I read Ballad without reading the first book in the series, and I must say....I LOVE JAMES! I mean, he's witty, artistic, sarcastic, and honorable. I'm not swoony over him, but I just like him so much. I'd have wanted him as my best guy friend in high school, and I'm super glad that he has Nuala when Dee is so selfish and stand offish for the whole book. I really disliked her intensely (she pulls some pretty selfish and immature crap) until the end when James (and thus the reader) realize that she does love James, just not romantically. Perhaps, once I've read Faerie, I'll like Dee a little letter, but chances seem slim. Typically, edgy modern characters get on my nerves, but Stiefvater makes her characters, even stalker faeries, appealing and real. I really felt like the 'good guys' were actually decent and generous beings, which I liked. There was also some ideas about love that while not all encompassing, rang true. I've never seen an author of YA fiction address the reality that a significant component of love and healthy relationships is the type of person you become around your significant other. I think there's a depth to the friendship love that I may have not completely appreciated since I skipped the first book, and I'm eager to go back and read it. Also, I'm so glad to find that this series is not over, because despite my irritation with Dee at the moment, I do want her to get a happier and more resolved ending. This is by far the best Faerie YA series I've read. Oh- p.s. there is swearing and violence, so not a book I'd hand to my 11 year old...