The Seven Year King

The Faerie Ring #3

by Kiki Hamilton

It is the seventh year—the time when the UnSeelie Court must pay a tithe to Seelie royalty to remain a separate entity. Sacrificed at midnight on Samhain, the UnSeelies call their offering the Seven Year King. This time, Donegal plans to sacrifice someone Tiki loves. To make matters worse, Fiona disappears, Johnny lies near death, and the threat of the liche comes closer. Tiki's only hope is that she and Rieker can find an ancient faerie treasure and outsmart the Winter King before the turning of the seasons. In this third book of The Faerie Ring series, Tiki is pulled between two worlds—and unable to find peace in either.

A deadly sacrifice, a heartbreaking choice, an uncertain future…

Tiki's journey begins with THE FAERIE RING…

London 1871

Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring is a reservoir that holds a truce between the English royals and the world of the Fey. But there are many who want the ring, including those who would do anything to break the truce…

A delicious blend of urban fantasy and heart-stopping suspense, the story of THE FAERIE RING takes you from the gritty slums of London to the glittering ballrooms of the Royal Palace to the menacing Otherworld - in a thrilling series where nothing is what it seems...

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Magic, Romance, Fairies, Fae

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 17, 2013

About the author

Kiki Hamilton is the award-winning author of THE MIDNIGHT SPY-named One of the Best Books of 2015 by Kirkus Reviews; THE FAERIE RING series and several contemporary novels. Kiki lives near Seattle, though she loves to travel and is most likely plotting her next adventure - in more ways than one! :-)

Visit her website at: www.kikihamilton.com

Reviews

[Melodramaticfool · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars
Once again, Kiki Hamilton, you've drawn me in for another fun fairy tale!
This book was very interesting, and I was slightly curious in this search for the four treasures! Tiki and Rieker grow closer together (with some steamy moments! ;D ) and my heart ached for poor Dain. Now, while I'm a raging fan of Rieker and Tiki, I couldn't help but question the romantic aspect of one particular scene. It's when Charles, Rieker's butler, is dead. Heart cut out, blood covering the hall way and what are Tiki and Rieker doing? Making out in the kitchen. I mean I get they were happy that the other was safe and unharmed but there is a time and a place. Right?

Also a little addition, there were some punctuation marks missing in the book.
Besides my dying anticipatory interest in the four treasures, I was intrigued by some other little tidbits when I'm not sure are spoilers. Tiki's power has been growing, and you can definitely see it in this book people! She controls the elements of nature! Lightning bends to her will, showers of rain and hail fall at her command! While a part of me found it awesome, I also found it to be kind of a power trip. I am intrigued in where things will develop with the Elder Witch, and I found the morbid little twist with the liche and Winter King to be horriblyfascinating! So many good things in this book!!

But best of all is always Larkin. I mean she sends such mixed signals!! Is she good but cunning or just a total bitch? I just dunno anymore. But all in all, she sure makes one hell of a villain/antagonist.
To end my rant, I'm dying for the fourth book! The final conclusion to the saga! It's been a journey, and I hope some of ya'll pick up a copy, because this is a good read.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
May 2013, cannot come fast enough!! I need to know!!


What will happen with Donegal and Dain? Will this war be super bad or badass? I want a happy ending for Tiki and Reiker!! <33 All these emotions! I just can't...the feels...
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[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please tell me that Rieker is still with her!!!

Okay so just finished BK 2 AND I NEED THIS NOW!!! And what is up with this "heartbreaking" nonsense.... it better not involve Rieker!

[Klariz · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It’s up to you. Which do you choose: a child or a kingdom? "

AAAARGH! I don't know whether to love Larkin or hate her. She's too complicated. Love all the scenes with Gestle and idk why. I can't wait for Tiki to trick and trap Donegal. Also, I can't wait to see more of Dain-William interaction! This book left me asking for more. Loved it!

[Kiki Hamilton]

“THE SEVEN YEAR KING - Hamilton’s layered, complex worldbuilding creates a marvelous landscape of both London and the Otherworld. (Her) prose contains moments of pure, poetic beauty that ensnare the reader with their magic.” – Kirkus Reviews

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah, this book is so good, I loved reading it, and I'm so excited to finally see how this series wraps up!

*First Read July 28th, 2013*
Excellent book, loved the reaction of Leo's that Tiki was a Queen, and yeah, that ending, with Larkin and Clara? I want The Faerie Queen now!

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hope she does not give into her aunt. There needs to be closer in the next book.

[Andrea Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

what a way to leave you hanging at the end, I need the next book immediately!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book! Tales of Victorian England wrapped up with Faerie. Intrigue abounds. Very good series, and I hope there are more to come. Believable and sympathetic characters.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is very ~meh~ for me, but I still get sucked in every time. People keep talking about the ridiculous name of the main character - Tiki - but, like, the author's name is Kiki? I have a feeling she'd love to meet Queen Victoria and proudly tell her how her nickname came to be.

There was also... a lot of plot in this one. Mostly in a good way, since I found the last book a little drawn out, but it gets a little annoying that there are 10,000 new elements introduced and only 6 resolved. Plus, I know she doesn't trust Larkin, but Tiki needs to pay at least a little attention to her. Literally every good thing that they did was helped along by Larkin, and she obviously knows tons of info I'm sure they could use, but Tiki is too busy being snippy to listen to anything.

Her two minds about her "family" in London and her kingdom in the Otherworld is so annoying too. Get your shit together, Tiki.

[Fran Bolte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dilemma

Loved this third book of The Faerie Ring. Amazed by the connection to objects and monuments in Great Britain, the characters’ development, the trail of the story…It just keeps getting better and better.
Detailing and descriptions make it so easy to picture in your mind the author’s intent. Can’t wait to start book four but know I’ll be sad when this story ends.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in this series, and both my daughter and I are greatly enjoying this story. It is a combination of both historical fiction (Victorian England and the sons on Queen Victoria) as well as fey and fantasy. We are moving on now to book number four as we both want to see how the story of Tiki, Reiker and the rest plays out. Highly recommend.

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: A great faerie world filled with vivid imagery and a fantastic, detailed story.

Opening Sentence: Firelight flickered from wall-mounted torches in the small chamber off the Great Hall as the Winter King and his court of UnSeelie advisors– Bearach, Sullivan, Cruinn and Scathach—gathered in a circle.

The Review:

Kiki Hamilton has always been one of my favorite authors. From reading The Faerie Ring, I was instantly hooked with her style of storytelling. With each book, she adds a level of darkness, slowly uncovering the truths behind the glamour. The Seven Year King is the anticipated third book of the series. Hamilton brings the evil and terrifying side of the UnSeelie Court to the forefront. I absolutely loved the attention between the two worlds, and you might also.

Tiki is an enjoyable character. She once was a street rat, fighting her way around to survive. Now she is the Queen of the Seelie Court, newly discovered and rightfully crowned. Tiki has grown from the time I first met her. She now allows others into her life, accepting and trusting those she cares about. And while I partially miss her former life, I enjoy this new personified Tiki. She hasn’t completely accepted the challenge of being a Queen, but I believe she is a natural leader. Tiki has proven it again and again in the first two books.

Hamilton brings the supporting characters to the forefront in The Seven Year King. Whether it is the King of the UnSeelie court, or a hobgoblin protecting his land, Hamilton makes sure to showcase who they are. I never felt that there was a character out of place. I felt that each character added to the plot, bringing another detail that made the world more real.

Hamilton talks about an interesting subject matter within the pages of The Seven Year King. She talks about loyalty to one’s people, loyalty to friends, and most importantly, loyalty to one’s self. Loyalty has always been a topic of the books, and it’s creative the way she did it. Tiki battles with herself in regards to her past and future. She constantly questions and debates about how she would want to rule the Seelie Court while balancing the ones that she cares for back home.

While I enjoyed this story, at times, I felt that there were scenes in the book that could have been left out. The Seven Year King had a many transitional moments, most which were most likely necessary. I felt that the scenes were ones that ensured Tiki’s journey as a queen, showcasing the similarities and differences of who she was then with whom she was now. There was a moment where I felt like the subplots were battling with each other, vying for my attention. It distracted me for only a moment, but it was still there.

I’m glad that The Faerie Ring series isn’t a trilogy. Hamilton’s world is too interesting to stop after three books. There is so much uncharted territory and so many characters yet to be introduced that I haven’t yet met.

I enjoyed The Seven Year King for the unique fae world and Hamilton’s take on the culture. It’s intricate and detailed; something that I thoroughly enjoy.

Notable Scene:

Tiki’s heart tripped in her chest as a sense of responsibility settled on her shoulders like a weighty mantle. An image of the little man who had spoken at Westminster Abbey when the stone had roared filled Tiki’s head. ‘Donegal’s killed our loved ones, our families. He’s taken our homes and possessions. Enslaved some of us. We don’t want peace,’ he had said. ‘We want revenge. This is war.’

Tiki took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. The Stone of Tara had roared – she was the rightful Queen of the Seelie Court. Now she needed to claim her throne.

FTC Advisory: I purchased this copy of The Seven Year King. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[Andge (Down the Rabbit Hole) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It still constantly amazes me how well Hamilton was able to immerse the land of mythical fey with 19th century London.

In this 3rd installment of the Faerie Ring series, we get to see more of the Otherworld as Tiki spends more time there, having accepted her role in leading the Seelie Court. The novel starts off with a bang as 1) Dain has been captured at the end of The Torn Wing and possibly going to be sacrificed on Samhain, and 2) Johnny has been captured by the liche, aka hideous monster that's been doing the Winter King's bidding.

Torn between keeping her family safe in London and saving those who need her in the Otherworld, I was glad to see that this book really picked up the pace where The Torn Wing was a little lacking. Without ruining too much, basically some action starts happening as the liche continues to hunt down Tiki and her family, in particular Fiona.

And as always, Hamilton is the best at incorporating tidbits of new information and introducing new characters. This time, we get to see the amazing (and sometimes horrifying) creatures of the fey. From tree dryads (who are really witches!) to ugly hobgoblins and their distant relatives the Redcaps, crazy things continue to happen as Tiki embarks to rescue Dain.

I smell a love triangle with Dain, but for those who don't love them, rest assured, I don't think Hamilton made those hints of feelings into anything more, at least on Tiki's side of things. Her heart is safely with Rieker (as it well should be). Oh and finally! Some seriously hot romantic action goes on here with our favourite pickpocket-slash-handsome-lord.

The one thing I felt a little off with this story was Johnny and Fiona's romantic chemistry. I honestly didn't feel like they knew each other well enough before suddenly, they were "in love" or something like it from the way Fiona freaked out about Johnny's capture. But anyway, this book really won't disappoint with suspense OR romance. The land of the fey and the gorgeous old city of London ever continues to amaze me in The Seven Year King. Not to mention, a few more real life facts/artifacts thrown into the story!

Overall Recommendation:
The Seven Year King was a truly enjoyable read. Hamilton is a master story-weaver as she immerses us into both the land of the fey and 19th century London this time. With two friends' lives hanging in the balance, Tiki and her companions are on a timeline to save them. Not to mention there is still a horrible monster hunting them down for the Winter King. This surely sets the foundation for the ultimate conclusion to the series. Please, do yourself a favour and read it. Romance? History? Fantasy? Suspense/action? No other story blends these elements as well as this does.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kiki Hamilton has always been one of my favorite authors. From reading The Faerie Ring, I was instantly hooked with her style of storytelling. With each book, she adds a level of darkness, slowly uncovering the truths behind the glamour. The Seven Year King is the anticipated third book of the series. Hamilton brings the evil and terrifying side of the UnSeelie Court to the forefront. I absolutely loved the attention between the two worlds, and you might also.

Tiki is an enjoyable character. She once was a street rat, fighting her way around to survive. Now she is the Queen of the Seelie Court, newly discovered and rightfully crowned. Tiki has grown from the time I first met her. She now allows others into her life, accepting and trusting those she cares about. And while I partially miss her former life, I enjoy this new personified Tiki. She hasn’t completely accepted the challenge of being a Queen, but I believe she is a natural leader. Tiki has proven it again and again in the first two books.

Hamilton brings the supporting characters to the forefront in The Seven Year King. Whether it is the King of the UnSeelie court, or a hobgoblin protecting his land, Hamilton makes sure to showcase who they are. I never felt that there was a character out of place. I felt that each character added to the plot, bringing another detail that made the world more real.

Hamilton talks about an interesting subject matter within the pages of The Seven Year King. She talks about loyalty to one’s people, loyalty to friends, and most importantly, loyalty to one’s self. Loyalty has always been a topic of the books, and it’s creative the way she did it. Tiki battles with herself in regards to her past and future. She constantly questions and debates about how she would want to rule the Seelie Court while balancing the ones that she cares for back home.

While I enjoyed this story, at times, I felt that there were scenes in the book that could have been left out. The Seven Year King had a many transitional moments, most which were most likely necessary. I felt that the scenes were ones that ensured Tiki’s journey as a queen, showcasing the similarities and differences of who she was then with whom she was now. There was a moment where I felt like the subplots were battling with each other, vying for my attention. It distracted me for only a moment, but it was still there.

I’m glad that The Faerie Ring series isn’t a trilogy. Hamilton’s world is too interesting to stop after three books. There is so much uncharted territory and so many characters yet to be introduced that I haven’t yet met.

I enjoyed The Seven Year King for the unique Fae world and Hamilton’s take on the culture. It’s intricate and detailed; something that I thoroughly enjoy.

[Britt · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I looked everywhere for this book as I saw the publication date to be variously May 14, May 21, and even September 2013. I finally saw it on bn.com avaiable for nook, but no such luck on Amazon - as a kindle user, I had to order the paperback copy of this book, which I haven't done in probably 3 years - that's how badly I wanted to read this!

I just finished it, and all I can say is The Seven Year King is most definitely a "bridge" book that really only ties up the loose ends of The Torn Wing and marginally sets up the conflict for The Faerie Queen. I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as the first two books, but I did enjoy spending time in this world again and will invariably read the final installment.

I did not enjoy several aspects of The Seven Year King:

-There were WAY too many of those paragraph breaks within each chapter that indicate a shift in scenery (I don't know what they're called) and they realllly disrupted the narrative flow for me. (Were they in the previous two books? I don't recall.)

-There are obviously a lot of growing problems in the Faerie world and along with Kiki's London family, she has a lot of responsibilities contending for her attention. However, rather than just incessantly complaining about it, why not have her *do* something about it and show a heroine that can successfully manage conflicting responsibilities?! We learn about all of these problems in the Faerie world that Kiki can and should be working on NOW in preparation for what is to come, but nooo - it's like she's just sticking her head in the sand and darting off to blindly focus on the small problems at hand rather than doing that AND looking at the big picture. Ugh.

-Finally, all of the plot resolution points from The Torn Wing were just so predictable. I mean, obviously I wouldn't want the outcome to have been any other way, but I also didn't need a whole book resolving those plot points. If it hadn't taken a whole book and the resolution was instead woven into perhaps The Faerie Queen, I wouldn't have cared at all that the resolution was predictable.

Nevertheless, if you've gotten through the first two books in the series, this book is a must-read. I now eagerly await The Faerie Queen, in what I hope is a splendid conclusion to the series, as I truly enjoy Ms. Hamilton's blending of fantasy and historical fiction.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

***spoilers***







Honestly, there were several things that bothered me about the plot for the 3rd book. There seemed to me an overemphasis on Tiki's beauty as a fey. I forgive revealing plot points to the reader pages and pages before Tiki figures them out, because I know in a similar situation, I wouldn't get it so quickly as I can being outside of the plot as an observer. That Clara was Larkin's daughter was hinted at throughout the beginning of the book and confirmed when Tiki saw the gourd with Clara's hair on it in Larkin's study. The location of the prison was also revealed very early. It is slightly frustrating to have to wait an entire year for the next book to have her figure out that she can use the chalice to feed all of the starving people and most likely needs to drink from it herself to find the answer to the 4th treasure.
What really bothers me is the inconsistencies in travel and glamour. There were many times that Tiki could have traveled by magic, but instead spent days trekking across the countryside. Also, she was often in danger for looking like herself when she could have just glamoured herself a disguise. Also, Tiki and Rieker spent a lot of time changing clothes when they could have just used a glamour. At times Tiki talked about dressing in street clothes to become invisible when she could have just glamoured herself invisible. If you are making rules outside of the natural realm, you have to be consistent.
When she confronted Donegal in the castle, why didn't she just transport them both to the forest while he held her, or just transport herself out of danger? Why did they continue to swim in the pond when Tiki could just transport them to the jail? Why didn't she try to transport Daine out of the jail?
Another point that has not been addressed is how mortal half fey are. Are Rieker and Daine immortal, or will Tiki have to watch them grow old and die in addition to Fiona, Shamus, Toots, and Johnny?

[Raquel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really do love this series, and I think that the author does a great job bringing something new to the overused concept of faeries. This book did not live up to the standard of the first two books though.

It just felt like all of the obstacles the characters were faced with were easily solved. As soon as the obstacle appeared they magically came up with a solution that worked. It seemed way too convenient that they spent the majority of the book trying to come up with a solution and when the obstacle actually presented itself Tiki all of the sudden knew just what to do.

I also felt that this book did not need multiple points of view. They really added no substance to the story, and if they were taken out I do not believe that it would have changed the story at all. The millions of paragraph breaks every chapter also made the story feel less fluid.

Otherwise this was still a fun read. The characters all had captivating personalities, and the storyline is still unique. It is enjoyable reading a book were not all of the faeries are perceived as evil, but rather as characters who all have shades of grey. The amount of work the author went through to make it as historically accurate as possible is also an admirable quality of this series.

The story ended on a rather interesting cliffhanging, so I cannot wait to see what Tiki and her friends will do in the next installment.

[sraxe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really, really enjoyed the previous novels and thought they were fantastically written. It’s not that this book was badly written; it just felt very inadequate in comparison, felt as though it didn’t at all measure up. The pacing, for one, was really off to me. There were times in which numerous things were happening one after another. Soon after, though, there would be nothing for a stretch. I wish there had been a bit more consistency in this regard.

I liked the book; it just had a few inconsistencies that bothered me a bit. There were times in which I wondered why she hadn’t just used her magic? For example, Dain in the prison -- why couldn’t she just have used her magic to transport them all elsewhere? I could have understood if it hadn't worked, but she/they didn’t even try! There were also some awkward scenes (in the kitchen after the liche fight, for one) in which I found myself questioning the appropriateness of the moment considering preceding events.

I’m hoping there’s more to follow than what we’re left with at the end of this book because Johnny felt so very deus ex machina to me and I did not like that one bit. I hope there’s more to this (some sort of repercussion, follow up -- just...something) because I don’t like the way it is at the moment.

[Emily Crowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5- Great story! I was so impressed with Ms. Hamilton's writing. Not only did it have a captivating plot with twists all throughout the book, likable characters, and an overall very imaginative storyline, but it was also very well written!
'The Seven Year king' picks up right where 'the torn wing' left off- Tiki has just been proclaimed Queen of the Seelie fairies, and she immedietly is thrust into the twisted politics of the two courts. Much of the story Tiki is constantly on the go- from rescue missions, to hunting for mystical objects, to balancing her human and faerie lives. It ensured there wasn't a slow moment! I really enjoyed the entire story- I can't wait to see how her story ends in the final installment!

[Angelic Zaizai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ga terlalu fokus sama judulnya sih, karena ceritanya banyak sekali cabangnya, ga fokus sama upaya nyelamatin Dain doang.
Ada perburuan harta fairy, tentang liche, intrik-intrik di istana Seelie, para anggotanya, tentang Johny, dan tentu saja keluarga Tiki.
Rame sih, tapi saking ramenya jadi berasa ke sana ke sini ceritanya hahaha ya gpp sih, secara Tiki sekarang udah bisa pergi dengan cara kilat hehehe
Akhirnya kekuatan Tiki keliatan, meskipun masih dikit
Dan Larkin hahaha aduh tetap ga bisa benci sama dia, malahan emang mikir
mendingan dia aja jadi ratu :p

Kecewa sih karena masih bersambung... hadeeeh... kaga bisa trilogi aja apa ya...

[Jenelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

My feelings for this book are about as blasé as I felt for the second.

After the magic of the first book, these subsequent books have been like trudging through all the necessary plot developments in order to reach the forgone conclusion. It's rather lack-luster.

My only real complaints are about how stupid Tiki and Reiker keep going off on little quests which they've been warned against, while also ditching her guards. It annoyed me.

Also aggravating was the insane amount of deus ex machina moments conveniently popping up every five minutes. Sometimes they'd be baffled for a while first, but ultimately, everything is miraculously solved. How boring.

[Kyla · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an OK book. Maybe I've set my expectations too high from the first one, but it seems that her writing isn't as good anymore. I didn't get drawn into the book. It felt like a lot of stuff was left out and she was just telling me how they felt or what happened instead of really experiencing it. I was disappointed to find out that wasn't the last book in the series, who knows how long she plans to drag it out. There were also A LOT of mistakes made in printing that should have been caught.

[Christina Glotfelty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I can't give this book five stars because it ended on a cliffhanger. And there were a lot of times were I just wanted Tiki to step up and be Queen. I wanted her to stop being back and forth, back and forth. I wanted her to choose and be done with it. William still my favorite...I'm so glad that the author didn't start a love triangle. I want William and Tiki to be happy together. But the ending...ugh, I can't wait for the fourth book. But overall it was a good book and I'll glad I started reading this series. : )

[Chelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hesitate to say this because I lived the first two so much but I just wasn't that thrilled with this book. To be honest it felt like filled for me. Not a lot seemed to happen, although a lot of talking and planning was done. There was a lot if set up for the next book (which I will read even though this one was a let down) but overall not much substance to the book. Anyway like I said, I'll read the next book to see what happens but this book has taken away a great deal of my enthusiasm for this series.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is just so awesome! I'm usually not too big a fan of faerie books (the fey just cause so much trouble) but I just love these characters and there's so much adventure and danger, and just the right amounts of romance and intrigue. So good. Seriously one of my favorite series but the wait between each book is just torture.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like there are too many holes in the story and the dynamic between Tiki and Larkin gets annoying. What was with Tiki's cough/cold? There was never anything else explained about that.....maybe in the next book. I am looking forward to the next book and a final "wrap up". Overall fun read.

[Aydrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Tiki can't catch a break. Love to see her coming into her own & even getting a little BA! Ugh Larkin is so sneaky, that ending was a little painful. I adore Tiki & Rieker (Wills) together, they are too freaking cute; I loved all of their scenes :)
Can't wait to see what happens next!

[Deb Cushman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series and one of the best! Tiki and Rieker must make several trips to attempt to rescue others, Tiki is never where she really wants to be, and the suspense is unbearable at times. Loved it! THE FAERIE RING Series one of my favorite fantasy series.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book! I loved learning more about Dain, Larkin and Clara. Little Clara!!! Cliff hanger!! Tiki is becoming a stronger person then she thought she was and her powers are starting to show! I can't wait for the next book!

[Andria]

Abandoned not by choice, the book was repeated every column and a half making the pages not match up when I swiped the page on my kindle ap. Amazon refunded my payment with relative ease even though it was after the return date for an ebook.