This book was the climactic finale to the Falconer series. Aileana has come back, with no memory of who she was before, and with powers not meant for a human to control. The human world is falling apart, and Kiaran, the faerie who had come to mean everything to her, is lost to his own dark powers. To save her world, and his, Aileana will have to reach him, to find her Kiaran through the darkness of Kadamach – before she loses control of her new powers.
This was by far the best book in the Falconer series. It’s strong and entrancing from start to finish. I read the entire book in one sitting, because I couldn’t put it down. I had to know what happened next. Kiaran and Aileana were the perfect couple. They had a wonderfully complex relationship. Even though they didn’t always agree with each other, and though they sometimes took different paths to achieve their goals, one thing was certain. They were always fighting for each other. Aithinne, Aileana’s friend and the faerie meant to become the Seelie Queen, added another layer of complexity to the book. Her relationship with her brother – both the Kiaran and the Kadamach sides of him – was heartbreaking to read.
I think the most memorable part of the book was the grey morality of so many of the characters. Kiaran, Aileana, Sorcha, and all the rest have good and bad sides to them. It makes for a group of complex, compelling characters. I didn’t always agree with them or root for them, but I always wanted to learn more about them. A character struggling between right and wrong is always infinitely more interesting to me than a character who is wholly good or wholly evil.
Reviewed by Stephanie, Grade 12, Glen Allen Library
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