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The Last Changeling #1
The Last Changeling
A Kingdom at War . . .
Elora, the young princess of the Dark Faeries, plans to overthrow her tyrannical mother, the Dark Queen, and bring equality to faeriekind. All she has to do is convince her mother’s loathed enemy, the Bright Queen, to join her cause. But the Bright Queen demands an offering first: a human boy who is a “young leader of men.”
A Dark Princess In Disguise . . .
To steal a mortal, Elora must become a mortal—at least, by all appearances. And infiltrating a high school is surprisingly easy. When Elora meets Taylor, the seventeen-year-old who’s plotting to overthrow a ruthless bully, she thinks she’s found her offering . . . until she starts to fall in love.
Elora, the young princess of the Dark Faeries, plans to overthrow her tyrannical mother, the Dark Queen, and bring equality to faeriekind. All she has to do is convince her mother’s loathed enemy, the Bright Queen, to join her cause. But the Bright Queen demands an offering first: a human boy who is a “young leader of men.”
A Dark Princess In Disguise . . .
To steal a mortal, Elora must become a mortal—at least, by all appearances. And infiltrating a high school is surprisingly easy. When Elora meets Taylor, the seventeen-year-old who’s plotting to overthrow a ruthless bully, she thinks she’s found her offering . . . until she starts to fall in love.
360 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2014
About the author
Chelsea Pitcher
6 books477 followersChelsea Pitcher is a karaoke-singing, ocean-worshipping Oregonian with a penchant for twisty mysteries. She is the author of THE S-WORD, THE LAST CHANGELING & THE LAST FAERIE QUEEN.
Watch for her new YA thriller, THIS LIE WILL KILL YOU, coming December 11, 2018 from S&S/McElderry!
Agent: Mandy Hubbard
Watch for her new YA thriller, THIS LIE WILL KILL YOU, coming December 11, 2018 from S&S/McElderry!
Agent: Mandy Hubbard
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
June 24, 2017
3.5 STARS
September 1, 2014
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: There were many things I enjoyed, though the romance was too insta-love for my favor.
Opening Sentence: I was seventeen when death first crossed my path.
The Review:
Taylor is a boy with a dead brother, abandoning family, and hard life. Elora is on a quest for the chance to save the land of the fae from an oppresive reign. But when Elora enrolls in high school to find what she needs, she finds that high school is much like the fae land. Popular jocks rule over those who don’t fit in with an iron fist. Soon, she is leading not one, but two revolutions, and falling in love.
I had high expectations for this book. For one, that mind-blowing cover. Look at it! The colors and shapes and brightness! And the synopsis got my excitement growing even faster. Did The Last Changeling deliver? It was not everything I had hoped and dreamed, but there were parts of it that I enjoyed. It didn’t unfold at all the way I had thought at first it would. There is more emphasis on the main character’s relationship than the plotline, most of the time: while it made their romance more powerful, it also swallowed lots of pages that could have otherwise have been filled with richer details about the plotline that were more relevant.
The duel point of views were Elora and Taylor. One thing I really appreciated about Changeling was that the chapters from the two different characters were written differently enough that I could tell who was who, which is pretty rare. I never got confused from who I was reading from. They each have pressing problems, Elora’s being the safety of the faerie race, and Taylor’s being his family and the recent death of his brother. Like I said before, it was very centered on their relationship, which by the way was insta-love. I am not a huge fan of insta-love, preferring instead a gradual buildup like Tris and Four (Divergent). The fact that humans are told to be despicable creatures in faerie lore isn’t helping Taylor in his quest for Elora. Let me tell you, also — they pine for each other 80% of this book and in the last 20% their kisses begin.
The information you receive about the character’s backstories are extremely staggered. You really don’t know fully what had been happening until towards the end. But, another thing I liked was the fae. The way their world was built was unique, and lots of fun to read about. Though it took a while to really understand the faerie world, since as I said the world building was staggered, I was happy when I did.
Was I happy with The Last Changeling? It was a good beginning to a series, for sure. It dealt with sensitive subjects: bullying, death, war, abandonment, betrayal. Something that it did have and I was pleased that it did was bi-sexual and gay characters. As gay pride becomes more celebrated, it seems natural that gay characters should be cropping up more in books. I liked how Taylor’s strained relationship with his family changes as the book goes on, thanks to Elora and the new strength she gives him. I like how Elora fights the bullies at the school with the same fire that she does the evil fae in the final battle — it made me smile. The misfits team up to fight the jocks and the populars. A character that I love, love, loved was Kylie’s girlfriend, who was such a tremendous surprise when she was revealed thanks to reasons you will discover if you read the book. Altogether I enjoyed The Last Changeling, though certain problems made it less appealing. Namely the insta-love romance.
Notable Scene:
“In the created social order of high school, we are required to project very specific identities in order to be accepted. Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m sick of trying to fit in.”
I paused, letting the gravity of my words sink in. Half the crowd had risen to their feet and those enthusiasts were nodding.
“I’m sick of trying to mold myself into someone else’s definition of acceptable, beautiful, valuable. I know I’m valuable. Why must I spend every day of my life proving it to other people? And at night, as I lie in bed, I think about the efforts I made that day to fit into an impossibly narrow standard, and I feel like I’m living a lie.”
FTC Advisory: Flux provided me with a copy of The Last Changeling. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: There were many things I enjoyed, though the romance was too insta-love for my favor.
Opening Sentence: I was seventeen when death first crossed my path.
The Review:
Taylor is a boy with a dead brother, abandoning family, and hard life. Elora is on a quest for the chance to save the land of the fae from an oppresive reign. But when Elora enrolls in high school to find what she needs, she finds that high school is much like the fae land. Popular jocks rule over those who don’t fit in with an iron fist. Soon, she is leading not one, but two revolutions, and falling in love.
I had high expectations for this book. For one, that mind-blowing cover. Look at it! The colors and shapes and brightness! And the synopsis got my excitement growing even faster. Did The Last Changeling deliver? It was not everything I had hoped and dreamed, but there were parts of it that I enjoyed. It didn’t unfold at all the way I had thought at first it would. There is more emphasis on the main character’s relationship than the plotline, most of the time: while it made their romance more powerful, it also swallowed lots of pages that could have otherwise have been filled with richer details about the plotline that were more relevant.
The duel point of views were Elora and Taylor. One thing I really appreciated about Changeling was that the chapters from the two different characters were written differently enough that I could tell who was who, which is pretty rare. I never got confused from who I was reading from. They each have pressing problems, Elora’s being the safety of the faerie race, and Taylor’s being his family and the recent death of his brother. Like I said before, it was very centered on their relationship, which by the way was insta-love. I am not a huge fan of insta-love, preferring instead a gradual buildup like Tris and Four (Divergent). The fact that humans are told to be despicable creatures in faerie lore isn’t helping Taylor in his quest for Elora. Let me tell you, also — they pine for each other 80% of this book and in the last 20% their kisses begin.
The information you receive about the character’s backstories are extremely staggered. You really don’t know fully what had been happening until towards the end. But, another thing I liked was the fae. The way their world was built was unique, and lots of fun to read about. Though it took a while to really understand the faerie world, since as I said the world building was staggered, I was happy when I did.
Was I happy with The Last Changeling? It was a good beginning to a series, for sure. It dealt with sensitive subjects: bullying, death, war, abandonment, betrayal. Something that it did have and I was pleased that it did was bi-sexual and gay characters. As gay pride becomes more celebrated, it seems natural that gay characters should be cropping up more in books. I liked how Taylor’s strained relationship with his family changes as the book goes on, thanks to Elora and the new strength she gives him. I like how Elora fights the bullies at the school with the same fire that she does the evil fae in the final battle — it made me smile. The misfits team up to fight the jocks and the populars. A character that I love, love, loved was Kylie’s girlfriend, who was such a tremendous surprise when she was revealed thanks to reasons you will discover if you read the book. Altogether I enjoyed The Last Changeling, though certain problems made it less appealing. Namely the insta-love romance.
Notable Scene:
“In the created social order of high school, we are required to project very specific identities in order to be accepted. Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m sick of trying to fit in.”
I paused, letting the gravity of my words sink in. Half the crowd had risen to their feet and those enthusiasts were nodding.
“I’m sick of trying to mold myself into someone else’s definition of acceptable, beautiful, valuable. I know I’m valuable. Why must I spend every day of my life proving it to other people? And at night, as I lie in bed, I think about the efforts I made that day to fit into an impossibly narrow standard, and I feel like I’m living a lie.”
FTC Advisory: Flux provided me with a copy of The Last Changeling. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
November 27, 2014
3.5!! You can also read my review here and on my blog!
You know why this is awesome? Because it's a Fantasy book with a message that needs to be heard. And that is hard to come by these days. Okay, let me explain.
Lora is the daughter of the Dark Queen but unlike her Mother, she actually care for their people and kingdom. Now she's planning to overthrow her own mother, the Dark Queen with the help of the Bright Queen. But the Bright Queen has one demand, and that is to get a mortal offering. Now, that should be easy for Lora.. but when she met Taylor, she didn't expect to like him.. or fall in love with him.
First of all, the writing is just plain lovely. This is my first from Chelsea Pitcher and I have to say that I loved her writing. I will be checking out her other books. She did a wonderful job voicing out Lora. It was humorous and enchanting. And Taylor is such a sweetie pie. I just want o pick him up and put him in my pocket or just hug him all day.
There's a lot going on in this book, and that can be a good or bad thing. I'm pretty much in the middle. Though, yes, I love the whole equality part and having diverse characters, but I felt that it was too focused in that aspect. I just want to hear more of the Faerie World and not just from Lora's story telling. But I want to experience it too. Though I agree with Taylor, every time Lora tells the story, you can't help but be enchanted and feel tranced. Maybe the whole LGBT theme should've been mentioned in the blurb so that readers will know. Anyway, it was handled well.
The Romance in my opinion is pretty tame and I really loved it. It's the kind of romance that you keep anticipating every chapter TO FINALLY HAPPEN and when it finally did, you just cry out of joy. It was slow burn and it was sweet and beautiful.
The ending was great. It wasn't that cliffy but it will really leave you wanting more. The scenes near the end was heart pumping and totally written well (the whole book, really) It also gave me the Faerie world that I really want to see. Hopefully, it will be more explored in the upcoming books. The Last Changeling is perfect for you if you're looking for a fantasy read with diverse characters, sweet romance and brilliant writing.
You know why this is awesome? Because it's a Fantasy book with a message that needs to be heard. And that is hard to come by these days. Okay, let me explain.
Lora is the daughter of the Dark Queen but unlike her Mother, she actually care for their people and kingdom. Now she's planning to overthrow her own mother, the Dark Queen with the help of the Bright Queen. But the Bright Queen has one demand, and that is to get a mortal offering. Now, that should be easy for Lora.. but when she met Taylor, she didn't expect to like him.. or fall in love with him.
First of all, the writing is just plain lovely. This is my first from Chelsea Pitcher and I have to say that I loved her writing. I will be checking out her other books. She did a wonderful job voicing out Lora. It was humorous and enchanting. And Taylor is such a sweetie pie. I just want o pick him up and put him in my pocket or just hug him all day.
There's a lot going on in this book, and that can be a good or bad thing. I'm pretty much in the middle. Though, yes, I love the whole equality part and having diverse characters, but I felt that it was too focused in that aspect. I just want to hear more of the Faerie World and not just from Lora's story telling. But I want to experience it too. Though I agree with Taylor, every time Lora tells the story, you can't help but be enchanted and feel tranced. Maybe the whole LGBT theme should've been mentioned in the blurb so that readers will know. Anyway, it was handled well.
"Equality doesn't work if it's only for some people"
The Romance in my opinion is pretty tame and I really loved it. It's the kind of romance that you keep anticipating every chapter TO FINALLY HAPPEN and when it finally did, you just cry out of joy. It was slow burn and it was sweet and beautiful.
The ending was great. It wasn't that cliffy but it will really leave you wanting more. The scenes near the end was heart pumping and totally written well (the whole book, really) It also gave me the Faerie world that I really want to see. Hopefully, it will be more explored in the upcoming books. The Last Changeling is perfect for you if you're looking for a fantasy read with diverse characters, sweet romance and brilliant writing.
July 6, 2014
An intriguing YA read that mixed magic, danger, and romance with more serious issues, The Last Changeling was a fantastic book. I really liked this fantasy romance. From start to finish, it had me totally drawn in and I enjoyed every bit of it.
Elora was a lovely heroine. She was raised in the treacherous faerie court, but she developed her own ideals about treating all creatures fairly and started a grass-roots revolution to change it. And, when she got to the human world and saw the unfairness of bullied students, she wasn't going to let that sit either. She was a very active character, unwilling to turn a blind eye, as well as kind and clever. She was a very likable character and I thought she was great.
Taylor was so amazingly sweet and wonderful and absolutely perfect! He didn't have the easiest life, with his brother's death, his parents' neglect, and the school bullies. But, even so, he didn't let that make him bitter. He remained truly kind and generous, the best kind of person. He was simply amazing and I adored him.
The romance was very sweet. It moved slowly and it worked for the characters and their situations. Even when they were still hesitant about a relationship, though, their growing feelings were always clear, which I thought was very sweet. I'm not sure how they'll find a way to be together, but here's hoping they get a happy ending...
The plot was fast paced and I was hooked the entire way through. There was never a dull moment, especially with all the secrets that came about. Along with the thrills and romance, though, there was a deeper theme of equality and I liked how it was included. It wasn't so in-your-face that it became preachy. Instead, it was included in the characters' ideals and actions in a way that worked well. I really enjoyed the story and the ending has me anxious to find out what happens next. Can't wait for book 2!
The Last Changeling was a fantastic YA read. It was filled with adorable romance, thrilling danger, quite a few secrets, and a call for equality. And I enjoyed every bit of it. YA lovers, this is a book you won't want to miss.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Elora was a lovely heroine. She was raised in the treacherous faerie court, but she developed her own ideals about treating all creatures fairly and started a grass-roots revolution to change it. And, when she got to the human world and saw the unfairness of bullied students, she wasn't going to let that sit either. She was a very active character, unwilling to turn a blind eye, as well as kind and clever. She was a very likable character and I thought she was great.
Taylor was so amazingly sweet and wonderful and absolutely perfect! He didn't have the easiest life, with his brother's death, his parents' neglect, and the school bullies. But, even so, he didn't let that make him bitter. He remained truly kind and generous, the best kind of person. He was simply amazing and I adored him.
The romance was very sweet. It moved slowly and it worked for the characters and their situations. Even when they were still hesitant about a relationship, though, their growing feelings were always clear, which I thought was very sweet. I'm not sure how they'll find a way to be together, but here's hoping they get a happy ending...
The plot was fast paced and I was hooked the entire way through. There was never a dull moment, especially with all the secrets that came about. Along with the thrills and romance, though, there was a deeper theme of equality and I liked how it was included. It wasn't so in-your-face that it became preachy. Instead, it was included in the characters' ideals and actions in a way that worked well. I really enjoyed the story and the ending has me anxious to find out what happens next. Can't wait for book 2!
The Last Changeling was a fantastic YA read. It was filled with adorable romance, thrilling danger, quite a few secrets, and a call for equality. And I enjoyed every bit of it. YA lovers, this is a book you won't want to miss.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
November 6, 2014
**I received an advanced copy from NetGalley via Flux in exchange for an honest review.**
3.5 Stars I'm still on the fence about this one...
**Originally posted on Bookish Wanderlove. **
Opening Lines
The Last Changeling is told from both Elora's and Taylor's perspectives. I found myself enjoying Taylor's POV more than Elora, Taylor's chapters just had more substance to them and I felt like the story was narrated well. I had a hard time with this when I first picked it up, with the way it starts off I was left feeling confused and as if I was missing major pieces of information. While the flashbacks did clear some of that I was still confused for the first half of the book. The book has a slow pace to it and really picks up about halfway through. I really liked how this book touches on a lot of topics that many of us YA would like to see more of. We had diversity, LGBT, death, bullying, dealing and finding acceptance and more. But at times it felt like too much was going on.
Because this is part of a series I expected that I would be left with a major or somewhat of a cliffhanger at the end. This is a good and bad thing, I like to be left with a cliffhanger but I know a lot of people don't. We they way this came to an end I was left with a lot of questions that I'm hoping will be answered in the next book or at least at some point in this series!
What kept The Last Changeling from getting 5 stars?
As much as I enjoyed reading The Last Changeling I found I couldn't connect with the characters...at all and this was a major thing for me.
The world building - I think this was the main factor as to why I couldn't connect with the characters, I didn't really know anything about the fae world. As a first time fairy read I went into this not knowing anything about fairies. I was expecting there to be somewhat of a background story, I would have enjoyed this if more time was spent giving the reader information about their world, the history, the fairies and how they came to be. Not having this information left my very confused at times trying to piece things together, it took away from me being able to see the whole picture.
The characters - At times I found the characters really lacked depth. They could be so one-dimensional which is unfortunate because Chelsea Pitcher has thrown together a selection of characters that I wouldn't have expected. Also, I found myself to be confused about both Elora and Taylor's character. I felt like there was more to Taylor that we didn't know about (granted this may be answered in the next book) and Elora, with how the story was written at times I forgot she was suppose to be a fairy.
The romance - While the romance had a natural and sweet flow to it I found that too much time was spent on this. I felt like this was more of a romance novel than anything else. At times it was very predictable, but I just wish and thought there would be more focus on the bigger issues at hand.
Overall, The Last Changeling was an interesting read. It may not have gotten 5 stars from me but I still managed to enjoy reading this. Will I continue with this series? Yes! Hopefully my questions will be answered in the next book, I'm curious to see what will take place in book 2.
3.5 Stars I'm still on the fence about this one...
**Originally posted on Bookish Wanderlove. **
Opening Lines
"I was seventeen when death crossed my path. Before that I'd only dreamt of twisted limbs and blood as bright as poppies. But late one night, death offered me an opportunity. She whispered dirty secrets in my ear and pulled back my eyelids with curling hands."There are a lot of books out there that focus on fairies and sadly I haven't really read any of them. A couple are on my TBR list and I even own 3 books that focus on them but I've never had the desire to read them. So when I came across this book I was intrigued and decided it was time to finally read a book that focuses on fairies. I just have to talk about the cover quickly, IT'S SO PRETTY!!!! I love everything about it, the colour choice and how bright it is. I'm excited to see what this will look like in paperback or hardcover.
The Last Changeling is told from both Elora's and Taylor's perspectives. I found myself enjoying Taylor's POV more than Elora, Taylor's chapters just had more substance to them and I felt like the story was narrated well. I had a hard time with this when I first picked it up, with the way it starts off I was left feeling confused and as if I was missing major pieces of information. While the flashbacks did clear some of that I was still confused for the first half of the book. The book has a slow pace to it and really picks up about halfway through. I really liked how this book touches on a lot of topics that many of us YA would like to see more of. We had diversity, LGBT, death, bullying, dealing and finding acceptance and more. But at times it felt like too much was going on.
Because this is part of a series I expected that I would be left with a major or somewhat of a cliffhanger at the end. This is a good and bad thing, I like to be left with a cliffhanger but I know a lot of people don't. We they way this came to an end I was left with a lot of questions that I'm hoping will be answered in the next book or at least at some point in this series!
What kept The Last Changeling from getting 5 stars?
As much as I enjoyed reading The Last Changeling I found I couldn't connect with the characters...at all and this was a major thing for me.
The world building - I think this was the main factor as to why I couldn't connect with the characters, I didn't really know anything about the fae world. As a first time fairy read I went into this not knowing anything about fairies. I was expecting there to be somewhat of a background story, I would have enjoyed this if more time was spent giving the reader information about their world, the history, the fairies and how they came to be. Not having this information left my very confused at times trying to piece things together, it took away from me being able to see the whole picture.
The characters - At times I found the characters really lacked depth. They could be so one-dimensional which is unfortunate because Chelsea Pitcher has thrown together a selection of characters that I wouldn't have expected. Also, I found myself to be confused about both Elora and Taylor's character. I felt like there was more to Taylor that we didn't know about (granted this may be answered in the next book) and Elora, with how the story was written at times I forgot she was suppose to be a fairy.
The romance - While the romance had a natural and sweet flow to it I found that too much time was spent on this. I felt like this was more of a romance novel than anything else. At times it was very predictable, but I just wish and thought there would be more focus on the bigger issues at hand.
Overall, The Last Changeling was an interesting read. It may not have gotten 5 stars from me but I still managed to enjoy reading this. Will I continue with this series? Yes! Hopefully my questions will be answered in the next book, I'm curious to see what will take place in book 2.
June 26, 2014
This book is about more than just a teen romance with a Faery. It is a book about equality and rebellion against prejudice disguised as a teen romance with Faery.
Princess Elora is on a mission to start a rebellion that she hopes will end the war that is tearing Faery apart. She must bring back a willing human sacrifice for the Bright Queen to achieve her goal.
Taylor is a teen boy filled with guilt and bullied at school. He is just trying to survive.
Yes, there is definitely a romance between Taylor and Elora. But Taylor is shy about going too fast for her and Elora is fighting the prejudice against Faery/human relations she has grown up with. Along the way Elora and Taylor begin a rebellion at Unity High where the student body is anything but united. Unity's rebellion is to bring together all the outcasts of the school to rebel against the rule of the few popular students who have dictated everything including who can attend Prom.
This has a definite parallel to the struggles that brought Elora to Unity High in the first place.
Princess Elora is on a mission to start a rebellion that she hopes will end the war that is tearing Faery apart. She must bring back a willing human sacrifice for the Bright Queen to achieve her goal.
Taylor is a teen boy filled with guilt and bullied at school. He is just trying to survive.
Yes, there is definitely a romance between Taylor and Elora. But Taylor is shy about going too fast for her and Elora is fighting the prejudice against Faery/human relations she has grown up with. Along the way Elora and Taylor begin a rebellion at Unity High where the student body is anything but united. Unity's rebellion is to bring together all the outcasts of the school to rebel against the rule of the few popular students who have dictated everything including who can attend Prom.
This has a definite parallel to the struggles that brought Elora to Unity High in the first place.
November 6, 2014
Three and a half stars.
This book left me really torn. It wasn't at all what I thought it was going to be, but in spite of that it was still a book that I enjoyed well enough to read in one sitting.
When I first read the blurb of this story, and saw mention of queens and faeries and courts and revolution, paired with the amazingly beautiful winged cover art, I thought that I would be diving into a fantastical, fairy tale book. This is not that book. It is set almost exclusively in our mortal world, and any history of the faeries and their world are told only through the bedtime stories that the lead female, Elora, tells the male lead, Taylor. I'm a bit disappointed by this lack of faerie world building and setting; it's what I expected to be reading. This goes for the character species/beasts/monsters too. I would have liked more time dedicated to explanations.
Now with that out of the way, once I got used to the contemporary earthly setting (which took a while, admittedly), I found myself enjoying this book for different reasons. Though I was bummed by this lack of fantasy worlds, I did like the continuing theme of Elora telling Taylor her story in snippets as a nightly story. I thought it was cute, and it helped to illustrate how they grew towards one another. The characters overall were something I really enjoyed. I liked Elora's "weirdness". She's not from our world, so when she gets here, she has some learning to do. I appreciated the diversified characters. Gay, non-white, disabled, and bisexual characters all make their appearances. I liked watching how Elora's very presence helped to shape Taylor from a quiet, passive outcast into a stronger character, and by end of the book I was rooting for their romance to work. There was insta-love at the beginning, but Elora does keep him at bay, which I also liked.
Back to the LGBT characters for a moment, Taylor and Elora make friends (and gain bullies) by joining the Gay Straight Alliance. They tackle issues regarding same sex couples at prom and equality and as a member of this community, I was really excited to see these elements being featured in the story. We have a lot more freedoms now than in the past, but getting kicked off the team for being gay or getting unequal treatment by school faculty is very alive and very real in a lot of communities. I did think that this was talked about a bit longer or more in depth than Elora's plot needed but hey, I'm not really about to complain about exposure to this topic. Pitcher also had one of the most accurate quotes about being in the closet that I've ever read, especially in YA fiction:
"People hate you and they haven't even met you. But it's better than the alternative... Because when you're hiding, all you do is hate yourself." page 82
Once acclimated, I liked this mix of fantasy and realism. I think it's an entertaining read that has romance, humor, action, and of course, faeries. If you don't go into this thinking it's as fantastical-set as I did, I think you'll enjoy it more. This is a good read for people who like contemporary fantasy/urban fantasy, romance without sex, and mythical creatures from other worlds. Be warned that there's drinking, drug use, bullying, and gay slurs in this book, but they're there for importance.
Thank you to Flux Books for my copy in exchange for my honest opinions. This review can also be found on my blog, Bitches n Prose.
This book left me really torn. It wasn't at all what I thought it was going to be, but in spite of that it was still a book that I enjoyed well enough to read in one sitting.
When I first read the blurb of this story, and saw mention of queens and faeries and courts and revolution, paired with the amazingly beautiful winged cover art, I thought that I would be diving into a fantastical, fairy tale book. This is not that book. It is set almost exclusively in our mortal world, and any history of the faeries and their world are told only through the bedtime stories that the lead female, Elora, tells the male lead, Taylor. I'm a bit disappointed by this lack of faerie world building and setting; it's what I expected to be reading. This goes for the character species/beasts/monsters too. I would have liked more time dedicated to explanations.
Now with that out of the way, once I got used to the contemporary earthly setting (which took a while, admittedly), I found myself enjoying this book for different reasons. Though I was bummed by this lack of fantasy worlds, I did like the continuing theme of Elora telling Taylor her story in snippets as a nightly story. I thought it was cute, and it helped to illustrate how they grew towards one another. The characters overall were something I really enjoyed. I liked Elora's "weirdness". She's not from our world, so when she gets here, she has some learning to do. I appreciated the diversified characters. Gay, non-white, disabled, and bisexual characters all make their appearances. I liked watching how Elora's very presence helped to shape Taylor from a quiet, passive outcast into a stronger character, and by end of the book I was rooting for their romance to work. There was insta-love at the beginning, but Elora does keep him at bay, which I also liked.
Back to the LGBT characters for a moment, Taylor and Elora make friends (and gain bullies) by joining the Gay Straight Alliance. They tackle issues regarding same sex couples at prom and equality and as a member of this community, I was really excited to see these elements being featured in the story. We have a lot more freedoms now than in the past, but getting kicked off the team for being gay or getting unequal treatment by school faculty is very alive and very real in a lot of communities. I did think that this was talked about a bit longer or more in depth than Elora's plot needed but hey, I'm not really about to complain about exposure to this topic. Pitcher also had one of the most accurate quotes about being in the closet that I've ever read, especially in YA fiction:
"People hate you and they haven't even met you. But it's better than the alternative... Because when you're hiding, all you do is hate yourself." page 82
Once acclimated, I liked this mix of fantasy and realism. I think it's an entertaining read that has romance, humor, action, and of course, faeries. If you don't go into this thinking it's as fantastical-set as I did, I think you'll enjoy it more. This is a good read for people who like contemporary fantasy/urban fantasy, romance without sex, and mythical creatures from other worlds. Be warned that there's drinking, drug use, bullying, and gay slurs in this book, but they're there for importance.
Thank you to Flux Books for my copy in exchange for my honest opinions. This review can also be found on my blog, Bitches n Prose.
April 3, 2018
I won my first book to review from Netgalley!
Parental Rating: 12 and up. Mild Swearing and teenage ‘making out’.
The faerie Elora is trying to start a rebellion against her mother the Dark Queen, but to overthrow a millennium old faerie she needs the Bright Queen's help. The Bright Queen sets her a riddle, asking Elora to bring her a human offering. Elora travels to the human world, having only heard bad things about humans. She meets a human high-schooler named Taylor who lets her stay at his house. (She tells him to call him Lora, which is the name she mostly goes by in the book.)
The book is told from the perspectives of both Lora and Taylor. At the beginning Lora has a poetic voice and makes her seem more otherworldly, but as she assimilates to the human world she talks more normally. There were a couple of instances where Taylor sounded like Lora, too poetic for a normal teenage boy, but overall the characters were realistic and distinct. Though they were both told in first person I didn't confuse the two.
The characters were the stars of the story. I genuinely liked both of the main characters, which isn't always the case for me. The romance between them was gradual and felt natural. It was a sweet realistic romance. The side characters were just as good as the main characters and the friendships blossomed at a realistic pace the same way the relationship did.
Taylor and Lora gradually grow to trust one another and it makes them both better people. The change in their personalities is gradual and well done. They've both had a rough family life and they both have their secrets. They slowly open up to one another, and it felt like they would actually reveal these closely guarded secrets. Lora’s tells her story to Taylor as a nightly ‘fairy tale’. Since there is a lot of back story, this was a good way to do it without being boring.
Though there is plenty of magic in this book and excitement at the end, most of the book isn't fast paced. That doesn't mean it’s boring, not in the least. The Last Changeling mostly takes place in a modern high school and romance plays a large part of the story. Normally this wouldn't sound like my kind of book, but I really enjoyed it! There’s the normal teenage stuff, but it’s handled well and Lora is so different it’s fun to see through her eyes and watch her navigate the human world.
The world of the faerie has been done so many times, but the author still creates her own unique mythology. Like most fairies, those in Last Changeling can’t lie outright, are hurt by iron, and use glamours. (They also have wings, which I thought was the best part!) There isn't too much magic in the book, but what was there was imaginative and just plain cool.
There wasn't a to be continued ending, which I appreciated, but there’s certainly more to come. (At least I hope there is!) I would've appreciated if one question had been answered though. (I can’t say what it was without spoilers.)
I plan to buy The Last Changeling when it’s released and would highly recommend it.
8/10 Stars
Parental Rating: 12 and up. Mild Swearing and teenage ‘making out’.
The faerie Elora is trying to start a rebellion against her mother the Dark Queen, but to overthrow a millennium old faerie she needs the Bright Queen's help. The Bright Queen sets her a riddle, asking Elora to bring her a human offering. Elora travels to the human world, having only heard bad things about humans. She meets a human high-schooler named Taylor who lets her stay at his house. (She tells him to call him Lora, which is the name she mostly goes by in the book.)
The book is told from the perspectives of both Lora and Taylor. At the beginning Lora has a poetic voice and makes her seem more otherworldly, but as she assimilates to the human world she talks more normally. There were a couple of instances where Taylor sounded like Lora, too poetic for a normal teenage boy, but overall the characters were realistic and distinct. Though they were both told in first person I didn't confuse the two.
The characters were the stars of the story. I genuinely liked both of the main characters, which isn't always the case for me. The romance between them was gradual and felt natural. It was a sweet realistic romance. The side characters were just as good as the main characters and the friendships blossomed at a realistic pace the same way the relationship did.
Taylor and Lora gradually grow to trust one another and it makes them both better people. The change in their personalities is gradual and well done. They've both had a rough family life and they both have their secrets. They slowly open up to one another, and it felt like they would actually reveal these closely guarded secrets. Lora’s tells her story to Taylor as a nightly ‘fairy tale’. Since there is a lot of back story, this was a good way to do it without being boring.
Though there is plenty of magic in this book and excitement at the end, most of the book isn't fast paced. That doesn't mean it’s boring, not in the least. The Last Changeling mostly takes place in a modern high school and romance plays a large part of the story. Normally this wouldn't sound like my kind of book, but I really enjoyed it! There’s the normal teenage stuff, but it’s handled well and Lora is so different it’s fun to see through her eyes and watch her navigate the human world.
The world of the faerie has been done so many times, but the author still creates her own unique mythology. Like most fairies, those in Last Changeling can’t lie outright, are hurt by iron, and use glamours. (They also have wings, which I thought was the best part!) There isn't too much magic in the book, but what was there was imaginative and just plain cool.
There wasn't a to be continued ending, which I appreciated, but there’s certainly more to come. (At least I hope there is!) I would've appreciated if one question had been answered though. (I can’t say what it was without spoilers.)
I plan to buy The Last Changeling when it’s released and would highly recommend it.
8/10 Stars
December 16, 2015
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
The Last Changeling is the first book in the young adult series, the Faerie Revolutions. I am a huge fan of faerie books, and what I especially loved about The Last Changeling is not only is it a great representation of Faerie lore, but it is also heavy on the romance. I really loved reading about the strong emotional connection between Elora and Taylor. That boy crushed hard on her and I ate it all up! Fans of faerie books will love this new series. It was so well done, and in addition to the heavy romance and paranormal elements, there was also some social issues mixed into the high school scene in the story. I only had one minor issue with that aspect of the story, but everything else was great.
The book is told in dual perspective between Taylor and Elora, or Lora as Taylor knows her. I loved this narration style for this book. I thought allowed us to get to know both main characters really well. I don't even know who I liked more. Those are my favorite kinds of books, where I connect with each of the main characters for different reasons. Taylor is dealing with some dark demons of his past. And I can't quite put my finger on it, but I always kind of felt this mysterious air surrounding him. I thought there might be a connection of him to the faerie world. I can't wait to see whether there is or not and see how that all unfolds in the next book.
Elora is trapped in the middle of a war, both a prisoner and an active participant. She is an enigma, and I loved watching her grow as a faerie and person, and watching her wage war within herself. Being around Taylor and his friends was a great aid to her personal growth. The Last Changeling is a pleasure to read. I don't know how else to say it. The pacing of this book is great and the words just seem to flow from the pages. There are many things competing within the story for the main theme of the story, but Chelsea Pitcher somehow makes all of the elements meld together flawlessly. The faerie lore mixes in perfectly with the strong romance. And at the same time there are very prominent secondary characters which bring a slew of teenage social issues into the story. There was bullying and gay/straight tensions, along with drug use. I really admired the way Chelsea Pitcher worked in such serious issues facing teens today, but I had a small issue with there being so many "issues" in play in the story. It almost felt like too much and I thought it took away from the main message about the bullying people for being different. I almost feel like if the drugging and drinking didn't come into play the bullying and identity message would have been stronger. That being said, I loved everything else about the story. I thought it was really well done a great setup for the series.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
The Last Changeling is the first book in the young adult series, the Faerie Revolutions. I am a huge fan of faerie books, and what I especially loved about The Last Changeling is not only is it a great representation of Faerie lore, but it is also heavy on the romance. I really loved reading about the strong emotional connection between Elora and Taylor. That boy crushed hard on her and I ate it all up! Fans of faerie books will love this new series. It was so well done, and in addition to the heavy romance and paranormal elements, there was also some social issues mixed into the high school scene in the story. I only had one minor issue with that aspect of the story, but everything else was great.
The book is told in dual perspective between Taylor and Elora, or Lora as Taylor knows her. I loved this narration style for this book. I thought allowed us to get to know both main characters really well. I don't even know who I liked more. Those are my favorite kinds of books, where I connect with each of the main characters for different reasons. Taylor is dealing with some dark demons of his past. And I can't quite put my finger on it, but I always kind of felt this mysterious air surrounding him. I thought there might be a connection of him to the faerie world. I can't wait to see whether there is or not and see how that all unfolds in the next book.
Elora is trapped in the middle of a war, both a prisoner and an active participant. She is an enigma, and I loved watching her grow as a faerie and person, and watching her wage war within herself. Being around Taylor and his friends was a great aid to her personal growth. The Last Changeling is a pleasure to read. I don't know how else to say it. The pacing of this book is great and the words just seem to flow from the pages. There are many things competing within the story for the main theme of the story, but Chelsea Pitcher somehow makes all of the elements meld together flawlessly. The faerie lore mixes in perfectly with the strong romance. And at the same time there are very prominent secondary characters which bring a slew of teenage social issues into the story. There was bullying and gay/straight tensions, along with drug use. I really admired the way Chelsea Pitcher worked in such serious issues facing teens today, but I had a small issue with there being so many "issues" in play in the story. It almost felt like too much and I thought it took away from the main message about the bullying people for being different. I almost feel like if the drugging and drinking didn't come into play the bullying and identity message would have been stronger. That being said, I loved everything else about the story. I thought it was really well done a great setup for the series.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
December 30, 2014
“She was not an angel. She hadn't come to save me. Maybe she'd come to destroy me. Still, I wanted her.”
The Last Changeling follows Elora as she begins on her quest to put an end to her mothers rule. In order to get the Bright Queen on her side, she must switch bodies with a human and pretend to be her, in order to take a boy back for the Bright Queen as requested. What Elora wasn't expecting was to make friends, and even fall in love.
This book has me torn form the beginning. While the book does have a lot of potential, it doesn't do much to impress you. While the idea of the world and the characters is good, it leaves you with a 'meh' feeling.
Elora is a character that I do admire. She's the Dark Faery Princess, which sounds like it would be super cool right? Well the book is set in the human world, so we don't really get to know about her as a faery other than the story she tells us.
I tried my hardest to relate to her in some way, but I just couldn't. She was a 'good' character, but there was nothing amazing or impressive about her. Even though she was the main character, she seemed as plain as a background character that only gets mentioned once in a book.
I liked Taylor a little bit more than Elora. If it wasn't for Taylors point of view in the story I would have most likely stopped reading. After his brother's death, Taylor blames himself and has been secluded from family and friends until Elora arrives.
Again, just like Elora there was nothing special about Taylor. In fact, I would actually say that he's even more annoying than Elora since he constantly wines and cries out for Elora not to leave him. Yet in his point of view there were some pretty funny moments that made me laugh which made his side of the story so much more enjoyable.
The plot of the story was alright. It seemed fairly predictable and there wasn't much action until the very end of the book. Either way it felt a little dry in most parts of the book.
The world-bulding wasn't great either. There wasn't too much descriptions and either way the characters didn't really go to many places other than the school and Taylor's house. As for Elora's land, we didn't get much description, just the basics of her story.
Overall, I would not recommend this book. I found it fairly boring and plain. There was so much potential with the idea of Elora's power but it wasn't fully used. While this book did have a really cute ending, I would not waste that much time getting to it.
Happy Reading,
-Aneta
The Last Changeling follows Elora as she begins on her quest to put an end to her mothers rule. In order to get the Bright Queen on her side, she must switch bodies with a human and pretend to be her, in order to take a boy back for the Bright Queen as requested. What Elora wasn't expecting was to make friends, and even fall in love.
This book has me torn form the beginning. While the book does have a lot of potential, it doesn't do much to impress you. While the idea of the world and the characters is good, it leaves you with a 'meh' feeling.
Elora is a character that I do admire. She's the Dark Faery Princess, which sounds like it would be super cool right? Well the book is set in the human world, so we don't really get to know about her as a faery other than the story she tells us.
I tried my hardest to relate to her in some way, but I just couldn't. She was a 'good' character, but there was nothing amazing or impressive about her. Even though she was the main character, she seemed as plain as a background character that only gets mentioned once in a book.
I liked Taylor a little bit more than Elora. If it wasn't for Taylors point of view in the story I would have most likely stopped reading. After his brother's death, Taylor blames himself and has been secluded from family and friends until Elora arrives.
Again, just like Elora there was nothing special about Taylor. In fact, I would actually say that he's even more annoying than Elora since he constantly wines and cries out for Elora not to leave him. Yet in his point of view there were some pretty funny moments that made me laugh which made his side of the story so much more enjoyable.
The plot of the story was alright. It seemed fairly predictable and there wasn't much action until the very end of the book. Either way it felt a little dry in most parts of the book.
The world-bulding wasn't great either. There wasn't too much descriptions and either way the characters didn't really go to many places other than the school and Taylor's house. As for Elora's land, we didn't get much description, just the basics of her story.
Overall, I would not recommend this book. I found it fairly boring and plain. There was so much potential with the idea of Elora's power but it wasn't fully used. While this book did have a really cute ending, I would not waste that much time getting to it.
Happy Reading,
-Aneta
November 7, 2014
I started reading The Last Changeling expecting nothing more than a little entertainment, a light paranormal story and hopefully sweet romance. I got much much more. Contrary to what pretty cover and summary lead me to believe, The Last Changeling is not just another young adult novel.
In a lyrical, unusual style, that’s fit better for literal fiction than paranormal genre, Chelsea Pitcher weaves her magical web around us. Whether it’s the descriptions of nature or feelings, style of writing is not something you read every day.
"But late one night, death offered me an opportunity. She whispered dirty secrets in my ear and pulled back my eyelids with curling hands."
Narrators are Elora/Lora, fae princess, and Tyler, human boy. Every chapter switches perspective. You could not miss who is talking in each chapter, even if it was not written at the beginning. Taylor’s language is modern and short. Elora’s speech has archaic traces, reminded me of Shakespeare’s dialogues (if someone rewrote them for modern-themed Broadway show).
The story is typical. Fae princess comes in disguise to human high school and falls in love with a human boy. But the writing and the characters make The Last Changeling unique. I already mentioned the writing style. As for the characters, when people complain and tweet #WeNeedDiverseBooks – they are saying that more books should be like The Last Changeling. Homosexuality, bisexuality, peer pressure, drugs, bullying, dealing with loss of a family member, complex characters, … It’s all covered.
Sadly, all Chelsea Pitcher‘s talent was pretty much wasted on me. Someone would have enjoyed this book like a rare cup of exotic tea. I sipped it, made face, concluded how I can see it’s good, but it’s not for me. I might even continue reading Faerie Revolutions series, since I am intrigued to find out what will happen next. But it feels kinda like a sacrilege reading and not enjoying it.
In The End…
The Last Changeling is not a book for everyone. But if you like writing styles with literal flare and are looking for a young adult paranormal novel with diverse cast of characters, then The Last Changeling might be the book you will enjoy.
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. This text is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.
In a lyrical, unusual style, that’s fit better for literal fiction than paranormal genre, Chelsea Pitcher weaves her magical web around us. Whether it’s the descriptions of nature or feelings, style of writing is not something you read every day.
"But late one night, death offered me an opportunity. She whispered dirty secrets in my ear and pulled back my eyelids with curling hands."
Narrators are Elora/Lora, fae princess, and Tyler, human boy. Every chapter switches perspective. You could not miss who is talking in each chapter, even if it was not written at the beginning. Taylor’s language is modern and short. Elora’s speech has archaic traces, reminded me of Shakespeare’s dialogues (if someone rewrote them for modern-themed Broadway show).
The story is typical. Fae princess comes in disguise to human high school and falls in love with a human boy. But the writing and the characters make The Last Changeling unique. I already mentioned the writing style. As for the characters, when people complain and tweet #WeNeedDiverseBooks – they are saying that more books should be like The Last Changeling. Homosexuality, bisexuality, peer pressure, drugs, bullying, dealing with loss of a family member, complex characters, … It’s all covered.
Sadly, all Chelsea Pitcher‘s talent was pretty much wasted on me. Someone would have enjoyed this book like a rare cup of exotic tea. I sipped it, made face, concluded how I can see it’s good, but it’s not for me. I might even continue reading Faerie Revolutions series, since I am intrigued to find out what will happen next. But it feels kinda like a sacrilege reading and not enjoying it.
In The End…
The Last Changeling is not a book for everyone. But if you like writing styles with literal flare and are looking for a young adult paranormal novel with diverse cast of characters, then The Last Changeling might be the book you will enjoy.
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. This text is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.
January 18, 2016
I enjoy a book that sends a good message, don't get me wrong, but when an author pushes character development and plot aside to send a message, it ruins the book. This is essentially what happened with this novel. 85% of the novel revolves around a group of teenagers (one being a changeling/faerie) who are fighting for the rights of same-sex couples to go to prom and of course not be bullied.
There were lengthy powerful speeches, a bunch of 'lets rise up against the bullies and administration', and other scenes. It is a good message, but it was literally pounded into the reader to the point it was overkill.
While there was a good message, I felt the way the whole same-sex couple problem was resolved (can't say it or it will be spoiled) was a bit disappointing.
Now onto the fantasy/faerie element. Due to the fact that so much revolves around the same-sex couple ban at prom, there is very little in the way of fantasy. Most of what readers learn about the fantasy world or even the conflict there is told as a bedtime story to the teenage boy (our second main character).
Other issues I had with the book -
The characters were a bit flat. There wasn't much emphasis on making readers like or relate to any of them.
There is a character in the book who is in a wheelchair, but there were multiple scenes where they were doing stuff that seemed difficult/impossible with a wheelchair. Plus the wheelchair would magically appear when stuff happened sort of as a way to remind you there was a disabled character.
Lots of emphasis on identity, sexuality, and equal rights. LOTS. To the point it overshadowed the plot. This wouldn't have been bad, but the book talked about a faerie war and readers got like 3% of that.
Taylor (main male character) was a bit inconsistent. He claimed he had difficulty hugging and touching people, but was all over Lora (main female character) trying to get into her pants. Then when she wouldn't sleep with him or make out, he got 'red flag' jealous and upset.
Insta-friendships. I can't stand when people were ignored and then they become insta-friends to the point they are like 'I love you.... '. Not relationships. Friendships.
The ending with two naked bodies just seemed out of place and a bit out there.
There were lengthy powerful speeches, a bunch of 'lets rise up against the bullies and administration', and other scenes. It is a good message, but it was literally pounded into the reader to the point it was overkill.
While there was a good message, I felt the way the whole same-sex couple problem was resolved (can't say it or it will be spoiled) was a bit disappointing.
Now onto the fantasy/faerie element. Due to the fact that so much revolves around the same-sex couple ban at prom, there is very little in the way of fantasy. Most of what readers learn about the fantasy world or even the conflict there is told as a bedtime story to the teenage boy (our second main character).
Other issues I had with the book -
The characters were a bit flat. There wasn't much emphasis on making readers like or relate to any of them.
There is a character in the book who is in a wheelchair, but there were multiple scenes where they were doing stuff that seemed difficult/impossible with a wheelchair. Plus the wheelchair would magically appear when stuff happened sort of as a way to remind you there was a disabled character.
Lots of emphasis on identity, sexuality, and equal rights. LOTS. To the point it overshadowed the plot. This wouldn't have been bad, but the book talked about a faerie war and readers got like 3% of that.
Taylor (main male character) was a bit inconsistent. He claimed he had difficulty hugging and touching people, but was all over Lora (main female character) trying to get into her pants. Then when she wouldn't sleep with him or make out, he got 'red flag' jealous and upset.
Insta-friendships. I can't stand when people were ignored and then they become insta-friends to the point they are like 'I love you.... '. Not relationships. Friendships.
The ending with two naked bodies just seemed out of place and a bit out there.
September 3, 2014
http://www.b00kr3vi3ws.in/2014/09/The...
Elora, the daughter of the Unseelie Queen, has made a pact with the Seelie Queen to rid of the centuries old feud between the courts and rid of the iron grip that the queen’s have on their courts. The Seelie Queen demands a sacrifice in exchange for her help… And to get that from the mortal world, Elora must become a mortal herself. Taylor has troubles of his own… He has the weight of his brother’s death on his shoulders and family issues to tackle on top of High School and other teenage drama. When these two souls find each other, they help each other to find what they need.
The characters in the story are all assigned to bring in certain flavours to the story. On one hand we have Elora who brings along her faerie world to us. Through her we see the humans in a different light. She has been brought up to believe that humans are despicable, yet when she meets Taylor, she is forced to consider other perspectives. Through Taylor we experience something more familiar. Teenage angst and the facets of a dysfunctional family are portrayed through him. Their friends bring on the social stigma and LGBT issues to light. The plot revolves around Elora trying to complete her quest by solving the riddle given by the Seelie Queen and Taylor’s influence on Elora. I would have loved to see a gradual build up of the romance instead of the instant attraction, especially since Elora is supposed to despise humans. This book is just the beginning of a series and most of it takes place in the mortal world with Elora as the sole connection. As such we get very little look into the actual faerie world and faeries themselves.
I wish we could have seen more of the faerie world instead of waiting for it for later in the series. I also wish the author had handled the Elora-Taylor love in a slower but developing manner. Overall, this turned out to be an average book.
Elora, the daughter of the Unseelie Queen, has made a pact with the Seelie Queen to rid of the centuries old feud between the courts and rid of the iron grip that the queen’s have on their courts. The Seelie Queen demands a sacrifice in exchange for her help… And to get that from the mortal world, Elora must become a mortal herself. Taylor has troubles of his own… He has the weight of his brother’s death on his shoulders and family issues to tackle on top of High School and other teenage drama. When these two souls find each other, they help each other to find what they need.
The characters in the story are all assigned to bring in certain flavours to the story. On one hand we have Elora who brings along her faerie world to us. Through her we see the humans in a different light. She has been brought up to believe that humans are despicable, yet when she meets Taylor, she is forced to consider other perspectives. Through Taylor we experience something more familiar. Teenage angst and the facets of a dysfunctional family are portrayed through him. Their friends bring on the social stigma and LGBT issues to light. The plot revolves around Elora trying to complete her quest by solving the riddle given by the Seelie Queen and Taylor’s influence on Elora. I would have loved to see a gradual build up of the romance instead of the instant attraction, especially since Elora is supposed to despise humans. This book is just the beginning of a series and most of it takes place in the mortal world with Elora as the sole connection. As such we get very little look into the actual faerie world and faeries themselves.
I wish we could have seen more of the faerie world instead of waiting for it for later in the series. I also wish the author had handled the Elora-Taylor love in a slower but developing manner. Overall, this turned out to be an average book.
July 25, 2015
Every time when I decide I'm done with YA fiction, and, especially YA combined with fairies, I discover another captivating novel like The Last Changeling. Elora must fulfill a task in order to overthrow her mother, the Dark Queen. Taylor can help her adjust in the human world as well as provide her with the perfect offering to the Bright Queen.
Comfortably paced, The Last Changeling is an enthralling and wonderfully relaxing read. The world building is quite adequate for the purposes of this book and the characters are lifelike and believable.
Elora, especially, is a very realistic character. She is all on fire for her cause, yet, her desire to fly, her caring nature and the nuisance called love gets in her way.
Taylor, the other main point of view character, is a truly good soul. He refuses to suffer cheating in sport and shows sympathy for the gay kids in the school. Other characters like the twins, Kylie and Keegan, add to the unique and delightful cast of characters that give life to this book.
Brad, the school bully, is realistically awful and, fortunately, doesn't become a good guy just because he suffers a bit. Although not many characters have their backstories told, the bit that is revealed about Taylor makes an impact on his actions throughout the story.
For a pleasantly relaxing read with enough suspense and action as well as almost too much romance, I recommend The Last Changeling as a worthwhile read. (Ellen Fritz)
Comfortably paced, The Last Changeling is an enthralling and wonderfully relaxing read. The world building is quite adequate for the purposes of this book and the characters are lifelike and believable.
Elora, especially, is a very realistic character. She is all on fire for her cause, yet, her desire to fly, her caring nature and the nuisance called love gets in her way.
Taylor, the other main point of view character, is a truly good soul. He refuses to suffer cheating in sport and shows sympathy for the gay kids in the school. Other characters like the twins, Kylie and Keegan, add to the unique and delightful cast of characters that give life to this book.
Brad, the school bully, is realistically awful and, fortunately, doesn't become a good guy just because he suffers a bit. Although not many characters have their backstories told, the bit that is revealed about Taylor makes an impact on his actions throughout the story.
For a pleasantly relaxing read with enough suspense and action as well as almost too much romance, I recommend The Last Changeling as a worthwhile read. (Ellen Fritz)
February 10, 2017
I'm quite disappointed with how this book turned out. The summary is more entertaining than this book was as a whole. I couldn't relate to any of the characters, there was no connection whatsoever. The book didn't impress me at all. The raw need that Elora has to save her people wasn't displayed enough for me. Honestly, I couldn't care less for that. The switching point of views were a nice break in the story, but if it weren't for the names at the beginning of each chapter I wouldn't have known who was who as both characters had the same voice and there wasn't much distinction in them. There was so much potential with the Faerie world and the powers that Elora supposedly possesses, but we only got a little glimpse of it. The last 10% made from this one star book a two star one, but in general it was a letdown.
October 27, 2014
ARC received for fair review.
This review will be available on my blog: Fantasy Findings as of the 27th.
I don't know how else to break this to you, so I shall be blunt.
The Last Changeling is not a faerie tale.
Oh, certainly Elora is a faerie (though, I would note that she is not a changeling - a glamor is not the same thing. For changelings and faery see Cargill's Dreams and Shadows) and she does tell a tale of the faery in this story, but only in the last 20% of the book does anything related to the faery become relevant at all. As the book starts with Elora already out in the mortal world, we never spend time with the fae proper. Heck, when the fae do come to play in the last bit of the book, it's in the mortal realm. Someone looking for a YA story about the Dark Court is going to be disappointed, because everything we learn about the courts are told in long exposition sequences, in the form of a story that Elora is telling Taylor. It's the very definition of tell, not show and the book would have benefited tremendously from starting the book in the faery realm and then moving it to the mortal. By doing so, Elora's fight would have picked up a much greater sense of urgency and you'd been more vested in the fight. By having it all explained as a story, the reader remains detached. All told, with not a lot of editing, you could excise the the faery elements and be left with a contemporary story.
So how does the contemporary story hold up?
Not that well.
Everyone at this school comes off as one dimensional. The bully is Evil. The outcast girl is a vegan goth. There's heavy handedness surrounding discrimination towards the LGBT community - the bully gets his parents and the parents of the rich kids to call and convince the principal that the prom should be for "traditional" couples only because Taylor joined the Gay-Straight alliance. This is after the bully more or less forced Taylor to resign by having him and the other kids insinuate that he was touching them - and the obviously homophobic coach buying into it. It already feels dated and lacks any subtlety, especially for a book coming out in a time when gay marriage bans are falling left and right. Things are far from perfect for LGBT kids in high school, it'd been nice if a more delicate hand had been taken and some nuance let into the story.
As for Taylor and Elora? Eh. They're there. There are hints of an interesting backstory with Taylor - but they're never fully developed. Elora's backstory, as I mentioned, is all told in flashback, and she never comes off as strange enough to believe that she never lived amongst humans. She just comes off as a little strange, but not alien, which is what she should have.
All told, while the book is technically proficient, there's just not much there to recommend it. It's clear that this book wanted to be a YA romance with some fantastic elements. But with the fantasy elements lacking and the romance not feeling that romantic, the whole book just feels disappointing. I'm sure there's some good faery-centric stories for the YA crowd, but unfortunately, this isn't it.
This review will be available on my blog: Fantasy Findings as of the 27th.
I don't know how else to break this to you, so I shall be blunt.
The Last Changeling is not a faerie tale.
Oh, certainly Elora is a faerie (though, I would note that she is not a changeling - a glamor is not the same thing. For changelings and faery see Cargill's Dreams and Shadows) and she does tell a tale of the faery in this story, but only in the last 20% of the book does anything related to the faery become relevant at all. As the book starts with Elora already out in the mortal world, we never spend time with the fae proper. Heck, when the fae do come to play in the last bit of the book, it's in the mortal realm. Someone looking for a YA story about the Dark Court is going to be disappointed, because everything we learn about the courts are told in long exposition sequences, in the form of a story that Elora is telling Taylor. It's the very definition of tell, not show and the book would have benefited tremendously from starting the book in the faery realm and then moving it to the mortal. By doing so, Elora's fight would have picked up a much greater sense of urgency and you'd been more vested in the fight. By having it all explained as a story, the reader remains detached. All told, with not a lot of editing, you could excise the the faery elements and be left with a contemporary story.
So how does the contemporary story hold up?
Not that well.
Everyone at this school comes off as one dimensional. The bully is Evil. The outcast girl is a vegan goth. There's heavy handedness surrounding discrimination towards the LGBT community - the bully gets his parents and the parents of the rich kids to call and convince the principal that the prom should be for "traditional" couples only because Taylor joined the Gay-Straight alliance. This is after the bully more or less forced Taylor to resign by having him and the other kids insinuate that he was touching them - and the obviously homophobic coach buying into it. It already feels dated and lacks any subtlety, especially for a book coming out in a time when gay marriage bans are falling left and right. Things are far from perfect for LGBT kids in high school, it'd been nice if a more delicate hand had been taken and some nuance let into the story.
As for Taylor and Elora? Eh. They're there. There are hints of an interesting backstory with Taylor - but they're never fully developed. Elora's backstory, as I mentioned, is all told in flashback, and she never comes off as strange enough to believe that she never lived amongst humans. She just comes off as a little strange, but not alien, which is what she should have.
All told, while the book is technically proficient, there's just not much there to recommend it. It's clear that this book wanted to be a YA romance with some fantastic elements. But with the fantasy elements lacking and the romance not feeling that romantic, the whole book just feels disappointing. I'm sure there's some good faery-centric stories for the YA crowd, but unfortunately, this isn't it.
November 28, 2014
I loved Chelsea Pitcher's debut last year, The S Word, a wonderful contemporary book and when I heard she was writing a fantasy book about the Fae next, I knew that I had to read it too. She had written a contemporary that I had loved, and I'm not the biggest contemporary fan, so I knew she'd write a Fae book that I as a not a big Fae fan would like. And I was right!
I got the ARC for The Last Changeling via NetGalley but with my vacation time I run out of time to read it before release day, so I ended up reading my finished copy I had preordered. I also read the finished copy because Chelsea said she had added a lil change to the finished book and I decided I wanted to read that small but big detail.
The Last Changeling is the first book in a duology of urban fantasy with some queer characters mixed with Fae politics. The book is told in dual POVs, Elora a Fae princess of the Unseelie court and Taylor, a broken boy that is surviving along and not living.
Elora comes into the human world on a quest to find the answer to a riddle to end the war between the Fae but she finds herself embroiled in human life and human affairs in a way she didn't expect. She comes to care for humans, their lives and their causes and she finds herself leading another revolution, like the one she leads in Faery. And most surprising of it all, she finds that some of the rules she has always believed in are harder to believe in when your feelings say a different thing.
Elora was a character not as hard to connect with at first as I had expected, give her Fae princess on a mission, but when she shows that she will always find herself fighting for what she thinks it's right now matter if it's about the Fae or the humans, I was rooting for her and hoping she will find a way to get the Seelie court on her side without turning herself again into a monster.
Taylor was somewhat easier to connect with, even with his grief and his prickly exterior, even when it seems to take him a while to take a stand against what he thinks it's wrong. He finds himself falling for a stranger girl he takes into his small space and ends up not only head over heels in love with her, but also finding a way to heal himself from his emotional wounds of the past because of her.
I was mesmerized at how well Chelsea managed to mix both the fantasy part of this book with the wars between the Fae courts and the Fae politics with the contemporary setting and the fights the characters are undertaking, all mixed up but separate till the very end when from one victory we go to an unexpected fight with what looks like a sure defeat.
The ending felt like both a proper conclusion to a book but of course more than open enough to prepare the way for book two. The stage is set, the players have already shown some of their cards, but there are some questions teased about and there's some things that happened that change everything. Thankfully no horrible cliffhanger in this one and for that I'm ever so thankful!
Very much deserving of 4 to 4.5 stars this one!
I got the ARC for The Last Changeling via NetGalley but with my vacation time I run out of time to read it before release day, so I ended up reading my finished copy I had preordered. I also read the finished copy because Chelsea said she had added a lil change to the finished book and I decided I wanted to read that small but big detail.
The Last Changeling is the first book in a duology of urban fantasy with some queer characters mixed with Fae politics. The book is told in dual POVs, Elora a Fae princess of the Unseelie court and Taylor, a broken boy that is surviving along and not living.
Elora comes into the human world on a quest to find the answer to a riddle to end the war between the Fae but she finds herself embroiled in human life and human affairs in a way she didn't expect. She comes to care for humans, their lives and their causes and she finds herself leading another revolution, like the one she leads in Faery. And most surprising of it all, she finds that some of the rules she has always believed in are harder to believe in when your feelings say a different thing.
Elora was a character not as hard to connect with at first as I had expected, give her Fae princess on a mission, but when she shows that she will always find herself fighting for what she thinks it's right now matter if it's about the Fae or the humans, I was rooting for her and hoping she will find a way to get the Seelie court on her side without turning herself again into a monster.
Taylor was somewhat easier to connect with, even with his grief and his prickly exterior, even when it seems to take him a while to take a stand against what he thinks it's wrong. He finds himself falling for a stranger girl he takes into his small space and ends up not only head over heels in love with her, but also finding a way to heal himself from his emotional wounds of the past because of her.
I was mesmerized at how well Chelsea managed to mix both the fantasy part of this book with the wars between the Fae courts and the Fae politics with the contemporary setting and the fights the characters are undertaking, all mixed up but separate till the very end when from one victory we go to an unexpected fight with what looks like a sure defeat.
The ending felt like both a proper conclusion to a book but of course more than open enough to prepare the way for book two. The stage is set, the players have already shown some of their cards, but there are some questions teased about and there's some things that happened that change everything. Thankfully no horrible cliffhanger in this one and for that I'm ever so thankful!
Very much deserving of 4 to 4.5 stars this one!
November 23, 2014
**I received this book for free from Flux via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**
*Genre* Young Adult, Paranormal
*Rating* 3.0
*My Thoughts*
The Last Changeling is told in an alternating first-person point of view. The main characters are Elora, a princess of the Dark Realm of Fairie, and Taylor Alder a boy who has lost his only brother to a freak accident, and is now estranged from his parents. As the blurb indicates, Elora comes to the mortal realm searching for a way to end the centuries old war between the Dark and Light Fae and to overthrow her own mother.
*Full Review Posted @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Recvd via NetGalley 06/27/2014* Released: November 8th 2014 by Flux
*Genre* Young Adult, Paranormal
*Rating* 3.0
*My Thoughts*
The Last Changeling is told in an alternating first-person point of view. The main characters are Elora, a princess of the Dark Realm of Fairie, and Taylor Alder a boy who has lost his only brother to a freak accident, and is now estranged from his parents. As the blurb indicates, Elora comes to the mortal realm searching for a way to end the centuries old war between the Dark and Light Fae and to overthrow her own mother.
*Full Review Posted @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Recvd via NetGalley 06/27/2014* Released: November 8th 2014 by Flux
May 26, 2015
Very weird book, couldn't get into it. But again, I'm not crazy about stories with fairies, so there's that.
May 4, 2017
When I read the description of this book, I assumed that it would be cheesy. Sometimes cheesy is alright, when I'm in the mood for it at least. After reading chapter one I started wishing I wasn't a perfectionist that always has to complete a book after it is started. Anyway, I am not a writer and I cannot claim to know all the "rules" when writing a book, but even I can tell you how awful this writer is.
First chapter in I was absolutely disturbed by the switching between past tense and present tense. I am sorry but you just CANNOT do that. It's awful. The story writing on top of it is poorly executed.
Before I go into my second point, I am totally LGBT friendly. I myself am asexual and my neighbors were gay. We had BBQ's all the time and they were always the first two guys we invited over. When I picked up this book, it was not because I wanted to read about a gay rights movement in a cheesy high school drama. Classic nerds overthrow the popular kids except in the stupidest way. Every event in this book was written in such a stupid way that I was constantly cringing and putting down the book every few minutes.
The ending was probably the worst part. I don't even know where to begin and so I'm not even going to start.
In short, the story originally had a half decent concept but was poorly executed. If you are like me and actually want quality in books and use fantasy to escape from stupid people, I highly recommend NOT reading this book. It is just a waste of time.
First chapter in I was absolutely disturbed by the switching between past tense and present tense. I am sorry but you just CANNOT do that. It's awful. The story writing on top of it is poorly executed.
Before I go into my second point, I am totally LGBT friendly. I myself am asexual and my neighbors were gay. We had BBQ's all the time and they were always the first two guys we invited over. When I picked up this book, it was not because I wanted to read about a gay rights movement in a cheesy high school drama. Classic nerds overthrow the popular kids except in the stupidest way. Every event in this book was written in such a stupid way that I was constantly cringing and putting down the book every few minutes.
The ending was probably the worst part. I don't even know where to begin and so I'm not even going to start.
In short, the story originally had a half decent concept but was poorly executed. If you are like me and actually want quality in books and use fantasy to escape from stupid people, I highly recommend NOT reading this book. It is just a waste of time.
July 8, 2021
First, I love the cover! It definitely caught my eye and pique my interest. So, cover wise, it was captivating.
Story-wise , it’s pretty good and some might shy away from the “inta-love” troupe which this book offers, I don’t mind at all. I still like it.
I love the the dual point of views . It made me get into the character a little deeper.
The faery world was good enough but I think it could be explored more.
Overall, “The Last Changeling was a very good YA fantasy!
Thank you NetGalley for the digital copy!
Story-wise , it’s pretty good and some might shy away from the “inta-love” troupe which this book offers, I don’t mind at all. I still like it.
I love the the dual point of views . It made me get into the character a little deeper.
The faery world was good enough but I think it could be explored more.
Overall, “The Last Changeling was a very good YA fantasy!
Thank you NetGalley for the digital copy!
July 24, 2017
I like reading fantasy Seelie and Unseelie court Fairy Books. This one was more of a cutsie one. It didn't talk a lot about fae except for her story. It was just a lot of sexual tension between Elora and Taylor.
It didn't have much depth to it. I was hoping for somthing more.
It didn't have much depth to it. I was hoping for somthing more.
January 31, 2023
There were parts of thus that I enjoyed but as a whole I would not read it again. It’s a fantasy with too much LGBTQ thrown in and not in a way that rolls good. The story feels like it could be good but it doesn’t draw you in.
March 31, 2023
Loved reading this book, getting to know this world and these characters, and I can't wait to read the sequel!
May 22, 2015
*eARC kindly provided by Flux via NetGalley.
*Review can be found at The Fox's Hideaway.
My Review!
I've been wanting to read this ever since I heard of it. Pretty cover, faeries, secrets, a main character going "undercover" in the real world? Sounded awesome. And The Last Changeling was a good book, though it left me feeling underwhelmed.
I loved that this was told in dual POVs. It was nice to have both of the main character's thoughts and feelings. It was also really easy to tell them apart, and I so appreciated the author huge efforts to make Elora's venture into the real world seem realistic and genuine. It made for some pretty comical moments, because she was so lost and overwhelmed in a world so unlike hers. Speaking of Elora, I really enjoyed her character. At first, she seems flighty and naive, stumbling around in a world that she doesn't understand. But she's also a strong character who only wanted to save her people, and she vowed to do whatever it took to bring peace to the Courts. But I never truly gained an understanding of her, because I couldn't figure out what she wanted and what her motives were for the things that she was doing. She's still kind of a mystery, even though I know her life's story. The one she told Taylor, the guy who took her in and made her fall in love for the first time in her long life.
Taylor was one of the sweetest guys I'd ever read about. He was adorable, so worried about offending or hurting people, and not okay with the antics of a bully. But he's also shy, and quietly suffering in a pool of grief and guilt for a tragedy that happened years ago. It's why his relationship with his parents is practically nonexistent and why he lives in the apartment above their garage, which makes for the perfect way to hide a Faerie who dropped into his life so suddenly. Except, he doesn't know she's a faerie. She keeps her identity a secret, but Taylor is pretty open about himself and his life. He's not exactly hard to figure out. And that's okay, because I adored him and his awkwardness and caring nature.
Their romance was very slow to buildup, which is okay and all. I can't tell you how many books I've read where the characters just jump into a relationship before they really get to know each other. It was a nice romance, sweet and innocent and doomed before it even began really. Because how could a Faerie and human be allowed to have their love? I wish there'd been a bit more with it, because it didn't give me any feels. But that could be the snail's pace that it went (which, again, isn't a bad thing). I think I just wanted more development from it.
I loved that this book had a diverse set of characters! Elora and Taylor befriend members of the Gay-Straight Alliance club, which became a huge message and focus of the book. Many of these characters felt unwanted and unheard, bullied and teased for being who they are. And with the help and addition of Elora, they take a stand and are able to find their courage at being tossed aside by the school and their classmates. I adored them all, even if they didn't have very deep relationships with the main characters.
And I loved that this book focused on that club and about righting wrongs. I loved the message of standing up for what you believe in and not letting yourself be pushed to be what society wants you to be. But I felt that the book was taking off in that direction when it should have been focusing on the faerie aspects. I wanted more of the fantastical story-line. Not that I didn't love the other one, not that I didn't adore the diversity and beautiful messages. But this is a fantasy, not a contemporary. And so I was left wanting more, a lot more, of the Faerie world. The plot wasn't exactly loaded with surprises and twists, but it was still intriguing. And I liked how the author told the story of the Faerie world, without dumping us with the information and leaving it at that. It actually surprised me, and I loved that. And that ending was surprising, but in a good way. I just wish there'd been more Faerie focus in the book.
The Last Changeling was a good faerie book that has lovable characters and wonderful messages. I'm excited about the sequel, because I have a feeling much of it will be spent in the Faerie world. I'm hoping for awesome details and complicated creatures of the Courts. And I can't wait to see what happens after that ending! :)
Rating: 3.5 Paw Prints!
*Review can be found at The Fox's Hideaway.
My Review!
I've been wanting to read this ever since I heard of it. Pretty cover, faeries, secrets, a main character going "undercover" in the real world? Sounded awesome. And The Last Changeling was a good book, though it left me feeling underwhelmed.
I loved that this was told in dual POVs. It was nice to have both of the main character's thoughts and feelings. It was also really easy to tell them apart, and I so appreciated the author huge efforts to make Elora's venture into the real world seem realistic and genuine. It made for some pretty comical moments, because she was so lost and overwhelmed in a world so unlike hers. Speaking of Elora, I really enjoyed her character. At first, she seems flighty and naive, stumbling around in a world that she doesn't understand. But she's also a strong character who only wanted to save her people, and she vowed to do whatever it took to bring peace to the Courts. But I never truly gained an understanding of her, because I couldn't figure out what she wanted and what her motives were for the things that she was doing. She's still kind of a mystery, even though I know her life's story. The one she told Taylor, the guy who took her in and made her fall in love for the first time in her long life.
Taylor was one of the sweetest guys I'd ever read about. He was adorable, so worried about offending or hurting people, and not okay with the antics of a bully. But he's also shy, and quietly suffering in a pool of grief and guilt for a tragedy that happened years ago. It's why his relationship with his parents is practically nonexistent and why he lives in the apartment above their garage, which makes for the perfect way to hide a Faerie who dropped into his life so suddenly. Except, he doesn't know she's a faerie. She keeps her identity a secret, but Taylor is pretty open about himself and his life. He's not exactly hard to figure out. And that's okay, because I adored him and his awkwardness and caring nature.
Their romance was very slow to buildup, which is okay and all. I can't tell you how many books I've read where the characters just jump into a relationship before they really get to know each other. It was a nice romance, sweet and innocent and doomed before it even began really. Because how could a Faerie and human be allowed to have their love? I wish there'd been a bit more with it, because it didn't give me any feels. But that could be the snail's pace that it went (which, again, isn't a bad thing). I think I just wanted more development from it.
I loved that this book had a diverse set of characters! Elora and Taylor befriend members of the Gay-Straight Alliance club, which became a huge message and focus of the book. Many of these characters felt unwanted and unheard, bullied and teased for being who they are. And with the help and addition of Elora, they take a stand and are able to find their courage at being tossed aside by the school and their classmates. I adored them all, even if they didn't have very deep relationships with the main characters.
And I loved that this book focused on that club and about righting wrongs. I loved the message of standing up for what you believe in and not letting yourself be pushed to be what society wants you to be. But I felt that the book was taking off in that direction when it should have been focusing on the faerie aspects. I wanted more of the fantastical story-line. Not that I didn't love the other one, not that I didn't adore the diversity and beautiful messages. But this is a fantasy, not a contemporary. And so I was left wanting more, a lot more, of the Faerie world. The plot wasn't exactly loaded with surprises and twists, but it was still intriguing. And I liked how the author told the story of the Faerie world, without dumping us with the information and leaving it at that. It actually surprised me, and I loved that. And that ending was surprising, but in a good way. I just wish there'd been more Faerie focus in the book.
The Last Changeling was a good faerie book that has lovable characters and wonderful messages. I'm excited about the sequel, because I have a feeling much of it will be spent in the Faerie world. I'm hoping for awesome details and complicated creatures of the Courts. And I can't wait to see what happens after that ending! :)
Rating: 3.5 Paw Prints!
December 3, 2014
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
"The Last Changeling" is exactly what a good urban fantasy should be: a seamless merging of magic and everyday issues.
The fantasy elements were absolutely mesmerizing and the tone of the writing was haunting. Something about the story and the writing felt timeless and classic, like a Grimm fairy tale or folklore of seductive fairies and dancing in the moonlight. And it was just as dark and alluring. The "final battle" scene felt like a scene straight out of a Tim Burton film. Pitcher painted such magnificent pictures in my mind with her brilliant imagery.
My only complaint regarding the fantasy aspect of the novel is that there wasn't enough of it to give me a full understanding of the faerie realm. I didn't fully understand the court politics, the types of faeries and the specifics of Elora's role in the faerie courts.
The "urban" half of the novel is developed just as well as any contemporary novel. I have to commend Pitcher for incorporating the vial ideas of foregoing popularity, respecting differences and saying true to oneself into a fantasy novel. Bonus points for messy family situations and gay and bi-sexual characters.
Elora finds herself entangled in a new set of court politics, the popularity chain of high school. She befriends a group of outcasts and sparks a social rebellion that knocks the popular kids down a notch and gives the rejects a major confidence boost. There's definitely a parallel between Elora's actions at Unity High and the rebellion she started in the Unseelie court. Very clever, Chelsea Pitcher. Very very clever.
Among both faeries and mortals, Elora is a natural-born leader. She's brave, defiant and strong. Her strong sense of morality, as shown by the intense guilt she feels when deceiving Taylor and her friends, makes her an even better leader, heroine and protagonist.
Though the synopsis (and the majority of my review so far) focuses on Elora, Taylor's role in the story is just as large as hers. In fact, the POV is split between Elora and Taylor. (Sidenote: the shift in POVs was a bit messy, making it harder to understand both characters' backstories.)
Taylor shares Elora's sense of morality, and he has the potential to become a great later. However, he has a certain reluctance that prevents him from being the hero he could be. He also has a huge chip on his shoulder: he blames himself for the death of his little brother and has a fractured relationship with his parents.
Taylor really proves himself in the end. He starts fixing his relationship with his dad and starts forgiving himself for his brother's death. He risks his life to save his friends and the girl he loves. He makes a big sacrifice -- though he didn't quite understand the gravity of his sacrifice at the time -- to save Elora.
Taylor and Elora's relationship is a bit insta-lovey, but I never stopped rooting for them.
Bottom Line
Pitcher created an amazing tale that combines the haunting, seductive feel of ancient fairy tales with modern lessons that every teenager -- no, every person needs to take to heart. The protagonists, Taylor and Elora, have deeply ingrained principles that show in their narration.
On the downside, parts of the world-building and plot line were made unclear by the dual narration and the romance was a bit insta-lovey.
Regardless, "The Last Changeling" is a remarkable story of magic, bravery and morals.
"The Last Changeling" is exactly what a good urban fantasy should be: a seamless merging of magic and everyday issues.
The fantasy elements were absolutely mesmerizing and the tone of the writing was haunting. Something about the story and the writing felt timeless and classic, like a Grimm fairy tale or folklore of seductive fairies and dancing in the moonlight. And it was just as dark and alluring. The "final battle" scene felt like a scene straight out of a Tim Burton film. Pitcher painted such magnificent pictures in my mind with her brilliant imagery.
My only complaint regarding the fantasy aspect of the novel is that there wasn't enough of it to give me a full understanding of the faerie realm. I didn't fully understand the court politics, the types of faeries and the specifics of Elora's role in the faerie courts.
The "urban" half of the novel is developed just as well as any contemporary novel. I have to commend Pitcher for incorporating the vial ideas of foregoing popularity, respecting differences and saying true to oneself into a fantasy novel. Bonus points for messy family situations and gay and bi-sexual characters.
Elora finds herself entangled in a new set of court politics, the popularity chain of high school. She befriends a group of outcasts and sparks a social rebellion that knocks the popular kids down a notch and gives the rejects a major confidence boost. There's definitely a parallel between Elora's actions at Unity High and the rebellion she started in the Unseelie court. Very clever, Chelsea Pitcher. Very very clever.
Among both faeries and mortals, Elora is a natural-born leader. She's brave, defiant and strong. Her strong sense of morality, as shown by the intense guilt she feels when deceiving Taylor and her friends, makes her an even better leader, heroine and protagonist.
Though the synopsis (and the majority of my review so far) focuses on Elora, Taylor's role in the story is just as large as hers. In fact, the POV is split between Elora and Taylor. (Sidenote: the shift in POVs was a bit messy, making it harder to understand both characters' backstories.)
Taylor shares Elora's sense of morality, and he has the potential to become a great later. However, he has a certain reluctance that prevents him from being the hero he could be. He also has a huge chip on his shoulder: he blames himself for the death of his little brother and has a fractured relationship with his parents.
Taylor really proves himself in the end. He starts fixing his relationship with his dad and starts forgiving himself for his brother's death. He risks his life to save his friends and the girl he loves. He makes a big sacrifice -- though he didn't quite understand the gravity of his sacrifice at the time -- to save Elora.
Taylor and Elora's relationship is a bit insta-lovey, but I never stopped rooting for them.
Bottom Line
Pitcher created an amazing tale that combines the haunting, seductive feel of ancient fairy tales with modern lessons that every teenager -- no, every person needs to take to heart. The protagonists, Taylor and Elora, have deeply ingrained principles that show in their narration.
On the downside, parts of the world-building and plot line were made unclear by the dual narration and the romance was a bit insta-lovey.
Regardless, "The Last Changeling" is a remarkable story of magic, bravery and morals.
December 19, 2014
The worst I thought would happen to The Last Changeling is an exact replica of The Iron Fey, only a much darker version.
Thankfully, that isn't the case.
In actuality, The Last Changeling is a talking book. Chelsea Pitcher's latest work certainly didn't sprout a mouth and start speaking to me. Although it would be really cool to have a talking book. "Morning, Last Changeling! Please summarize what I read three weeks ago. Thank you!"
(Should that actually happen, I would probably use it a lot. For the books whose sequels I read years later. *cough* Matched *cough*)
See, one of our main characters, Elora, is a Dark Faery Princess on a quest for the Bright/Seelie Queen. Our other main character is a dude by the name of Taylor who is a soccer player and has great morality, but the guy honestly puts himself down far too much. They meet... at a swing set, and because "Lora" doesn't seem to have a place to go, Taylor offers to let her stay at his house.
Thus begins the talking. And more talking. About faery history, which essentially leads to well... Elora's history (always a great idea for us to know the characters of course, especially the main ones). By the end of the book, you'll know Elora pretty well, and meanwhile... it's pretty much expected Taylor and Elora will fall heads over heels in love from their first meeting. The characters just don't admit it (not that any pair of fictional characters ever do).
Plus, Taylor and I are distant buddies. Quite distant, because it seems as though Pitcher focuses a little too much on Elora and the reader knowing Elora yet neglecting Taylor.
So basically my biggest question is this: Is Elora's quest just talking, trying to acclimate to the mortal world, while trying to figure out the answer to the Bright Queen's riddle which was off the charts wrong? I was sort of expecting adventure. Fireballs! Or... shadowballs in this case...
But I most certainly did not expect talking. Lots and lots of talking.
I guess I'm the reader who prefers the blood and gore. Occasionally, the fluffy, bunny book (NOT like eating bunny tails, as Ella likes to say. Though I suppose that's accurate as well.) is enjoyable.
On the bright side, I do think Elora and Taylor go well together. By the end of the story, Taylor seems much more confident and seems to stand up for himself rather than letting others push him around. And Elora, despite the fact her lack of knowledge of the mortal world is hilarious, makes a great impact to those who would rather be a doormat and not stand up for themselves. I personally think Chelsea Pitcher's latest novel sends a strong message across to readers, even though there's far too much talking than "questing."
----------------------
Advanced copy provided by Flux for review (and the blog tour)
Original Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Original Review posted at Bookwyrming Thoughts
Thankfully, that isn't the case.
In actuality, The Last Changeling is a talking book. Chelsea Pitcher's latest work certainly didn't sprout a mouth and start speaking to me. Although it would be really cool to have a talking book. "Morning, Last Changeling! Please summarize what I read three weeks ago. Thank you!"
(Should that actually happen, I would probably use it a lot. For the books whose sequels I read years later. *cough* Matched *cough*)
See, one of our main characters, Elora, is a Dark Faery Princess on a quest for the Bright/Seelie Queen. Our other main character is a dude by the name of Taylor who is a soccer player and has great morality, but the guy honestly puts himself down far too much. They meet... at a swing set, and because "Lora" doesn't seem to have a place to go, Taylor offers to let her stay at his house.
Thus begins the talking. And more talking. About faery history, which essentially leads to well... Elora's history (always a great idea for us to know the characters of course, especially the main ones). By the end of the book, you'll know Elora pretty well, and meanwhile... it's pretty much expected Taylor and Elora will fall heads over heels in love from their first meeting. The characters just don't admit it (not that any pair of fictional characters ever do).
Plus, Taylor and I are distant buddies. Quite distant, because it seems as though Pitcher focuses a little too much on Elora and the reader knowing Elora yet neglecting Taylor.
So basically my biggest question is this: Is Elora's quest just talking, trying to acclimate to the mortal world, while trying to figure out the answer to the Bright Queen's riddle which was off the charts wrong? I was sort of expecting adventure. Fireballs! Or... shadowballs in this case...
But I most certainly did not expect talking. Lots and lots of talking.
I guess I'm the reader who prefers the blood and gore. Occasionally, the fluffy, bunny book (NOT like eating bunny tails, as Ella likes to say. Though I suppose that's accurate as well.) is enjoyable.
On the bright side, I do think Elora and Taylor go well together. By the end of the story, Taylor seems much more confident and seems to stand up for himself rather than letting others push him around. And Elora, despite the fact her lack of knowledge of the mortal world is hilarious, makes a great impact to those who would rather be a doormat and not stand up for themselves. I personally think Chelsea Pitcher's latest novel sends a strong message across to readers, even though there's far too much talking than "questing."
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Advanced copy provided by Flux for review (and the blog tour)
Original Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Original Review posted at Bookwyrming Thoughts
November 10, 2014
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
THE LAST CHANGELING by Chelsea Pitcher is Ordinary People-meets-Maleficent - and if that sounds like a strange combination, that's because it is. Almost all of the information given in the blurb on the back of the book is actually kept from the reader for more than two hundred pages, and Elora's motives for attending a human high school are extremely vague. Instead of a faerie war, we get Taylor's still-fresh grief over losing his younger brother and the torment of his high school. Elora's 'otherness' (not to mention otherworldly beauty) gives Taylor something to focus on aside from his family's pain, but it's a long time before the reader gets to know her endgame.
Normally I don't like alternating first-person points of view, but Pitcher did an excellent job in distinguishing Taylor's voice from Elora's, even after Elora adjusts to the human world and starts using contractions. They think differently, as they should. That grip on the two different voices is a bit shaky at first, though, and the attempt to make Elora sound fairy-like and ageless causes Taylor to sound much younger than his supposed 17 years. Given how young he seemed at the start, I thought the speed of Taylor's feelings for Elora was implausible, but the more Pitcher delves into Taylor's guilt and isolation, the easier it is to see why he's drawn to her flame, and Pitcher relaxes her grip so that each of the characters comes through naturally.
A character's entire history doesn't have to be spelled out from the moment they appear on the page, but the vagueness surrounding Elora and her plan affected how I read a lot of the book, and that left me confused in the middle of it. The bit about the Bright Queen's demand doesn't actually come up in the plot until close to the end when, after chapter upon chapter of teenage human drama, suddenly Faeries! I believed Elora had run away to the human world to escape her evil family, not because she was on a quest that would help her overthrow them. And though she's supposed to be a princess of the Dark Faeries who hate all humanity, Elora doesn't seem to have any qualms walking among them, and her fae-nature is further drowned out by her natural gift for social activism.
THE LAST CHANGELING ends with a direct set-up for a sequel, and the adrenaline rush of the last few chapters, with their focus on fae politics, makes the rest of the book feel like a prequel to the story Pitcher really wants to be telling, the sort of ground work she just has to get out of the way. Taylor and Elora's school friends from the Gay-Straight Alliance make for an interesting cast of supporting characters, but their prom plots and messages about being true to oneself seem like part of a completely separate book. Both stories have their strengths; working together, unfortunately, isn't one of them.
THE LAST CHANGELING by Chelsea Pitcher is Ordinary People-meets-Maleficent - and if that sounds like a strange combination, that's because it is. Almost all of the information given in the blurb on the back of the book is actually kept from the reader for more than two hundred pages, and Elora's motives for attending a human high school are extremely vague. Instead of a faerie war, we get Taylor's still-fresh grief over losing his younger brother and the torment of his high school. Elora's 'otherness' (not to mention otherworldly beauty) gives Taylor something to focus on aside from his family's pain, but it's a long time before the reader gets to know her endgame.
Normally I don't like alternating first-person points of view, but Pitcher did an excellent job in distinguishing Taylor's voice from Elora's, even after Elora adjusts to the human world and starts using contractions. They think differently, as they should. That grip on the two different voices is a bit shaky at first, though, and the attempt to make Elora sound fairy-like and ageless causes Taylor to sound much younger than his supposed 17 years. Given how young he seemed at the start, I thought the speed of Taylor's feelings for Elora was implausible, but the more Pitcher delves into Taylor's guilt and isolation, the easier it is to see why he's drawn to her flame, and Pitcher relaxes her grip so that each of the characters comes through naturally.
A character's entire history doesn't have to be spelled out from the moment they appear on the page, but the vagueness surrounding Elora and her plan affected how I read a lot of the book, and that left me confused in the middle of it. The bit about the Bright Queen's demand doesn't actually come up in the plot until close to the end when, after chapter upon chapter of teenage human drama, suddenly Faeries! I believed Elora had run away to the human world to escape her evil family, not because she was on a quest that would help her overthrow them. And though she's supposed to be a princess of the Dark Faeries who hate all humanity, Elora doesn't seem to have any qualms walking among them, and her fae-nature is further drowned out by her natural gift for social activism.
THE LAST CHANGELING ends with a direct set-up for a sequel, and the adrenaline rush of the last few chapters, with their focus on fae politics, makes the rest of the book feel like a prequel to the story Pitcher really wants to be telling, the sort of ground work she just has to get out of the way. Taylor and Elora's school friends from the Gay-Straight Alliance make for an interesting cast of supporting characters, but their prom plots and messages about being true to oneself seem like part of a completely separate book. Both stories have their strengths; working together, unfortunately, isn't one of them.
August 23, 2014
French : Une couverture magnifique, un résumé accrocheur... Au final, une énorme déception, comme si j'avais vu un super gâteau et qu'au final, il n'est pas bon. Je vais être franc : ce livre ne m'a pas plu. Je pensais adorer, vraiment, parce que ça parle de faës - cet univers est super - et le résumé m'avait plu.
Au final, le roman s'avère déçevant. Rien n'est développé mais alors rien. Dans le résumé, on évoque la mort du frère de Taylor. On en parle quelques pages et puis c'est bon. C'est tellement rapide qu'on ne le voit pas passer. Je déteste ne pas aimer un bouquin. Ce bouquin promettait tellement... Peut-être que je n'étais pas d'humeur à ce moment-là. Que j'aurais aimé, si je l'avais lu sur papier.
Les personnages sont attachants, tout de même, j'ai bien aimé Taylor et l'auteur écrit très bien mais... L'univers faë n'est pas assez développé. La ''révolution'' humaine ne m'a pas plu. Tout s'oriente sur les différences d'orientation sexuelles mais même de ce côté-là c'est mou et les personnages s'embrouillent... Lora est assez mystérieuse mais trop solitaire, rien n'est développé... Et on voit que c'est un premier tome.
La fin est assez prometteuse mais j'ai eu l'impression de lire un livre totalement différent du résumé. La relation Lora/Taylor est plus physique qu'autre chose, il n'y a pas de sentiment, l'évolution est très lente et d'un coup, ça arrive comme un cheveu sur la soupe.
J'ai eu du mal à lire ce livre, je ramais, encore et encore...
English : A beautiful cover, a catchy summary ... In the end, a huge disappointment, as if I had seen a great cake and in the end, it is not good. I'll be honest: this book I did not like. I thought love, really, because it's about Faes - this world is great - and I liked the summary.
In the end, the novel proves disappointing. Nothing is developed but then nothing. In summary, on the death of the brother of Taylor. We talk a few pages and then it's good. It's so fast you can not see through. I hate not love a book. This book promised so much ... Maybe I was not in the mood for that time. I would have liked if I had read it on paper.
The characters are endearing, anyway, I liked Taylor and the author writes very well but ... the universe Fae is not developed enough. The 'revolution' human did not like me. Everything focuses on differences in sexual orientation, but even that side is soft and the characters are confused ... Lora is quite mysterious but too lonely, nothing is developed ... and we see this is the first volume.
The ending is quite promising, but I had the feeling of reading an entirely different book summary. The relationship Lora / Taylor is more physical than anything else, there is no sense, evolution is very slow and suddenly, it happens like a hair in the soup.
I had trouble reading this book, I was rowing again and again ...
Au final, le roman s'avère déçevant. Rien n'est développé mais alors rien. Dans le résumé, on évoque la mort du frère de Taylor. On en parle quelques pages et puis c'est bon. C'est tellement rapide qu'on ne le voit pas passer. Je déteste ne pas aimer un bouquin. Ce bouquin promettait tellement... Peut-être que je n'étais pas d'humeur à ce moment-là. Que j'aurais aimé, si je l'avais lu sur papier.
Les personnages sont attachants, tout de même, j'ai bien aimé Taylor et l'auteur écrit très bien mais... L'univers faë n'est pas assez développé. La ''révolution'' humaine ne m'a pas plu. Tout s'oriente sur les différences d'orientation sexuelles mais même de ce côté-là c'est mou et les personnages s'embrouillent... Lora est assez mystérieuse mais trop solitaire, rien n'est développé... Et on voit que c'est un premier tome.
La fin est assez prometteuse mais j'ai eu l'impression de lire un livre totalement différent du résumé. La relation Lora/Taylor est plus physique qu'autre chose, il n'y a pas de sentiment, l'évolution est très lente et d'un coup, ça arrive comme un cheveu sur la soupe.
J'ai eu du mal à lire ce livre, je ramais, encore et encore...
English : A beautiful cover, a catchy summary ... In the end, a huge disappointment, as if I had seen a great cake and in the end, it is not good. I'll be honest: this book I did not like. I thought love, really, because it's about Faes - this world is great - and I liked the summary.
In the end, the novel proves disappointing. Nothing is developed but then nothing. In summary, on the death of the brother of Taylor. We talk a few pages and then it's good. It's so fast you can not see through. I hate not love a book. This book promised so much ... Maybe I was not in the mood for that time. I would have liked if I had read it on paper.
The characters are endearing, anyway, I liked Taylor and the author writes very well but ... the universe Fae is not developed enough. The 'revolution' human did not like me. Everything focuses on differences in sexual orientation, but even that side is soft and the characters are confused ... Lora is quite mysterious but too lonely, nothing is developed ... and we see this is the first volume.
The ending is quite promising, but I had the feeling of reading an entirely different book summary. The relationship Lora / Taylor is more physical than anything else, there is no sense, evolution is very slow and suddenly, it happens like a hair in the soup.
I had trouble reading this book, I was rowing again and again ...
November 7, 2014
The Last Changeling is the first book in the new Faerie Revolutions series and I love the fact that it is so much more than a YA fantasy romance novel. At its heart, it is a story about equality and standing up for what is right. It is about fighting prejuice and making the hard choices in order to remain true to what you believe is right.
That being said, it is also not a book that really hits you over the head with those messages. They may be the driving force behind the story, but they don't overwhelm it. There is also magic, romance, danger, friendship, and a whole lot of intrigue woven all around the true messages of the story.
The characters in this book are fantastic. Elora, our main character, is fighting to change her world... the world of Faery. She has been brought up in a world of racial prejudice, the light and the dark realms of Faery fighting against one another for centuries. She has been brought up to believe that humans are yet another enemy, lesser creatures incapable of true compassion and love. She has come to realize that those racial prejudices within her own world are weakening it for both sides and is trying to change that. When she moves into the human world and is saved by Taylor (a human guy), she is faced with the realization that perhaps humanity is not what she thought it was.
The destructive prejudices that she has found to be true of the Faery realms are also present in Unity High School, the human school she has "infiltrated" with a name that does not fit its reality. The prejudices here are manifested in sexuality and the treatment that those who are thought to be anything other than straight is horrendous. Taylor and Elora team up to change that, along with some unexpected allies.
I really enjoyed the premise behind this story, unlike any others I have read. I am a sucker for all things faery and I loved that this one came from the perspective of a Dark Faery. The story was engaging and engrossing and I can't wait to read the next installment!
Things to love...
--Elora and Taylor. The romance was there, but it wasn't in your face. Sweet!
--Kylie and Keegan. The twins, friends of Elora and Taylor, figure prominently and I love what they represent for the story.
--The attention paid to real issues and the ways in which they were handled.
My Recommendation: If you love the realm of the faery, this is a great read! If you love a story that has some depth and some messages to it, this is a great read!
Note: I received this for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
That being said, it is also not a book that really hits you over the head with those messages. They may be the driving force behind the story, but they don't overwhelm it. There is also magic, romance, danger, friendship, and a whole lot of intrigue woven all around the true messages of the story.
The characters in this book are fantastic. Elora, our main character, is fighting to change her world... the world of Faery. She has been brought up in a world of racial prejudice, the light and the dark realms of Faery fighting against one another for centuries. She has been brought up to believe that humans are yet another enemy, lesser creatures incapable of true compassion and love. She has come to realize that those racial prejudices within her own world are weakening it for both sides and is trying to change that. When she moves into the human world and is saved by Taylor (a human guy), she is faced with the realization that perhaps humanity is not what she thought it was.
The destructive prejudices that she has found to be true of the Faery realms are also present in Unity High School, the human school she has "infiltrated" with a name that does not fit its reality. The prejudices here are manifested in sexuality and the treatment that those who are thought to be anything other than straight is horrendous. Taylor and Elora team up to change that, along with some unexpected allies.
I really enjoyed the premise behind this story, unlike any others I have read. I am a sucker for all things faery and I loved that this one came from the perspective of a Dark Faery. The story was engaging and engrossing and I can't wait to read the next installment!
Things to love...
--Elora and Taylor. The romance was there, but it wasn't in your face. Sweet!
--Kylie and Keegan. The twins, friends of Elora and Taylor, figure prominently and I love what they represent for the story.
--The attention paid to real issues and the ways in which they were handled.
My Recommendation: If you love the realm of the faery, this is a great read! If you love a story that has some depth and some messages to it, this is a great read!
Note: I received this for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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