Book Review: The Boy Who Lost Fairyland + Giveaway

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Fairyland series is headed in an exciting direction. A young troll named Hawthorn is stolen from Fairyland by the Golden Wind, and becomes a changeling in our world, a place no less bizarre than Fairyland in his eyes. Left with a human family in Chicago, Hawthorn struggles with his troll nature and his changeling fate.

When he turns twelve, he stumbles upon a way back home, to a Fairyland changed. An Endless Summer lies upon the land; powerful Fairies want to claim the world again—and rumors fly through the capital that ancient King Goldmouth is awakening with a terrible hunger. Hawthorn finds himself at the center of a changeling revolution—until he comes face to face with a beautiful young Scientiste with very large and ungainly feet and a mole on her left cheek, and a very big, very red assistant.

The Boy Who Lost Fairyland blew me away. Instead of from September’s point of view, we follow Hawthorne, a troll who is about to become a changeling and take the place of a human in Chicago. But as Thomas, he always knows something is off and doesn’t act “normal”. It becomes clearer when he meets Tam, a girl at school who also is a changeling. Tom and Tam become friends and she reveals to him what they really are and what they can do, bringing objects to life. This leads them back to Fairyland through some mishap and they begin a journey as their true selves once more.

I must say, if you have not read these books before, you ought to. The writing is unique and paints a colorful picture that at times makes no sense and at other more sense than the world around you. I would compare it to Alice in Wonderland, Fairyland is much more and then some though. I loved the new characters, even though I care deeply for September, I loved the view points of the Changelings. Especially once they arrived back in Fairyland it was insane to see what they went through.

I don’t want to ruin too much, but if you love lyrically whimsical fantasy adventures, you should read this series. It blows my mind every time I pick up the latest adventure. I wish to visit Fairyland someday in my dreams.

Verdict:

An enticing edition to the series set in Fairyland, it makes me ache to be a changeling.

Catherynne M. Valente is the author of over a dozen books of fiction and poetry. She lives on an island off the coast of Maine with her husband, two dogs, and an enormous cat. Visit her online at catherynnemvalente.com or on Twitter at @catvalente.

Ana Juan is a world-renowned illustrator best known in this country for her wonderful New Yorker magazine covers. She lives in Spain. Visit her online at anajuan.net.

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Kristen

Kristen is the co-blog owner of The Book Monsters. Kristen is an Elementary School Library Media Specialist in the Chicago suburbs who loves reading. Why else would she be a librarian?

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