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Eccentric Circles
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Scholarly, literarily inclined Piper Dickerson inherits her grandmother's Victorian cottage, an acre of land, and a large library. While the library looks to her like an opening into a career as a fantasy writer, the backyard actually is an opening into the realm of Faerie. One of Piper's first Faerie encounters is with Aerlvarim, a compellingly attractive elf, and later she meets urban-fantastical dwarves, wizards, and so forth. Yet as Piper's grandmother's death begins to look mysterious and then sinister, Faerie comes to seem not wholly benign. Without knowing exactly who are friends and who foes, and possessed of only the magical knowledge she can scrape up out of the library, Piper has to unravel the mystery, preserve her and her friends' lives against unseen enemies, and struggle for peace between the human and fairy worlds. If this is hardly an original plot, Lickiss' deft hand, eye for relevant detail, and decision to write no more words than the plot will support make the book engaging light reading. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Product Description
The doctors said Piper Dickerson's grandmother died of old age. The elf said it was murder.
A charming debut from a writer who already shows great promise. (Charles de Lint)
A delight. Rebecca Lickiss is a strong new voice. (Kristine Kathryn Rusch)
Scholarly, literarily inclined Piper Dickerson inherits her grandmother's Victorian cottage, an acre of land, and a large library. While the library looks to her like an opening into a career as a fantasy writer, the backyard actually is an opening into the realm of Faerie. One of Piper's first Faerie encounters is with Aerlvarim, a compellingly attractive elf, and later she meets urban-fantastical dwarves, wizards, and so forth. Yet as Piper's grandmother's death begins to look mysterious and then sinister, Faerie comes to seem not wholly benign. Without knowing exactly who are friends and who foes, and possessed of only the magical knowledge she can scrape up out of the library, Piper has to unravel the mystery, preserve her and her friends' lives against unseen enemies, and struggle for peace between the human and fairy worlds. If this is hardly an original plot, Lickiss' deft hand, eye for relevant detail, and decision to write no more words than the plot will support make the book engaging light reading. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Product Description
The doctors said Piper Dickerson's grandmother died of old age. The elf said it was murder.
A charming debut from a writer who already shows great promise. (Charles de Lint)
A delight. Rebecca Lickiss is a strong new voice. (Kristine Kathryn Rusch)
264 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2001
3 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 22, 2016
This sounded like a fun idea. Fairies at the bottom of the garden, taken to a new level. It has a great tag-line: "The doctors said Piper Dickerson's grandmother died of old age. The elf said it was murder." That's all kinds of good – a very short encapsulation of how it all starts. But unfortunately the book was kind of a mess, and, while a quick and easy read, not much fun at all.
Eccentric is what it says on the front cover, and eccentric is what Lickiss makes every effort to provide. However, the full extent of the characters' unconventionality is dressing oddly and giving children twee names – oh, and collecting and reading books of more than two genres and to what onlookers consider excess. The main character, Piper Pied (who spends a considerable amount of first-person narrative space complaining about her and her brother's and cousins' god-awful names and musing about why none of them change them), is not very eccentric – she is the black sheep of normalcy in a peculiar family, which can be a great angle, done well. (It's fairly obvious, I think, what the next sentence might be, if I wanted to write it.) True eccentricity, either in the characters or the writing or the plot, would have been a major asset.
My assumption (geometry class having been a long time ago) was that the title, besides referring to the so-eccentric Pied/Dickerson family, was a play on "concentric circles". But it apparently isn't; the actual definition makes some sense, I think, given the conception of how the mundane world and Fairy converge, but given that not a soul in the book is indicated as having the least mathematical aptitude, the title is another grafted-on oddity.
Added to the mild frustration existing with the idea and the plot and the characters is a mild frustration with the editing. There are random, commas all throughout, and some odd and awkward moments in which a character answers a question that was never asked. And, finally, it's a terrible shame when a publisher pays so little attention to the manuscript that the main character's name is gotten wrong on the book's back cover. "Piper Dickerson" is how she appears there. But Grandma was a Dickerson. Piper is a Pied. How very sad.
(Longer version on my blog: http://agoldoffish.wordpress.com/)
Eccentric is what it says on the front cover, and eccentric is what Lickiss makes every effort to provide. However, the full extent of the characters' unconventionality is dressing oddly and giving children twee names – oh, and collecting and reading books of more than two genres and to what onlookers consider excess. The main character, Piper Pied (who spends a considerable amount of first-person narrative space complaining about her and her brother's and cousins' god-awful names and musing about why none of them change them), is not very eccentric – she is the black sheep of normalcy in a peculiar family, which can be a great angle, done well. (It's fairly obvious, I think, what the next sentence might be, if I wanted to write it.) True eccentricity, either in the characters or the writing or the plot, would have been a major asset.
My assumption (geometry class having been a long time ago) was that the title, besides referring to the so-eccentric Pied/Dickerson family, was a play on "concentric circles". But it apparently isn't; the actual definition makes some sense, I think, given the conception of how the mundane world and Fairy converge, but given that not a soul in the book is indicated as having the least mathematical aptitude, the title is another grafted-on oddity.
Added to the mild frustration existing with the idea and the plot and the characters is a mild frustration with the editing. There are random, commas all throughout, and some odd and awkward moments in which a character answers a question that was never asked. And, finally, it's a terrible shame when a publisher pays so little attention to the manuscript that the main character's name is gotten wrong on the book's back cover. "Piper Dickerson" is how she appears there. But Grandma was a Dickerson. Piper is a Pied. How very sad.
(Longer version on my blog: http://agoldoffish.wordpress.com/)
August 26, 2018
Piper Pied is an unpublished writer and wanderer who belongs to an eccentric family. When she is the first to throw dirt on grandmother Dickerson's grave, Piper inherits the house, a place crowded with books from floor to ceiling, lots of dust, and otherworldly neighbors. Piper finds out about the neighbors when she walks into the kitchen the first morning to find a handsome young elf sitting at the table. He claims that Grandmother Dickerson's death was murder, not old age and wants Piper to help him find clues to solve the mystery. He shows Piper that he is not just some nut by taking her out her back door which has a gate to Fairy. Probably the most interesting part of the novel was the concept of how Fairy affected the Real World and vice versa, and how books written in the Real World affected Fairy. It was an intruiging and often confusing concept as time and space seemed to warp as the characters affected the worlds around them. This is the author's first novel, and she has an easy, smooth writing style, but I found that the character's fell a little flat. Aerlvarim the elf is pretty and naive, and the dwarf, wizard and fairies are painted with quick, broad strokes - I know superficial details but not much about their past, their lives, or any really deep emotions. The mystery was a little too easy to solve since there were very little suspects to choose from. The descriptions of Piper's attraction to the elf seemed to linger on an embarrassingly long time. I've had enough about his dark red hair and nice body. Overall I would recommend this if you are in the mood for a quick afternoon read with light contemporary fantasy and romance.
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Re-read again in 2018, couldn't remember this story... Yup, same opinion as over 10 years ago! Fun, quick read, but not one that lingers.
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Re-read again in 2018, couldn't remember this story... Yup, same opinion as over 10 years ago! Fun, quick read, but not one that lingers.
March 19, 2009
From the summary, sounds like the sort of thing I should like: the intersection of Faery and the real world. But it didn't do much for me. Picture of Faery too simplistic to be interesting. Writing clumsy. Characters don't develop.
But my main problem was with the idea that the Faery characters take on the characteristics given them by real-world story, yet were still real people themselves. Something seemed wrong there - something about the question of how that affects free will. It wasn't really looked at, just glossed over. If she'd actually delved into it a little, it could have made the novel.
But my main problem was with the idea that the Faery characters take on the characteristics given them by real-world story, yet were still real people themselves. Something seemed wrong there - something about the question of how that affects free will. It wasn't really looked at, just glossed over. If she'd actually delved into it a little, it could have made the novel.
September 25, 2011
I enjoyed this book when I read it. Yes, I'll admit it was not the deepest novel in the world and it was by no means perfect, but that's okay . I think the author meant for this book to be cute and light, and it was. This book is undoubtedly a fluff read.
April 24, 2020
An unpublished writer inherits her grandmother's house, which is on a nodal gateway to Faerie, and with the aid of an elf and a dwarf, solves her grandmother's unsuspected murder.
August 11, 2025
Piper inherits a house from her grandmother and inside finds a lot of books…and one elf visiting from fairy. He wants her help to mend the space between their worlds, which is being destroyed by the murder of her grandmother. They must find her grandmother’s story and finish it.
As a sort of cozy fantasy this was ok. Mildly entertaining. Has some promise. But it had enough editorial errors and ‘wait what?’ moments that I had a hard time taking the story seriously.
Piper was a brat from the very beginning, where her reaction to learning she inherited a house is annoyance, and I don’t feel like she improved much. For wanting to be a writer she had absolutely 0 curiosity about her. Even when she finally acknowledges the existence of Fairy and is actively seeing the holes in both world, she NEVER asks the Fairy people what the heck is happening and how else she might help to stop it. She’s not even trying very hard with the method she’s been told will help. Like, she just doesn’t care. (And we’re never sure why NOBODY else in Fairy cares either.)
Also, Piper is dumb. She and this elf are trying to find the manuscript and later trying to solve who killed her grandmother and the conclusions they jump to are, well, jumping. But the elf isn’t all that intelligent either so I guess they are a good match.
And Piper is scornful of her aunt and other family members who have conversations about the stock market and invest in companies. But she is also totally judgement about all their oddities like the way they dress and talk. Her attitude really ticked me off.
There were a lot of names in the beginning chapter, for the funeral (we meet the family) but only a couple members make very short appearances later in the book so like what was the point? We also have 3 people at her new workplace we have to keep track of for no good reason. It’s a super short book.
End rant :)
As a sort of cozy fantasy this was ok. Mildly entertaining. Has some promise. But it had enough editorial errors and ‘wait what?’ moments that I had a hard time taking the story seriously.
Piper was a brat from the very beginning, where her reaction to learning she inherited a house is annoyance, and I don’t feel like she improved much. For wanting to be a writer she had absolutely 0 curiosity about her. Even when she finally acknowledges the existence of Fairy and is actively seeing the holes in both world, she NEVER asks the Fairy people what the heck is happening and how else she might help to stop it. She’s not even trying very hard with the method she’s been told will help. Like, she just doesn’t care. (And we’re never sure why NOBODY else in Fairy cares either.)
Also, Piper is dumb. She and this elf are trying to find the manuscript and later trying to solve who killed her grandmother and the conclusions they jump to are, well, jumping. But the elf isn’t all that intelligent either so I guess they are a good match.
And Piper is scornful of her aunt and other family members who have conversations about the stock market and invest in companies. But she is also totally judgement about all their oddities like the way they dress and talk. Her attitude really ticked me off.
There were a lot of names in the beginning chapter, for the funeral (we meet the family) but only a couple members make very short appearances later in the book so like what was the point? We also have 3 people at her new workplace we have to keep track of for no good reason. It’s a super short book.
End rant :)
January 22, 2018
I read this book ages ago. Found it in the public library and just loved it. I think I must have been sixteen and in love with this genre- so I read it, loved it and read it again, until at some point it disappeared from my branch. I don't think I'd feel the same way about it now, as I've become a disillusioned adult, but maybe on a dreary, rainy day this would take me back to a time where my only responsibilities were getting homework done and not much else. I liked when I read it, but maybe it wouldn't stand the test of time or my adult critiques-- lol.
September 10, 2024
When Piper inherits her great-grandmother's house, she soon finds out the house is a gateway to the world of fairy and that something her great-grandmother left unfinished is helping the worlds of fairy and human to rip apart. Torn between disbelief and wanting to set things right, she gets some help from Aelvarim, an elf from the fairy realm.
One line that resonated with me was: "Ideas only have as much power as people are willing to give them."
Overall, this was an enjoyable book with enough tension to keep the story riveting and just enough levity to keep it fresh.
One line that resonated with me was: "Ideas only have as much power as people are willing to give them."
Overall, this was an enjoyable book with enough tension to keep the story riveting and just enough levity to keep it fresh.
August 19, 2019
This was the second time I have read this book. I know the author, but I wasn't prepared for how she writes! I am a HUGE lover of fairy tales and anything fantasy. This book allowed me to picture my own house as the setting, and I loved how invested I became! She is an obscure author, but I highly recommend this book of you love a quick, fun read about all things magical.
August 28, 2023
This wasn't as whimsical of a read as I recall, which is normally the case for re-reading books you read in teenage years. There were quite a few plot holes and I sincerely did not appreciate how quickly the two MC came together so abruptly in the end. They go from abhoring each other to her sitting in his lap? Meh.
Overall a cute whimsical read, but not one I'd highly recommend.
Overall a cute whimsical read, but not one I'd highly recommend.
August 8, 2024
DNF.
This book was so boring. I think I got halfway through until I put it down and nothing happened. Like literally nothing happened. Too much exposition. It’s supposed to be a mystery and the mc is stupid and boring.
This book was so boring. I think I got halfway through until I put it down and nothing happened. Like literally nothing happened. Too much exposition. It’s supposed to be a mystery and the mc is stupid and boring.
September 16, 2017
I thought this was cute and intriguing, whimsical even.
Read
December 21, 2021Goodreads and Amazon both say the book is 224 pages, but mine ended at 217. Am I missing a few pages and the actual ending?
February 13, 2023
One of the best novels ever written
July 31, 2017
A pleasant little piece of fluff. It has been in my to-read bookcase (yes, bookcase) since it originally came out, and needing a bath read, I pulled it out. Piper Pied (yes, she has a brother named Hamlin) is tricked into inheriting her grandmother's house. She moves in and starts cleaning up, when she is visited by a handsome elf who claims her grandmother was murdered. Oh, and the house sits on the border between our world and Faerie. Despite herself, she gets pulled into the mystery.
At just barely over 200 pages, the story does not get developed in any great detail. It's very reminiscent of early Charles de Lint, but need a bit more building. In fact, I would compare it to Yarrow. Characters jump to every conclusion but the correct one, the ghost had little effect on the book at all, and I wanted to know more about the aunties who are turning into business mavens in the town.
But for the summer, it was a fun bit of fluff.
At just barely over 200 pages, the story does not get developed in any great detail. It's very reminiscent of early Charles de Lint, but need a bit more building. In fact, I would compare it to Yarrow. Characters jump to every conclusion but the correct one, the ghost had little effect on the book at all, and I wanted to know more about the aunties who are turning into business mavens in the town.
But for the summer, it was a fun bit of fluff.
July 27, 2013
Piper's beloved great-grandmother has died, and she is attending the internment. An aunt pushes her to be the first to put the dirt in the grave, which, she finds, means that she inherits the house. When she comes down for breakfast the next day, she finds an elf sitting at the table.
He -- Aelvirum -- tells her that her great-grandmother was murdered. And is not put off by the doctors' having said it was just old age. She learns that the reason he can come in is that the house's backdoor fronts on Fairy. Which, among its other virtues, is influenced by what fantasy writers write. Aelvirum is very grateful to J. R. R. Tolkien
In our world, Piper holds down a part-time job her aunt got her in a bookstore and cleans up the house, making discoveries, and searching for a manuscript Aelvirum had told her was there. In Fairy, rifts are appearing, and whatever falls into them ceases to exist -- or ever have existed -- and it is somehow connected to what her great-grandmother was doing in her last days.
Rifts appear in the bookstore, a book vanishes from inventory, fairies are spiteful, a dwarf mines because that's what dwarves do, a wedding photo is discovered in an old chest, Piper dreams of herself dressed as a bride, and of the books marching around the room and trapping her on a tower of other books, and much more happens.
He -- Aelvirum -- tells her that her great-grandmother was murdered. And is not put off by the doctors' having said it was just old age. She learns that the reason he can come in is that the house's backdoor fronts on Fairy. Which, among its other virtues, is influenced by what fantasy writers write. Aelvirum is very grateful to J. R. R. Tolkien
In our world, Piper holds down a part-time job her aunt got her in a bookstore and cleans up the house, making discoveries, and searching for a manuscript Aelvirum had told her was there. In Fairy, rifts are appearing, and whatever falls into them ceases to exist -- or ever have existed -- and it is somehow connected to what her great-grandmother was doing in her last days.
Rifts appear in the bookstore, a book vanishes from inventory, fairies are spiteful, a dwarf mines because that's what dwarves do, a wedding photo is discovered in an old chest, Piper dreams of herself dressed as a bride, and of the books marching around the room and trapping her on a tower of other books, and much more happens.
May 31, 2012
This book was fun and entertaining, but I couldn't help feeling that it could have developed into something more than what it was. The characters had great potential, but didn't round out enough during the narrative. The storyline was an interesting idea, but could have been built into a more detailed and interesting plot than it was. It wasn't a bad book by any means, and I still enjoyed reading it, but I felt that the ideas and characters were good enough that it could have been far better. Ms. Lickiss is clearly a creative writer, but perhaps not yet an experienced one. Some of her more recent work may develop her promising narrative more. As for this book, if you like uran fantasy and you are looking for some light reading, I recommend this book, but I recommend buying it on sale or checking it out from your library.
August 12, 2010
I had some hopes of entertainment here and I was ready for some young adult fiction, but this writer I am sorry to say was to general, broad and delivered a rather lackluster book with a premise that could made a much more interesting book to read. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't great either. Sad panda.
Read
May 27, 2008This book involves the realm of Faerie.
July 29, 2014
This is a quick read, contemporary fantasy with good humor. Suitable for young adults, but is not marketed as such. Wish the author had more work in print.
August 12, 2009
I've read this before...and it wasn't as good as I remembered, honestly. Maybe if I hadn't remembered it so positively, it would have gotten a better rating, but as it was, I felt let down.
November 1, 2021
I enjoyed the book so much I had to part with it. I read it twice. Found at the library for sell years ago and still have it.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews