Guest Review: Lament by Maggie Stiefvater

Posted January 26, 2011 by Ames in Reviews | 7 Comments

Main Character: Deirdre
Love Interest: Luke
Series: Books of Faerie
Author: Website|Facebook|Twitter|Goodreads


Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a painfully shy but prodigiously gifted musician. She’s about to find out she’s also a cloverhand—one who can see faeries. Deirdre finds herself infatuated with a mysterious boy who enters her ordinary suburban life, seemingly out of thin air. Trouble is, the enigmatic and gorgeous Luke turns out to be a gallowglass—a soulless faerie assassin. An equally hunky—and equally dangerous—dark faerie soldier named Aodhan is also stalking Deirdre.

Sworn enemies, Luke and Aodhan each have a deadly assignment from the Faerie Queen. Namely, kill Deirdre before her music captures the attention of the Fae and threatens the Queen’s sovereignty. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is James, her wisecracking but loyal best friend. Deirdre had been wishing her life weren’t so dull, but getting trapped in the middle of a centuries-old faerie war isn’t exactly what she had in mind…

A few years ago I read Tithe by Holly Black and was blown away by this world she had created. Reading Lament, I had that same blown away feeling. I was utterly swept up into this world she had created, a world like ours that co-existed with the Fae world. And these Fae are not the cute little fairies we grew up believing in. And I like that.

Deirdre is getting ready to perform in a music competition when she begins to feel her customary performance-induced nausea. She starts hurling in the bathroom when a boy that she dreamed about the night before walks into the bathroom and holds her hair back for her. Deirdre is a bit freaked out. This guy was in her dreams! And now he’s there in the flesh and he takes charge and he pushes her to give the best performance of her life. Which she does…and then his dream guy kind of disappears. And then he starts popping up all over the place and she’s falling for him. But Luke is not what he seems, not at all.

I was so caught up in the mysterious happenings around Deirdre. We’re not immediately thrown into the intrigue that’s going on with the Fae. We’re given glimpses and things start to build from there. First of all, Deirdre is finding these four leaf clovers all over the place. And then after her performance she’s freaked out by this guy (not Luke). From there, things steadily get a bit creepier. Meanwhile, we’re not sure, the reader and Deirdre both, if Luke can be trusted. Especially when we find out that he’s actually supposed to KILL Deirdre. Yikes!

With that kind of tension, I was gripped by what was going on. With all the questions I had, I felt the ending was a bit abrupt. When it was done I was like, is that all? LOL But then I found out Deirdre and Luke were going to be in Ballad, the second Faerie book, so I was ok with the way things ended. Because believe me, things are not settled for Deirdre. Not at all!

Lament gets a B+ from me. I had to go out and buy Ballad as soon as I was finished.

Buy the book: B&N|Borders|Amazon|Book Depository
Book cover and blurb credit: http://barnesandnoble.com

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7 responses to “Guest Review: Lament by Maggie Stiefvater

  1. I loved this book until the end I was like WHAT!!! I have Ballad as well, but haven’t read it because I am afraid things won’t turn out how I want them to….

    I do love the way she writes. Her new series Wolves of Mercy Falls series is great as well.

  2. I really liked this book when I read it last year. I am hoping to get around to the sequel this year. I had it out from the library, but couldn’t work it in. Story of my life! lol Glad you enjoyed it!

  3. Mallori-I’m glad I wasn’t the only one with that ending! LOL I’ll let you know what happens when I pick up Ballad. LOL And I’ve read Shiver and I like how she has two really different writing styles for each series.

    Kailana-That’s what happened to me with Linger – had to return to the library before I could read it. And then I said whatever and bought the hard cover. LOL Story of MY life. haha

  4. Ames, I agree with you and Mallori, the ending left me scratching my head. I do like the way this author writes, though. I read this book last year and I’ve had Ballad in my TBR since then. I should just pick it up and read it. Linger is on my TBB list. 😀

  5. I fell in love with Maggie’s writing with Lament. She writes so poetically but at the same time it’s so down to earth. How does she DO that?

    I’ve also read Ballad and was surprised that I ended up loving it even more than Ballad. But I just want to put it out there that Ballad is completely James’ story. Deirdre is in it, Luke not so much… but it is James’ story. I hope you guys get the chance to read it and that you like it is as much as I did!

  6. I agree with you Christine, about her writing.

    I’m very very interested in reading Ballad now. I hope to get to it soon!! 😛 I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it!

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