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The Flight of The Starling, A Fairy Tale
Princess Lily thought of fairies the way some girls think of "bad boys." If a fairy had shown up at Castle Starling wearing a motorcycle jacket and a disrespect for authority, Princess Lily would have been head over heels before he spoke a word with his pouty, mutinous mouth.
So when two fairies ask for help escaping their master, Prince Alexander, who has come to court her, Lily is forced to rescue herself along with them. Fleeing to Queen Persephone’s halfway castle for Lost Girls, Lily follows the cryptic advice of a magical Book, befriends a dragon with a knight bodyguard, and hides from the bounty-hunting gang of princes chasing her hand in marriage.
As The Knightly Times’ coverage of her flight gets more and more sensational, Lily starts to doubt her choices. How can she sort out her own opinion from the tabloids, gossip, and fairy tales?
This campy, sweet, adventurous story is perfect for anyone who loves fairy tales, from grade-schoolers to grown-ups.
So when two fairies ask for help escaping their master, Prince Alexander, who has come to court her, Lily is forced to rescue herself along with them. Fleeing to Queen Persephone’s halfway castle for Lost Girls, Lily follows the cryptic advice of a magical Book, befriends a dragon with a knight bodyguard, and hides from the bounty-hunting gang of princes chasing her hand in marriage.
As The Knightly Times’ coverage of her flight gets more and more sensational, Lily starts to doubt her choices. How can she sort out her own opinion from the tabloids, gossip, and fairy tales?
This campy, sweet, adventurous story is perfect for anyone who loves fairy tales, from grade-schoolers to grown-ups.
2616 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2019
About the author
Ella Arrow
2 books5 followersElla Arrow believes in magic, especially the kind we make for ourselves. Alter ego of Elizabeth Aronoff, she writes fairy tales, urban fantasy, steampunk, horror, and many short stories based on weird ideas that blindside her in elevators and long walks through creepy woods. You can find her at www.ella-arrow.com; on Facebook and Twitter; or in a Victorian house in a small town outside Madison, Wisconsin, chasing her kids and her next novel idea.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
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January 19, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (1/19/2020)! 🎁
November 28, 2019
I’m between a 4 & a 5, but I think my own impatience might be the reason I didn’t see a few things coming.
I love the narration. Periodically the narrator interjects with things like “if you don’t remember go back to the previous chapter and reread so I don’t waste time repeating things.” He/she never reveals their role in it. Some omniscient storyteller, perhaps.
The misunderstandings, lies, rumors, tabloids, pressures from your parents, figuring out how to make your own decision are all so timely and deftly woven together.
The language choices are lovely. The descriptions are evil active without being wordy. The fairies speak in a cockney way that captures their personalities. There are so many playful, clever elements like a dragon talking to a fairy about the job of working for her and the fairy asks about the benefits. They include apothecary, chirugeon, and wise woman at a 20% copay.
Based on the description I expected Princess Lily to be a bit more badass, more Merida from Brave, but as Arrow beautifully develops this world it becomes clear that she is a badass in her own way within the limits placed on noble women. A big part of that is the expectation that families, particularly the fa her (king) decide who daughters will marry. This is in keeping with European history but it’s still no easier to stomach. But Lilly’s headstrong bravery to set out, to take care of herself and her friends, is admirable.
The end wrapped it all up beautifully and plausibly but not in a trite, simplistic way. I still think her father is a douche bag, though.
I think this was an excellent debut novel and I think the author’s already significant talent will only sharpen with time.
I love the narration. Periodically the narrator interjects with things like “if you don’t remember go back to the previous chapter and reread so I don’t waste time repeating things.” He/she never reveals their role in it. Some omniscient storyteller, perhaps.
The misunderstandings, lies, rumors, tabloids, pressures from your parents, figuring out how to make your own decision are all so timely and deftly woven together.
The language choices are lovely. The descriptions are evil active without being wordy. The fairies speak in a cockney way that captures their personalities. There are so many playful, clever elements like a dragon talking to a fairy about the job of working for her and the fairy asks about the benefits. They include apothecary, chirugeon, and wise woman at a 20% copay.
Based on the description I expected Princess Lily to be a bit more badass, more Merida from Brave, but as Arrow beautifully develops this world it becomes clear that she is a badass in her own way within the limits placed on noble women. A big part of that is the expectation that families, particularly the fa her (king) decide who daughters will marry. This is in keeping with European history but it’s still no easier to stomach. But Lilly’s headstrong bravery to set out, to take care of herself and her friends, is admirable.
The end wrapped it all up beautifully and plausibly but not in a trite, simplistic way. I still think her father is a douche bag, though.
I think this was an excellent debut novel and I think the author’s already significant talent will only sharpen with time.
November 16, 2019
Lily, a fiery princess, arrives at the dreaded door of arranged marriages. With the help of a pair of cheeky fairies, a wonderous artifact or three and a willingness to believe, she makes good her escape. Sinister princes! Dragons! Sugar gliders! A great book about knowing yourself, learning to trust and re-evaluate first impressions and of course, happy endings.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews