Lament: The Faerie Queen’s Deception (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: Lament: The Faerie Queen’s Deception April Spisak Stiefvater, Maggie. Lament: The Faerie Queen’s Deception; Flux, 2008 [336p] Paper ed. ISBN 978-0-7387-1370-0 $9.95 Reviewed from galleys Ad Gr. 7–10 Deirdre knows that she is a brilliant harpist, though she wishes that weren’t all of her identity to her family, and she also wishes that her life contained more adventure. The appearance of Luke, a gorgeous but clearly tormented young man for whom she quickly falls, shakes up her life considerably, as she learns that he has been sent to kill her but cannot because he is reciprocally smitten with her. The consequences for both Deirdre and Luke are dire, as the vengeful faerie queen who sought Deirdre’s death holds Luke’s immortal soul and knows how to torture him both physically and mentally, and Deirdre soon discovers that the lives of her family and friends are at risk as well. Luke, acquiescent for centuries as an assassin to a mad queen, is a memorable protagonist for whom readers will certainly root [End Page 136] as he finally decides that life is tolerable only in one’s own hands. Unfortunately, Deirdre’s naïveté, shortsightedness, and distressing lack of loyalty to her own family and best friend reduce her sympathy quotient and make her unworthy of being a person of interest to the crushworthy Luke. In addition, the family background that gives Deirdre the ability to see and interact with the faerie world is underexplored, leaving her current situation random and unexpected in a jarring rather than exciting way. Holly Black’s Ironside (BCCB 9/07) brings much more fiery drama and gritty action to a similar plot, but even if readers find this heroine a bit flat, the memorable, atmospheric illustrations and the well-written descriptions of this particularly grim and treacherous version of a faerie world will likely keep readers intrigued. Copyright © 2008 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois