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The Eisteddfod Chronicles #1
Changeling's Fall
Her Faerie Tale is getting awfully grim.
Deor Smithfield had it all figured out. She had a great education, a new job teaching at a good university, and a plan to move across the country to start her new life.
Then her body betrayed her, and she seemed to be falling prey to the same wasting sickness that killed her mother. When medical science failed her in spectacular fashion, Deor's grandmother told her that her long-lost father was more than just another deadbeat dad - he was a faerie, and she's a Changeling, half-human, half-fae.
Now Deor has to rush to Faerie in search of her missing father before his magical parting gift kills her. She's in a new world with no friends, no money, no job, and only a few days to find her disappearing daddy before she's kicked back out into the mundane world to die. Oh yeah, and somebody's hunting Changelings in Faerie.
Changeling's Fall is the first volume of the Eisteddfod Chronicles, the stunning debut contemporary high fantasy series from Sarah Joy Adams and Emily Lavin Leverett.
Deor Smithfield had it all figured out. She had a great education, a new job teaching at a good university, and a plan to move across the country to start her new life.
Then her body betrayed her, and she seemed to be falling prey to the same wasting sickness that killed her mother. When medical science failed her in spectacular fashion, Deor's grandmother told her that her long-lost father was more than just another deadbeat dad - he was a faerie, and she's a Changeling, half-human, half-fae.
Now Deor has to rush to Faerie in search of her missing father before his magical parting gift kills her. She's in a new world with no friends, no money, no job, and only a few days to find her disappearing daddy before she's kicked back out into the mundane world to die. Oh yeah, and somebody's hunting Changelings in Faerie.
Changeling's Fall is the first volume of the Eisteddfod Chronicles, the stunning debut contemporary high fantasy series from Sarah Joy Adams and Emily Lavin Leverett.
- GenresFantasy
314 pages, ebook
Published September 18, 2016
6 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 23, 2025
The final book in this series is coming out soon, so I figured this was a good time to finally dive in. So glad I did! Really enjoyed the exploration of repercussions of fae-human interactions. Deor is a changeling (half human half fae) and she's sick. She's tried what human science can offer her, so she decides to go to faerie and track down her deadbeat dad in hopes of a cure.
She's immediately dropped in the middle of political machinations and cultural clashes that she doesn't understand. In turns, funny, frightening, and philosophical, it's a wonderful first introduction to this world and I can't wait to read more.
NOTE: I read the audiobook narrated by Darla Middlebrook. I found I needed to speed her up a little, but otherwise thought the narration was just right for the book.
She's immediately dropped in the middle of political machinations and cultural clashes that she doesn't understand. In turns, funny, frightening, and philosophical, it's a wonderful first introduction to this world and I can't wait to read more.
NOTE: I read the audiobook narrated by Darla Middlebrook. I found I needed to speed her up a little, but otherwise thought the narration was just right for the book.
October 25, 2016
Changeling's Fall feels similar to the Wicked Lovely series. This series has the potential to become a delightfully diabolical fae version of Zelazny's Amber style series in which we watch the family creators of an alternate universe at war.
It also has plot elements that remind me of J.K. Rowling's description of the school of Wizardry. Unfortunately, these elements detract rather than add to the suspense.
Many plot points and characters are thrown into the air, without enough focus to make either easy to follow or root for.
However, there is a strong spark to inspire interest within the writing of Changeling's Fall. There is a lot of talent here, perhaps needing the broader canvas of the rest of the series to allow proper judgment.
If you enjoyed Wicked Lovely and the other tales in that series I absolutely recommend checking this out. It is a fun fairy tale--I will simply need to see more before I can give it a higher rating.
It also has plot elements that remind me of J.K. Rowling's description of the school of Wizardry. Unfortunately, these elements detract rather than add to the suspense.
Many plot points and characters are thrown into the air, without enough focus to make either easy to follow or root for.
However, there is a strong spark to inspire interest within the writing of Changeling's Fall. There is a lot of talent here, perhaps needing the broader canvas of the rest of the series to allow proper judgment.
If you enjoyed Wicked Lovely and the other tales in that series I absolutely recommend checking this out. It is a fun fairy tale--I will simply need to see more before I can give it a higher rating.
May 1, 2019
This book (part 1 of a series) was delightful to read. Part fantasy, part academics, part romance, part politics, all captivating. I'm excited to see what's next for these characters.
March 17, 2021
I was fascinated by the characters and the various beings in the Winter Court of the faeries, so I enjoyed this book and bought the next one even though there was a giant plot hole in the main storyline.
Deor Smithfield lost her mother at a young age and was raised by her grandmother. She earned a PhD and is an expert in Shakespeare. She just landed a new job, but her health is deteriorating. Her father is a faery, so maybe if she can figure out who he is and find him in the Winter Court, maybe he can help cure her.
It's pretty obvious who daddy will turn out to be almost from the time she lands in faery, but that's ok. There's supposed to be a bit of farce in the misunderstandings and near misses. Deor is stubborn, resourceful, empathic, and kind. She makes some odd choices at times, but she, the other characters, and the world were interesting. There were a few loose ends. Maybe they will be addressed in the next book.
Deor Smithfield lost her mother at a young age and was raised by her grandmother. She earned a PhD and is an expert in Shakespeare. She just landed a new job, but her health is deteriorating. Her father is a faery, so maybe if she can figure out who he is and find him in the Winter Court, maybe he can help cure her.
It's pretty obvious who daddy will turn out to be almost from the time she lands in faery, but that's ok. There's supposed to be a bit of farce in the misunderstandings and near misses. Deor is stubborn, resourceful, empathic, and kind. She makes some odd choices at times, but she, the other characters, and the world were interesting. There were a few loose ends. Maybe they will be addressed in the next book.
February 27, 2018
I didn’t know what to expect when I started this book. Honestly this is not a genre I usually read and I was worried it was going to be sort of generic and juvenile. I’m happy to say those concerns were misplaced. Changeling’s Fall was well written and smart; a political thriller wrapped in a faerie wrapper. It had unexpected depth and complexity in the characters and construction of the world that I thought was refreshing without being pretentious. It wasn’t perfect. There were some lulls in the middle, and I got a little tired of the main character at times conflating pushiness with toughness, but by the end it all came together very nicely. It ends well, with the story coming to a satisfying conclusion but still many threads to pick up in future stories.
I’m looking forward to the next one and hope it comes out soon!
I’m looking forward to the next one and hope it comes out soon!
January 30, 2022
I write this review after listening to the audiobook of this title.
A woman has come to one conclusion, for her to find out what was slowly killing her, she would have to find and confront the person who had fathered her.
The only problem was that she knew very little about her father, and what had been told, well, she was sure she believed.
Yes it an adventure into the unknown, a tale that the author's rendition of the story, is far superior to my poor synapses.
Yes, a very good tale, made even more enjoyable by the various characters' vocalizations representations by the narrator on the audiobook rendition.
A woman has come to one conclusion, for her to find out what was slowly killing her, she would have to find and confront the person who had fathered her.
The only problem was that she knew very little about her father, and what had been told, well, she was sure she believed.
Yes it an adventure into the unknown, a tale that the author's rendition of the story, is far superior to my poor synapses.
Yes, a very good tale, made even more enjoyable by the various characters' vocalizations representations by the narrator on the audiobook rendition.
January 5, 2022
I've read literally hundreds of samples from Amazon and the shortest had at least three times as many pages as this.
It was free, but it was also a waste of time and effort to download and transfer to my Kindle apps.
Oh! Was the story any good? I haven't the foggiest since the few pages in this freebie weren't enough to judge by. I've marked it with just one star since I don't want any recommendations based on this snippet.
It was free, but it was also a waste of time and effort to download and transfer to my Kindle apps.
Oh! Was the story any good? I haven't the foggiest since the few pages in this freebie weren't enough to judge by. I've marked it with just one star since I don't want any recommendations based on this snippet.
February 20, 2019
A page turner
Such a wonderful story. Keeps you reading with a strong protagonist and a host of string supporting characters. If you enjoyed Potter this book us for you!
Such a wonderful story. Keeps you reading with a strong protagonist and a host of string supporting characters. If you enjoyed Potter this book us for you!
February 2, 2018
Nothing like walking into a political battle where you don't know the players, the rules, or the reasons and you are the most valuable piece on the board. Professor Deor faces exactly this situation.
Problem for the players - they think she will play their game as a pawn.
She don't care who your Daddy is. She isn't a pawn. And she isn't playing anything except for Keeps.
A wonderful mix of fantasy, politics, thriller, romance, and anything else the authors - Sara Joy Admas and Emily Lavin Leverett - could slip in.
Looking forward to the next in the series. Read for a book club.
Problem for the players - they think she will play their game as a pawn.
She don't care who your Daddy is. She isn't a pawn. And she isn't playing anything except for Keeps.
A wonderful mix of fantasy, politics, thriller, romance, and anything else the authors - Sara Joy Admas and Emily Lavin Leverett - could slip in.
Looking forward to the next in the series. Read for a book club.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews