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The Books of Faerie #1
The Books of Faerie
Do you believe...
... in a mystical land beyond the boundaries of the mundane world...
... ruled by a beautiful queen who was once a mortal like you and me...
... who may have sired the most powerful sorcerer of our world?
In the finest high fantasy tradition, this companion volume to Vertigo's ongoing Books of Magic series collects for the first time the acclaimed Books of Faerie miniseries, featuring the story of Titania, Queen of Faerie. Also included is the much sought-after Arcana Annual, featuring an early tale of young mage Timothy Hunter and his journeys in the magical realms.
Originally published in single magazine form as The Books of Faerie 1-3 and Arcana Annual 1.
... in a mystical land beyond the boundaries of the mundane world...
... ruled by a beautiful queen who was once a mortal like you and me...
... who may have sired the most powerful sorcerer of our world?
In the finest high fantasy tradition, this companion volume to Vertigo's ongoing Books of Magic series collects for the first time the acclaimed Books of Faerie miniseries, featuring the story of Titania, Queen of Faerie. Also included is the much sought-after Arcana Annual, featuring an early tale of young mage Timothy Hunter and his journeys in the magical realms.
Originally published in single magazine form as The Books of Faerie 1-3 and Arcana Annual 1.
136 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1997
About the author
Bronwyn Carlton
36 books9 followersBronwyn Carlton is an American comic book author, editor and radio DJ. She has written many DC Comics titles including Catwoman, The Books of Faerie as well as the Paradox Press imprint title, The Big Book of Death.
She has worked as an editor for both DC and Marvel. At DC she worked on both the Paradox Press and Piranha Press imprints; at Marvel she worked on the Marvel Knights line.
She has worked as an editor for both DC and Marvel. At DC she worked on both the Paradox Press and Piranha Press imprints; at Marvel she worked on the Marvel Knights line.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 8, 2026
I really liked this. It does a fantastic job of expanding the Books of Magic universe by deep diving into the political landscape of the Seelie Court, a world filled with betrayals, shifting alliances, and sudden death.
While the scope is epic, the focus is always on Titania. We learn her origin story, she wasn't born a Fae Queen, but was originally a mortal girl named Maryrose. Watching her transition from a vulnerable human to the calculating, hardened ruler we see in Tim Hunter's timeline is fascinating. She is a interesting character, flawed and often cold, but always intriguing because you finally understand why she became that way.
The plot highlights like her loveless marriage to King Obrey and the eventual rise of Auberon add a layer of tragic shit to her life story. It really heightens the stakes regarding her affair with Tamlin and the secret of her too human child (poor Tim!).
I also thought the art by Peter Gross was great; it struck a nice balance with a supernatural but grounded feel that fits the Vertigo mature vibe perfectly. The ending is particularly satisfying as it leads right into the moments before Tim meets the King, making the whole universe feel connected.
Overall, if you want the definitive background on Tim's parentage and the dark history of Faerie, this is the one to read.
While the scope is epic, the focus is always on Titania. We learn her origin story, she wasn't born a Fae Queen, but was originally a mortal girl named Maryrose. Watching her transition from a vulnerable human to the calculating, hardened ruler we see in Tim Hunter's timeline is fascinating. She is a interesting character, flawed and often cold, but always intriguing because you finally understand why she became that way.
The plot highlights like her loveless marriage to King Obrey and the eventual rise of Auberon add a layer of tragic shit to her life story. It really heightens the stakes regarding her affair with Tamlin and the secret of her too human child (poor Tim!).
I also thought the art by Peter Gross was great; it struck a nice balance with a supernatural but grounded feel that fits the Vertigo mature vibe perfectly. The ending is particularly satisfying as it leads right into the moments before Tim meets the King, making the whole universe feel connected.
Overall, if you want the definitive background on Tim's parentage and the dark history of Faerie, this is the one to read.
April 24, 2009
I've always had a special tendre for fairy tales for as long as I can remember (having read Grimm, Andersen, etc.) which explains why I would read anything linked to it. Double whammy on this one since it's not only about the fantastical world that is of Fay but one that's linked to Queen Titania as created by Gaiman & Vess (see "Sandman Library").
Carlton gives us the origin story of Queen Titania of Faerie (was I ever surprised to learn that King Auberon isn't her first husband) and that Timothy Hunter (of Gaiman's "The Books of Magic") is her offspring! Okay, mental note to self: have to read "The Books of Magic" once more.
By lending such a bleak world that is 11th century England & that of the accompanying plague gives the reader a foil that enables one to understand why Rosebud/Titania is the way she is, and of the choices she made since leaving the Earthworld.
The mini-series gives one more questions than answers...yet engages me all the more.
Book Details:
Title The Books of Faerie
Author Bronwyn Carlton;Neil Gaiman (Consultant)
Reviewed By Purplycookie
Carlton gives us the origin story of Queen Titania of Faerie (was I ever surprised to learn that King Auberon isn't her first husband) and that Timothy Hunter (of Gaiman's "The Books of Magic") is her offspring! Okay, mental note to self: have to read "The Books of Magic" once more.
By lending such a bleak world that is 11th century England & that of the accompanying plague gives the reader a foil that enables one to understand why Rosebud/Titania is the way she is, and of the choices she made since leaving the Earthworld.
The mini-series gives one more questions than answers...yet engages me all the more.
Book Details:
Title The Books of Faerie
Author Bronwyn Carlton;Neil Gaiman (Consultant)
Reviewed By Purplycookie
August 1, 2007
Fun, but flawed. My kind of subject matter, but kind of lacklustre.
Like, why did the Faeries celebrate weddings and funerals in a chapel-like setting? Why did they even live in a human-looking stone castle? Why the gender stereotypes of the warring males and the stay-at-home females gathering flowers for the morning room? This is FAERIE! It should be more wild and less human.
Where's the magic? The faeries could have been humans only with green skin and pointy ears. What was magic other than what King Obrey did to Queen Dymphna? There was very little sense of otherness. *sigh*
Also, I was hoping to figure out what the deal was with the Amadan. Guess I have to read the whole series. I was planning to anyway.
Other than such things, it was fun and the art was lovely.
Like, why did the Faeries celebrate weddings and funerals in a chapel-like setting? Why did they even live in a human-looking stone castle? Why the gender stereotypes of the warring males and the stay-at-home females gathering flowers for the morning room? This is FAERIE! It should be more wild and less human.
Where's the magic? The faeries could have been humans only with green skin and pointy ears. What was magic other than what King Obrey did to Queen Dymphna? There was very little sense of otherness. *sigh*
Also, I was hoping to figure out what the deal was with the Amadan. Guess I have to read the whole series. I was planning to anyway.
Other than such things, it was fun and the art was lovely.
April 27, 2022
Two stories tying-in to The Books of Magic series featuring the young magician Tim Hunter.
In the first story we learn the tale of how the purely human Tim is also the son of the Faerie Queen Titania, as we follow the young child Maryrose into the land of Faerie and see how she eventually becomes its queen.
The second story has a child of the Free Land crossing to Earth in search of Tim.
I very much enjoyed the first story here rooted as it is in not only the real-world folklore of fairies, but also Neil Gaiman's take on that world which kicked off 'The Books of Magic'. There's magic and mystery to it, but also politics and treachery as Titania is forced to go to great lengths to preserve her place as Queen whilst also hiding her human heritage.
The second story I found much less engaging and which seemed to rely much more on knowledge of elements from The Books of Magic series that I don't have. It's a less coherent tale and has a much less satisfying narrative arc.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.com *
In the first story we learn the tale of how the purely human Tim is also the son of the Faerie Queen Titania, as we follow the young child Maryrose into the land of Faerie and see how she eventually becomes its queen.
The second story has a child of the Free Land crossing to Earth in search of Tim.
I very much enjoyed the first story here rooted as it is in not only the real-world folklore of fairies, but also Neil Gaiman's take on that world which kicked off 'The Books of Magic'. There's magic and mystery to it, but also politics and treachery as Titania is forced to go to great lengths to preserve her place as Queen whilst also hiding her human heritage.
The second story I found much less engaging and which seemed to rely much more on knowledge of elements from The Books of Magic series that I don't have. It's a less coherent tale and has a much less satisfying narrative arc.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.com *
February 9, 2022
The Books of Faerie. The first volume of the Books of Faerie is very much in service to the Books of Magic, as it addresses the question, "How could Tim by Titania's son, and yet not a faerie". It's a nicely colorful story that pretty much puts together all the puzzle pieces without ever soaring [3+/5].
March 4, 2018
I enjoyed the part of the story that was set in faerie. The rest didn't interest me, so I only skimmed it. The art was colorful and pretty, and although the story had some dark elements, it wasn't overwhelming.
August 21, 2010
I picked this up without knowing that it was a spin-off miniseries of another series called the Books of Magic. I enjoyed the first part of the book which dealt with Titania's back-story but I couldn't build up any interest in the last story focusing on the main characters of the Books of Magic series. I love the character designs and the art in general of the faerie portion, and the story's cast of characters are interesting. I'm especially impressed with the writing of Titania's character since she's given several unattractive character traits (mainly arrogance and selfishness) yet I still found her likable and compelling as the main character.
August 28, 2011
I reviewed this tpb collection for Fae Awareness Month riiiiiight here, along with Auberon's Tale.
I'd give Titania's actual story a 4, and the rest of them a 3 for being generally cool to read, but not as pretty and less interesting in terms of a tpb. A cool introduction to the ongoing series, though. Overall that makes this more of a 3.5.
I'd give Titania's actual story a 4, and the rest of them a 3 for being generally cool to read, but not as pretty and less interesting in terms of a tpb. A cool introduction to the ongoing series, though. Overall that makes this more of a 3.5.
March 2, 2016
The first half of the book is great.
As a fan of the Books of Magic I'd give it a higher rating, but as a stand alone book it suffers.
The inclusion of Arcana: the Books of Magic Annual as the second half seems a poor choice as it's barely about Faerie. The story isn't terrible, but it's more of an intro to the Children's Crusade, which leaves the reader hanging, and takes place before the first half of the book chronologically
As a fan of the Books of Magic I'd give it a higher rating, but as a stand alone book it suffers.
The inclusion of Arcana: the Books of Magic Annual as the second half seems a poor choice as it's barely about Faerie. The story isn't terrible, but it's more of an intro to the Children's Crusade, which leaves the reader hanging, and takes place before the first half of the book chronologically
October 22, 2008
This book focuses primarily on Queen Titania, and also Timothy Hunter of the Books of Magic. I only the first Books of Magic book, by Neil Gaiman, so I was unsure about the Falconer and what ties he had. However, this includes a nice background story about Queen Titania, and leaves one to wonder about a prophecy.
March 15, 2011
As a reader of all things fantasy and science fiction, I was totally unprepared to read this book, since I had never read a graphic novel before I picked the book. But as I read the book, I found myself enjoying the story of Queen Titania and her world. The story lived up to its hype and I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes graphic novels, fantasy and science fiction.
March 16, 2013
I just really don't like this series. This had potential at the beginning, I liked Tatiana's back story, but once it got back into Tim's story it was awful. So far I've read three authors trying to tell his story and none of them have intrigued me or entertained me at all, I just don't have any desire to read any farther.
November 8, 2007
The story of Titania. Ties into The Books of Magic and Sandman. Pretty good, it's interesting to see the transformation from a young, innocent girl to the childish and cruel second most powerful being in Faerie. Art is mostly good as well.
January 22, 2012
The first and second sections of this graphic novel differ greatly. I loved the first section. It was like dipping a toe into fairy lore. The second section seemed haphazardly plotted and it was at times hard to follow. I ended up reading it twice, but still much preferring the first section.
December 28, 2010
The story of the Queen of Faeries, Titania, and a kind of prequel of the Books Of Magic.
December 22, 2011
It was good until the last chapter..in which I was lost to what was going on
May 6, 2013
Beautiful comic writing and art, all around a lovely series. search ISBN 978-1852869168 for the whole series (4 comics together) to find the series.
September 25, 2013
Didn't quite capture a fairy spirit in story, by its Books of Magic nonetheless...
August 26, 2015
I am not at all surprised that I liked this comic considering that the writer had worked with Neil Gaiman on this.
December 27, 2018
Primer tomo de The Books of Faerie. Recopila la miniserie homónima más el anual Arcana.
November 30, 2007
I adore most anything associated with Neil. It's a problem, I know. :)
September 11, 2008
Tied into the Books of Magic, this is the story of Queen Titania.
January 18, 2018
I picked this up out of curiosity, without reading the "Books of Magic" nor the Sandman series. As a stand alone book, I found the initial first pages confusing and the ending abrupt and unresolved. However after learning that, this book is a prequal I was able to enjoy the rest of the story.
The Books of Faerie, comprises three tales:
"The Foundling's Tale"
"The Widow's Tale"
"The Bastard's Tale"
The story of how Titania came to be Queen of Faerie.
The Books of Faerie, comprises three tales:
"The Foundling's Tale"
"The Widow's Tale"
"The Bastard's Tale"
The story of how Titania came to be Queen of Faerie.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews