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Chronicles of Faerie #4
The Book of Dreams
In a landscape of Canadian myth and magic, the fairy tale continues...
The gateways between Faerie and the Earthworld have been destroyed by the Enemy. The only hope of ever bridging the two worlds again lies with Dana, a troubled teenager now living in Toronto. In a dream, Dana is told by her fairy mother, Edane, that the key to restoring the gateways is in The Book of Dreams.
"Okay, so I'm to find a book." she said. "How? Where do I look? Should I return to Ireland? Or is it somewhere in Faerie?"
"The Book of Dreams is in Canada. It is as the High King foresaw long ago. That was the reason you were sent to that land. Your destiny lies there."
Dana was appalled.
"Canada? But how? Why? That doesn't make sense. There's no magic there. I can't quest in that country. I don't know it at all!" A map of Canada flashed through her mind. "And it's huge!"
But quest she does, the length and breadth of the land, pursued by evil forces and aided by many new friends including Gwen and Laurel of the Companions of Faerie, and Jean, a classmate from Quebec with his own dark secret. Soon, Dana discovers that Canada is home to magic as frightening and wondrous as anything she left behind in Ireland.
The gateways between Faerie and the Earthworld have been destroyed by the Enemy. The only hope of ever bridging the two worlds again lies with Dana, a troubled teenager now living in Toronto. In a dream, Dana is told by her fairy mother, Edane, that the key to restoring the gateways is in The Book of Dreams.
"Okay, so I'm to find a book." she said. "How? Where do I look? Should I return to Ireland? Or is it somewhere in Faerie?"
"The Book of Dreams is in Canada. It is as the High King foresaw long ago. That was the reason you were sent to that land. Your destiny lies there."
Dana was appalled.
"Canada? But how? Why? That doesn't make sense. There's no magic there. I can't quest in that country. I don't know it at all!" A map of Canada flashed through her mind. "And it's huge!"
But quest she does, the length and breadth of the land, pursued by evil forces and aided by many new friends including Gwen and Laurel of the Companions of Faerie, and Jean, a classmate from Quebec with his own dark secret. Soon, Dana discovers that Canada is home to magic as frightening and wondrous as anything she left behind in Ireland.
538 pages, Paperback
First published October 21, 2003
21 people are currently reading
1780 people want to read
About the author
O.R. Melling
24 books480 followersBorn in Ireland, raised and educated in Toronto, Canada along with my seven sisters and two brothers, now living back in Ireland again. I have a beautiful daughter, Findabhair, doing her M.A. in Marine Biology and a beautiful cat, Emma, who would love to eat the fish Finn (great name for a marine biologist, eh?) wants to protect. My favourite author of all time is CS Lewis. I've read everything he ever wrote including non-fiction and adult fiction, but the Chronicles of Narnia are the best of all.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
January 5, 2016
So good! I really loved this series! This is one of my favorite series to read so far.
April 26, 2024
A solid satisfying ending.
August 21, 2010
I still have a tattered copy of The Singing Stone by O.R. Melling somewhere in my book collection, and remember it fondly as one of my favorite stories to read when I was younger. I was quite excited to see a continuation of The Chronicles of Faerie, as I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books of the series (Hunter's Moon and The Summer King), and although the third (The Lightbearer's Daughter) was also a fun read, I didn't like it as much as the first two.
What I liked about The Book of Dreams was the O.R. Melling "touch". She writes vividly and with excellent description, intertwining folklore with modern details, and blends worlds seamlessly. I loved as a Canadian that she features Canadians in her books. A lot of familiar themes in her previous books also carried over in this one: independent young women who set off on an adventure and grow into their own hidden strengths. I was always carried off into magical worlds filled with romance, and The Book of Dreams had plenty of fantastical realms that crossed over into each other.
I have to admit the book started out a bit slow for me, because it took me three or four tries to actually get going on the book. However, once I got over the first bit and started seeing familiar characters (Gwen, Honor, Laurel, etc.), I began to enjoy the book.
I felt that the story ran a bit long for me. There are so many quotes and random scenes and side stories thrown in that I found myself skipping over some parts that I wasn't too interested in reading. I thought that her previous books were on the shorter side, but were perfect lengths for escaping somewhere for a little while. This one had parts that dragged and parts where I was hanging onto every word. While I loved the overlaps with Native and Hindu mythology, the Canadian history, and of course the Irish faerie lore - I thought the part with Chinese mythology and the sudden appearance of a "best friend" for Dana was a little bit TOO convenient. Even if that section was trimmed out of the story, the story wouldn't have lost any of its "oomph" or imagination. A nice novel to take with you on a long bus or airplane ride.
What I liked about The Book of Dreams was the O.R. Melling "touch". She writes vividly and with excellent description, intertwining folklore with modern details, and blends worlds seamlessly. I loved as a Canadian that she features Canadians in her books. A lot of familiar themes in her previous books also carried over in this one: independent young women who set off on an adventure and grow into their own hidden strengths. I was always carried off into magical worlds filled with romance, and The Book of Dreams had plenty of fantastical realms that crossed over into each other.
I have to admit the book started out a bit slow for me, because it took me three or four tries to actually get going on the book. However, once I got over the first bit and started seeing familiar characters (Gwen, Honor, Laurel, etc.), I began to enjoy the book.
I felt that the story ran a bit long for me. There are so many quotes and random scenes and side stories thrown in that I found myself skipping over some parts that I wasn't too interested in reading. I thought that her previous books were on the shorter side, but were perfect lengths for escaping somewhere for a little while. This one had parts that dragged and parts where I was hanging onto every word. While I loved the overlaps with Native and Hindu mythology, the Canadian history, and of course the Irish faerie lore - I thought the part with Chinese mythology and the sudden appearance of a "best friend" for Dana was a little bit TOO convenient. Even if that section was trimmed out of the story, the story wouldn't have lost any of its "oomph" or imagination. A nice novel to take with you on a long bus or airplane ride.
April 23, 2010
I wasn't sure about this book. I couldn't get into as much as I did the other 3. I even had to put it down and read another book, and then come back to this one. The stories of each character I really enjoyed reading about, however, at some points in the book I got so over whelmed with too much detail about everything. I sometimes found myself just skimming through those parts just to get on with the story. In the end the story was just ok, I didn't find myself wanting more like I did with the other 3 books.
August 6, 2009
A beautifully written book which draws on beliefs and folklore of a variety of cultures, including Irish, French-Canadian, Hindu, Christian, Chinese, and several native peoples, including Cree and Inuit. The pacing is good, although slower than some modern YA, the story interesting and mythic in quality, and there's a hot romantic interest!
Read my full review:
http://www.wandsandworlds.com/blog1/2...
Read my full review:
http://www.wandsandworlds.com/blog1/2...
March 10, 2010
I liked this better than the first Dana book. It definitely had elements that weren't quite right--a 9th grader knowing that she's with the love of her life is a bit odd, especially as there wasn't much build-up. On the other hand, I loved the exploration of Canada and the descriptions of its spirits. You don't hear too much about Canadian mythology, which is really a pity. (Also, Canadian fairies for the win!)
January 30, 2010
A wonderful combination of many faerie cultures, from Ireland, to Canada, to India and China. Although the prior books can stand alone, this one you will understand much better if you have read the previous three.
January 21, 2010
Frankly the boy's goofy Canadian-French accent just really got to me after a couple 100 pages. That's what bothered me most...just a bit over the top. Guess it's easier to listen to than to read!
December 29, 2018
In brief: Dana is now a teen in Toronto, missing her beloved Ireland and reluctant to accept her new life. When an ancient Enemy rises, she’s thrust into another quest to save Faerie—one she might not survive even with the aid of fellow Companions Gwen and Laurel. Fourth in a quartet.
Full disclosure: The first book in this series, The Hunter’s Moon, was one of my favourites between about ages 10 to 12. My review of this book may be coloured by that, probably with a fair bit of rosy-glasses thinking.
Thoughts: A pleasant and occasionally thrilling and delightful finale to the series, but one that often feels slow and padded compared to the first three. There’s a lot more time spent with Dana’s family compared to previous books, the quest is longer and wider ranging, there are multiple points of view, and as a result, the sense of mounting danger suffers. It felt a bit like Melling bit off more than she could chew and/or was reluctant to kill a few darlings, even though I understand that the family stuff and definitely the breadth of the quest was necessary. It was also nice to see Gwen and Laurel as adults, though I’m not sure their character development follows their books as much as it was convenient for Melling to slot them into roles here, and I feel like their POV sections weren’t always needed.
However, Melling’s treatment of Canadian folklore and history is on par with the previous books in this series—beautifully described in a middle grade way, pulled from all manner of traditions without seeming incoherent, often slightly off the beaten path and touching on things I wouldn’t have expected to turn up, capable of moving between whimsy and serious descriptions of things like war, disease, and genocide without being jarring. I think that ability to keep a light touch and bring disparate elements together is probably what impressed me most as an adult reader, actually. Well, that and the sense of wonder she’s still able to evoke in the bigger set pieces. (However, some of the folklore and history that turns up get a bit tell-y and didactic.)
And the story is good, don’t get me wrong, and I did enjoy it. There’s a lot of adventure and character development from Dana, a plot that keeps moving even with the occasional dip in pacing, an enemy that for once I was prepared to believe could win despite narrative rules, and a quest that encompasses all of Canada and acknowledges that Irish faerie lore isn’t the only non-Christian systems of belief out there. (There’s also genuine ethnic and cultural diversity done pretty respectfully, including an indigenous shaman and his grandson, who have a pretty large role, and Dana’s Indian stepmother.) It’s certainly a more complex and epic story than Melling’s done before and the supporting characters are more fleshed out, which was great to see, but it definitely seems to have stretched her limits.
One more point of disappointment: Like I mentioned yesterday and in the warnings below, there’s another case of insta-love here, which I’m less able to look past than the previous ones. Dana’s thirteen and totally uninterested in boys until she meets a fifteen-year-old French-Canadian transfer student, and suddenly she’s confessing deep secrets and trusting him implicitly while longing to be kissed. Two years older each, I’d maybe buy it more, but not quite so young. (Gwen’s and Laurel’s boyfriends are also still with them, apparently.)
(Oh, and she totally plays into what a preteen’s idea of “cool aunt” would be rather than what an actual adult that age would act like, and yes, there is some presumably accidental queer coding going on as well.)
So yeah. I liked it but didn’t love it, enjoyed the ride but kept wishing it to feel faster, am glad I read it but wish it had been better, admire some of Melling’s technique while being disappointed in some of her choices. My mind’s kind of the embodiment of that “I guess” image right now. I’m not sure, though, how much of my opinion would change if I was, say, eleven. Maybe the flaws wouldn’t feel so flawed and the leisureliness would be a blessing because it gives more time to explore the world.
Warnings: A French-Canadian who fits into the broken English and flirty heart-throb stereotypes. Bilingualism that does not match up with real bilingualism. Insta-love. Villain who indulges in mind control and kidnapping. Frank but brief mentions of Canadian forms of racism and inequality, including anti-Irish, anti-indigenous, and anti-French. Two twenty-somethings who don’t act like any I’ve met, one of which is queer-coded but is apparently straight. One use of “Newfie” as a slur.
6.5/10
Full disclosure: The first book in this series, The Hunter’s Moon, was one of my favourites between about ages 10 to 12. My review of this book may be coloured by that, probably with a fair bit of rosy-glasses thinking.
Thoughts: A pleasant and occasionally thrilling and delightful finale to the series, but one that often feels slow and padded compared to the first three. There’s a lot more time spent with Dana’s family compared to previous books, the quest is longer and wider ranging, there are multiple points of view, and as a result, the sense of mounting danger suffers. It felt a bit like Melling bit off more than she could chew and/or was reluctant to kill a few darlings, even though I understand that the family stuff and definitely the breadth of the quest was necessary. It was also nice to see Gwen and Laurel as adults, though I’m not sure their character development follows their books as much as it was convenient for Melling to slot them into roles here, and I feel like their POV sections weren’t always needed.
However, Melling’s treatment of Canadian folklore and history is on par with the previous books in this series—beautifully described in a middle grade way, pulled from all manner of traditions without seeming incoherent, often slightly off the beaten path and touching on things I wouldn’t have expected to turn up, capable of moving between whimsy and serious descriptions of things like war, disease, and genocide without being jarring. I think that ability to keep a light touch and bring disparate elements together is probably what impressed me most as an adult reader, actually. Well, that and the sense of wonder she’s still able to evoke in the bigger set pieces. (However, some of the folklore and history that turns up get a bit tell-y and didactic.)
And the story is good, don’t get me wrong, and I did enjoy it. There’s a lot of adventure and character development from Dana, a plot that keeps moving even with the occasional dip in pacing, an enemy that for once I was prepared to believe could win despite narrative rules, and a quest that encompasses all of Canada and acknowledges that Irish faerie lore isn’t the only non-Christian systems of belief out there. (There’s also genuine ethnic and cultural diversity done pretty respectfully, including an indigenous shaman and his grandson, who have a pretty large role, and Dana’s Indian stepmother.) It’s certainly a more complex and epic story than Melling’s done before and the supporting characters are more fleshed out, which was great to see, but it definitely seems to have stretched her limits.
One more point of disappointment: Like I mentioned yesterday and in the warnings below, there’s another case of insta-love here, which I’m less able to look past than the previous ones. Dana’s thirteen and totally uninterested in boys until she meets a fifteen-year-old French-Canadian transfer student, and suddenly she’s confessing deep secrets and trusting him implicitly while longing to be kissed. Two years older each, I’d maybe buy it more, but not quite so young. (Gwen’s and Laurel’s boyfriends are also still with them, apparently.)
(Oh, and she totally plays into what a preteen’s idea of “cool aunt” would be rather than what an actual adult that age would act like, and yes, there is some presumably accidental queer coding going on as well.)
So yeah. I liked it but didn’t love it, enjoyed the ride but kept wishing it to feel faster, am glad I read it but wish it had been better, admire some of Melling’s technique while being disappointed in some of her choices. My mind’s kind of the embodiment of that “I guess” image right now. I’m not sure, though, how much of my opinion would change if I was, say, eleven. Maybe the flaws wouldn’t feel so flawed and the leisureliness would be a blessing because it gives more time to explore the world.
Warnings: A French-Canadian who fits into the broken English and flirty heart-throb stereotypes. Bilingualism that does not match up with real bilingualism. Insta-love. Villain who indulges in mind control and kidnapping. Frank but brief mentions of Canadian forms of racism and inequality, including anti-Irish, anti-indigenous, and anti-French. Two twenty-somethings who don’t act like any I’ve met, one of which is queer-coded but is apparently straight. One use of “Newfie” as a slur.
6.5/10
July 24, 2024
So, the series was excellent. Some parts slower and not as liked as others but overall 4/5.
The last book of the series, The Book of Dreams was exhilarating and had a wonderful coming together of all the books. I read that you don’t need to read all the books to get this book and I strongly disagree! Start with the first and read through the series.
*******Spoilers Below**********
The ending of the series….. a mix between overwhelming, glorious and well crafted. A year and a day breaks all curses, or so it is to be believed! So this is where it’s open for interpretation which is the overwhelming part. Did they choose humanity over their immortal lives? Did them enjoying each other and what life has to bring cause their curses to fade? Who knows, up to the reader to decide, which is the well crafted part! But as far as I can tell it is a true fairytale of happiness (and this is a glorious part).
The last book of the series, The Book of Dreams was exhilarating and had a wonderful coming together of all the books. I read that you don’t need to read all the books to get this book and I strongly disagree! Start with the first and read through the series.
*******Spoilers Below**********
The ending of the series….. a mix between overwhelming, glorious and well crafted. A year and a day breaks all curses, or so it is to be believed! So this is where it’s open for interpretation which is the overwhelming part. Did they choose humanity over their immortal lives? Did them enjoying each other and what life has to bring cause their curses to fade? Who knows, up to the reader to decide, which is the well crafted part! But as far as I can tell it is a true fairytale of happiness (and this is a glorious part).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2024
I have finally come to the end of this journey. I never knew when I first read the books that there was a great finale where all the events of the others came together. I didn’t know how much I needed that until I read it.
I am glad that it was Dana that was the main character here again. Since I read her book first (when I was young and didn’t realize this was a series) I connected with her the most. Her growth and journey is so well done. I really enjoyed her and how she interacted with the characters from the previous books. It was very much like that of a young teen as well, so appreciate the accuracy!
I’m not fully sure I like the ending. On one hand I like them taking their time and getting to experience things for a while. On the other hand (as an adult) I sympathize more with her human family that is apparently totally in the dark over what she’s doing for all that time! Oh well it’s a children’s book so I can’t be too critical. Still enjoyed it.
I am glad that it was Dana that was the main character here again. Since I read her book first (when I was young and didn’t realize this was a series) I connected with her the most. Her growth and journey is so well done. I really enjoyed her and how she interacted with the characters from the previous books. It was very much like that of a young teen as well, so appreciate the accuracy!
I’m not fully sure I like the ending. On one hand I like them taking their time and getting to experience things for a while. On the other hand (as an adult) I sympathize more with her human family that is apparently totally in the dark over what she’s doing for all that time! Oh well it’s a children’s book so I can’t be too critical. Still enjoyed it.
January 21, 2024
I started this series I think about 15 years ago (or maybe it was 20?) with Hunters Moon and finally finished it and learned what happened. A solid satisfying ending. Of all 4, The Summer King was my favourite.
April 11, 2019
3 1/2
March 2, 2021
A fantastic ending to the series! This book was a little weirder than the others and had more spirits in it than I'd prefer, but it was good all the same.
February 28, 2022
It is a very gripping book and is very detailed. This is the fourth or fifth time I’ve read the book and will probably read again.
October 5, 2023
4.5 ☆ rounded up
July 27, 2024
I adore this book. The mix of Indigenous and French-Canadian, Celtic and other legends is fascinating and so we'll put together. I highly recommend this book.
February 9, 2025
This series was out of print!! So I had to buy secondhand very well loved Library book versions! I really hope they republish!!
February 6, 2017
A very intense book. Emotional ups & downs. Loved it! This is what I call a "really good book".
October 20, 2016
The Book of Dreams by O.R. Melling is a fantasy book about the Land of Faerie and the mortal world. This book is the fourth in The Chronicles of Faerie series. This book contains 680 pages/44 chapters. I think it is a mildly challenging read, due to the fact that there are quite a fair amount of words/phrases in different languages, mostly Irish, French, and Latin. (though there is a glossary in the back for all of the non-English words) This book can also be very challenging if you haven't read the other three books in the series. I think this book, as well as the other books in the series, are geared towards teenagers/young adults. O.R. Melling is a fairly experienced author with about ten other books, some in the young adult category, some adult books. I have read quite a few books with a faerie world, and this one has similarities, but also quite a few differences. It’s very cultural and worldly, and the characters travel to lots of places and ‘connect’ with nature and the country. For me, it’s kind of odd, but anyone who likes nature/traveling would love it. Something similar in this book to the other ones I’ve read about a faerie world is the rhyming/singing. There are a lot of word passages of song and rhymes. Some people don’t like this, and just want action and dialogue, but I thought it was interesting. Overall, this book is ripe with fascinating material.
The main character in this story is Dana Faolan, a 13 year old half-human, half-faerie girl living in Canada, which is where this story mostly takes place. When the story begins, Dana had recently moved from Ireland, her home and the land she loved. She was very unhappy with the move, but her connection and portal to the Faerie World helped immensely. Dana’s mother, Edane, is a faerie queen of Wicklow, as well as a sky-woman, “a tribe that herds the stars across the heavens”. But suddenly, a short while after she moves, Dana’s portal abruptly slams closed, destroyed. On top of this, her teacher, Mr. Crowley, doesn't quite seem human anymore. He glows with green mist and seems out to get Dana. Dana then meets a new kid at her school, Jean Ducharme, a french boy who transferred from Quebec.
After being attacked by the monster that most definitely is not Mr. Crowley anymore, Dana and Jean, who isn't quite normal either, are thrown into a quest to save the faerie world, and by extension, the human world, because one world cannot live without the other. Dana and Jean, with the help of a powerful man, set out to find the book of dreams. But not everything is as straightforward as it seems, and their enemy has many allies. Can Dana and Jean, with the help of some friends, as well as the kindness of strangers, save their worlds?
The Book of Dreams is an exciting book with twists and turns that make you wonder where exactly it’s going, as well as filled with action, as well as a little romance. I enjoyed it, and would give it 3 stars, because even though it was good, it was a little slow, as well as confusing at times.
Review by Stephanie M., age 13, Cleveland Area Mensa
The main character in this story is Dana Faolan, a 13 year old half-human, half-faerie girl living in Canada, which is where this story mostly takes place. When the story begins, Dana had recently moved from Ireland, her home and the land she loved. She was very unhappy with the move, but her connection and portal to the Faerie World helped immensely. Dana’s mother, Edane, is a faerie queen of Wicklow, as well as a sky-woman, “a tribe that herds the stars across the heavens”. But suddenly, a short while after she moves, Dana’s portal abruptly slams closed, destroyed. On top of this, her teacher, Mr. Crowley, doesn't quite seem human anymore. He glows with green mist and seems out to get Dana. Dana then meets a new kid at her school, Jean Ducharme, a french boy who transferred from Quebec.
After being attacked by the monster that most definitely is not Mr. Crowley anymore, Dana and Jean, who isn't quite normal either, are thrown into a quest to save the faerie world, and by extension, the human world, because one world cannot live without the other. Dana and Jean, with the help of a powerful man, set out to find the book of dreams. But not everything is as straightforward as it seems, and their enemy has many allies. Can Dana and Jean, with the help of some friends, as well as the kindness of strangers, save their worlds?
The Book of Dreams is an exciting book with twists and turns that make you wonder where exactly it’s going, as well as filled with action, as well as a little romance. I enjoyed it, and would give it 3 stars, because even though it was good, it was a little slow, as well as confusing at times.
Review by Stephanie M., age 13, Cleveland Area Mensa
May 4, 2010
The final chapter of Melling's chronicles was incredibly long, one of the longest I've read in quite a while. But astoundingly, it was also incredibly good, which is quite a feat for a large and rambling novel.
The Light-Bearer's daughter, Dana Faolan, returns to the helm of this novel to continue her story, not in Ireland but in her new country of Canada. Dana isn't pleased about the move, and she can't imagine how she'll be able to live happily in a country so different from her magical, Faerie-infused homeland.
But a great burden is about to be placed on Dana's shoulders, as the bridge between Earth and Faerie is shattered and she becomes the single key to restoring it. The destinies of each novel's previous characters intertwine as they join Dana on her quest, though they are more in the periphery this time. And of course, there is a veritable army of new characters prepared to either harm or aid Dana, hailing from every myth and culture imaginable.
At first I thought the sheer amount of mythology introduced in this novel would be overwhelming and bog the story down, but it actually helped enhance the book's touching and relevant theme that all myths, magic, ancestors, and spirit are essentially born from the same roots. I found myself fascinated learning about everything from Native gods to French demons to Indian deities to Chinese spirits to Irish history, all of them tied into Dana's new country of Canada.
In the end I felt the length really was required to tell this story well; Melling's pacing was wonderful this time and the character development equally so. I got to know Dana much better, and I really enjoyed her family, especially her Indian stepmother Radhi and her two eccentric aunts. Seeing a few returning characters was nice too, and I actually found myself wishing I could have seen more of them, especially Laurel and Ian from "The Summer King" which I enjoyed so much. In some parts the writing was noticibly beautiful and very touching emotionally, especially toward the end. The ending was interesting but appropriate. All in all, I'm glad the author ended this series with a such a solid story.
The Light-Bearer's daughter, Dana Faolan, returns to the helm of this novel to continue her story, not in Ireland but in her new country of Canada. Dana isn't pleased about the move, and she can't imagine how she'll be able to live happily in a country so different from her magical, Faerie-infused homeland.
But a great burden is about to be placed on Dana's shoulders, as the bridge between Earth and Faerie is shattered and she becomes the single key to restoring it. The destinies of each novel's previous characters intertwine as they join Dana on her quest, though they are more in the periphery this time. And of course, there is a veritable army of new characters prepared to either harm or aid Dana, hailing from every myth and culture imaginable.
At first I thought the sheer amount of mythology introduced in this novel would be overwhelming and bog the story down, but it actually helped enhance the book's touching and relevant theme that all myths, magic, ancestors, and spirit are essentially born from the same roots. I found myself fascinated learning about everything from Native gods to French demons to Indian deities to Chinese spirits to Irish history, all of them tied into Dana's new country of Canada.
In the end I felt the length really was required to tell this story well; Melling's pacing was wonderful this time and the character development equally so. I got to know Dana much better, and I really enjoyed her family, especially her Indian stepmother Radhi and her two eccentric aunts. Seeing a few returning characters was nice too, and I actually found myself wishing I could have seen more of them, especially Laurel and Ian from "The Summer King" which I enjoyed so much. In some parts the writing was noticibly beautiful and very touching emotionally, especially toward the end. The ending was interesting but appropriate. All in all, I'm glad the author ended this series with a such a solid story.
July 30, 2010
One of the good things about the current YA Paranormal Romance boom is that a lot of older paranormal books are being re-issued. Among them were the first three books in the O.R Melling's Chronicles of Faerie, which I had loved (especially the first) back in high school. I was excited to discover the re-issues at my local book store, and also to see that a forth and final installment of the series has just been published.
It had been a long time since I'd read the series, but the book was written in a way to enable first time readers to understand what had happened in the previous books, which was enough to jog my memory. The book comes many years after the first three, and I wouldn't be surprised if the author spent a lot of that time doing research.
The first three books in the series were very heavily Irish, in terms of the Faerie mythology, but the final book goes far beyond that or any of the usual influences in the genre, the mythology of French Canada, many Native American tribes, and even China or Christianity is featured.
All of this mythology is woven together to present a larger picture of the world as interconnected, and to show that, often repeated 'We are all family'.
It was a bold move, straying so far from the original Irish bound mythology of the beginning of the series, but it worked well to turn it into a larger story, into the archetypal struggle against evil.
Did I like the book? Well, let's just say it's 700 pages and I finished it in two days.
June 24, 2020
This series was one of my absolute favourites when I was a kid. I was completely obsessed with them!
Sadly, nearly 20 years later, it turns out this is one of the few that haven't stood the test of time for me. This final book in the series in particular was a chore, and I finished it more out a sense of obligation to 12-year-old me than because I actually enjoyed it.
The first three books were fine, to the point that I didn't write reviews for them because I really didn't feel I had anything to say after reading them – if it hadn't been for the nostalgia factor I probably wouldn't have continued past the first book, but they were enjoyable enough. This one, unfortunately, was just... not.
I can't say there was any particular reason I didn't like it. It just never caught my interest, and it didn't help that this one focused on Dana, my least-favourite of the protagonists from the first three books. And on top of not catching my interest, it was just so long.
It (and the first three books) may still hold up well for a younger audience (I was 12 when I first read these books and fell in love with them), but at least for me, they didn't age well.
Sadly, nearly 20 years later, it turns out this is one of the few that haven't stood the test of time for me. This final book in the series in particular was a chore, and I finished it more out a sense of obligation to 12-year-old me than because I actually enjoyed it.
The first three books were fine, to the point that I didn't write reviews for them because I really didn't feel I had anything to say after reading them – if it hadn't been for the nostalgia factor I probably wouldn't have continued past the first book, but they were enjoyable enough. This one, unfortunately, was just... not.
I can't say there was any particular reason I didn't like it. It just never caught my interest, and it didn't help that this one focused on Dana, my least-favourite of the protagonists from the first three books. And on top of not catching my interest, it was just so long.
It (and the first three books) may still hold up well for a younger audience (I was 12 when I first read these books and fell in love with them), but at least for me, they didn't age well.
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March 1, 2012Really don't think I can give this a rating...it was a 700 page up-and-down story. Some parts were as low as 2 stars (the early parts, Jean's weird speech, and the Demon boat?) and as high as 5 (the aunts, Faerie, quotes from other works). I still am not sure about the setting. Ireland was everything that drew me into the others (as well as the romance, which is negligible with a 13 year old POV) and I didn't understand the need to include Canada at first. I now appreciate the whole "world wide family" thing though. It was off putting but interesting that she included French, Native, Hindu, and Chinese tidbits. Some of Dana's spirit tangents got unorganized and hard to comprehend, but I loved the magic of it, as always.
As for the end, it ends from the wrong perspective, in my humble opinion. You can't end a 4-book series in the mind of a character you've met twice. It stings. I think I like the end decision, but I wish it could've been more peachy.
A 2 star and a 5 star.
As for the end, it ends from the wrong perspective, in my humble opinion. You can't end a 4-book series in the mind of a character you've met twice. It stings. I think I like the end decision, but I wish it could've been more peachy.
A 2 star and a 5 star.
July 13, 2010
this is the legend of how the first strawberries came into being, and it’s kind of nice because it’s a love story. i’m going to summarize it so if you don’t want to know skip over.
one day a husband comes home from hunting to find his wife picking flowers instead of cooking. he angrily reprimands her for this and she indignantly walks off. the husband immediately feels sorry for getting so angry and tries to catch up to his wife to apologize but she’s too fast for him so he asks the sun to slow her down. the sun shines itself on various berries but the wife is too angry to see them so the sun makes strawberries right on the ground so the wife would see them, and voila the first strawberries. the wife sees them and thinks to herself that it would be nice to share these with her husband so stops to pick some. the husband catches up to her and they live happily ever after.
it was a nice story. i enjoyed it.
one day a husband comes home from hunting to find his wife picking flowers instead of cooking. he angrily reprimands her for this and she indignantly walks off. the husband immediately feels sorry for getting so angry and tries to catch up to his wife to apologize but she’s too fast for him so he asks the sun to slow her down. the sun shines itself on various berries but the wife is too angry to see them so the sun makes strawberries right on the ground so the wife would see them, and voila the first strawberries. the wife sees them and thinks to herself that it would be nice to share these with her husband so stops to pick some. the husband catches up to her and they live happily ever after.
it was a nice story. i enjoyed it.
June 5, 2011
Final installment in the Chronicles of Faerie series! Dana is the daughter of a fairy and a human, and has been living in the human world with her father and her kind Indian stepmother. All of her life, she has been able to escape the human world when she liked to visit the world of Faerie through various portals, but now a dark and evil enemy has destroyed almost all of the portals. The connections between the worlds are hanging by one ancient thread, and Dana must find the Book Of Dreams, which is the key to restoring balance between the worlds. Danger surrounds her, putting anyone who helps her in mortal danger. This is a huge, epic fantasy journey across Ireland and Canada (who knew? Faeries in Canada!!), where ancient curses and blessings and spells abound, helping and hindering Dana in her quest. Strong characters and lots of historical folklore and legends from both countries -- very enjoyable! 7th grade and up, for strong fantasy readers especially.
November 22, 2010
It wasn't all that great. It was too long and felt a bit… unpolished. I don't know. I liked the Jean-Dana romance at first but then it became a bit lame. Especially because she's only thirteen. Love? yeah right.
Storyline was cool but it just felt too much and too unwieldy. At times it seemed a bit blunt. Like a shallow cover for a railing against the earth's degradation, and at other times for dreams as a necessity for life (both on earth and in Faerie). There's some things about identity and facing one's dark side. And about 'family' and the convergence of all the magic in the world.
I think it had a lot of potential. With the combining of all the characters in the series, and the magic cultures of the world. But it was very messy andthe writing wasn't very clear. A bit difficult to follow. Long-winded. Previous books better.
Storyline was cool but it just felt too much and too unwieldy. At times it seemed a bit blunt. Like a shallow cover for a railing against the earth's degradation, and at other times for dreams as a necessity for life (both on earth and in Faerie). There's some things about identity and facing one's dark side. And about 'family' and the convergence of all the magic in the world.
I think it had a lot of potential. With the combining of all the characters in the series, and the magic cultures of the world. But it was very messy andthe writing wasn't very clear. A bit difficult to follow. Long-winded. Previous books better.
May 25, 2010
I liked how all the plots and characters from the earlier books were intertwined in this book...was very glad to see some favorite characters from earlier. I did prefer the Irish setting of the earlier books to the Canadian one in this book, but the landscape depictions and descriptions of the fairies were just as beautiful as in the earlier books.
My only real complaint is that not only was the glossary incomplete (several times I went to look up a foreign phrase/word only to find that it wasn't listed), but it did not give the pronunciation of the words. Because some of the words/phrases used in the book were Irish/Scots Gaelic, I felt a pronunciation guide was an absolute must. Plus, I enjoyed trying to pronounce them in the earlier books, so the experience wasn't as fun for me.
My only real complaint is that not only was the glossary incomplete (several times I went to look up a foreign phrase/word only to find that it wasn't listed), but it did not give the pronunciation of the words. Because some of the words/phrases used in the book were Irish/Scots Gaelic, I felt a pronunciation guide was an absolute must. Plus, I enjoyed trying to pronounce them in the earlier books, so the experience wasn't as fun for me.
October 14, 2012
For the most part, this book was a sappy piece of drivel. The "we are all family" message was pressed so heavy handedly I had trouble finishing it. I thought the tying in of all kinds of beliefs and myths and legends was a bit stretched as well. I really felt like this book could have easily been 300 pages shorter. And, last gripe - what was with the sickeningly sweet pre-teen romance? It was too cheesy for words.
The saving grace of this book was perhaps the last 100 pages or so. Finally, Canadian faeries. Finally, a climax. Still, I left wishing I hadn't bothered to read this book, as it somewhat ruined the earlier books in the series for me.
The saving grace of this book was perhaps the last 100 pages or so. Finally, Canadian faeries. Finally, a climax. Still, I left wishing I hadn't bothered to read this book, as it somewhat ruined the earlier books in the series for me.
September 1, 2010
The books in this series always say that they don't have to be read in order, but I think that would help a lot. I did read them in order, but that was a while ago, and I couldn't remember a lot of what happened, so I occasionally felt in the dark. I enjoyed this, though. The flights of fancy, which seem (when I think about them) like they would bother me, really didn't. Actually, when I read this, I kept feeling like it was a Young Wizards book, minus some of the edge that those have. It was pretty good, though if I do re-read it, I think I'll only be reading the Georgia scenes.
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