Anne Banks
This is a masterful and fascinating tale, crossing the boundaries of this world and the world of Fae with consummate ease. I was completely enthralled by the growing sense of threat as Bird, a young musician of remarkable talent, takes on the Queen of Fae. Using her music to protect herself and save Tom, a changeling boy raised in Fae, Bird holds out against the Queen's vicious and increasingly powerful attacks. There are so many characters I love here Tom, with his close affinity with animals and nature - Patrick, Bird's mischievous brother, bringing laughter and light when Bird feels at her most confused and threatened - the mysterious Hilda, Bird's music teacher, who seems to have powers of her own This is storytelling at its best, themes of first love, adoption, the finding of self, seamlessly woven in to give Bird's story depth and character. The final compromise reached after such bitter and heartfelt conflict is perhaps a lesson to us all.
