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The Invisible Order #1
Rise of the Darklings
Emily Snow is twelve years old, supporting herself and her younger brother on the streets of Victorian England by selling watercress. One early winter morning on her way to buy supplies, she encounters a piskie--a small but very sarcastic fey creature that has been cornered by a group of the Black Sidhe, piskies from an opposing clan. She rescues him and unknowingly becomes involved in a war between the Seelie and the Unseelie, two opposing factions of fairies that have been battling each other throughout the long centuries of human history, with London--and England itself--as the ultimate prize.
When the Invisible Order--a centuries-old secret society of humans that has protected mankind from the fey's interference--gets involved, things really start to get complicated.
Now she is the central figure in this ancient war that could permanently change Earth. With no one to trust, Emily must rely on her own instincts and guile to make the right choices that could save her family and all of mankind.
When the Invisible Order--a centuries-old secret society of humans that has protected mankind from the fey's interference--gets involved, things really start to get complicated.
Now she is the central figure in this ancient war that could permanently change Earth. With no one to trust, Emily must rely on her own instincts and guile to make the right choices that could save her family and all of mankind.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published September 28, 2010
13 people are currently reading
1834 people want to read
About the author
Paul Crilley
51 books203 followersPaul Crilley (who also writes thrillers under the pseudonym Paul Herron) has been writing professionally for the past 20 years. In that time, he has worked on over twenty-seven television shows - one of which was nominated for an iEmmy - as a head-writer, writer, script editor, and story-liner.
His Delphic Division series, Poison City and the sequel Clockwork City, (written as Paul Crilley), about a supernatural police force based in Durban, South Africa, is in development as a television series with Jerry Bruckheimer Productions and CBS. Paul worked on the Bioware MMO, Star Wars: The Old Republic and has also written comics for IDW, (most notably, Star Wars Adventures, and The X-Files)
Over the years, Paul has worked with Marvel, 20th Century Fox Television, NBC Universal, Anonymous Content, Krysten Ritter’s production company Silent Machine, Disney, the SyFy Channel, and IDW comics. He has written twelve novels, worked on five computer games, and also novelized Frank Miller’s seminal graphic novel, Daredevil: The Man Without Fear for Marvel.
His new thriller Breakout, (written as Paul Herron), comes out in 2021 from Headline (UK) and Grand Central Press (US).
His Delphic Division series, Poison City and the sequel Clockwork City, (written as Paul Crilley), about a supernatural police force based in Durban, South Africa, is in development as a television series with Jerry Bruckheimer Productions and CBS. Paul worked on the Bioware MMO, Star Wars: The Old Republic and has also written comics for IDW, (most notably, Star Wars Adventures, and The X-Files)
Over the years, Paul has worked with Marvel, 20th Century Fox Television, NBC Universal, Anonymous Content, Krysten Ritter’s production company Silent Machine, Disney, the SyFy Channel, and IDW comics. He has written twelve novels, worked on five computer games, and also novelized Frank Miller’s seminal graphic novel, Daredevil: The Man Without Fear for Marvel.
His new thriller Breakout, (written as Paul Herron), comes out in 2021 from Headline (UK) and Grand Central Press (US).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
May 16, 2011
I do like this book, and the author did a great job with the faerie theme. This book is pretty dark and violent, as a warning to younger readers.
Reviewed for Bitten by Books: http://bittenbybooks.com.
Reviewed for Bitten by Books: http://bittenbybooks.com.
October 24, 2011
Overall, I felt that the plot was interesting. Things that seemed too contrived in the beginning, but began to make sense as the story progressed. All the different places that Emily finds herself during her journey really adds to enjoyment of the story; it seems like a real adventure. Also, they really have you wondering who can be trusted and what everyone's true motives were.
I have complaints about the story though. The first, is that it seemed rather obvious to me as the story went on, how the faye knew about Emily. Second, the story takes place over only three days, but really it seems that they packed way more into those three days than should be possible. Or maybe, when you go on an adventure where the stakes are that high, you really can accomplish that much.
I love the description in this story. I could see both London as it was then, but even more, I could see the fay perfectly.
While I had a couple of complaints, overall I enjoyed this book and look forward to seeing how the second book of this series unfolds.
I have complaints about the story though. The first, is that it seemed rather obvious to me as the story went on, how the faye knew about Emily. Second, the story takes place over only three days, but really it seems that they packed way more into those three days than should be possible. Or maybe, when you go on an adventure where the stakes are that high, you really can accomplish that much.
I love the description in this story. I could see both London as it was then, but even more, I could see the fay perfectly.
While I had a couple of complaints, overall I enjoyed this book and look forward to seeing how the second book of this series unfolds.
November 24, 2010
I felt that the beginning was the most intriguing part of this novel. It was the unique world Crilley created that had me devour the first half of this story within a few hours the other day. I did not realize, when first requesting this book to review, that The Invisible Order series is based upon the fey. Well, that's a lie. I knew at the time, then conveniently forgot. So, when the fey were introduced, I was pleasantly surprised.
Let it be known that this is not your typical fey book. They fey in London are a group who have created their own divisions of the Seelie and Unseelie courts. We do not have the winter and summer courts here, folks. There's actually a jab at Oberon at one point which made me laugh. But aside from Oberon? All of these faeries are unique, original, and intriguing. For once, I actually wanted to learn more about the world of faerie to better understand the creatures lurking about London. It was an entirely new concept, and that is what made RISE OF THE DARKLINGS have such a strong start in my eyes.
While I enjoyed this story, I did have a few problems with it, particularly with the ending. After the first half of the book, I felt the story soon grew rushed. Instead of paying attention to detail (by the way, there's virtually no showing in this book), many of the scenes are skirted over. Or at least, it felt like they were to me. To others, perhaps it was perfect.
I felt that the scenes where Emily succumbed to her emotions were melodramatic. I was unable to relate with her or feel for her throughout these brief interruptions because it grew increasingly more and more difficult to connect with her as a character. In my mind, the story was generally smooth, only to hit turbulence as Emily acknowledged the stresses around her. These moments came out of nowhere and interrupted my enjoyment of the novel.
Now, before people start blaming me for missing anything, or hating on Emily as a character, let me say that I can understand why she did have these moments. It was a step in the right direction when it comes to fleshing a character out. That's not my problem. My problem is that I'm not pleased with the execution of these moments. Why? Because I could not feel sympathetic due to my disconnect with her as a character.
The trials Emily fumbled through were also fairly rushed. For such difficult riddles, I'm still having a hard time understanding why a twelve year old was able to decipher them so quickly. Especially when she had a roughly two-thousand year old faery helping her...
I felt Jack, Corrigan, and a lot of the fae were the most developed in this book. Emily and William disappointed me, much like the ending. Emily is a strong heroine, yet, due to the lack of showing and a lot of seemingly rushed through scenes, she is somewhat more difficult to relate with -- more so because she comes off as snappy and irritable most of the time (a quality that I disliked in this heroine). As for William, well, he barely plays a role in this book, and the role he does play is quite... childish.
If you want to read RISE OF THE DARKLINGS because you think it is a typical faery story, you will be disappointed. If, however, you want a new take on these wonderful creatures, I highly suggest checking this book out. I believe most readers will enjoy this story. Due to me being somewhat unfamiliar with most MG books, I am unsure of whether or not the rushed vibe I felt was typical in these sorts of books, or if it was unique to this book alone. Either way, I enjoyed this story much more than I did other MG books, and I highly suggest checking RISE OF THE DARKLINGS out for the beginning/worldbuilding alone.
Let it be known that this is not your typical fey book. They fey in London are a group who have created their own divisions of the Seelie and Unseelie courts. We do not have the winter and summer courts here, folks. There's actually a jab at Oberon at one point which made me laugh. But aside from Oberon? All of these faeries are unique, original, and intriguing. For once, I actually wanted to learn more about the world of faerie to better understand the creatures lurking about London. It was an entirely new concept, and that is what made RISE OF THE DARKLINGS have such a strong start in my eyes.
While I enjoyed this story, I did have a few problems with it, particularly with the ending. After the first half of the book, I felt the story soon grew rushed. Instead of paying attention to detail (by the way, there's virtually no showing in this book), many of the scenes are skirted over. Or at least, it felt like they were to me. To others, perhaps it was perfect.
I felt that the scenes where Emily succumbed to her emotions were melodramatic. I was unable to relate with her or feel for her throughout these brief interruptions because it grew increasingly more and more difficult to connect with her as a character. In my mind, the story was generally smooth, only to hit turbulence as Emily acknowledged the stresses around her. These moments came out of nowhere and interrupted my enjoyment of the novel.
Now, before people start blaming me for missing anything, or hating on Emily as a character, let me say that I can understand why she did have these moments. It was a step in the right direction when it comes to fleshing a character out. That's not my problem. My problem is that I'm not pleased with the execution of these moments. Why? Because I could not feel sympathetic due to my disconnect with her as a character.
The trials Emily fumbled through were also fairly rushed. For such difficult riddles, I'm still having a hard time understanding why a twelve year old was able to decipher them so quickly. Especially when she had a roughly two-thousand year old faery helping her...
I felt Jack, Corrigan, and a lot of the fae were the most developed in this book. Emily and William disappointed me, much like the ending. Emily is a strong heroine, yet, due to the lack of showing and a lot of seemingly rushed through scenes, she is somewhat more difficult to relate with -- more so because she comes off as snappy and irritable most of the time (a quality that I disliked in this heroine). As for William, well, he barely plays a role in this book, and the role he does play is quite... childish.
If you want to read RISE OF THE DARKLINGS because you think it is a typical faery story, you will be disappointed. If, however, you want a new take on these wonderful creatures, I highly suggest checking this book out. I believe most readers will enjoy this story. Due to me being somewhat unfamiliar with most MG books, I am unsure of whether or not the rushed vibe I felt was typical in these sorts of books, or if it was unique to this book alone. Either way, I enjoyed this story much more than I did other MG books, and I highly suggest checking RISE OF THE DARKLINGS out for the beginning/worldbuilding alone.
December 10, 2018
Rise of the Darklings is the first book in a series (of at least 2 books). I received a review copy from Amazon Vine and rom a high level, the premise reminded me a bit of the Spiderwick or Fablehaven and other recent books…you have a young girl, Emily, who is able to see the magical world of faerie/fey creatures living among us. And she has a fun adventure because of this gift of sight. There were a few things that differentiated this book from those series…the first being that this book is set in Victorian England rather than the present day. Added to that is the fact that Emily is a poverty stricken orphan working by selling watercress on the streets.
For some reason, the writing style and/or language rubbed me wrong for the first couple of chapters. I'm not exactly sure what bothered me…whether it was the sentence structure, the semi-internal monologues of the characters or something else. It was a minor quibble but enough of one that through the first ~30 pages, I found myself not really getting into the story because I was distracted by the "feel" of the writing. However, after a few chapters, it felt natural and I was able to be absorbed by the story.
As I mentioned, the concept of faerie/magic creatures co-existing secretly is something that's been very popular lately. The plot and general story arc are creative and engaging and I quickly set aside my fears that this would be a "cookie cutter" book. Young Emily inadvertently finds herself sucked into a war between factions of fey creatures as well as being shown a mysterious society of humans who are seeking out the creatures for some reason (destruction, knowledge, power, something else)?
I personally really enjoyed the intrigue and mystery of trying to figure out which group (humans, fey group 1, fey group 2, etc) could be trusted. Or, if none of them can be wholly trusted (as seems to be the case), which one is telling enough of the truth to unravel the problem of the story.
As the book went on, I loved the layer upon layer of various subplots and foreshadowing. As I neared the end of the book, it became obvious that not everything was going to be wrapped up in this book. Just from the title, it was obvious that there was going to be a sequel, but the way the book ended somewhat surprised me. The book tied up enough of the loose ends to give a generally satisfying conclusion, but it also ended with a pretty dramatic cliffhanger that makes me want to go check out the second book.
The book felt pretty appropriate for a target audience of ~10-12 year olds. Making the protagonist a girl will potentially help appeal to girl readers…while the adventure and the secondary male characters will help boys relate as well. The writing was simple enough to be accessible to younger readers while still having plenty of heavier vocabulary and historical/geographical/etc information to help readers stretch. The violence was fairly minimal and the language was pretty age appropriate though I think there were one or two instances of mild curse words. Overall, I would feel comfortable letting my kids read this.
I went into this book a bit wary that it was going to be the "same old thing" and I finished with the feeling that this is a refreshing fun take on a popular genre. The young characters sometimes felt old beyond their years, but as a middle-grader book, that's somewhat to be expected. The descriptive storytelling and the intriguing plot drew me in and left me wanting more. I definitely look forward to seeing what happens next.
****
3.5 out of 5 stars
For some reason, the writing style and/or language rubbed me wrong for the first couple of chapters. I'm not exactly sure what bothered me…whether it was the sentence structure, the semi-internal monologues of the characters or something else. It was a minor quibble but enough of one that through the first ~30 pages, I found myself not really getting into the story because I was distracted by the "feel" of the writing. However, after a few chapters, it felt natural and I was able to be absorbed by the story.
As I mentioned, the concept of faerie/magic creatures co-existing secretly is something that's been very popular lately. The plot and general story arc are creative and engaging and I quickly set aside my fears that this would be a "cookie cutter" book. Young Emily inadvertently finds herself sucked into a war between factions of fey creatures as well as being shown a mysterious society of humans who are seeking out the creatures for some reason (destruction, knowledge, power, something else)?
I personally really enjoyed the intrigue and mystery of trying to figure out which group (humans, fey group 1, fey group 2, etc) could be trusted. Or, if none of them can be wholly trusted (as seems to be the case), which one is telling enough of the truth to unravel the problem of the story.
As the book went on, I loved the layer upon layer of various subplots and foreshadowing. As I neared the end of the book, it became obvious that not everything was going to be wrapped up in this book. Just from the title, it was obvious that there was going to be a sequel, but the way the book ended somewhat surprised me. The book tied up enough of the loose ends to give a generally satisfying conclusion, but it also ended with a pretty dramatic cliffhanger that makes me want to go check out the second book.
The book felt pretty appropriate for a target audience of ~10-12 year olds. Making the protagonist a girl will potentially help appeal to girl readers…while the adventure and the secondary male characters will help boys relate as well. The writing was simple enough to be accessible to younger readers while still having plenty of heavier vocabulary and historical/geographical/etc information to help readers stretch. The violence was fairly minimal and the language was pretty age appropriate though I think there were one or two instances of mild curse words. Overall, I would feel comfortable letting my kids read this.
I went into this book a bit wary that it was going to be the "same old thing" and I finished with the feeling that this is a refreshing fun take on a popular genre. The young characters sometimes felt old beyond their years, but as a middle-grader book, that's somewhat to be expected. The descriptive storytelling and the intriguing plot drew me in and left me wanting more. I definitely look forward to seeing what happens next.
****
3.5 out of 5 stars
January 4, 2011
I love faery stories, so I was very excited when I started reading Rise of the Darklings and realized that I had, in fact, just dived into a deliciously traditional faery story. This first book in The Invisible Order series, though aimed at fifth to eighth graders, is a deeply satisfying read even for adults, full of twists, turns, and lots of excitement.
Twelve-year-old Emily Snow has a tough life. She has scraped a living for herself and her younger brother William by selling watercress on the street ever since their parents disappeared, but their meager-yet-stable existence is threatened when Emily stumbles upon a battle between two fae factions. She quickly learns an important lesson: never trust a faery, and after William is kidnapped, Emily and her thief friend Quick-Heeled Jack must decide who to believe if they want to prevent a faery war that could destroy London.
Author Paul Crilley has created a fascinating world. Emily’s London is cold and dreary, the perfect setting for a story of abandoned children. The setting itself brings to mind Dickensian London, full of lost children and dirty fog, perfectly poised to split apart and reveal hidden worlds that existed long before humans gathered on the banks of the Thames. I was very impressed by Crilley’s parallel worlds, linked together only for those who have the sight–those who can see the fae.
The story takes a little time to really start rolling, but the deliberate pacing at the beginning enhances the feeling of impoverished desperation that Emily has to live with every day. When she stumbles across the faery battle in an abandoned alley, the sudden shift in pace–from slow and hopeless to quick and dangerous–jolts you out of the bleak world Crilley has created and pushes you into the strange world-between-the-worlds along with Emily. The descriptions of the fascinating faery places, from the Seelie Queen’s city within an enormous tree to the Landed Gentry’s–gnomes who desperately want to be like humans–village made of the detritus of human life, are gorgeous and immersive, as is the action. When Emily and Jack have to break into The Invisible Order’s headquarters–a human organization that may or may not want to eradicate the fae–I was on the edge of my seat.
Emily herself is a girl brave and intelligent beyond her twelve years. To a modern audience, the idea that a twelve year old could scrape a living to support herself and her brother is startling if not a bit unbelievable, but Crilley sets it well within Victorian London, and he writes Emily in such a way that you really believe she has been forced to grow up too quickly. She can take care of herself and watch out for others, but at the same time, she’s still a little girl who desperately wishes her parents would come back.
I thoroughly enjoyed Rise of the Darklings as an adult reader, and I think it would be just as satisfying to a young reader as well. It’s intelligently written along the lines of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, and it is definitely engrossing. I can’t wait for the next book in the series… especially after the cliffhanger at the end of this one.
(This review originally published at The Discriminating Fangirl.)
Twelve-year-old Emily Snow has a tough life. She has scraped a living for herself and her younger brother William by selling watercress on the street ever since their parents disappeared, but their meager-yet-stable existence is threatened when Emily stumbles upon a battle between two fae factions. She quickly learns an important lesson: never trust a faery, and after William is kidnapped, Emily and her thief friend Quick-Heeled Jack must decide who to believe if they want to prevent a faery war that could destroy London.
Author Paul Crilley has created a fascinating world. Emily’s London is cold and dreary, the perfect setting for a story of abandoned children. The setting itself brings to mind Dickensian London, full of lost children and dirty fog, perfectly poised to split apart and reveal hidden worlds that existed long before humans gathered on the banks of the Thames. I was very impressed by Crilley’s parallel worlds, linked together only for those who have the sight–those who can see the fae.
The story takes a little time to really start rolling, but the deliberate pacing at the beginning enhances the feeling of impoverished desperation that Emily has to live with every day. When she stumbles across the faery battle in an abandoned alley, the sudden shift in pace–from slow and hopeless to quick and dangerous–jolts you out of the bleak world Crilley has created and pushes you into the strange world-between-the-worlds along with Emily. The descriptions of the fascinating faery places, from the Seelie Queen’s city within an enormous tree to the Landed Gentry’s–gnomes who desperately want to be like humans–village made of the detritus of human life, are gorgeous and immersive, as is the action. When Emily and Jack have to break into The Invisible Order’s headquarters–a human organization that may or may not want to eradicate the fae–I was on the edge of my seat.
Emily herself is a girl brave and intelligent beyond her twelve years. To a modern audience, the idea that a twelve year old could scrape a living to support herself and her brother is startling if not a bit unbelievable, but Crilley sets it well within Victorian London, and he writes Emily in such a way that you really believe she has been forced to grow up too quickly. She can take care of herself and watch out for others, but at the same time, she’s still a little girl who desperately wishes her parents would come back.
I thoroughly enjoyed Rise of the Darklings as an adult reader, and I think it would be just as satisfying to a young reader as well. It’s intelligently written along the lines of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, and it is definitely engrossing. I can’t wait for the next book in the series… especially after the cliffhanger at the end of this one.
(This review originally published at The Discriminating Fangirl.)
December 29, 2010
I got an advanced reading copy of this book through the Amazon Vine program. The synopsis of the book sounded wonderful; a young girl in Victorian London stumbles upon another world. I absolutely loved this book. This is the first book in The Invisible Order series by Crilley. The characters and story were very engaging and the atmosphere dark and mysterious. Excellent middle grade fantasy that even adults will get into.
Emily and her brother are orphans trying to scrap buy in the Cheapside part of London. Emily sells Watercress at market and tries to make enough money for them to eat. One day on her way to the market she stumbles upon an epic battle happening in the streets on London; but the people fighting it are peculiar and...small. From there Emily finds herself drawn into an adventure under the streets of London, on a quest to save her brother and possibly her parents, dealing with the horribly unpredictable fairy folk.
I loved this book. The whole book has a dark Victorian atmosphere to it and the descriptions pull you right into your surroundings. The plot is full of twists and turns and you never know what you are going to find with each page you turn. Emily is a wonderful character; she is realistic, plucky, takes on a ton of responsibility for her age, has a lot of backbone, and at times is quite witty and sarcastic.
The surrounding characters are all quirky and interesting. I enjoyed the complicated politics between the Fairy King, Fairy Queen, and the Invisible Order. This is a middle grade book that assumes its readers are intelligent people who love a good story. At times this story channels some dark fairy tale-like elements too.
The writing was easy to read and very well done. The pace perfect, I never got bored and never felt overwhelmed. This book was very hard to put down and I read it in record time. The story is well wrapped up, but leaves some open story threads for the next book. I am really looking forward to reading more of this series and so glad I decided to read this book.
Overall a wonderful new book in a great new series. The setting is dark and Victorian, Emily makes a wonderful heroine with a bit of a sense of humor and a strong sense of self. There are unexpected things happening at every page turn and I just loved it. Fans of The Last Apprentice series by Joseph Delaney, Fablehaven by Brandon Mull, Percy and the Olympians by Rick Riordan, Cornelia Funke's Reckless, Catherine Fisher's Incarceron, and the Bartimeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud will find a lot in this book to love. Great for all ages of readers.
Emily and her brother are orphans trying to scrap buy in the Cheapside part of London. Emily sells Watercress at market and tries to make enough money for them to eat. One day on her way to the market she stumbles upon an epic battle happening in the streets on London; but the people fighting it are peculiar and...small. From there Emily finds herself drawn into an adventure under the streets of London, on a quest to save her brother and possibly her parents, dealing with the horribly unpredictable fairy folk.
I loved this book. The whole book has a dark Victorian atmosphere to it and the descriptions pull you right into your surroundings. The plot is full of twists and turns and you never know what you are going to find with each page you turn. Emily is a wonderful character; she is realistic, plucky, takes on a ton of responsibility for her age, has a lot of backbone, and at times is quite witty and sarcastic.
The surrounding characters are all quirky and interesting. I enjoyed the complicated politics between the Fairy King, Fairy Queen, and the Invisible Order. This is a middle grade book that assumes its readers are intelligent people who love a good story. At times this story channels some dark fairy tale-like elements too.
The writing was easy to read and very well done. The pace perfect, I never got bored and never felt overwhelmed. This book was very hard to put down and I read it in record time. The story is well wrapped up, but leaves some open story threads for the next book. I am really looking forward to reading more of this series and so glad I decided to read this book.
Overall a wonderful new book in a great new series. The setting is dark and Victorian, Emily makes a wonderful heroine with a bit of a sense of humor and a strong sense of self. There are unexpected things happening at every page turn and I just loved it. Fans of The Last Apprentice series by Joseph Delaney, Fablehaven by Brandon Mull, Percy and the Olympians by Rick Riordan, Cornelia Funke's Reckless, Catherine Fisher's Incarceron, and the Bartimeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud will find a lot in this book to love. Great for all ages of readers.
April 28, 2011
ATOS Book Level: 4.5
Interest Level: Middle Grades (MG 4-8)
AR Points: 10.0
Word Count: 67777
Emily Snow lives in Victorian London scraping out the best life she can for her and her brother since their parents mysteriously disappeared. It's a hard life but she's protecting William and keeping him fed. All starts to change on early morning while Emily takes a short cut through the alley's of London when she comes upon a fierce battle being fought by creatures who stood no "higher than Emily's knee". "What had she just witnessed? were they goblins?Gnomes? Faeries? They couldn't be, surely? Those kinds of things didn't exist". But of course they do and Emily is drawn into a fight between two faerie realms and the Invisible Order, a group of humans who have been fighting this battle for centuries. Emily tries to mind her own business, but get's drawn into it by helping Corrigan, a piske who was a thin and stick like creature about 3 times the length of her index finger, who had been injured in the battle against the Black Sidhe. Emily finds out that creatures of Faerie live all around them, but that most humans simple can't see them.
As she gets drawn further and further into this conflict it's interesting to see Emily struggle with who to believe and who she can trust as each of the three parties plead their case and try and convince her to join their side.
I love Urban Fantasy's, and this book is well written so it's easy for me to recommend it especially for the Middle School age group it's written for. I prefer books that have a clear ending, even though you know the battle or struggle isn't over and there will have to be another story to follow instead of just being what amounts to the chapter before the next book begins, but that may just be me.
Interest Level: Middle Grades (MG 4-8)
AR Points: 10.0
Word Count: 67777
Emily Snow lives in Victorian London scraping out the best life she can for her and her brother since their parents mysteriously disappeared. It's a hard life but she's protecting William and keeping him fed. All starts to change on early morning while Emily takes a short cut through the alley's of London when she comes upon a fierce battle being fought by creatures who stood no "higher than Emily's knee". "What had she just witnessed? were they goblins?Gnomes? Faeries? They couldn't be, surely? Those kinds of things didn't exist". But of course they do and Emily is drawn into a fight between two faerie realms and the Invisible Order, a group of humans who have been fighting this battle for centuries. Emily tries to mind her own business, but get's drawn into it by helping Corrigan, a piske who was a thin and stick like creature about 3 times the length of her index finger, who had been injured in the battle against the Black Sidhe. Emily finds out that creatures of Faerie live all around them, but that most humans simple can't see them.
As she gets drawn further and further into this conflict it's interesting to see Emily struggle with who to believe and who she can trust as each of the three parties plead their case and try and convince her to join their side.
I love Urban Fantasy's, and this book is well written so it's easy for me to recommend it especially for the Middle School age group it's written for. I prefer books that have a clear ending, even though you know the battle or struggle isn't over and there will have to be another story to follow instead of just being what amounts to the chapter before the next book begins, but that may just be me.
November 8, 2012
Reviewed by Kira M for TeensReadToo.com
Ever since their parents disappeared, 12-year-old Emily Snow is the sole supporter for her brother, William. When Emily sees a piskie battle in a London alley, she ends up being an unlikely witness and rescuer of one of the fairies named Corrigan.
Emily soon finds herself pitched between the Seelie and Unseelie courts and their mutual hatred for the Invisible Order, a secret society of humans who hold back the fairies from their dreams of incursion on the human world. When her brother gets kidnapped by one of the fairies, she must enlist Corrigan's help to solve a magical riddle that will lead her to a stone that is the key to the Fairies and the London Underground.
If she doesn't find the key and keep it away from the fairies, the human world as she knows it will never be the same. Will Emily be able to save the humans from a fairy invasion? Will she find a way to rescue her brother?
RISE OF THE DARKLINGS is an interesting, fast-paced fantasy adventure. The characters are well-developed and entertaining. The unique weaving of magic, fairies, and riddles is enchanting and holds the reader's attention. Those who like fantasy, mystery, adventure, and fairies will enjoy reading this book.
Ever since their parents disappeared, 12-year-old Emily Snow is the sole supporter for her brother, William. When Emily sees a piskie battle in a London alley, she ends up being an unlikely witness and rescuer of one of the fairies named Corrigan.
Emily soon finds herself pitched between the Seelie and Unseelie courts and their mutual hatred for the Invisible Order, a secret society of humans who hold back the fairies from their dreams of incursion on the human world. When her brother gets kidnapped by one of the fairies, she must enlist Corrigan's help to solve a magical riddle that will lead her to a stone that is the key to the Fairies and the London Underground.
If she doesn't find the key and keep it away from the fairies, the human world as she knows it will never be the same. Will Emily be able to save the humans from a fairy invasion? Will she find a way to rescue her brother?
RISE OF THE DARKLINGS is an interesting, fast-paced fantasy adventure. The characters are well-developed and entertaining. The unique weaving of magic, fairies, and riddles is enchanting and holds the reader's attention. Those who like fantasy, mystery, adventure, and fairies will enjoy reading this book.
February 17, 2011
First of a new middle-grade fantasy series that's set in Victorian London about a girl (hurray, a girl!) who's struggling to keep herself and her younger brother sheltered and fed since her parents disappeared. She's on her way to work early one morning and inadvertently sees a battle among some short, fairy-type people in a dark alley.
One thing I liked about this book is that the action is led by a girl, who's had to take on some heavy responsibility. Setting the book in the realistic past is also a nice twist on urban fantasy. Regular readers of fantasy will recognize many of the tropes--war between humans and factions of faery. This novel also throws in some tantalizing bits about time travel that are not resolved in this first book.
Overall, an interesting mash-up.
One thing I liked about this book is that the action is led by a girl, who's had to take on some heavy responsibility. Setting the book in the realistic past is also a nice twist on urban fantasy. Regular readers of fantasy will recognize many of the tropes--war between humans and factions of faery. This novel also throws in some tantalizing bits about time travel that are not resolved in this first book.
Overall, an interesting mash-up.
July 23, 2023
(audiobook 7h 11m) Y.A
I’ve had this in my audio library for years and I’ve finally got around to listening to it. Listening to Katherine Kellgen’s (1969 – 2018) voice is bitter sweet.
This is definitely the first in the series and the second book is needed to complete the tale.
The world building reminds me a bit of Rivers of London (Ben Aaronovitch) with some of the main characters, two orphans, feel like they’ve been pulled right out from a Charles Dickens’ story.
Extra: lots of scary and violent otherworld interactions, with Fae, fairies, druids, and nightmarish creatures.
I’ve had this in my audio library for years and I’ve finally got around to listening to it. Listening to Katherine Kellgen’s (1969 – 2018) voice is bitter sweet.
This is definitely the first in the series and the second book is needed to complete the tale.
The world building reminds me a bit of Rivers of London (Ben Aaronovitch) with some of the main characters, two orphans, feel like they’ve been pulled right out from a Charles Dickens’ story.
Extra: lots of scary and violent otherworld interactions, with Fae, fairies, druids, and nightmarish creatures.
December 28, 2010
This was a new book the library had on the shelf. My library gets very few new books so I figured I'd see if this was any good. It's the first book in a series. I found it pretty boring. All of the scenes were not described in detail and I felt it was lacking depth and emotion. I guess it could be explained away by the fact it is written for 10 year olds or around that age, but I found it in the YA section so I thought it would be a bit better and for older readers. The book doesn't end so if you want closure you will have to read the series when they are written.
January 14, 2016
I really loved this, and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book. Emily is such a strong and remarkable character, William reaminds me alot of my little brother, Jack well I just adore Jack, and Corrigan where would we be without a sarcastic little pisky?? I'm aware of the fact this is considered a childrens book, but I think it is a book for all ages. I just absolutely loved it!!
June 17, 2018
Huh, I think I'm a bit disappointed. Not in the book, I should hasten to add, but because it felt like it was setting up a whole series of children's books involving time travel, the Invisible Order, and fae. I'm disappointed to discover that there's a sequel and that's it.
It's a fun children's fantasy book set in Victorian London (or thereabouts) and it's key enjoyment is in how visually rich the details of the fae are. There's a sense that it would make a mesmerising tv series if you could get Guillermo del Toro and the people who have done the Harry Potter movies on-board.
It's a fun children's fantasy book set in Victorian London (or thereabouts) and it's key enjoyment is in how visually rich the details of the fae are. There's a sense that it would make a mesmerising tv series if you could get Guillermo del Toro and the people who have done the Harry Potter movies on-board.
November 29, 2017
I gave this one a chapter or two, but the writing was poor, the characters not terribly compelling, and the mood dark and dreary. I can forgive dark and dreary when the other two are in order - and when there's clearly a good story at the core - but this felt like work to read. Throwing it back into the sea for another catch.
October 15, 2018
I really liked the first three-quarters of this book. The story was intriguing, the characters were engaging, the writing was crisp, etc. The final quarter, however, felt rushed compared to the rest. The concluding cliff-hanger felt rather cobbled together. Maybe the next book will be better...
August 3, 2018
It was really gooid except for the sort of cliffhanger at the end. My favorite part was when the neither the Queen or Dagda got the key to Faerie. My least favorite part was when Mr. Ravenhill betrayed the Invisible Order.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2017
What an adventure! Though not one a twelve-year-old should have to go through.
January 15, 2018
A fantasy book for younger readers but with the caution that it has some very dark parts! I was struggling to work out what age it was written for as some parts are aimed very much at younger children and are written simply and basically. Other parts are very dark and I wouldn’t want too young children to read it alone.
An enjoyable story but not as fun a fantasy as I wanted it to be.
An enjoyable story but not as fun a fantasy as I wanted it to be.
May 19, 2020
London-based Fae story. Was alright but not great.
January 11, 2024
i remember enjoying this series as a kid. quite enjoyed it. wish the series didn't end on a cliffhanger.
August 27, 2024
Love the main characters
September 2, 2011
About the Book: Emily Snow's parents have disappeared and for the past two years she has been in charge of her younger brother and making sure they survive. One morning, Emily encounters a conversation between strange beings and realizes she can see a entire hidden world in London, full of faeries. A war is raging between faeries. As Emily's brother is kidnapped, Emily must do everything she can to save him. But what side is good? What side will not destroy humankind? Emily must find the key to save her brother and help save London before faeries take over.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: This is quite the twisty mystery/fantasy for middle grade readers. The book starts out much like your usual fantasy novel, but soon the story starts to take many twists and turns. Who is good? Who can Emily trust? And which path is the correct one? The entire book is like one giant riddle which is sure to keep readers engaged.
I will admit that I grew a bit tired of the "can I trust this person/what side is right" as it kept going. Just when you think you have it figured out, it changes, so it keeps readers on their toes, that's for sure! I also wish that many of the supporting characters had been fleshed out a bit more. As Emily's brother was kidnapped, I knew I was supposed to care, but I didn't really know much about him, other than he was Emily's brother, to be upset that he was missing. I do really love the piskie Corrigan and he was my favorite character. Scenes with him always provided a good laugh and he was one of the few characters we get to really know. There were so many great characters that we were introduced to, but we only see them for a small portion of the book. I hope that since this is the start to a series, we see more of them as the series progresses.
I picked this one up originally because Mr. GreenBeanSexyMan told me about a review that mentioned The Invisible Order had the makings to be the next Harry Potter. While I don't think it's quite there, it could grow and become a great series that keeps you guessing. I do think it would be great for Harry Potter fans looking for another series to get into, but I'm not sure how much older reader appeal there is.
It's obviously a series, and while many things are wrapped up in this book, there is a cliffhanger ending and many things are left wide open. Book two will be out in September, so if you do get readers started on this series, they'll have a bit of a wait between installments. But that's part of the fun, right?
Book Pairings: Fablehaven by Brandon Mull, Inkheart by Cornelia Funke, Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, Barnaby Grimes Series by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: This is quite the twisty mystery/fantasy for middle grade readers. The book starts out much like your usual fantasy novel, but soon the story starts to take many twists and turns. Who is good? Who can Emily trust? And which path is the correct one? The entire book is like one giant riddle which is sure to keep readers engaged.
I will admit that I grew a bit tired of the "can I trust this person/what side is right" as it kept going. Just when you think you have it figured out, it changes, so it keeps readers on their toes, that's for sure! I also wish that many of the supporting characters had been fleshed out a bit more. As Emily's brother was kidnapped, I knew I was supposed to care, but I didn't really know much about him, other than he was Emily's brother, to be upset that he was missing. I do really love the piskie Corrigan and he was my favorite character. Scenes with him always provided a good laugh and he was one of the few characters we get to really know. There were so many great characters that we were introduced to, but we only see them for a small portion of the book. I hope that since this is the start to a series, we see more of them as the series progresses.
I picked this one up originally because Mr. GreenBeanSexyMan told me about a review that mentioned The Invisible Order had the makings to be the next Harry Potter. While I don't think it's quite there, it could grow and become a great series that keeps you guessing. I do think it would be great for Harry Potter fans looking for another series to get into, but I'm not sure how much older reader appeal there is.
It's obviously a series, and while many things are wrapped up in this book, there is a cliffhanger ending and many things are left wide open. Book two will be out in September, so if you do get readers started on this series, they'll have a bit of a wait between installments. But that's part of the fun, right?
Book Pairings: Fablehaven by Brandon Mull, Inkheart by Cornelia Funke, Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, Barnaby Grimes Series by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
September 10, 2015
Complex But Accessible and Entertaining for Middle Graders
There's a lot to like about this book, but here's my primary positive thought. It's easy to write la-la-faeries-in-the-garden diversions. It's not easy, but pretty common, to write very complex and twisty faerie stories that get so caught up in the details of the Seelie Court, the Unseelie Court, and so on, that they read more like histories of the Prussian Empire than like adventure stories. This book treads the very narrow path that avoids the twee on one side and the tediously complex on the other side, and the result is a remarkably engaging Faerie based adventure.
Emily is a twelve year old girl who finds herself caught between the warring Seelie and Unseelie Courts, and a person of interest to the human Invisible Order that opposes all of Faerie. She has a brother, William, to protect and a companion, Jack, who injects just a slight touch of budding romance. Once she pierces the Faerie glamours and sees the true magical world around her she is drawn into a perilous quest, with little guidance and no one to trust.
The author manages to keep the narrative tight and focused, and the action unrelenting and propulsive, while still filling in this alternate Faerie world, with all of its myths, legends, histories, colorful characters, creatures and conflicts. This is a demanding juggling act and for the most part the author succeeds. Emily is resourceful, spirited and kind, and these virtues stand her in good stead as she faces physical, emotional and magical challenges.
But even an engaging Emily wouldn't be enough to carry this book were it not also loaded with appealing and/or compelling secondary and supporting characters and imaginative set scenes. From the Faerie King and Queen, and the human members of the Invisible Order, through piskies, magical creatures, and a vast cast of one-off interesting otherworld players, this book keeps piling on the twists, turns and unexpected developments.
But remember, this is a middle grade book. There is a lot of monologuing and exposition, which I think is fine for middle grade readers who may need a little help keeping everything straight. The result is that a young reader can't breeze through the book but doesn't need to keep a notebook at hand either. It's fun to find an entertaining fantasy adventure book that offers some sophistication and challenge but is still manageable, and that's basically where I wound up in my thinking about this book. Nice.
There's a lot to like about this book, but here's my primary positive thought. It's easy to write la-la-faeries-in-the-garden diversions. It's not easy, but pretty common, to write very complex and twisty faerie stories that get so caught up in the details of the Seelie Court, the Unseelie Court, and so on, that they read more like histories of the Prussian Empire than like adventure stories. This book treads the very narrow path that avoids the twee on one side and the tediously complex on the other side, and the result is a remarkably engaging Faerie based adventure.
Emily is a twelve year old girl who finds herself caught between the warring Seelie and Unseelie Courts, and a person of interest to the human Invisible Order that opposes all of Faerie. She has a brother, William, to protect and a companion, Jack, who injects just a slight touch of budding romance. Once she pierces the Faerie glamours and sees the true magical world around her she is drawn into a perilous quest, with little guidance and no one to trust.
The author manages to keep the narrative tight and focused, and the action unrelenting and propulsive, while still filling in this alternate Faerie world, with all of its myths, legends, histories, colorful characters, creatures and conflicts. This is a demanding juggling act and for the most part the author succeeds. Emily is resourceful, spirited and kind, and these virtues stand her in good stead as she faces physical, emotional and magical challenges.
But even an engaging Emily wouldn't be enough to carry this book were it not also loaded with appealing and/or compelling secondary and supporting characters and imaginative set scenes. From the Faerie King and Queen, and the human members of the Invisible Order, through piskies, magical creatures, and a vast cast of one-off interesting otherworld players, this book keeps piling on the twists, turns and unexpected developments.
But remember, this is a middle grade book. There is a lot of monologuing and exposition, which I think is fine for middle grade readers who may need a little help keeping everything straight. The result is that a young reader can't breeze through the book but doesn't need to keep a notebook at hand either. It's fun to find an entertaining fantasy adventure book that offers some sophistication and challenge but is still manageable, and that's basically where I wound up in my thinking about this book. Nice.
August 8, 2019
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
This was a wonderful adventure - well written, easily digestible for young and adult readers, and nicely atmospheric. From the first chapter you're hooked; thrown right into the action as 12 year old Emily Snow, the story's protagonist, encounters a battle between the Seelie and Unseelie - piskies (don't call them faeries) who have abandoned their ages old war with the humans and now are immersed in their own civil war. She'll find herself trapped between the fey and the humans who are dedicated to exterminating them: the Invisible Order. Along the way, she will be helped by neighbor Jack and find there is more to her own family's story/involvement with the fey than she realizes. And she will have to learn who to trust and who not to trust as loyalties shift and people are not always what they seem.
The chapters are short and the setting of Victorian England (rather than modern England) makes the story much more interesting (in comparison to similar types of books like Chris Wooding's Malice, in which the modern colloquy and 'hip' kids ruined the magic feel of the story). The story moves quickly and is well paced. There is a broad range of characters to add interest to the story. And although it doesn't have the wit and verve of Eoin Colfer's Artemis stories, or the imagination of Phillip Reeve's Larklight, it does have a tone that is very appropriate for the setting. Most importantly, the conversations felt appropriate and not anachronistic - which is something a lot of YA authors can find difficult. Crilling wrote this in such a way as to be very Victorian England but also not so set in the period as to put off modern readers.
Also important, the author did an excellent job of evoking Dickensian England without needing a lot of wasted space on prose and description. I found The Invisible Order hard to put down once I had started reading. The action is easy to follow and character or scene descriptions brief enough to give me a good idea what was going on in the scenes. I really look forward to reading the next in the series.
October 14, 2010
The Invisible Order is a fantastic read that weaves faerie lore with historical Victorian London, and engages you in a fast passed, twisty plot, that is witty and suspenseful. Our heroine, Emily Snow may be young, but at 12 years old she's raised her 9 year old brother and herself for the last two years, since her parents death. Her key to survival has been her strength and wit, something she'll rely heavily on as she finds herself in the middle of a war. Both the Unseelie and the Seelie courts are about to unleash destruction on the city of London.
Emily, a true seer, gets more than she bargains for when she saves a pesky little piskie named Corrigan. I really like Emily's character. She's tough, educated and the only one who can stop the war that will be the destruction of London. Emily will be tried and tested, as she experiences betrayal more than once, tries to save her kidnapped brother, and she has to learn who she can really trust. In a world of myth and faerie lore, people and things aren't always what they seem. Emily has to decide what the true intentions are of The Invisible Order, the Seelie Court and the Unseelie Court. The fate of London is in her hands as she is the only one who can uncover the riddles and clues that lead to the key that unlocks the gate to the other world.
I really liked the characters who assist Emily on her quest. Jack, known as Spring-Heeled Jack, is dashing, and brave. I liked their innocent relationship that can easily become something more later in the series. Corrigan, the piskie who's sarcasm and one liners provided the humor, along with Emily's responses back to him. My favorite is Merlin. Yes, I'm talking about the one and only Merlin, who's been around for centuries. Emily learns her parents are live, she knows Merlin, though she has no memory of it and she plays a bigger role in this war she's now apart of, that started back with the Great Fire of 1666.
Engaging, suspenseful, and full of twists and turns, The Invisible Order is a book that will appeal to readers of all ages and it has left me eagerly awaiting the next book in the series to be released.
Emily, a true seer, gets more than she bargains for when she saves a pesky little piskie named Corrigan. I really like Emily's character. She's tough, educated and the only one who can stop the war that will be the destruction of London. Emily will be tried and tested, as she experiences betrayal more than once, tries to save her kidnapped brother, and she has to learn who she can really trust. In a world of myth and faerie lore, people and things aren't always what they seem. Emily has to decide what the true intentions are of The Invisible Order, the Seelie Court and the Unseelie Court. The fate of London is in her hands as she is the only one who can uncover the riddles and clues that lead to the key that unlocks the gate to the other world.
I really liked the characters who assist Emily on her quest. Jack, known as Spring-Heeled Jack, is dashing, and brave. I liked their innocent relationship that can easily become something more later in the series. Corrigan, the piskie who's sarcasm and one liners provided the humor, along with Emily's responses back to him. My favorite is Merlin. Yes, I'm talking about the one and only Merlin, who's been around for centuries. Emily learns her parents are live, she knows Merlin, though she has no memory of it and she plays a bigger role in this war she's now apart of, that started back with the Great Fire of 1666.
Engaging, suspenseful, and full of twists and turns, The Invisible Order is a book that will appeal to readers of all ages and it has left me eagerly awaiting the next book in the series to be released.
December 1, 2010
The Invisible Order is a fantastic read that weaves faerie lore with historical Victorian London, and engages you in a fast passed, twisty plot, that is witty and suspenseful. Our heroine, Emily Snow may be young, but at 12 years old she's raised her 9 year old brother and herself for the last two years, since her parents death. Her key to survival has been her strength and wit, something she'll rely heavily on as she finds herself in the middle of a war. Both the Unseelie and the Seelie courts are about to unleash destruction on the city of London.
Emily, a true seer, gets more than she bargains for when she saves a pesky little piskie named Corrigan. I really like Emily's character. She's tough, educated and the only one who can stop the war that will be the destruction of London. Emily will be tried and tested, as she experiences betrayal more than once, tries to save her kidnapped brother, and she has to learn who she can really trust. In a world of myth and faerie lore, people and things aren't always what they seem. Emily has to decide what the true intentions are of The Invisible Order, the Seelie Court and the Unseelie Court. The fate of London is in her hands as she is the only one who can uncover the riddles and clues that lead to the key that unlocks the gate to the other world.
I really liked the characters who assist Emily on her quest. Jack, known as Spring-Heeled Jack, is dashing, and brave. I liked their innocent relationship that can easily become something more later in the series. Corrigan, the piskie who's sarcasm and one liners provided the humor, along with Emily's responses back to him. My favorite is Merlin. Yes, I'm talking about the one and only Merlin, who's been around for centuries. Emily learns her parents are live, she knows Merlin, though she has no memory of it and she plays a bigger role in this war she's now apart of, that started back with the Great Fire of 1666.
Engaging, suspenseful, and full of twists and turns, The Invisible Order is a book that will appeal to readers of all ages and it has left me eagerly awaiting the next book in the series to be released.
Emily, a true seer, gets more than she bargains for when she saves a pesky little piskie named Corrigan. I really like Emily's character. She's tough, educated and the only one who can stop the war that will be the destruction of London. Emily will be tried and tested, as she experiences betrayal more than once, tries to save her kidnapped brother, and she has to learn who she can really trust. In a world of myth and faerie lore, people and things aren't always what they seem. Emily has to decide what the true intentions are of The Invisible Order, the Seelie Court and the Unseelie Court. The fate of London is in her hands as she is the only one who can uncover the riddles and clues that lead to the key that unlocks the gate to the other world.
I really liked the characters who assist Emily on her quest. Jack, known as Spring-Heeled Jack, is dashing, and brave. I liked their innocent relationship that can easily become something more later in the series. Corrigan, the piskie who's sarcasm and one liners provided the humor, along with Emily's responses back to him. My favorite is Merlin. Yes, I'm talking about the one and only Merlin, who's been around for centuries. Emily learns her parents are live, she knows Merlin, though she has no memory of it and she plays a bigger role in this war she's now apart of, that started back with the Great Fire of 1666.
Engaging, suspenseful, and full of twists and turns, The Invisible Order is a book that will appeal to readers of all ages and it has left me eagerly awaiting the next book in the series to be released.
October 7, 2014
On the day she found out about the the fey and the hidden war being waged in Victorian London, twelve-year-old Emily woke up praying for snow. Snow would mean that she could stay home with her brother William instead of running through alleys and side streets to get to Mrs. Hobbs to buy a bunch of watercress to sell for the day.
But there is no snow and Emily does have to venture out. Unfortunately instead of a day spent peddling watercress in the cold, Emily stumbles upon a faerie battle right in a London alley.
Emily would love to forget about what she saw and go back to her normal life even if life as an orphan is hard. But the faeries won't let her forget them--not until she gets them something they desperately want. Even if Emily could do that, there's The Invisible Order to contend with. A secret society meant to protect humans from the fey, the Invisible Order wants Emily to work with them instead.
Everything Emily knows is soon turned upside down and she has no idea who to trust besides her friend Jack. But can two children possibly rescue Emily's brother and save London before it's too late? Emily doesn't know that answer yet, but she knows she has to try in Rise of the Darklings (2010) by Paul Crilley.
Rise of the Darklings is the first book in The Invisible Order trilogy.
Crilley combines traditional elements from fairy tales (gnomes, giants, piskies, and even a famous wizard) with a well-realized, completely evocative London setting. The plot is well-written with enough twists to keep readers (and Emily) guessing along with humor and action in spades.
Rise of the Darklings truly has it all: action, adventure and faeries all in the beautifully realized setting of Victorian London. Throw in a determined and clever heroine, fast talking characters like Jack and Corrigan, well-dressed gnomes and you have all the makings of a spirited start to a wonderful trilogy.
Possible Pairings: Gideon the Cutpurse (AKA The Time Travelers) by Linda Buckley-Arhcer, The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud, Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood, Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
But there is no snow and Emily does have to venture out. Unfortunately instead of a day spent peddling watercress in the cold, Emily stumbles upon a faerie battle right in a London alley.
Emily would love to forget about what she saw and go back to her normal life even if life as an orphan is hard. But the faeries won't let her forget them--not until she gets them something they desperately want. Even if Emily could do that, there's The Invisible Order to contend with. A secret society meant to protect humans from the fey, the Invisible Order wants Emily to work with them instead.
Everything Emily knows is soon turned upside down and she has no idea who to trust besides her friend Jack. But can two children possibly rescue Emily's brother and save London before it's too late? Emily doesn't know that answer yet, but she knows she has to try in Rise of the Darklings (2010) by Paul Crilley.
Rise of the Darklings is the first book in The Invisible Order trilogy.
Crilley combines traditional elements from fairy tales (gnomes, giants, piskies, and even a famous wizard) with a well-realized, completely evocative London setting. The plot is well-written with enough twists to keep readers (and Emily) guessing along with humor and action in spades.
Rise of the Darklings truly has it all: action, adventure and faeries all in the beautifully realized setting of Victorian London. Throw in a determined and clever heroine, fast talking characters like Jack and Corrigan, well-dressed gnomes and you have all the makings of a spirited start to a wonderful trilogy.
Possible Pairings: Gideon the Cutpurse (AKA The Time Travelers) by Linda Buckley-Arhcer, The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud, Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood, Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
March 31, 2011
The Invisible Order is written for a middle-grade audience, but readers of all ages may enjoy it. It tells the story of a 12-year-old girl named Emily in Victorian London. Emily's parents disappeared a few years earlier, and she sells watercress for pennies in the street to support herself and her younger brother. One morning, on her way to buy her day's supply of watercress, she stumbles upon a battle between two groups of fairies. She ends up saving the life of a piskie named Corrigan and quickly gets caught in an ancient war involving two opposing fairy courts and a secret society called the Invisible Order, which protects the human world from the fairies.
The book has a lot of the standard fantasy tropes: a normal child with an incredible destiny, absent parents, a secret society, etc., but the elements are put together well, and the story takes some unexpected twists and turns. Crilley doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of Victoria life. Emily and her brother share a room with strangers who sleep on the floor, she sells watercress to keep herself and her brother out of the workhouse, and they often go hungry. But the author also creates a magical and strange other world, populated by many different creatures, some of them quite scary.
For me, the best part of the book is Emily. She's strong, smart, and likable, without being too perfect. Sometimes she resents being on her own and having to take care of her brother, but she just gets on with it and never drifts into self-pity. Even when her involvement in the fairy takes some horrible turns, she never loses hope and she uses her keen intelligence to solve her problems and stay one step ahead of the villains (although who the villains are can change from chapter to chapter, keeping our heroine on her toes).
This book may appeal to fans of the Harry Potter series. I'm not sure how many books there will be in the series, but this one ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, so there's at least one more. I'm definitely looking forward to it.
(I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine.)
The book has a lot of the standard fantasy tropes: a normal child with an incredible destiny, absent parents, a secret society, etc., but the elements are put together well, and the story takes some unexpected twists and turns. Crilley doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of Victoria life. Emily and her brother share a room with strangers who sleep on the floor, she sells watercress to keep herself and her brother out of the workhouse, and they often go hungry. But the author also creates a magical and strange other world, populated by many different creatures, some of them quite scary.
For me, the best part of the book is Emily. She's strong, smart, and likable, without being too perfect. Sometimes she resents being on her own and having to take care of her brother, but she just gets on with it and never drifts into self-pity. Even when her involvement in the fairy takes some horrible turns, she never loses hope and she uses her keen intelligence to solve her problems and stay one step ahead of the villains (although who the villains are can change from chapter to chapter, keeping our heroine on her toes).
This book may appeal to fans of the Harry Potter series. I'm not sure how many books there will be in the series, but this one ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, so there's at least one more. I'm definitely looking forward to it.
(I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine.)
January 15, 2011
I like this book because it fits so well in a reading ladder (Lesesne, 2010) to develop fantasy fans. Those students who discover fantasy in early elementary school through books like Mary Pope Osborne's Magic Treehouse series will move up the ladder with a book such as this in upper elementary/middle school. Rise of the Darklings is the first book in a set of sequels and provides a strong plot developed through action and character dialogue. The chapters are not terribly long, and there is some kind of hook at the end of most chapter to keep readers reading. The plot provides the structure that fantasy newbies need so that they can focus on the events and imagine the characters that have just the right amount of description. From this set of sequels, fantasy readers will continue to more complex plots such as Fisher's Incarceron in junior high and early high school, and when they make it to high school, they will look forward to discovering the wonders of Middle Earth in Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring.
Emily Snow's parents have disappeared, and she and her brother are struggling to eek out a living in London. One early morning as she hurried to the market hoping to make a little extra money, she encounters a strange battle taking place between two groups of very strange creatures she later discovers are piskies, one of many creatures from Faerie. She stops to help one of the wounded and takes him to get aid. This small act of kindness opens the door to her special ability to see the unseeable, and she finds herself, her brother, and her friend, Jack, in the middle of a battle to save London. Recommended for grades 5-8. This novel will appeal to fantasy fans and fantasy "wannabes." I often had readers who wanted to read fantasy, but often they were unable to follow the complex plots. This is fantasy that supports and motivates the reader to finish.
Emily Snow's parents have disappeared, and she and her brother are struggling to eek out a living in London. One early morning as she hurried to the market hoping to make a little extra money, she encounters a strange battle taking place between two groups of very strange creatures she later discovers are piskies, one of many creatures from Faerie. She stops to help one of the wounded and takes him to get aid. This small act of kindness opens the door to her special ability to see the unseeable, and she finds herself, her brother, and her friend, Jack, in the middle of a battle to save London. Recommended for grades 5-8. This novel will appeal to fantasy fans and fantasy "wannabes." I often had readers who wanted to read fantasy, but often they were unable to follow the complex plots. This is fantasy that supports and motivates the reader to finish.
November 29, 2010
At twelve years old, Emily Snow has been looking after her younger brother since her parents disappeared. She tries to earn enough money to feed them both by selling watercress on the streets of Victorian London. One cold morning on her way to the watercress vendor, Emily encounters several strange small people having a battle. After the battle, two men approach her to ask her what she witnessed. Emily refuses to tell them, but that is not the last she will hear from them or from the piskies she saw battling. In fact, Emily has just entered the confusing and amazing world of the sidhe where both sides want her to help them and no one is telling the truth.
This book is a pleasure to read. Crilley has nicely balanced the world of the fey with the real world of London. Filled with details about the city, this book’s setting is well drawn and delightfully mixed with the magic and wonder of the sidhe world. Crilley also offers a feisty heroine who will delight young readers not only with her intelligence but her own guile as she deals with the faeries and The Invisible Order of humans too. The book reads effortlessly, beginning quickly with the pages whipping by as the adventure heats up. Children looking for a good read should look no further. Teachers as well should look to this as a great classroom read with enough action to keep even the most doubtful listener rapt.
A delight of a novel, this is one of the top faery books I have read for younger readers. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
This book is a pleasure to read. Crilley has nicely balanced the world of the fey with the real world of London. Filled with details about the city, this book’s setting is well drawn and delightfully mixed with the magic and wonder of the sidhe world. Crilley also offers a feisty heroine who will delight young readers not only with her intelligence but her own guile as she deals with the faeries and The Invisible Order of humans too. The book reads effortlessly, beginning quickly with the pages whipping by as the adventure heats up. Children looking for a good read should look no further. Teachers as well should look to this as a great classroom read with enough action to keep even the most doubtful listener rapt.
A delight of a novel, this is one of the top faery books I have read for younger readers. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
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