This was April’s Vaginal Fantasy pick and I’m going to come right out and admit that I did not finish it. I probably would have finished it, it was annoying but brainless, except that while reading the VF discussion boards I learned that it ends on a cliffhanger and I have no desire to plod though eye-roll inducing trope usage only to find out that the author can’t even write a complete story. This is an ongoing complaint of mine, I have no problem with trilogies or series but I really hate it when the trilogies or series are composed of books that are not complete stories within themselves.
Aileana is a beautiful rich heiress and the very last Falconer. Falconers are human women (always women) who are stronger, faster, heal more quickly than the average human and destined to fight fairies who prey on humans. She has a teacher in the one fairy who turned away from his people and now kills his own kind. And you guys, if this sounds at all familiar it’s because this story is Buffy the Vampire Slayer with the serial numbers filed off. I mean, it’s not even hidden that well. You’ve got the girl trying to balance fighting evil with a social life that has social requirements; the love interest who just so happens to be a member of her enemies; the weight of the world rests on her shoulders alone; a line of women fighters to save humanity; etc etc etc. It’s just… all there and done exactly as you would expect the tropes to be. In addition to that there is also a love triangle between the sulking (brooding, I mean brooding) bad boy fairy and the good guy Aileana grew up with. To complete the trope round up we have a chatty, comedic sidekick in a pixie (who are good fairies because they’re small and don’t prey on humans) whom I found to be more than a little troublesome; he’s literally a fairy who lives in her closet and fixes her clothing. Haha, get it? So amusing, much laugh. And honestly I think I would have read all that and given it two and a half maybe three stars and gone on with my life, but to learn that the story isn’t complete within the book and that none of the plot lines are wrapped up at all just burned my buttons. I’m sure that someone who hasn’t read dozens of fantasy novels would enjoy this, I’m pretty familiar with the tropes and found nothing new or interesting in the book.
The world building interesting in theory but lacked execution. The steampunk elements felt like an excuse to give modern weapons and conveniences to the social mores of Victorian era Scotland. As for Scotland itself, I guess so?
Meh, it’s fine I guess. However, I’m not going to recommend it and I’m certainly not reading any further.
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