dive straight in?!

After the events of the previous book, Alieana is seen at the beginning of the story in the hands of her enemy, Lonnrach.  The opening chapter plunged me straight back into Alieana's world, where everything is at stake and the fight for survival is all that matters.  There is a lot to absorb at the start of the story and I had to remind myself about what had happened previously but it didn't take me long to catch-up with the main plot points.   

One of the things I love about the series is Elizabeth May's characterisations.  Alieana is a truly brilliant heroine.  She is brave, determined, stubborn and a true fighter.  You know that she will never give up.  I really liked the relationship between her and Kiaran in 'The Falconer' and I was excited to see that develop further.  I am also Derrick the pixie's number one fan.  I loved the scenes with him and these are among my favourite in the book.  I thought that the introduction of Kiaran's sister Aithinne was also fantastic, as she is so interesting and intriguing with lots of hidden sides.

More is revealed about Alieana's enemies' true purpose and about Kiaran's past.  The ending left me on the edge of my seat and it's going to be a long and unbearable wait until the next book in the series. 

Exciting, fast-paced and compulsive reading.  Utterly impossible to put down, this is one of the best books I've read in the past year. 

Review: The Falconer - Elizabeth May

The Falconer by Elizabeth May, published by Gollancz on 26th September 2013

Goodreads synopsis:
Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, was destined for a life carefully planned around Edinburgh’s social events – right up until a faery killed her mother.

Now it’s the 1844 winter season and Aileana slaughters faeries in secret, in between the endless round of parties, tea and balls. Armed with modified percussion pistols and explosives, she sheds her aristocratic facade every night to go hunting. She’s determined to track down the faery who murdered her mother, and to destroy any who prey on humans in the city’s many dark alleyways.

But the balance between high society and her private war is a delicate one, and as the fae infiltrate the ballroom and Aileana’s father returns home, she has decisions to make. How much is she willing to lose – and just how far will Aileana go for revenge?

Review:
'The Falconer' has been one of my most eagerly awaited debuts of the year.  It's a stunning mix of fantasy and steampunk with a historical setting and the addition of evil faeries.  The story rockets along, particularly in the second half, at breakneck speed and there is so much drama, tension and excitement packed into the book that you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat, biting your nails down to the quick. 

Set in Edinburgh, the story features one of the best heroines that I've come across this year.  Aileana Kameron is an aristocrat.  The only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, she tries to pretend an interest in balls and dancing and all the other things that go along with her position but secretly leads a double life.  She is determined to avenge her mother's death by killing the faerie that brutally murdered her mother and ripped out her heart.  It soon becomes apparent how different Aileana is when she tracks and kills an evil faerie at a ball she is attending before the creature can ruthlessly kill one of the other guests.  Aileana is a marvellous protagonist.  She is not interested in trivial matters and although she tries her best to kept her father appeased, she is far more worried about protecting the city she loves and the people who live in it. 

She has a complicated relationship with her fae mentor, Kiaran Mackay.  He is a complex figure in the book and I feel like I have so much more to learn about him.  He is not always forthcoming about himself and he seems to be hiding a lot of secrets but he and Aileana work well together and there are hints of romance in their future.    

I adored Derrick the pixie who lives in Aileana's dressing room.  He has an addiction to honey which often leads him to become honey drunk but although he is small, he will do anything to protect and defend her.  He has some of the best lines in the book and provides a nice dose of light relief to balance the darkness that Aileana faces on a daily basis.  I definitely want a pixie just like him!

This is the first book in a trilogy but I can't believe that I've now got to wait for the next instalment!  I hope Elizabeth May writes very, very fast!