Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception (Books of Faerie, #1)

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Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception (Books of Faerie #1)

by Maggie Stiefvater (Goodreads Author)

3.75 of 5 stars 3.75 · rating details · 16,748 ratings · 1,889 reviews

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 as...more

Paperback, 325 pages

Published October 8th 2008 by Flux (first published 2008)

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Oct 26, 2008 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, signed-books

Lament>noun 1. a passionate expression of grief. 2. a song, piece of music, or poem expressing grief or regret.

I pre-ordered Lament when I first heard about it a couple months ago. You can imagine my surprise when I received an email confirmation that the book was on the way a little less than a month early!! Needless to say when it showed up on my doorstep Friday, I did a little happy dance right there in front of my neighbors.

And The Story Siren even got a shout out in the novel! Okay, not...more Lament>noun 1. a passionate expression of grief. 2. a song, piece of music, or poem expressing grief or regret.

I pre-ordered Lament when I first heard about it a couple months ago. You can imagine my surprise when I received an email confirmation that the book was on the way a little less than a month early!! Needless to say when it showed up on my doorstep Friday, I did a little happy dance right there in front of my neighbors.

And The Story Siren even got a shout out in the novel! Okay, not exactly a shout out, but on page 102 and I quote: “You’re like a siren, leading me into dangerous places.” How cool is that!

Deirdre Monaghan is a very gifted harp player, one of the best in the nation. But she is much more than an exceptional harp player, she is also a cloverhand– one who can see faeries. The realization of this unlikely talent all happens when she meets the mysterious and dreamy Luke Dillon.

They–they fey, have noticed Dierdre as well and their attention can only spell out disaster. The Faerie Queen has sent an assassin to kill Deirdre and it’s only a matter of time before They succeed. Unsure what exactly Luke is, could he be one of Them, Dierdre battles with her desire to find the truth and her desire of Luke.

Lament is Maggie Stiefvater’s debut novel. The characters are exceptional! They are my favorite aspect of the novel! Deirdre’s character develops throughout the story and she is the embodiment of the perfect female heroine, unsure, imperfect, smart and real. Luke’s role as the tragic hero is perfectly written. I relished in the satire and witty comments of Deirdre’s best friend James, he may just be my favorite character along with Deirdre’s tell it like it is grandmother. The villains, while not prominent in the entire novel still stood out within the story, and left a lasting impression.

Although the fey are somewhat common in literature, I loved Stiefvater’s take! I also enjoyed the musical element that was displayed throughout the novel, it added so much to the novel. The plot itself was paced well and was thoroughly engaging! I had a very hard time putting this book down, even when I really needed to!! Lament has a little bit of everything; suspense, romance, intrigue, and action. The bittersweet ending will leave you yearning for more. Watch out Melissa Marr and Holly Black, there is a new faerie Queen in town!
(less)

21 likes · like · see review

Feb 19, 2010 jo mo rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, fantasy, series, shit-list, reviews, 1-star, bleh-or-snooze, immortals

shitlisted

faerie: come away, human.
me: why?
faerie: untold delights and stiefvater-stories forever.
me: i'm holding out for a better offer. ta.

17 likes · like · see review

Jan 26, 2011 Thomas rated it 4 of 5 stars

I adore and admire Maggie Stiefvater's writing. I think I post this in almost every review of her books, but the way she uses words inspires me to improve my own writing. By now, my blatant bias for her work should be apparent. Despite Lament's shortcomings when compared to her series starting with Shiver, I still enjoyed it.

Deirdre Monaghan is the average above-average sixteen-year-old. A gifted musician, she goes through the everyday notions of practicing for performances and satisfying her ca...more

11 likes · like · see review

Jan 24, 2012 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009, ya, ala-s-best-books

As a lover of fairy tales, I’m always on the hunt for a new find in the genre. Some can be major disappointments, but there are some, that if done well, shine, Lament is the later.

I have to admit, I was skeptical about reading this book. Could anything sound more corny than a harpist? I didn’t even know that you could find one below the age of 65, much less 16 and I wasn’t sure how a new author would be able to believably portray two mythological figures (fairies and harpists). However, Striefva...more

7 likes · like · see review

Jan 23, 2009 Grace rated it 4 of 5 stars

At first glance, this may seem like just another teen paranormal romance book in the faerie sub-category. For that reason, it took me weeks after I checked out the book to actually read it. But I must confess...once I got started, I was hooked. The plot was extremely interesting, the twists on traditional faerie-lore quite well planned, and the romance was enjoyable.

I can see where people are coming from comparing Luke to Edward Cullen, but...well...I didn't like Twilight, and I DID like this bo...more

34 likes · like · see review

Oct 17, 2008 Paige rated it 5 of 5 stars

After putting down this book, the first thing I thought was: Man, that was incredible. The second thing I thought was: WHY MUST THE SEQUEL COME OUT NEXT YEAR AND NOT RIGHT NOW? And yes, I thought this in all capital letters. But Lament itself is an incredible book. The writing is excellent ( though I saw a few things I'd change and, like, two typos overall, but that's me being way too critical ). The characters are amazing - I was so used to reading about heroines who play dumb or have no idea a...more

18 likes · like · see review

Mar 18, 2009 Tasha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen

A new voice in urban fantasy has entered the scene. In the tradition of Melissa Marr and Holly Black, Stiefvater has created a world filled with the strangeness of faerie, strafed by their cruelty and endangered by their attention. Deirdre is a gifted musician who plays the harp and sings, but she gets horrible stage fright. While throwing up before a competition, she is helped by a boy from her dreams, Luke Dillon. Luke performs with Deirdre, together creating incredible music and winning the g...more

5 likes · like · see review

Jan 16, 2011 Bianca rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, romance-i-envy-and-love, goodreads-reading-challenge-2011

This doesn't compare to Maggie's Wolves of Mercy Falls series but I still loved it!

I loved Luke and Deidree (Can't remember if the spelling is right), they were so cute. I loved their romance and how they fell for one another. I'm not usually a fairy book person but I definately liked this one.

I loved the plot, it was simple and easy to follow. I loved the awesome abilities Dee gets. That would be cool as. James her bestfriend is also really cool, although I must confess I liked Luke better from...more

4 likes · like · see review

Apr 11, 2009 Terra rated it 5 of 5 stars

Lament by Maggie Stiefvater is a mystical magical tale of the world of Faerie that is sure to delight even the most unbelieving reader. This is a tale woven so beautifully that it flows like water through your fingers. A tale that is sure to entertain all ages and a great summer read for your teen/young adult.

Deirdre Monaghan is a normal teenage girl but with musical talent that is well beyond her years. A musical gift that comes so naturally that it could even make the angels weep. Only problem...more Lament by Maggie Stiefvater is a mystical magical tale of the world of Faerie that is sure to delight even the most unbelieving reader. This is a tale woven so beautifully that it flows like water through your fingers. A tale that is sure to entertain all ages and a great summer read for your teen/young adult.

Deirdre Monaghan is a normal teenage girl but with musical talent that is well beyond her years. A musical gift that comes so naturally that it could even make the angels weep. Only problem is, is poor Dee has stage fright to the point of getting physically ill.

Luke Dillon is anything but what he seems. Befriending Dee and setting off her abilities to call the Fae is his beginning with her. They immediately fall in love but will the dangerous obstacles that pop up keep them from each other?

Our story starts quickly and leads to our heroine singing a Lament while playing her harp accompanied by a brand new acquaintance who plays the flute just as beautifully. Together the duo set in motion something that will change their futures forever.

Deirdre hears herself singing but can't quite believe the voice that sounds like an angel's let alone how it could possibly be coming from her. Her strumming the harp is like caressing the finest silk, soft, smooth and yet powerful. This is the best performance of her life and she hopes that it will win her the school competition. With Luke's flute beside her how could she possibly lose and who is this stranger that has popped into her life so suddenly.

As our story goes on many strange things start to happen to our characters. Most of what happens seems to involve Dee and things that she always thought were children's tales are now becoming realities both frightening and beautiful. The female line of her family being blessed with a gift, or is it really a curse take her down a path that will determine the outcome of the human race. Her only hint of dangers present is the smell of herbs and the finding of four leaf clover that appear out of seemingly thin air. Question is, will Luke be able to save her from a cruel fate? Will he be able to save himself for falling hopelessly in love with what is forbidden?

Our author has given us a tale of enchantingly beautiful music combined with jealousy. A story that has been woven as tightly and intricately as a spider's web. A story of danger and love that are balanced equally and of trust and deception so fragile that a feather angled just the right way could slice through unhindered. A story where the heroine saves the hero with an unusually powerful ending. One I won't soon forget. (less)

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Jan 18, 2010 JG (The Introverted Reader) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, author_american, fantasy, fiction, modern_fairy_tale, read_in_2010, reviewed, setting_us, young_adult, 3_stars

Deirdre meets Luke at an audition one day. They play some amazing music together, and by the end of the day, Deirdre is more than a little infatuated. But Luke isn't the only stranger appearing in her life. All kinds of weird people and events start surrounding her, and it's obvious that Luke has something to do with it.

First of all, can I just say that I don't read all that much YA, but I am sick to death of the inevitable love triangle. Sick of it! Lament was a little more low-key than others...more

5 likes · like · see review

Jul 28, 2012 Emily rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

In this book. an ordinary-feeling young woman is initiated into an invisible world of magic and intrigue. Nervous and clumsy, our protagonist is yet mysteriously beautiful and alluring to the male hero, who is hundreds of years older than he looks, has his own painful supernatural history, and is really cut. Occasionally her feelings overcome her physically and he has to pick her up and carry her somewhere. The young woman's parents are clueless to the point of near negligence. It's uncomfortabl...more

4 likes · like · see review

Sep 09, 2012 Willinda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: i-own, rc, read-in-2012, read-in-czech, favorites, ya-mythology, ya-paranormal, ya-romance, ya-faeries

Deidre má vystupovat se svou harfou na hudební soutěži a jako vždy je jí díky nervozitě hrozně špatně. Pak se ale seznámí s Lukem Dillonem, chlapcem, kterého nikdy dřív nepotkala, a nejenže se na poslední rozhodne, že bude s Lukem soutěžit v kategorii duetů, ale její život se díky tomu najednou strašně mění. S Lukem se totiž před ní otevírá nadpřirozený svět plný víl, o kterém nikdy netušila, že existuje. Jak to tak ale vypadá, její rodina o něm věděla. A to, že nadpřirozeno všechno pořádně zamo...more Deidre má vystupovat se svou harfou na hudební soutěži a jako vždy je jí díky nervozitě hrozně špatně. Pak se ale seznámí s Lukem Dillonem, chlapcem, kterého nikdy dřív nepotkala, a nejenže se na poslední rozhodne, že bude s Lukem soutěžit v kategorii duetů, ale její život se díky tomu najednou strašně mění. S Lukem se totiž před ní otevírá nadpřirozený svět plný víl, o kterém nikdy netušila, že existuje. Jak to tak ale vypadá, její rodina o něm věděla. A to, že nadpřirozeno všechno pořádně zamotá, je dost slabé slovo…

Přestože kniha pojednává o nadpřirozenu, najdeme v ní hodně reálného. A to hlavně mezi postavami. Ať už se totiž podíváte na Deirde, jejího kamaráda Jamese, její rodinu, a dokonce i Luka, jsou to opravdu zajímavé charaktery. Přestože to jsou vytvořené postavy, nejednají a nechovají se podle starých zaběhnutých scénářů a opravdu dokáží svým jednáním pořádně překvapit. Chovají se totiž opravdově. Nářek se také stává jednou z mnoha knih, kde autorka nějakou nehodou, nebo tragickou událostí nevystrčila příbuzné a hlavně rodiče hlavní hrdinky ze hry. Naopak, vystavila je do popředí a na jejích vztazích a problémech zakládá zajímavě část příběhu.

Ten se v mnoha ohledech zdá být opravdu zajímavým. Nejenže jsme do něj vhozeni přímo po hlavě a nikde se vlastně nic moc nedozvíme, protože nás nečekají stránky plné vysvětlování, jak to ve vílím světě chodí. Příběh se zkrátka děje, a nikdo s tím vůbec nic neudělá. A v tom je také velice zvláštní, protože vám opravdu nic nevysvětlí. Když už se ale něco dozvíte, stojí to rozhodně za to. Příběh proto nestojí na pevných strukturách, ale tak nějak plyne, jak se mu zachce. A přestože je tedy vážně zajímavý, je ale také hodně divný. A to právě díky tomu, že vám nikdo nic neřekne. Nářek proto není knihou, po které byste měli sáhnout za účelem odreagování, protože u ní „nevypnete“. A jelikož nad ní opravdu musíte přemýšlet, uvědomíte si, že jsou některé situace dost přitažené za vlasy.

Stiefvaterová má specifický styl psaní. Je přímo poetický, a příběh se díky němu veze stále na stejné vlně, a stává se trochu obtížnějším uvědomit si, že se něco opravdu děje (například, že jde hlavní hrdince o život). Co se ale autorce nedá upřít, je to, jak se jí povedlo do knihy dostat spoustu zajímavých nálad a emocí a to právě díky jejímu stylu. Příběh sice není tolik povedený a pravděpodobně budete mít problém jisté skutečnosti překousnout, ale díky skvělému psaní se kniha čte dobře, přestože to tedy není bezproblémové čtení.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Jun 26, 2011 Kaysi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: signed

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book was has been in my too read pile for awhile, and I finally got around to it (trying to finish off series before starting any new ones).

For starters, I wish I hadn't read the back of the book (UK edition) - it clearly states that Dee is a cloverhand and that Luke is an assasin. I would have liked to have learnt that myself - but, oh well.

Every now and again, I will read a YA book that will help my view on the female leads. This was one of those books!

Dee, whilst she may do things that a...more This book was has been in my too read pile for awhile, and I finally got around to it (trying to finish off series before starting any new ones).

For starters, I wish I hadn't read the back of the book (UK edition) - it clearly states that Dee is a cloverhand and that Luke is an assasin. I would have liked to have learnt that myself - but, oh well.

Every now and again, I will read a YA book that will help my view on the female leads. This was one of those books!

Dee, whilst she may do things that are not rational, feel things she knows she shouldn't and is being completely selfish at times - she knows it. She does the things she wants to, but then doesn't follow it up with a lot of whinging that seems to come along with most characters these days. She knows what she wants - and she knows that wanting it is stupid - but she still wants it anyway. I can respect a character that does stupid stuff, if they are willing to accept the consequences. She actually had conviction. And she is cluey - not all characters in YA books actually work out for themselves what is going on!!!

Now Luke, I must say, I liked him from the begining.

James... I loved his character. His sarcasm was brilliant, and he was a wonderful "underdog". Whilst his interest in Dee was obvious from the start, it didn't turn into a major melodrama.

I loved the writing in this book, Maggie proved herself, once again, as brilliant. She even hinted at her ability to right certain *coughsmexicough* scenes that could go beyond the limits of YA - maybe one day??? If she ever does, I don't know if it would on the same level as some other authors, such as Charlaine Harris, JR Ward or Nalini Singh, but she definately could do more than YA allows.

There were a few things that annoyed me - Why didn't Dee find out what "elfshot" was, why didn't she find out why she shouldn't talk to her aunty about anything (and what happened to her??), why didn't she talk to her mother, why didn't she say this, or do that at certain points - but overall, besides her inability to tell James how she really feels, oh, and her taking so long to realise what "O'brien" meant, I felt that story was good. I felt the ending was a little short - but it did wrap it up nicely.... And I respect how Dee didn't get her "happy ending" and did saves James life - even though all she wanted was to save Luke. (less)

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Jan 21, 2010 Nely rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: library

I decided to pick up Lament because I am a big fan of Ms. Stiefvater's, Shiver. Not only did Lament blow me away, but it is one of the best faerie books I have had the pleasure to read.

Deirdre (a/k/a Dee) and Luke are just to die for. Although you are not really sure whether you can trust Luke for most of the story, you can't help but to yearn for him and Dee to find a way to make it work out - no matter how much her grandmother warns her away from him. I thought Deirdre was the perfect heroine....more

6 likes · like · see review

Mar 16, 2010 Summer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fairies, magic, paranormal, psychic-powers, young-adult

So it turns out that I have already read this book before. Oh well, this is why I joined this site. There's just too many books to keep track of!

Anyways, I thought for a YA book it was pretty good. The heroine is generally likeable and the plot was pretty interesting. It's about a young girl named Deidre who's gifted at music but awkward socially. At a music recital she meets Luke. A mysterious boy whom Deidre feels drawn too. Soon afterwards she starts finding four-leaf clovers everywhere and s...more

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Nov 06, 2008 Angie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: good-uns, ya

So I needed something sweet and scary, with a little humor and some faeries. I didn't really know much about LAMENT, so it was kind of surprising how much I was looking forward to it. But I was just getting this vibe. Like good things would be inside. And these good things seemed to carry with them a hint of Melissa Marr goodness mixed with some Holly Black awesome. I got what I was looking for and more.

Deirdre plays the harp. Her best friend James is a piper. And hilarious with it. The two of...more So I needed something sweet and scary, with a little humor and some faeries. I didn't really know much about LAMENT, so it was kind of surprising how much I was looking forward to it. But I was just getting this vibe. Like good things would be inside. And these good things seemed to carry with them a hint of Melissa Marr goodness mixed with some Holly Black awesome. I got what I was looking for and more.

Deirdre plays the harp. Her best friend James is a piper. And hilarious with it. The two of them together are exceptionally cool John Green-esque geeks. Besides James, Deirdre's got an overbearing mother, an aunt from hell, and a very weak stomach. The story opens at one of her competitions. She is lurking about the girl's bathroom about to lose her lunch, as she always does before a performance, when the mysterious Luke Dillon (who Deirdre's never met before but seems to know somehow) wanders in and proceeds to hold her hair back for her. Clearly the mysterious Luke must stick around. And stick around he does. For reasons which remain a little murky and a lot enticing, and which Deirdre is determined to find out.

"Luke was at my elbow, saying, 'I think I'm going to have to leave early. I think I might have to go now.'
I was about to protest or beg unabashedly for his number when I realized the clapping had gone quiet. The voice crackled on the speaker. 'Ladies and gentlemen, it's six o'clock, and as promised, we're going to announce the winners of the grand prize. Thank you everyone for competing and sharing your talent with us. The judges would like to congratulate the grand prize winners for this year's arts festival--Deirdre Monaghan and Luke Dilling.'
Luke whispered into my ear, close enough that his lips brushed my hair. "Tell me you want to see me again."
I smiled."

Sexy as sexy. That's Luke. Plus, he's got a deep dark secret he can't reveal. Literally can't. Very bad things happen to Luke when he tries to talk about where he came from, what brought him to Deirdre, and who's pulling his strings. So it's up to Deirdre to figure out who Luke is, why he seems to have brought a host of creatures out of myth and legend in his wake, and what her own role is to be in it all. As I used to live in Virginia, I thoroughly enjoyed the setting, particularly the descriptions of the weather and humidity. In LAMENT Maggie Stiefvater artfully weaves together a heady mix of music, humor, exhiliration, and desperate longing. I enjoyed this book so much it is physically painful to me that the sequel, BALLAD, isn't due out till next Fall. (less)

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Nov 26, 2009 Mistress ~ ♠ Mistral's Kiss ♠ ~ (Mist) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Mistress ~ ♠ Mistral's Kiss ♠ ~ by: Leana Khouang

Shelves: paranormal-young-adult, favorites

This book is everything I longed for Wicked Lovely to be. I got sucked in first chapter and settled back and let Maggie Stiefvater take me away.

Fairies done right (intriguing and vicious), the joys/sorrows of young love, and natural feeling amusing dialogue; combined with a seductive sadness undertone to the writing makes this book freaking brilliant.

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Mar 14, 2012 Amie Cross rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Rita

Recommended to Amie by: Amazon

This book got off to a slow start for me. That's the only reason why I gave it 3 stars. About halfway through, the lyricism of her writing and the pacing of the story were both on point. I loved the mythology of the fairies and the meaning behind the story. It was haunting and one of those stories that sticks to your gut.

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Jan 27, 2011 Alysse rated it 1 of 5 stars

horrible. i've read several faerie books and this one was the worst. the main character just learns of the world of the fey so nonchalantly that it seems completely unbelievable and ridiculous. the references that her family was involved with the fey and now isnt is preposterous as the mom and aunt (who is or isnt a villain)dont get what's going on. and the relationship between the 2 protagonists, that they are in love after a few encounters is just sad. this was a horrendous book where the plot...more

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May 19, 2013 Rosalyn rated it 3 of 5 stars

I loved Steifvater's Scorpio Races and really enjoyed Raven Boys, so when this came up as a Kindle Deal of the Day, I jumped on it. While this was not as good as the aforementioned books, I did enjoy it (and read it in about two days).

Dierdre (Dee) Monaghan is a relatively ordinary sixteen-year-old girl--if it's normal to be preternaturally gifted at music, the harp specifically, and an exceptional student (although this last is mostly just hinted at, since the story takes place during the summe...more I loved Steifvater's Scorpio Races and really enjoyed Raven Boys, so when this came up as a Kindle Deal of the Day, I jumped on it. While this was not as good as the aforementioned books, I did enjoy it (and read it in about two days).

Dierdre (Dee) Monaghan is a relatively ordinary sixteen-year-old girl--if it's normal to be preternaturally gifted at music, the harp specifically, and an exceptional student (although this last is mostly just hinted at, since the story takes place during the summer). At some kind of music competition, Dee meets Luke, a mysterious and singularly good-looking boy, who convinces Dee to play a duet with him. The duet, naturally, wins the competition for them, but it also draws all kinds of unusual attention to Dee--particularly the attention of the fee, who start appearing all over town.

As Dee gets closer to Luke, she begins to discover that he has a dark past that he can't really talk about. At the same time, the Fey start closing in, and Dee discovers that not only is her new romance at risk--but her life and the lives of those she cares about may be forfeit too.

So far, so good. Stiefvater is great at plotting, and the story moves along swiftly. I thought it was a nice balance of romance, dry humor, and truly creepy faerie stuff. Other reviewers have pointed out that Dee's parents seem unusually absentee and oblivious (particularly given that her mother may have encountered fey stuff in the past), and I agree this is a problem. Still other reviewers have compared this to Twilight, and while I get the comparison--paranormal love story, hot potentially-paranormal lover, and best friend in love with MC--it didn't feel like Twilight to me when I read it. For one thing, I think it's use of old legends and stories is much more compelling and subtle. While I read, I found Dee's obsession with Luke to be believable, given the all-consuming nature of first loves; in retrospect, though, it's disturbing to me that Dee wasn't *more* disturbed by Luke, particularly as his secrets start coming to light. I think I also have a bad track record for preferring the third wheel in a love triangle: I spent most of the book rooting for James instead of Luke. I just didn't get his appeal.

Criticisms aside, I think this is a book that paranormal fans, and Stiefvater's fans in particular, would enjoy.(less)

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Apr 11, 2013 Liz Miguez rated it 2 of 5 stars

I don't know why I even continued reading this book after the first chapter. I knew I wouldn't like it. It is like Twilight revamped, but without the vamps (pun intended?).

So here goes (spoiler alert!): Girl meets mysterious Boy who has no personality but is really hot, and Girl decides she is in love with him. Boy is supposed to kill Girl (oops!). Girl finds out Boy has murdered 100s of people and is supposed to murder her. Girl decides she is still in love with Boy even though he has murdered...more

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Apr 07, 2013 Bethany rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy, evil-red-white-and-black-covers, complicated-relationships, drama

Long story short, this is a better-written version of Stephanie Meyer's Twilight saga. By the way, I hated Twilight. Here is my analysis of the story.

Deirdre, an insanely talented harpist who unfortunately suffers from extreme stage fright, meets a mysterious boy who plays duets with her. After the duo play together at a concert, countless perfect four-leaf clovers appear in front of Deirdre all the time, and she is developing peculiar talents like telekinesis and mind-reading. However, Luke se...more Long story short, this is a better-written version of Stephanie Meyer's Twilight saga. By the way, I hated Twilight. Here is my analysis of the story.

Deirdre, an insanely talented harpist who unfortunately suffers from extreme stage fright, meets a mysterious boy who plays duets with her. After the duo play together at a concert, countless perfect four-leaf clovers appear in front of Deirdre all the time, and she is developing peculiar talents like telekinesis and mind-reading. However, Luke seems to be involved in all of this, and mystery and danger are unraveling all around Deirdre's life...

(view spoiler)

However, despite the overly dramatic hormone-fueled writing, I actually sort of enjoyed this. As I said, the characters are interesting, and the story is intriguing. In fact, Maggie Stiefvater has a VERY compelling writing style. It is really difficult to put down one of her books. However, I much preferred The Scorpio Races, which has a brilliant plot, well-drawn characters, a lovely and complex world, and a beautiful writing style. Lamente would be a good choice for those who want a step up from Twilight or who actually like hormone-fueled writing, but for everyone else, I would recommend The Scorpio Races.

In other words, if Stiefvater wants to attract me as a devoted reader, she will have to try again. For now, I will stick to being a devoted fan of The Scorpio Races. (less)

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Feb 22, 2013 Amber Albright rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-all-the-way-through

This book is actually pretty good, after the I read the shiver series I wasnt to sure if I could ever trust dear Maggie stiefvater again but, b/c im an idiot I gave another one of her books a try and was surprised. Though the plot was predictable and the characters were shallow I kind of liked it.

Story so Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan, is a talented harpist who gets sick and vomits violently before ever performance... ( had to mention that). Meets a handsome guy in the bathroom Luke Dillon,...more

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Feb 17, 2013 Christina (Ensconced in YA) rated it 3 of 5 stars

I picked up this book from Kindle daily deals (which you all should follow for some great prices on good books!) because I loved Shiver and liked Raven Boys.

Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater is about Deirdre, a harpist, that is very talented at both playing and singing. The book starts at a school competition, where we meet her best friend, James, as well as a mysterious but handsome stranger, Luke Dillon. Deirdre realizes that her family and she herself are intertwined w...more I picked up this book from Kindle daily deals (which you all should follow for some great prices on good books!) because I loved Shiver and liked Raven Boys.

Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater is about Deirdre, a harpist, that is very talented at both playing and singing. The book starts at a school competition, where we meet her best friend, James, as well as a mysterious but handsome stranger, Luke Dillon. Deirdre realizes that her family and she herself are intertwined with faeries more than she could ever imagine, and that she personally is being targeted. All the while, she is falling in love with Luke, who also seems to be connected in a dangerous way, and she can't help but follow him into greater and greater danger. Is he trying to protect her or is he trying to lure her to her demise?

Stiefvater has a lyrical prose, which she again shows here, but not as deftly as some as her later novels, which shows that she has been growing as a writer. The descriptions are beautiful, and while I didn't really like most of the characters, there is one terrific one, Sara, that I absolutely adored, and can't wait for the reader to discover her for themselves. I loved all the descriptions of music and magic-- those were the strongest aspects of this story.

My biggest issue with this story was the central love story between Luke and Deirdre. I thought Deirdre was mostly whiny and not very likeable, as there were a lot of things going around her that she SHOULD have cared about more-- like her grandmother and with James, the boy that has been a friend to her for years. While I agree that most teenagers are self absorbed, I would have liked her to grow a little more in this novel than she did. I think it's hilarious that Sara couldn't figure out why any guy would like Deirdre because I'm firmly in that camp. Not because she's not beautiful or just ordinary, but that she has been given gifts and talents and loved ones that she just takes for granted.

Overall, interesting world building with one great side character, but I couldn't really get into the two main lovebirds. (less)

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Jan 24, 2013 Carien rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, ya

This was a very nice read.

I love Stiefvater's writing and this book is worth reading just for the writing alone. It's beautiful and poetic and sets the mood for the story perfectly.

I liked Deirdre, she was a no nonsense teen, who doesn't start angsting over nothing. I also really liked Luke, who's mysterious, just the right amount of angsty and apart from the fact he kept calling Deirdre 'pretty girl', a great love interest for Deirdre. (Really: I wanted to punch him every time he called Deirdre...more

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Jan 01, 2013 Laura rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Raven Boys left me wanting more, so I picked up this earlier effort by Maggie Stiefvater.
The fairies in this book remind me of those in Mr Norrell and Jonathan Strange and in remote British and Irish folk stories. Of course, the connections are deliberate. As usual, Stiefvater locates herself within a cultured literary tradition, as demonstrated also by the wealth of ballad and poems I remember from my days at uni, "Down By The Salley Gardens" and all that.
For this reason, it is a pity that...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Cornerofmadness rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I usually do not read back to back novels from an author but I was so impressed by Maggie Steifvater’s The Raven Boys that I made an exception. I probably shouldn’t have. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed Lamentbut not nearly as much, but that has more to do with preference than writing skills (though reading them so close together illuminated some patterns in Ms Steifvater’s writing). I like my urban fantasy to be more fantasy action/adventure with a side of romance and this was more the other way...more I usually do not read back to back novels from an author but I was so impressed by Maggie Steifvater’s The Raven Boys that I made an exception. I probably shouldn’t have. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed Lamentbut not nearly as much, but that has more to do with preference than writing skills (though reading them so close together illuminated some patterns in Ms Steifvater’s writing). I like my urban fantasy to be more fantasy action/adventure with a side of romance and this was more the other way around and I’m not a giant romance fan. (I can handle some or I would never have picked this up)

Deirdre is a very talented sixteen year old harpist with one huge problem: stage fright. She vomits and faints almost any time she has to play. To make matters worse, her aunt Delia is a pro musician and Dee’s mother is one of those pushy moms. The story more or less begins in the bathroom before a h.s. competition for musicians when a boy from her dreams (literally) helps her and challenges her in a way she hasn’t been before. Luke Dillon isn’t like most of the boys she knows and together even though they know each other only minutes join the duet competition where they wow the audience.

Dee’s only close friend is James, a Celtic piper (Ms Steifvater is a musician in this realm as well), who I rather adored instantly. (where were the Jameses when I was sixteen?). For those who hate love triangles, yes there is sort of one but it’s very subtle (as in Dee didn’t know it existed until nearly the end). Her instant attraction to Luke bewilders her as does the fact that suddenly all sorts of shamrocks keep popping up and she starts seeing things.

Dee’s eyes are opened to the land of the faerie and these are old school fey, dark and dangerous. The Faerie Queen wants her dead and Luke has a terrible secret, he’s a soulless gallowglass under the Queen’s control. Is he really in love with Dee? Why does the queen want her dead and what secrets do Dee’s own family hold? All questions she must deal with by the solstice or she might be dead.

In some ways I wasn’t surprised by a lot of this but I’ve been studying faerie lore for decades so the places where the novel pulls directly from established lore left no surprises for me. I figured out big chunks of the story. However, character wise there were plenty of surprises. I like Dee even though I think she’s a little too quick to go with Luke on several occasions (but insta-love doesn’t work for me). I liked that even though I know there is a sequel, this story ended. It didn’t meander pathetically to some vague stopping point and you must get the next book to finish the story which is so popular now (hate that). However, there were a few loose threads at the end that bothered me but over all an enjoyable read.
(less)

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Sep 30, 2012 Nicole rated it 2 of 5 stars

Okay, I admit it, I think I'm getting old.
1) Why are fictional YA female characters so stupid?! I don't care how much you are awed by a hot body and perfect blond hair (I'm not too old to appreciate that, though I prefer brown hair) you should not be following around a mysterious guy who openly admits he is dangerous and you think might be trying to kill you! Seriously?! Mysterious is one thing, maybe he's just brooding or misunderstood. Potential first-degree murder - especially your own - is...more Okay, I admit it, I think I'm getting old.
1) Why are fictional YA female characters so stupid?! I don't care how much you are awed by a hot body and perfect blond hair (I'm not too old to appreciate that, though I prefer brown hair) you should not be following around a mysterious guy who openly admits he is dangerous and you think might be trying to kill you! Seriously?! Mysterious is one thing, maybe he's just brooding or misunderstood. Potential first-degree murder - especially your own - is completely unacceptable.
2) Did the male population suddenly massively outnumber the female population? ALL of these girls have two guys fighting over them?! Completely unrealistic.
3) And where do these parents come from? Based on the parental units I have read about in YA lately you would think that all parents are emotionally abusive, neglectful, and flat-out uninterested in their children's lives.
4) And who builds these houses that the families live in? Why can these parents, in their bedroom across the hall from their children, not hear teenage boys sneaking in and out at all hours of the night?! I thought about sneaking a guy into my parents house once and my dad told me to just try it, he had freshly cleaned his shot-gun...and I was 26 YEARS OLD!

Maybe I'm being unfair. In the defense of YA, I have read two books by Stiefvater back-to-back and both of them angered me so perhaps it's just this author I don't care for and am being jaded by the freshness of the reading. The only thing that earned this star-crossed lovers tween drama 2 stars is that I liked the concept of the fey, other than that, the summary of this book would read like a MadLibs:

Socially inept teenage girl (insert original, two syllable name here) is struggling though high school; only her exceptional gift at (insert a music, art, or writing skill here) and her male best friend (insert average, one syllable name here) who is (insert any word that is a synonym for "beautiful"). The best male friend is of course popular, gorgeous, charming, and completely in love with lead-female even though she is (insert one of the following: oblivious, scared, stupid) to this. Then, a new bad-boy (insert a male name that is either foreign or old-school) comes to town who happens to be (insert any mythical character here). Lead-female and mythical bad-boy fall (inset overly-sappy adjective) in love, which sets up a love triangle between lead-girl, male-bf (who, by the way, is perfect for her), and mythical bad-boy. The story progresses as (insert mythical character's people) try to kill the lead-girl - all the while lead-girl and mythical bad-boy kiss (insert adverb here) while always finding the non-existent tween will-power to not go farther - ending in a mini-battle that is as anti-climatic as the love story and lead-girl ends up with mythical bad-boy but always in his world and on his terms.

I need a break from YA and am picking up the 1,500 page autobiography of Harry Truman next. It may bore me to tears but at least it will be based on semi-realistic assumptions.(less)

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Sep 28, 2012 Phaelan Flamand rated it 2 of 5 stars

When I first found this book scouring the shelves of my local Chapters I was immediately drawn to it. Im not really a fan of YA but Im head over heels in love with Fantasy. So when I read the back of the book my reaction was " a story about a Celtic Harpist?! No Way." I myself am a Celtic harpist, and I am constantly searching for it in popular culture... needless to say I had to buy it...

Unfortunately it was a bit of a let down for me, the way Stiefvater writes just isn't my style. Im sure ther...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Rhiannon Ryder rated it 5 of 5 stars

You might remember, way back when, the hubby bought this little lovely for me on Valentines. Because I'm a book whore, and he's a book whore, and this is how we tell each other we still like one another. Well, this and cake, which we also had.

I immediately devoured it, despite a staggering pile of review books looming over me, and giving me the evil eye from my bookshelf.

Maggie has an incredible ability to create ambiance to a degree I find staggering. Her books, like Harry Potter and so many of...more

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About Maggie Stiefvater

All of Maggie Stiefvater's life decisions have been based around her inability to be gainfully employed. Talking to yourself, staring into space, and coming to work in your pajamas are frowned upon when you're a waitress, calligraphy instructor, or technical editor (all of which she's tried), but are highly prized traits in novelists and artists. She's made her living as one or the other since she...more

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“You're like a song that I heard when I was a little kid but forgot I knew until I heard it again.” — 831 people liked it

“When did you get so smart?"
He tapped his forehead. "Brain transplant. They put in a whale's. I'm passing all my classes with my eyes closed now, but I just can't get over this craving for krill." He shrugged. "And I feel sorry for the whale that got my brain. Probably swimming around Florida now trying to catch glimpses of girls in bikinis.” — 217 people liked it

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