lizpatanders

When I hear either the word “faeries” or the word “Victorian London,” my ears perk up. Upon seeing all three of these words in the same summary, I pretty much went “OMGWTFBBQ!” Suffice it to say, I jumped on the chance to help promote Hamilton’s debut. While there were parts of The Faerie Ring that were a bit cheesy, it was filled with original ideas and has left me hoping for more.For those of you who may are who are trying to imagine how the summary of this book plays out, imagine Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens but with faeries and slightly different orphans. Since I read Oliver Twist for a class my senior year of college and watched several adaptations of it, including Oliver!, I really appreciated the major nod towards Dickens. Hamilton did an exceptional job of incorporating the fey without compromising her historical setting. I loved the actual plot of this story.Tiki is a pretty awesome main character. She has the bravery to keep pick pocketing in the harsh streets of London but the compassion to care for her family. My only problem with Tiki is that from time to time she seemed earnest in a way that bordered on cheesy. However, I loved reading about Tiki’s family dynamic in this story. There’s also a bit of romance in this story, and although it was sweet, it moved more quickly than what I typically care for.Hamilton’s debut novel is unlike anything else I’ve read this year. She left a few loose ends, and which I hope means that readers will get to see more books in this world. I think The Faerie Ring is perfect for any YA reader who likes their historical fiction with a a little something extra.