Dierdre is a gifted harpist. Her best friend, James, plays the bagpipes beautifully. When a very nervous Dierdre, is comforted by a handsome flautist, Luke, and joins him on stage to win the competition, she has no idea who he is. And she is smitten.
It turns out that Dee is a cloverhand--someone who can see faeries--and nothing good comes to cloverhands who cannot control the fey. An assassin is sent to kill her, she realizes she can move things with her mind, and life has got a lot less ordinary. And of course her feelings for the unusual and compelling Luke grow stronger despite all misgivings. What has she got involved in? Who will she hurt in the process? Is she living The Faerie Girl’s Lament? And don’t most tragic heroes die in the end of most Irish ballads?
This is such a fabulous book. I fell into it gladly after an underwhelming and disappointing book group pick and stayed up late into the night to finish it. Brimming with doomed love, oh-so dangerous faeries, and music oozing out of every pore, it is simply wonderful. And you really are kept at the edge of your seat until the very end.
And fortunately there is going to be a sequel -- Ballad. The question is: Can I wait that long?
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This looks like yet another fantastic read. I went to the author's site, and it seems there will be two books published in 2009: Ballad and Shiver. Being a werewolf fan, you can see why I was thrilled to read this preview of Shiver:
"This novel of intense first love follows Grace, a girl who has always loved the wolves behind her house, and Sam, a boy who must change into a wolf every winter--and eventually becomes a wolf for good. As Sam struggles to stay human, Grace has to decide what she's willing to risk to be together.
i loved this book. it was a nice change of pace from darker fae books such as those by Melissa Marr and Holly Black. I'm really looking forward to experience Stiefvater's writing in Ballad.
Ohh now this books sounds amazing. Yup, another to add to my TBR pile.
Thank you for another book review.
Just checked out the author's web site and wish I could leap into Ballad and Shiver immediately.
I'd rethink the cover though.
I'm turning to Need by Carrie Jones next (I hear it has lethal pixies AND werewolves!)
Yay! What a lovely review -- thanks for highlighting Lament and i'm so glad you loved it!
I have to confess that I, as the author, love BALLAD even more than LAMENT so I can't wait for it to appear next year!
Thanks, Maggie, for dropping in to visit. I loved Lament and can't wait for Ballad, especially since I discovered it is narrated by James.
James was a LOT of fun to write, because his voice is very funny and snarky in comparison to Dee's. Also there is a lot more kissing and bloodshed and teen angst. :) I definitely look forward to seeing what you think of it!
Of course now I'm even less able to wait for it come out! Maggie, I hope you do a book tour. I'd like to tell you how much I like your writing in person
It'd be great to meet you in person!
You too. (I'll try not to gush!) In fact, I have done a series of interviews for Kepler's Teens (you can check them out at http://www.keplers.com/?sec=kids-teen-corner&subsec=author-interviews) and would love to interview you if you have time. If you are interested, please contact me at AngelaM@keplers.com.
I look forward to hearing from you.
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