Forget everything you think you know about faeries. . . .
Creatures full of magic and whimsy?
Not in the Oakenwyld. Not anymore.
De... read full description
reviews
Aug 23, 2008
R.j.
rated it: 
I am shockingly biased in favor of this book, so please disregard the five-star rating. *coughs delicately*
8 comments
like
(39 people liked it)
Feb 27, 2011
Another fantastic debut novel! This book was just full of awesomeness. I absolutely loved reading it! The plot was something totally different, which was beyond refreshing! No faery courts, good vs. evil, life sized fae in the book. This is the type of faeries that I had always imagined hiding amongst flowers.
The characters were extraordinary. Knife was so fascinating. Such a complex character. She really made this novel. And the secondary characters were just as outstanding. They we More...
The characters were extraordinary. Knife was so fascinating. Such a complex character. She really made this novel. And the secondary characters were just as outstanding. They we More...
0 comments
like
(7 people liked it)
Sep 09, 2009
Melissa
rated it:
I will always think of this book as titled "Knife" as (full disclosure) I knew it in some of its earlier stages. However my friendship with and love of this book's author does not at all account for the voraciousness with which I consumed it. I had it in my possession for many months and due to a crazy schedule only opened it last night: a bias in favor of the author's success does not at all account for staying up much too late with it, trying to read it while I was driving (!), using
More...
5 comments
like
(4 people liked it)
Aug 12, 2011
Kathryn
rated it: 
rating clarification 4.5
Be prepared, this book is awesome !!
I've only read three book during this past month and I am ashamed.. but glad I haven't sunken to my routine of not reading ANY books at all!!
Which is why it took so long for me to finish this book.
I am not sure if it was my lack of interest of reading this month has driven me to read this book agonizingly slow or that this book simply had a quite slow development.
But nonetheless, I cann More...
Be prepared, this book is awesome !!
I've only read three book during this past month and I am ashamed.. but glad I haven't sunken to my routine of not reading ANY books at all!!
Which is why it took so long for me to finish this book.
I am not sure if it was my lack of interest of reading this month has driven me to read this book agonizingly slow or that this book simply had a quite slow development.
But nonetheless, I cann More...
5 comments
like
(4 people liked it)
Apr 15, 2009
Shannon
rated it:
There aren't many faeries left in the Oak. Since the Sundering, the only faery with any magic is the Queen, Amaryllis, and the old skills have been lost. The Silence is killing off faeries, but no one knows what it is or what causes it.
When she was a young faery, Bryony was adventurous and yearned for the outdoors - a place she was never allowed to go. So she is shocked but excited to be apprenticed to Thorn, the Queen's Hunter, whose job it is to protect the Oak and hunt squirrels a More...
When she was a young faery, Bryony was adventurous and yearned for the outdoors - a place she was never allowed to go. So she is shocked but excited to be apprenticed to Thorn, the Queen's Hunter, whose job it is to protect the Oak and hunt squirrels a More...
0 comments
like
(4 people liked it)
Dec 21, 2009
Emily
rated it:
I've wanted to write a super-duper review for this book, but I just can't find the words to describe how fabulous it is. I admit I'm biased-- I've known RJA for years, and fell in love with her writing with her fan fiction. I've been privileged to help with the editing process on this novel, but I hadn't read the most recent revision until this was published. And it was amazing. I've always been a fan of fairy tales, and this one is a classic-- and yet, it isn't. It's both familiar and unfamilia
More...
3 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Mar 04, 2009
Angela
rated it:
This was a fun faery story with faeries that are more like what I imagined traditional faeries to be like, but not quite. Yeah, I think the line in the book synopsis says "Forget everything you think you know about faeries" is an apt description.
This book builds from beginning to end. At the start, I thought it was a cute middle-grade story that I'd be interested to share with my girls when they got older. By the end I hooked and wanted to know for myself what was going More...
This book builds from beginning to end. At the start, I thought it was a cute middle-grade story that I'd be interested to share with my girls when they got older. By the end I hooked and wanted to know for myself what was going More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Dec 09, 2009
Deva
rated it:
I found lots of things in this marvelous book: a compelling adventure, a nuanced world, and engaging mystery, and a sweet and occasionally heart-breaking romance. Most of all I found two characters to love: Bryony (later Knife) the faery, and Paul, the young human who becomes her friend.
I loved seeing the worlds of both faeries and humans through Knife's eyes. I read eagerly as she pieces together the clues to understand the deadly affliction upon her own people, and struggles to un More...
I loved seeing the worlds of both faeries and humans through Knife's eyes. I read eagerly as she pieces together the clues to understand the deadly affliction upon her own people, and struggles to un More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Jan 25, 2009
Cindy
rated it:
what an absolutely delightful read. you always know when a book has found its way into your heart when you are filled with regret when the story is over. faery rebels is a middle grade novel--a genre i have not read in some time--but it is a book to be enjoyed by all ages.
knife is a fearless faery intent on finding out the truth of her people's past, when she befriends a human friend, paul.
with evocative prose and wonderful storytelling, anderson slowly unravels the myste More...
knife is a fearless faery intent on finding out the truth of her people's past, when she befriends a human friend, paul.
with evocative prose and wonderful storytelling, anderson slowly unravels the myste More...
3 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Dec 21, 2009
Maria
rated it:
Well, I originally bought this book because I know the author. Turned out that was a brilliant investment, because I can honestly say it's a book I would love to own no matter who had written it.
"Knife" is an alternate look on fairies from what we've seen in many recent books ("Tithe" and "Wondrous Strange" spring to mind), but - IMHO - a more 'correct' one (which makes no sense at all, I know, but bear with me). I loved being introduced to the life and More...
"Knife" is an alternate look on fairies from what we've seen in many recent books ("Tithe" and "Wondrous Strange" spring to mind), but - IMHO - a more 'correct' one (which makes no sense at all, I know, but bear with me). I loved being introduced to the life and More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Dec 21, 2009
Becky
rated it:
As the blurb says, Knife is not a fairytale. It happens to be a story about a faery who is unlike any faery I've ever read about. She is a strong-willed heroine and at times even a little savage. Knife lives with a colony of faeries who each have roles to fulfil within their community. Knife dreams of being a Gatherer and going outside of the Oak which is home to the colony. Knife unlike the other faeries is not afraid of the outside world. She is insatiably curious, particularly when it comes t
More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Mar 16, 2009
Vivienne
rated it:
Before I say anything about this book, I have to say I just loved it. I loved it so much, that I know now I am going to have to buy it and have as one of those books that you just keep in your collection. It will definitely be read again.
But first things first though, let me tell you a little bit about it so you can make your own mind up about it.
The story is about a faery called Bryony who desperately wants to leave the world of the Oak Tree to see what happe More...
But first things first though, let me tell you a little bit about it so you can make your own mind up about it.
The story is about a faery called Bryony who desperately wants to leave the world of the Oak Tree to see what happe More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Dec 21, 2009
Liz
rated it:
Finished!
UPDATE: It's been nominated for the Carnegie! I'm glad to see I've got good taste :P
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
I. Loved. This. Book. It was just perfect from beginning to ending. It surprised me in places, and the Last Dramatic Scene was amazing. Totally not what I expected at all. R. J. Anderson's done a new twist on traditional fairies. The characters were interesting, and bringing in adults was a new one on me, but I really cared about them. I liked it. It wa More...
UPDATE: It's been nominated for the Carnegie! I'm glad to see I've got good taste :P
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
I. Loved. This. Book. It was just perfect from beginning to ending. It surprised me in places, and the Last Dramatic Scene was amazing. Totally not what I expected at all. R. J. Anderson's done a new twist on traditional fairies. The characters were interesting, and bringing in adults was a new one on me, but I really cared about them. I liked it. It wa More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jun 05, 2010
Miss Clark
rated it:
This book was a charming delight! The Faery culture that Anderson has created was unlike anything that I had encountered and exploring it with Knife as she seeks the truth about the Sundering that stole her people’s magic and the plague that is now slowly but inexorably killing them was just the sort of adventure I wanted.
The Faery society is foreign. The niceties and emotions we take for granted are unknown to them. They lack creativity. They have no understanding of such concepts a More...
The Faery society is foreign. The niceties and emotions we take for granted are unknown to them. They lack creativity. They have no understanding of such concepts a More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Dec 21, 2009
Tez
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Mar 30, 2009
Yan
rated it:
This book was simply…wow. And that, my dears, is an understatement. Just when my hope begins to diminish on Team Faery, Team Zombie is popping out some good books, R.J. Anderson writes this beauty.
When I started to read Faery Rebel, my brother asked me what’s it about? I passed the book to him which he promptly read the back summary. He said that Disney is bound to make a movie out of this to which I reply, they probably will. So why did I tell you this little exchange between brot More...
When I started to read Faery Rebel, my brother asked me what’s it about? I passed the book to him which he promptly read the back summary. He said that Disney is bound to make a movie out of this to which I reply, they probably will. So why did I tell you this little exchange between brot More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Feb 24, 2009
GirlwiththeBraids
rated it:
The faeries of the Oak went through a terrible event called the Sundering but a hundred years later, none of the faeries know what it had been about. With the Oak’s population dwindling, Knife is appointed the Queen’s Hunter. Maybe she could find out what has caused the Silence that has been taking some many of the faeries’ lives and cure it. When she takes a mayor interest in humans, Knife visits the House and becomes friends with the teenager, Paul. No one knew of Knife and Paul’s friendship,
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Feb 20, 2009
Giovana
rated it:
I got this book to read with my seven year old son. He loved it so much he would not put it down. He got ahead of me so I had to wait until he finished it so I could finish it. So I finally got my turn, and loved it so much I'm debating starting it over again. The writing is brilliant. The story is well developed. This is a fantastic book. In the words of my seven year old: There's got to be a sequel!
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Mar 27, 2009
Stephanie
rated it:
OMG. This book was really, really good. I loved the Knife's wit and her independence. I loved the plot because it's so unique especially since it talks about faeries[faerys?:] that no longer have magic anymore.
I thought characters were well-written as well because I felt like I got to know Knife really well. I loved her sense of adventure and her curiosity which was how she was able to find herself on the road to getting back the faerys' powers. The Faery Queen was someone who I was More...
I thought characters were well-written as well because I felt like I got to know Knife really well. I loved her sense of adventure and her curiosity which was how she was able to find herself on the road to getting back the faerys' powers. The Faery Queen was someone who I was More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Mar 06, 2009
Rose
rated it:
I really liked this one!! Books about all-female magical societies, where the men come in only peripherally, always irritate me because I don't like ignoring half the human race. This book moves towards inclusion, not seclusion, which was an amazing breath of fresh air. Quite apart from the themes, I just liked the main character and the human she watches.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Mar 10, 2009
Peggy
rated it:
Really liked this book! I read an AVR copy from Harper Collins and couldn't put it down. (I devoured it like Old Wormwood would've devoured Knife if he'd had the chance!)I loved Knife and Paul especially but also Wink, Thorn (even when she was being thorny) Campion and the others. I would highly recommend this book!
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jan 24, 2009
Kate
rated it:
Once in a while, a book pulls me so deeply into a fantasy world that I'm sad to lift my head and come back; RJ Anderson's SPELL HUNTER was one of those books.
Knife is a fairy living in the old oak tree community near the stone house, but she's a fairy who doesn't follow the rules. That leads her to a prominent position within her community, to harrowing encounters with wildlife and humans alike, and to a dangerous exploration of her ever-growing sense of wonder about her fellow fa More...
Knife is a fairy living in the old oak tree community near the stone house, but she's a fairy who doesn't follow the rules. That leads her to a prominent position within her community, to harrowing encounters with wildlife and humans alike, and to a dangerous exploration of her ever-growing sense of wonder about her fellow fa More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Dec 23, 2011
Magic
rated it:
To be exact I'll rate it as 4.5
Well, I did love the concept. The whole fairy idea, it was new to me. Having the fact that yes, I've watched movies that had fairies before, in exact, Peter Pan, but after reading this book I got this whole new thoughts about them. All the fairies being female, well I DID expect that. The one I didn't expect though was the egg concept! Wherein fairies don't need to mate because after dying they would turn into eggs! Imagine, the whole population, unchangi More...
Well, I did love the concept. The whole fairy idea, it was new to me. Having the fact that yes, I've watched movies that had fairies before, in exact, Peter Pan, but after reading this book I got this whole new thoughts about them. All the fairies being female, well I DID expect that. The one I didn't expect though was the egg concept! Wherein fairies don't need to mate because after dying they would turn into eggs! Imagine, the whole population, unchangi More...
Jul 12, 2011
Ashley
rated it:
Having polished off this book in a little less than 5 hours, I've had flashbacks to the exciting worlds of Holly Black and Herbie Brennan like no one's business. Spell Hunter is fresh, exciting--if not a little mis-titled.
Knife is the Queen's Hunter. She is allowed out of the Oak where all of her kin live, and into the world where humans are monsters and crows are their biggest threat. Armed with a knife stolen from the household and no magic that she can command, Knife faces a daunt More...
Knife is the Queen's Hunter. She is allowed out of the Oak where all of her kin live, and into the world where humans are monsters and crows are their biggest threat. Armed with a knife stolen from the household and no magic that she can command, Knife faces a daunt More...
Jan 01, 2011
Yolanda
rated it:
This is a book that I told my daughter about ages ago. So when I received it and she asked me if we could read it together, I liked the idea. As soon as I got started we were both captivated by the Oakenfolk. We couldn't wait to uncover their secrets and enjoyed the adventure with Knife, Paul, and the other faeries.
There's something really special about this book. Something that makes every word almost magical, as if my daughter and I had been temporarily transported into Knife's wor More...
There's something really special about this book. Something that makes every word almost magical, as if my daughter and I had been temporarily transported into Knife's wor More...
Dec 22, 2010
Arjun Thakrar
rated it:
Once upon a time, a fairy is born. She lives in an old oak tree at the bottom of a garden with the rest of the fairy folk. Never has she known a time when life hasn't been hard, with many dangers and much adversity. But when she becomes the Hunter of the group and learns to do battle in the outside world, her adventures really take off...Don't read this book if you're expecting fairy dust - the last thing Knife is likely to wield is a magic wand...
This book found its way to my hea More...
This book found its way to my hea More...
Aug 05, 2010
Tori [Book Faery]
rated it:
See this review in it's entirety at:
http://www.book-faery.blogspot.com
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
You know, when I received this book in the mail yesterday (yesterday being 8/5/10), my heart sank a little bit. My TBR pile at the moment has multiplied, much like rabbits have a tendency to do... except, the pile's grown so large, I barely have any space in my bedroom to, you know... live in it.
Anyway, my brain--which has been growing increasingly wary of YAs More...
http://www.book-faery.blogspot.com
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
You know, when I received this book in the mail yesterday (yesterday being 8/5/10), my heart sank a little bit. My TBR pile at the moment has multiplied, much like rabbits have a tendency to do... except, the pile's grown so large, I barely have any space in my bedroom to, you know... live in it.
Anyway, my brain--which has been growing increasingly wary of YAs More...
Jul 17, 2010
Literary Cravings
rated it:
Step into a mystical world of Faeries in R. J. Anderson's new tale Spell Hunter. With a unique tale on the well known mystical creatures, faeries, I'm gradually drawn into the life of Knife, one of the youngest faerie living in the ancient oak tree called Oakenwyld. When the faeries of the Oak are in danger of extinction from their lack of magic, Knife takes it upon herself to face the dangerous outside human world in search of a way to help her kind. Through out the journey Knife is tested in
More...
Jul 15, 2010
Peep (Pop! Pop!)
rated it:
For some reason I liked this book. Have I read any other books about Faeries? I can't remember. If I had, this is probably my favorite one of the bunch. I'd give this one about 3.8 stars.
Though there were funny parts, it wasn't a funny story. It's actually a drama. A faery drama sounds weird but that's what it is. I really liked Knife. She was very inquisitive. She didn't just sit back and take the rules that were handed down to her. She wanted to unravel the mystery surrounding her More...
Though there were funny parts, it wasn't a funny story. It's actually a drama. A faery drama sounds weird but that's what it is. I really liked Knife. She was very inquisitive. She didn't just sit back and take the rules that were handed down to her. She wanted to unravel the mystery surrounding her More...
Mar 27, 2010
Lindsey
rated it:
I love fairy tales and stories about fairies, so Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter appealed to me from the start. The lovely fairy girl on the cover caught my eye, and I was definitely up for an adventure involving fairies and humans interacting together. Another thing that made me want to read it is the fact that the author is a Christian. I was interested to see what she would do with a fantasy fairy story - and I wasn’t disappointed!
The book did start out a bit slowly, but once the adv More...
The book did start out a bit slowly, but once the adv More...
