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Changelings #1
The Changelings
Izzy’s family has just moved to the most boring town in the country. But as time goes on, strange things start to happen; odd piles of stones appear around Izzy’s house, and her little sister Hen comes home full of stories about the witch next door.
Then, Hen disappears into the woods. She’s been whisked away to the land of Faerie, and it’s up to Izzy to save her. Joined there by a band of outlaw Changelings, Izzy and her new friends set out on a joint search-and-rescue mission across this foreign land which is at turns alluringly magical and utterly terrifying.
Then, Hen disappears into the woods. She’s been whisked away to the land of Faerie, and it’s up to Izzy to save her. Joined there by a band of outlaw Changelings, Izzy and her new friends set out on a joint search-and-rescue mission across this foreign land which is at turns alluringly magical and utterly terrifying.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published September 6, 2016
71 people are currently reading
6758 people want to read
About the author
Christina Soontornvat
41 books746 followersChristina Soontornvat grew up behind the counter of her parents’ Thai restaurant in a small Texas town with her nose stuck in a book. She is very proud of both her Thai and her Texan roots, and makes regular trips to both Weatherford and Bangkok to see her beloved family members (and eat lots and lots of Thai food!). Christina is the author of the fantasy middle grade series, The Changelings, and the early chapter book series, Diary of an Ice Princess. Her forthcoming books include the middle grade fantasy, A Wish in the Dark, and All Thirteen, a nonfiction account of the Thai Cave Rescue.
In addition to being an author, Christina holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a master’s degree in Science Education. She spent a decade working in the science museum field, where she designed programs and exhibits to get kids excited about science. She is passionate about STEM (science, technology engineering, and math), and loves learning new things. She lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, two young children, and one old cat.
In addition to being an author, Christina holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a master’s degree in Science Education. She spent a decade working in the science museum field, where she designed programs and exhibits to get kids excited about science. She is passionate about STEM (science, technology engineering, and math), and loves learning new things. She lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, two young children, and one old cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
February 7, 2017
Izzy's family just moved to Everton, a boring little town with nothing to do besides visit the local market, the Jiggly Goat. While waiting for her mother to pay for groceries, Izzy overhears the cashier say their new neighbor, Marion Malloy, is a witch. Izzy spends her afternoons spying on Mrs. Malloy, always careful to keep her distance, until the day her younger sister is lured into the forest behind Mrs. Malloy's house by a strange song. When her little sister goes missing and it appears Mrs. Malloy is to blame, Izzy abandons caution. She runs into the forest and discovers a doorway to another world where mythical creatures abound and her sister is being held captive.
"Mom says she's not a witch," said Hen. "She says we should be nice to her, because she's just a lonely old lady."
"So was the woman in the gingerbread house, but that didn't stop her from trying to eat Hansel and Gretel, did it?"
What makes this book unique from all of the other child-finds-a-door-to-another-world stories is the inspiration taken from folklore. The book heavily blends the story of the Pied Piper with the lore of changelings, fairy children left in place of stolen human children.
Now Izzy understood that humans and fairies were part of the same story and had been for thousands of years. The Exchange might be keeping two worlds connected, but even without it, Faerie and Earth were tied together.
The author's portrayal of the faerie world is sufficiently magical with a balanced array of dazzling wonders and terrifying mythical creatures.
Jugglers and fire-breathers and barefoot dancers whirled around her. She stared in wonder at the array of clothes for sale - bridal veils embroidered with morning dew, a hunting cloak the color of shadows, leather gloves that let you stick your hands straight into a fire and not get burned. There were booths hawking potions in glass bottles: Love Detangler, Colic Cure, Grump Reducer, Weed Shriveler. Magic infused everything Izzy saw.
She saw their hands first. Long fingers, grey and gnarled like dead twigs, felt their way forward, groping constantly over the forest floor as if they had eyes at their tips. Their arms were stringy, nothing but gray skin and coarse hair stretched over bones. They lumbered slowly in full view, their backs hunched over like old men.
Unfortunately, there's nothing special about Izzy. As a protagonist she's somewhat vanilla. Her motivation to save her sister registers as sincere, but the rest of her actions feel void of depth. She simply goes with the flow, rarely questioning the bizarre circumstances she finds herself in the midst of.
The plot resolves itself far too conveniently, and much of the exposition is delivered via Izzy coming to sudden realizations.
The Changelings is a sweet and simple tale about family and friendship.
"Mom says she's not a witch," said Hen. "She says we should be nice to her, because she's just a lonely old lady."
"So was the woman in the gingerbread house, but that didn't stop her from trying to eat Hansel and Gretel, did it?"
What makes this book unique from all of the other child-finds-a-door-to-another-world stories is the inspiration taken from folklore. The book heavily blends the story of the Pied Piper with the lore of changelings, fairy children left in place of stolen human children.
Now Izzy understood that humans and fairies were part of the same story and had been for thousands of years. The Exchange might be keeping two worlds connected, but even without it, Faerie and Earth were tied together.
The author's portrayal of the faerie world is sufficiently magical with a balanced array of dazzling wonders and terrifying mythical creatures.
Jugglers and fire-breathers and barefoot dancers whirled around her. She stared in wonder at the array of clothes for sale - bridal veils embroidered with morning dew, a hunting cloak the color of shadows, leather gloves that let you stick your hands straight into a fire and not get burned. There were booths hawking potions in glass bottles: Love Detangler, Colic Cure, Grump Reducer, Weed Shriveler. Magic infused everything Izzy saw.
She saw their hands first. Long fingers, grey and gnarled like dead twigs, felt their way forward, groping constantly over the forest floor as if they had eyes at their tips. Their arms were stringy, nothing but gray skin and coarse hair stretched over bones. They lumbered slowly in full view, their backs hunched over like old men.
Unfortunately, there's nothing special about Izzy. As a protagonist she's somewhat vanilla. Her motivation to save her sister registers as sincere, but the rest of her actions feel void of depth. She simply goes with the flow, rarely questioning the bizarre circumstances she finds herself in the midst of.
The plot resolves itself far too conveniently, and much of the exposition is delivered via Izzy coming to sudden realizations.
The Changelings is a sweet and simple tale about family and friendship.
May 28, 2016
4.5 stars
After reading the description I thought this will be a light children read I would rate with 4 stars but when I couldn't put it down after reading the first half of the book I knew it will suprise me more until the end. I can't wait for this book to be published so I can buy it for my niece, I am sure she will love it, since Izzy is so much like her. Now, I realise that these kind of books usually have boys as a protagonist, so it was one more pleasant suprise for me.
Even if it's not your genre of book, give it a try.
After reading the description I thought this will be a light children read I would rate with 4 stars but when I couldn't put it down after reading the first half of the book I knew it will suprise me more until the end. I can't wait for this book to be published so I can buy it for my niece, I am sure she will love it, since Izzy is so much like her. Now, I realise that these kind of books usually have boys as a protagonist, so it was one more pleasant suprise for me.
Even if it's not your genre of book, give it a try.
February 21, 2016
I absolutely loved The Changelings! Wonderful plot and message, fantastic characters, and delightful twists and turns. Reminiscent of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe and Alice In Wonderland, The Changelings is a great adventure story for young readers!
March 23, 2016
Fantastic!! Definitely a hard to put down title...my eyes are blood shot from non-stop reading.
March 28, 2016
I was disappointed. This started off in the first few chapters as being a modern story about changlings (children who are switched at birth by fairies).
And there was a cool lady next door who knew about fairies because she was a changeling herself.
Izzy's sister gets kidnapped by the fairies and so the two set off to rescue Hen. And that could have been a great story. But instead Mariam gets cast aside early on and Izzy continues the story with a bunch of other people and have to journey to Avalon. It was at that point that I got bored.
It basically turned into a journey book with a mix of lovable, surly and distrustful charters. There is even a Deux ex machine thrown in for good measure when all hope is lost. Reminds me of the first Wizard of Oz book. But if I had wanted to read that I would have.
So probably good enough for middle schoolers but I'm sure there are other books out there they could enjoy more.
Thanks to netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
And there was a cool lady next door who knew about fairies because she was a changeling herself.
Izzy's sister gets kidnapped by the fairies and so the two set off to rescue Hen. And that could have been a great story. But instead Mariam gets cast aside early on and Izzy continues the story with a bunch of other people and have to journey to Avalon. It was at that point that I got bored.
It basically turned into a journey book with a mix of lovable, surly and distrustful charters. There is even a Deux ex machine thrown in for good measure when all hope is lost. Reminds me of the first Wizard of Oz book. But if I had wanted to read that I would have.
So probably good enough for middle schoolers but I'm sure there are other books out there they could enjoy more.
Thanks to netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
February 26, 2016
The Changelings is charming! Perfect for readers who love stories full of magic, adventure, mystery and fairies, topped off with a satisfying and very happy ending. (And who doesn't?)
Soontornvat’s debut sparkles and delights.
Soontornvat’s debut sparkles and delights.
May 31, 2016
This is a wonderful fantasy from a debut author. It has everything you want in MG fantasy: whimsy, adventure, twists and turns, strong well-developed characters, and many surprises! Each chapter has strong action and usually ends in suspense or some other cliffhanger, which makes it in-putdownable!
I highly recommend this. I can't quite match it with any other books I've read other than to say pieces of it remind me of Fablehaven, Alice in Wonderland, and the Last of the Really Great Wangdoodles.
I highly recommend this. I can't quite match it with any other books I've read other than to say pieces of it remind me of Fablehaven, Alice in Wonderland, and the Last of the Really Great Wangdoodles.
October 14, 2025
At the start, I was a little skeptical, but it took a turn for the better. I would give it four and a half stars, but there are no half stars, so……. Yah
September 7, 2016
Check out my other reviews, discussions and link ups at Fantasy of the Silver Dragon.
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I really liked how the story started off in the modern world, but with Izzy's fascination for faerie tales and folklore. Their next door neighbor is an old woman who is said to be a witch, and knows even more about the Fae than Izzy does.
And then Hen is stolen away, and Izzy chases after her and falls down a rabbit hole like Alice in Wonderland. Only she ends up in a faerie realm. You know immediately that the bottle she takes from Mariam is going to be important in the story. But the way it's actually used was a complete surprise to me!
I liked the scene where Izzy haggles for clothing, that was where I started to really like Dree. Selden annoyed me for a good bit of the book, but I ended up really liking him. He didn't annoy me for any bad reasons, just that he was a bit of a bratty older brother character, and so he picked on Izzy quite a bit. I also liked how close Izzy and Hen were. How you could tell how annoyed Izzy was by her little sister, but how much she loved her. And that the relationships between Izzy and the changelings grew over the course of their adventure.
There was a lot of interesting magic in the book. I saw the twist at the end about the Queen, but it was still well done. I wish this was a first in a series though, because there's so much more I want to know about the world. And what all the characters do next. Enough is wrapped up that it is a good place for an ending. But I still would love to see more.
If you like middle grade and fantasy, you need to read this book!
This review was originally posted on Fantasy of the Silver Dragon
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I really liked how the story started off in the modern world, but with Izzy's fascination for faerie tales and folklore. Their next door neighbor is an old woman who is said to be a witch, and knows even more about the Fae than Izzy does.
And then Hen is stolen away, and Izzy chases after her and falls down a rabbit hole like Alice in Wonderland. Only she ends up in a faerie realm. You know immediately that the bottle she takes from Mariam is going to be important in the story. But the way it's actually used was a complete surprise to me!
I liked the scene where Izzy haggles for clothing, that was where I started to really like Dree. Selden annoyed me for a good bit of the book, but I ended up really liking him. He didn't annoy me for any bad reasons, just that he was a bit of a bratty older brother character, and so he picked on Izzy quite a bit. I also liked how close Izzy and Hen were. How you could tell how annoyed Izzy was by her little sister, but how much she loved her. And that the relationships between Izzy and the changelings grew over the course of their adventure.
There was a lot of interesting magic in the book. I saw the twist at the end about the Queen, but it was still well done. I wish this was a first in a series though, because there's so much more I want to know about the world. And what all the characters do next. Enough is wrapped up that it is a good place for an ending. But I still would love to see more.
If you like middle grade and fantasy, you need to read this book!
This review was originally posted on Fantasy of the Silver Dragon
August 15, 2016
I received a digital copy of this title from the publisher via Netgalley.
Ten Second Synopsis:
Izzy and Hen are forced to move to their grandmother's old house in the most boring town in the universe, where their next-door neighbour is probably a witch. When Hen goes missing however, Izzy finds out that sometimes it pays to make friends with your (possibly witchy) neighbours.
f you enjoy your standard down-the-rabbit-hole stories based in Celtic folklore then this will scratch your itch. The beginning of the tale is fairly typical for middle grade magical fare - kids move to a seemingly boring new home before discovering a magical world and being plunged into adventure - but there are so many interesting and quirky characters sprinkled throughout that the tropes can be overlooked a little.
Our heroines are immediately split up of course, leading to a two-pronged narrative attack, with Izzy on one side and the kidnapped Hen on the other, and historical, cultural and (magically) political motives coming into play. Overall, this is a fun romp with some likable and unexpected characters, plenty of humour and exactly the sort of derring-do you would expect from a pair of kids lost in the land of faerie.
Ten Second Synopsis:
Izzy and Hen are forced to move to their grandmother's old house in the most boring town in the universe, where their next-door neighbour is probably a witch. When Hen goes missing however, Izzy finds out that sometimes it pays to make friends with your (possibly witchy) neighbours.
f you enjoy your standard down-the-rabbit-hole stories based in Celtic folklore then this will scratch your itch. The beginning of the tale is fairly typical for middle grade magical fare - kids move to a seemingly boring new home before discovering a magical world and being plunged into adventure - but there are so many interesting and quirky characters sprinkled throughout that the tropes can be overlooked a little.
Our heroines are immediately split up of course, leading to a two-pronged narrative attack, with Izzy on one side and the kidnapped Hen on the other, and historical, cultural and (magically) political motives coming into play. Overall, this is a fun romp with some likable and unexpected characters, plenty of humour and exactly the sort of derring-do you would expect from a pair of kids lost in the land of faerie.
January 28, 2018
I received this book through Goodreads giveaway for an honest review.
***Review may contain spoilers***
5 Stars. I really enjoyed this book. It was a super fun read.
It's a fairly light-hearted kids book about a group of misfits who save the fairy world from an evil queen. Although the plot is not all that new or unique, it really didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. The characters are very likable and I always love retellings of good fairy tales. It has some nice plot twists toward the end.
I thought it had a bit of slow start, but really picked up once Izzy met up with the changelings.
Peter was definitely my favorite character. He's charming and a bit sassy. I wish he would have been in the story more.
I think it's a wonderful book for late elementary school and middle school children, although adults with definitely enjoy it too. It's a fun way to incorporate old fairy tales into a modern story. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
***Review may contain spoilers***
5 Stars. I really enjoyed this book. It was a super fun read.
It's a fairly light-hearted kids book about a group of misfits who save the fairy world from an evil queen. Although the plot is not all that new or unique, it really didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. The characters are very likable and I always love retellings of good fairy tales. It has some nice plot twists toward the end.
I thought it had a bit of slow start, but really picked up once Izzy met up with the changelings.
Peter was definitely my favorite character. He's charming and a bit sassy. I wish he would have been in the story more.
I think it's a wonderful book for late elementary school and middle school children, although adults with definitely enjoy it too. It's a fun way to incorporate old fairy tales into a modern story. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
April 23, 2016
The Changelings by Christina Soontornvat is a delightful children's story that will keep kids reading until the end. The story is filled with magical creatures, fantasy, adventure, a witch that kidnaps one of the sisters and the other is off to track her down, and an evil Queen. The book draws the reader into another world where strange is normal. Kids will find this fascinating, probably a little more than I did since reading as an adult one looses some of the silliness. The book is funny with well developed characters, and likeable characters, even the bad guys of the book are not all bad. Plot is great. I received this book for a honest review for NetGalley.
August 3, 2016
I received this book from Goodreads.
What a wonderful family oriented read!
The Changelings is full of wonder, danger, adventure, magic, loyalty, and one very hard decision at the end.
It is loosely based off of well known fairy tales, some hard to spot. I had a blast while reading this book as I came across familiar themes from other tales.
There was a few things that were left unanswered. My biggest curiosity was the parents reaction when the children came back. I would have loved to have read about that.
And, also, who would care for Tom's sheep?
Anyway, great read. Finished it the very day I picked it up. Wouldn't mind a sequel...
What a wonderful family oriented read!
The Changelings is full of wonder, danger, adventure, magic, loyalty, and one very hard decision at the end.
It is loosely based off of well known fairy tales, some hard to spot. I had a blast while reading this book as I came across familiar themes from other tales.
There was a few things that were left unanswered. My biggest curiosity was the parents reaction when the children came back. I would have loved to have read about that.
And, also, who would care for Tom's sheep?
Anyway, great read. Finished it the very day I picked it up. Wouldn't mind a sequel...
September 7, 2016
This is a very clever and entertaining middle grade read. I enjoyed the characters and story line and I would definitely recommend it to students. Whimsical and charming. The adventure includes witches, fairies, shape-shifters, magic, and makes for great fantasy.
Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for a digital copy to read in exchange for a review. I will be looking for the upcoming children's book by this author.
Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for a digital copy to read in exchange for a review. I will be looking for the upcoming children's book by this author.
June 22, 2017
This was my featured Juvenile Fantasy for my Elementary school visits prior to SRP 2017.
Girl discovers door to another world, goes there to rescue her sister. Meets magical friends, travels, discovers things about herself.
Pretty run-of-the-mill world building, but loved the character work of the different changelings, and the questiness. A great introduction to the genre.
The scary monsters were particularly notable as unusual. :)
Girl discovers door to another world, goes there to rescue her sister. Meets magical friends, travels, discovers things about herself.
Pretty run-of-the-mill world building, but loved the character work of the different changelings, and the questiness. A great introduction to the genre.
The scary monsters were particularly notable as unusual. :)
September 22, 2016
A cute book suitable for tweens and young teens. If your kids like Harry Potter, they'll probably like 'Changelings.' Very well developed characters, a richly described world, and just a hint of the spookiness of faerie. Does have some violence.
August 21, 2016
Review coming soon.
May 9, 2025
The Changelings by Christina Soontornvat is a fast-paced, imaginative middle-grade fantasy that cleverly blends magic, mystery, and sibling dynamics into an engaging adventure. While the concept of a hidden world filled with faeries and danger isn’t entirely new, Soontornvat breathes life into it with rich world-building and a strong emotional core. Overall, it’s a compelling read that balances whimsy and seriousness in a way that resonates with young readers.
I see some have suggested this story was rushed in parts... I'd disagree. It isn't meant to be a full-length adult novel. We sat down and read this as a summer read for homeschool. It was a little juvenile for my high schoolers but my elementary child INHALED this story and is demanding we read book 2.
I see some have suggested this story was rushed in parts... I'd disagree. It isn't meant to be a full-length adult novel. We sat down and read this as a summer read for homeschool. It was a little juvenile for my high schoolers but my elementary child INHALED this story and is demanding we read book 2.
July 31, 2018
I really loved this book
March 15, 2023
O poveste foarte interesanta cu un plot captivant si personaje pe care nu le uiți.
Mi-au plăcut foarte tare copii fermecați(în special Selden ♡)
Mi-a plăcut și modul în care a fost scris Flautistul ,iar Morwanna chiar a fost un villain destul de reușit.
Și descoperirea pe care a făcut-o la sfarsit Izzy despre ea însăși a fost o surpriză (sincer nici nu ma așteptăm la asta).
Mi-au plăcut foarte tare copii fermecați(în special Selden ♡)
Mi-a plăcut și modul în care a fost scris Flautistul ,iar Morwanna chiar a fost un villain destul de reușit.
Și descoperirea pe care a făcut-o la sfarsit Izzy despre ea însăși a fost o surpriză (sincer nici nu ma așteptăm la asta).
July 13, 2018
Fairytales and stories of the land of Faerie - that's all they are, right? They're just stories. They're exciting and sometimes scary. They're full of joys and sorrows meant to entertain - right? Yes, that's true, except when it's not. It's true except for the fact that Hen disappears - there and gone - while skipping into the wood and Izzy knows she's got to be the one to find her.
The Faerie world and the Human world used to be a lot closer. They used to depend on each other for balance, beauty and excitement. Could that balance be reinstated?
The Faerie world and the Human world used to be a lot closer. They used to depend on each other for balance, beauty and excitement. Could that balance be reinstated?
August 8, 2018
I was really at a loss for how to rate this book. It had a few flaws like any other book, and one that specifically irked me; but then, so do "Neruomancer" and "Snow Crash." I usually use the five-star rating for my all-time favorites, but maybe I should loosen up. In any case, the fact that almost none of this book's flaws bothered me, it had a unique voice despite being a midgrade fantasy and the author's debut novel, which she wrote while also being a mother of two young kids, I think that achievement warrants five stars. "5 stars" doesn't have to mean "Best Picture," "5 stars" could just mean that it fully accomplished what it set out to do.
PLOT:
I was fully engrossed in the story from start to finish, but now that I think of it, it was the characters and world that had be sucked in. The actual plot, when stripped to its bare bones, is fairly generic for this genre, and contains a number of very familiar, oldschool tropes ("witch" neighbor, younger sibling kidnapped by Changelings, enter the magical world through a hole in the ground, etc).
I found most of the twists fairly predictable, but I'm 30, so I don't think my opinion really matters much in that area. For adults reading this, most of the surprises will be as surprsing as learning that Mr. Boo was actually a giant chicken; but for the young target audience, there will probably be plenty of unexpected twists and turns. And even for me, there were a few surprises, and one tiny reveal that made me give a short gasp out loud--though, not because the twist itself was unusual in fiction, but because I didn't think this kind of book would go there.
That one shocker was also the one thing about this book that irritated me, because I'm hoping that's addressed in the next book.
This story also contains a lot of Deus Ex Machina, particularly in the form of bad guys conveniently conversing about immediately relevant plot points while the hero is nearby. Again, because of the genre, this didn't bother me too much, but it's abundance did start to irk me by the end. (And again, now that I think of it, "Snow Crash" also has a lot of Deus Ex Machina.)
Given that this is a first novel though, and all of the great things about this book, the above flaws hardly mattered that much.
CHARACTERS:
The characters are all likable, except of course the villainess, who is appropriately loathsome. I didn't feel the kind of genuine hatred I feel for Dolores Umbridge or Mr. Blond, but I definitely wanted her to loose. The characters may have had some tropey traits, but felt like natural and unique individuals.
And I must give credit to the protagonist specifically. It's rare that I'm fully engrossed in the hero's story; usually I'm eagerly waiting to hear about the more-interesting sidekicks or villains. Not only was I completely "with" Izzy the whole way through, but I didn't even notice until I sat down to write this review that she, like the plot, is fairly typical for this genre. The author does such a great job breathing life into her and making me care about Izzy's situations that I didn't even notice she was the kind of protagonist that usually bores me.
MAGIC:
The world is the main reason to read this book. This is one of those fantasy stories where the plot is basically the boat you're riding to tour the world the author has created. And this one, I like. Faerie is a dense and colorful world, reminding me personally of Narnia, "Labyrinth," or "Stardust." Faerie is populated by a diverse melting pot of fairy species, including pixies, leprechauns, elves, trolls, goblins, and so-forth.
I'll admit that I'm still confused as to whether all of them are "Changelings" or not. A point is made about how only a finite number of "Changelings" are left, but those we meet seem to be different subspecies (unless I took Lug being a giant ball of hair too literally? I was picturing something like Ludo or Chewbacca). I'm not sure if "Changeling" is a specific species, or just the name given to fairies selected for the Switch. It's possible this was explained and I just overlooked it in my haste to speed through this book.
Descriptions of Avhalon and Tom Diffley's purple sheep tempt me to draw fan art. The Changelings' animal forms were also a treat, and I like that each individual Changeling has a specific range of animals they can change into, based on their personality. We also get a few creatures not commonly seen in modern fantasy, like wyverns and brownies. And then there was the Weaver, who was as amusing as he was eerie.
Oh, and the "Little Mermaid" reference. This type of fantasy often references fairy tales, but the "Little Mermaid" is usually snubbed. This book not only mentions it, but holds in in high regard. I cannot express enough how happy I was to see that underrated fairy tale get that kind of love.
WRITING STYLE:
It's children's books like this that finally made me stop going so easy on badly written adult and YA books. This book is a breezy read, at least for an adult, but virtually never cliche or redundant. This author describes events and feelings with her own voice. And she doesn't underestimate her young audience either. Though written at an overall lower reading level, she sprinkles "big" words throughout the story, at least one of which even I, a 30-year-old Enlgish major, had to Google. ("Photoflurescant.")
GREAT BOOK!
I highly recommend this book to fantasy fans both in the target age range and older, who want a read that will wake their minds and imaginations up, rather than turning them to jelly.
PLOT:
I was fully engrossed in the story from start to finish, but now that I think of it, it was the characters and world that had be sucked in. The actual plot, when stripped to its bare bones, is fairly generic for this genre, and contains a number of very familiar, oldschool tropes ("witch" neighbor, younger sibling kidnapped by Changelings, enter the magical world through a hole in the ground, etc).
I found most of the twists fairly predictable, but I'm 30, so I don't think my opinion really matters much in that area. For adults reading this, most of the surprises will be as surprsing as learning that Mr. Boo was actually a giant chicken; but for the young target audience, there will probably be plenty of unexpected twists and turns. And even for me, there were a few surprises, and one tiny reveal that made me give a short gasp out loud--though, not because the twist itself was unusual in fiction, but because I didn't think this kind of book would go there.
That one shocker was also the one thing about this book that irritated me, because I'm hoping that's addressed in the next book.
This story also contains a lot of Deus Ex Machina, particularly in the form of bad guys conveniently conversing about immediately relevant plot points while the hero is nearby. Again, because of the genre, this didn't bother me too much, but it's abundance did start to irk me by the end. (And again, now that I think of it, "Snow Crash" also has a lot of Deus Ex Machina.)
Given that this is a first novel though, and all of the great things about this book, the above flaws hardly mattered that much.
CHARACTERS:
The characters are all likable, except of course the villainess, who is appropriately loathsome. I didn't feel the kind of genuine hatred I feel for Dolores Umbridge or Mr. Blond, but I definitely wanted her to loose. The characters may have had some tropey traits, but felt like natural and unique individuals.
And I must give credit to the protagonist specifically. It's rare that I'm fully engrossed in the hero's story; usually I'm eagerly waiting to hear about the more-interesting sidekicks or villains. Not only was I completely "with" Izzy the whole way through, but I didn't even notice until I sat down to write this review that she, like the plot, is fairly typical for this genre. The author does such a great job breathing life into her and making me care about Izzy's situations that I didn't even notice she was the kind of protagonist that usually bores me.
MAGIC:
The world is the main reason to read this book. This is one of those fantasy stories where the plot is basically the boat you're riding to tour the world the author has created. And this one, I like. Faerie is a dense and colorful world, reminding me personally of Narnia, "Labyrinth," or "Stardust." Faerie is populated by a diverse melting pot of fairy species, including pixies, leprechauns, elves, trolls, goblins, and so-forth.
I'll admit that I'm still confused as to whether all of them are "Changelings" or not. A point is made about how only a finite number of "Changelings" are left, but those we meet seem to be different subspecies (unless I took Lug being a giant ball of hair too literally? I was picturing something like Ludo or Chewbacca). I'm not sure if "Changeling" is a specific species, or just the name given to fairies selected for the Switch. It's possible this was explained and I just overlooked it in my haste to speed through this book.
Descriptions of Avhalon and Tom Diffley's purple sheep tempt me to draw fan art. The Changelings' animal forms were also a treat, and I like that each individual Changeling has a specific range of animals they can change into, based on their personality. We also get a few creatures not commonly seen in modern fantasy, like wyverns and brownies. And then there was the Weaver, who was as amusing as he was eerie.
Oh, and the "Little Mermaid" reference. This type of fantasy often references fairy tales, but the "Little Mermaid" is usually snubbed. This book not only mentions it, but holds in in high regard. I cannot express enough how happy I was to see that underrated fairy tale get that kind of love.
WRITING STYLE:
It's children's books like this that finally made me stop going so easy on badly written adult and YA books. This book is a breezy read, at least for an adult, but virtually never cliche or redundant. This author describes events and feelings with her own voice. And she doesn't underestimate her young audience either. Though written at an overall lower reading level, she sprinkles "big" words throughout the story, at least one of which even I, a 30-year-old Enlgish major, had to Google. ("Photoflurescant.")
GREAT BOOK!
I highly recommend this book to fantasy fans both in the target age range and older, who want a read that will wake their minds and imaginations up, rather than turning them to jelly.
December 26, 2016
This is a charming middle grade novel. Izzy has never felt that she fit in. Now that her family has moved, she feels isolated with only the company of her 7 year old sister, Hen. When Hen disappears into the woods following the sound of a haunting tune, Izzy finds herself drawn into the faerie world. In order to save her sister, she acquires the most astounding group of reluctant allies. I will definitely share this title with my students. I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
January 23, 2022
Nu-i asa ca ti-ai dori sa te afli intr-o lume magica cu vrajitori si animale magice . Ei bine cartea asta ti-o oferă . Izzy era o fetita simplă care locuia la marginea pădurii impreuna cu surioara ei Hen . Intr-o zi in timp ce se distra , Izzy a observat ca surioara ei a dispărut. A căutat-o in jurul casei dar nu era pe nicăieri . Aceasta a hotărât sa o caute in padure pentru a o găsi . In padure Izzy întâlnește multe creaturi magice și încearcă sa o salveze pe Hen din mână vrăjitoarei.
Cuvant-cheie = "copii-fermecati"
Cuvant-cheie = "copii-fermecati"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2017
It's an AWESOME BOOK! She get trapped in fairy world and learn that people called changelings change places with humans,She found a group of changelings that are trying to survive under the rule of a new evil queen.she helps out the changelings and kills the queen who turns out to be a woman who was taken to fairy land when she exchanged places with a changeling as a baby, She saved the changelings that were captured and **HUGE SPOILER**Izzy turned out to be a changeling who switched as a baby
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2017
I enjoy reading books that my middle-grade granddaughter likes or might like. (Then, discussing and bonding over the plot with her.) Thus, when I noticed this author's book in a Goodreads Giveaway I entered & was fortunate enough to have won a copy. WOW, the story was AMAZING! Not having read much about fairies, I was surprised and delighted with this endearing story. And, it was nice to see a girl in an adventure role.
August 22, 2017
This was a fast-paced adventure fantasy that I enjoyed. I liked the exploration of the relationship between the sisters. I liked Izzy finding friends among the Changelings. There is continuous action that keeps you flipping the pages. While I thought the story was nicely self-contained, I'm not displeased to hear a sequel will be out this fall.
Thanks to the publisher for an advance reader's copy, which I acquired many moons ago and have just now shamefacedly read.
Thanks to the publisher for an advance reader's copy, which I acquired many moons ago and have just now shamefacedly read.
January 14, 2018
I was pleasantly surprised with this read! A great debut from Christina Soontornvat and if this is what we have to look forward to from her, I am all in!
This is a great read with tons of twists and turns that keep you longing to read the next chapter. Such great writing that kept you on the edge of your seat and wondering what was going to happen next. I think this one id going to be a big hit with young readers as well and I can't wait to share it with my daughter!
This is a great read with tons of twists and turns that keep you longing to read the next chapter. Such great writing that kept you on the edge of your seat and wondering what was going to happen next. I think this one id going to be a big hit with young readers as well and I can't wait to share it with my daughter!
September 10, 2016
This is an absolute must read for anyone who loves fantasy! I instantly was getting Narnia and Labyrinth vibes. This book has such a wonderful voice and has such a fun world! I will read this again and again!
October 22, 2017
A fun, imaginative story about friendships and family. I enjoyed following Izzy into the magical fairy world through a portal, and how the story connected with the real world and historical folklore.
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