Blackbringer (Dreamdark #1)

I really enjoyed this book. However, it took about 150 pages for me to get into it. The nice thing about Laini Taylor's books is that they are all very whole. They don't give you just a beginning, middle, and end. She has a skill to complete a world and give the reader a very satisfying experience. Her characters have a great amount of depth. What I particularly enjoyed about this book = the crows, Talon, and the whole last half of the book. Favorite line... p 425 "I couldn't ask anyone to carry me across the whole world!"

It was also really fun to see the connections between the book and Daughter of Smoke and Bone. The mention of teeth, moths, crows, horns, and flight.

Reader reviewed by The Book Owl (McKenzie)

Reader reviewed by Chantele

Where do I start on this book? I absolutely LOVED it! Magpie Windwitch,
or "Pie", granddaughter of the West Wind, devil hunter and fairie, is
the fearless main character of the book. She is tough, an awesome
fighter, and loyal to her "family" of crows. The story opens with
Magpie finding a broken seal, from which a horrible "devil" has escaped
from. The devil is known as the worst and most dangerous devil known to
Dreamdark. The Blackbringer. Magpie is suddenly thrown into the
adventure of her life, finding her true destiny along the way, and
unlocking secrets long kept hidden through the ages. What can one small
fairie do to save the world? More than she knows. Joined by some
wonderful characters, including a fairie who can't fly,(I love Talon!)
and her faithful family of crows, Magpie must defeat the Blackbringer
and bring peace back to Dreamdark and the world.
The world this
author has created is amazing. I loved the language of the book, the
story, and the wonderful characters. The villain is powerful, and
scary, and the heroes are brave and true. The sequel will hopefully be
out this year, and I am just itching to read it! Wonderful novel,
clean, fun, a book any fantasy lover will have a hard time putting
down!

Reader reviewed by Mairi

Magpie is a fairy, though not of the common sort- she is a huntress who rides a fierce black crow. Modeling herself after the ancient champion, Bellatrix, she seeks to put demons back where they were before humans came to earth. Her only help is her loyal band of crows and her grandfather, the West Wind.

If you are anything like me, you are probably laughing right now, wondering who on earth would write over four hundred pages about a three inch faerie warrior. But this book isn't like that- apart from their height, these faeries are of a more traditional sort, of a race that came before men and is neither our friend nor our enemy. The workings of faerie society are complex and believable, giving you a real taste of magic.

So just pick up the book, and try to forget that the main character is three inches tall and a faerie.