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The Changeling #1
Enael (Tome 1) - L'Appât
Enael est différente:
Des visions l’obsèdent et elle développe de mystérieux pouvoirs. Quand elle apprend qu’elle est en réalité la fille d’une fée, elle décide de partir à la recherche de ses origines dans le pays de l’éternelle jeunesse.
Commence alors pour elle un étrange voyage au pays des elfes et des maléfices où l’amour semble être le plus attirant des poisons…
« L’eau était gelée. Les aubépines qui flottaient à la surface embaumaient : une odeur sucrée qui montait à la tête. Ses longs cheveux s’étalaient autour d’elle comme une auréole d’or. Elle avança vers le centre du lac, et l’eau glacée se referma sur elle… »
Des visions l’obsèdent et elle développe de mystérieux pouvoirs. Quand elle apprend qu’elle est en réalité la fille d’une fée, elle décide de partir à la recherche de ses origines dans le pays de l’éternelle jeunesse.
Commence alors pour elle un étrange voyage au pays des elfes et des maléfices où l’amour semble être le plus attirant des poisons…
« L’eau était gelée. Les aubépines qui flottaient à la surface embaumaient : une odeur sucrée qui montait à la tête. Ses longs cheveux s’étalaient autour d’elle comme une auréole d’or. Elle avança vers le centre du lac, et l’eau glacée se referma sur elle… »
375 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2015
16 people are currently reading
485 people want to read
About the author
Helen Falconer
5 books21 followersSee https://www.helenfalconer.com/bio
"The Story of a Strange Marriage" is not my work, I don't know why it's there and I cannot delete it. (I've tried!)
"The Story of a Strange Marriage" is not my work, I don't know why it's there and I cannot delete it. (I've tried!)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
December 6, 2019
Well done and enjoyable.
June 30, 2015
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/reviews/...
The Changeling offers compelling writing, a complex story and an engaging main character. Aoife – the nickname of Eva – is an ordinary teenager who likes texting with her BFF Carla, chatting about boys and doing all the things ordinary teens do. But when one of her friends, Sinead, invites her to the movies, en route Aoife sees a little girl hopping between the trees. She goes out to look for her, along with Carla, but the girl doesn’t show up and the others suspect it’s just in Aoife’s imagination.
But afterward, Aoife starts to develop strange powers, and when she kisses Shay, the only boy who believes her story, she discovers she can flying. After jumping / flying off the cliff, she and Shay end up in a mysterious underworld where nothing is as it seems and some of the local folklore might turn out to be real after all.
Aoife was an engaging character. I liked her fun friendship with Carla. They’re obvious best friends and I feared Carla might dump Aoife after she saw a girl no one else saw, but Carla remained a good friend. Aoife was a bit stubborn at first though, and a little slow. I wondered how many more signs she wanted that she had special powers. The pacing picked up once they entered the underworld. Her personality became more developed, she grew stronger and overall more likeable.
I loved Shay from the start and I only started loving him more as the book developed. He’s a genuine good guy, and I liked how there was no love triangle for once, like you see so many times in YA books. The romance between Aoife and Shay seemed just as geuine as either one of them was on their own. Genuine good people who deserve a relationship filled with love and care.
What I enjoyed the most were the little details: the Irish folklore, the setting, the dialect. This made the book sounds all the more real and made it all the easier to connect to Aoife and the other characters.
The Changeling offers compelling writing, a complex story and an engaging main character. Aoife – the nickname of Eva – is an ordinary teenager who likes texting with her BFF Carla, chatting about boys and doing all the things ordinary teens do. But when one of her friends, Sinead, invites her to the movies, en route Aoife sees a little girl hopping between the trees. She goes out to look for her, along with Carla, but the girl doesn’t show up and the others suspect it’s just in Aoife’s imagination.
But afterward, Aoife starts to develop strange powers, and when she kisses Shay, the only boy who believes her story, she discovers she can flying. After jumping / flying off the cliff, she and Shay end up in a mysterious underworld where nothing is as it seems and some of the local folklore might turn out to be real after all.
Aoife was an engaging character. I liked her fun friendship with Carla. They’re obvious best friends and I feared Carla might dump Aoife after she saw a girl no one else saw, but Carla remained a good friend. Aoife was a bit stubborn at first though, and a little slow. I wondered how many more signs she wanted that she had special powers. The pacing picked up once they entered the underworld. Her personality became more developed, she grew stronger and overall more likeable.
I loved Shay from the start and I only started loving him more as the book developed. He’s a genuine good guy, and I liked how there was no love triangle for once, like you see so many times in YA books. The romance between Aoife and Shay seemed just as geuine as either one of them was on their own. Genuine good people who deserve a relationship filled with love and care.
What I enjoyed the most were the little details: the Irish folklore, the setting, the dialect. This made the book sounds all the more real and made it all the easier to connect to Aoife and the other characters.
March 29, 2016
Abandon - 200 pages.
Entre situations discutables et inintéressantes j'ai préféré lacher l'affaire...
Attirée par le résumé, le contenu ne m'a finalement pas convaincue et passé un cap, soit 200 pages de lectures, j'ai pris la décision d'arrêter ma lecture. L'ensemble était bien trop jeunesse pour moi, la narration et les dialogues avaient ce côté parfois innocent et pas assez mature par rapport à ce qui était raconté ou par rapport à ce qui se passait qui demandait plus de réflexion, du côté des personnages notamment. Au final rien n'était suffisamment développé, c'était souvent trop facile, les personnages et les faits n'étaient pas intéressants. J'ai vu passer de bons avis donc n'hésitez pas à regarder ça par vous-même.
Ma chronique complète : http://bloggalleane.blogspot.fr/2016/...
Entre situations discutables et inintéressantes j'ai préféré lacher l'affaire...
Attirée par le résumé, le contenu ne m'a finalement pas convaincue et passé un cap, soit 200 pages de lectures, j'ai pris la décision d'arrêter ma lecture. L'ensemble était bien trop jeunesse pour moi, la narration et les dialogues avaient ce côté parfois innocent et pas assez mature par rapport à ce qui était raconté ou par rapport à ce qui se passait qui demandait plus de réflexion, du côté des personnages notamment. Au final rien n'était suffisamment développé, c'était souvent trop facile, les personnages et les faits n'étaient pas intéressants. J'ai vu passer de bons avis donc n'hésitez pas à regarder ça par vous-même.
Ma chronique complète : http://bloggalleane.blogspot.fr/2016/...
May 4, 2015
Hand ups - I know the author. Hand-on-heart> THIS is a BRILLIANT book. Somewhere between YA and children's - as an adult - I found it to be a really compelling read. Set between the stunning, mystical west of Ireland landscape and the ancient mythical world of fairies - when it comes to fast plotting, original setting and a new, magical world - The Changeling (first of a trilogy - hooray) spanks any of the big dystopian series out before it. Dark and seductive - teenage girls will love Shay and Aiofe and all the gang. Fairies are the new vampires. Like REALLY!
March 8, 2016
http://www.leslecturesdemylene.com/20...
17/20 - En bref, ce premier tome met à la fois en place un monde intriguant et des personnages très agréables. On vit cette histoire d'une manière assez intense, toujours plus curieux de voir jusqu'où on va être entrainés. Les rebondissements sont sympathiques, on se prend vite au jeu des déductions et les surprises que nous réserve l'auteur nous donnent envie d'en savoir toujours plus. Une belle histoire !
17/20 - En bref, ce premier tome met à la fois en place un monde intriguant et des personnages très agréables. On vit cette histoire d'une manière assez intense, toujours plus curieux de voir jusqu'où on va être entrainés. Les rebondissements sont sympathiques, on se prend vite au jeu des déductions et les surprises que nous réserve l'auteur nous donnent envie d'en savoir toujours plus. Une belle histoire !
June 23, 2015
LOVED THIS BOOK! Plusses were Aoife, Shay and the fact that they're in Ireland!
FULL REVIEW HERE: https://mindcrazed.wordpress.com/2015...
FULL REVIEW HERE: https://mindcrazed.wordpress.com/2015...
December 29, 2019
It was an amazing book. It was like hearing an irish person tell you the tale. I loved this story from the moment it had started. It starts with a girl that is a bit different then others and one day she is seeing a little girl. From that moment all changes and she will find out who or rather what she is.
July 1, 2015
It’s impossible not to fall in love with the magic sceneries of “The Changeling”. Ireland is a beautiful country and Helen Falconer describes it perfectly. And the fairy world was certainly a paradise. More gorgeous sceneries! And magical and interesting creatures. And the research the author did about the fairies was very good. I always like to read about the different kind of fairies.
I can’t say I liked the fairies which lived in the “paradise”. Ultan was very likeable, but Caitlin was just annoying – her attitude just made me want to choke her! Should I give her a break because of her past? Maybe, but her behavior and lies were a bit too much when we have a world with characters which are perfectly flawed.
Shay was probably my favourite character. His faith in Aoife and his conection with the fairies made him an interesting character. Also, the relation with his brother - I wanted to hug him and tell him everything was going to be okay.
I enjoyed the first part of the story a lot more than I liked the second part. I confess I was bit disappointed with the second part. The last chapters were very fast-paced; everything happened so fast that I had to ask myself if I was missing something (and I like fast-paced stories). I wish the revelation of the big villain hadn’t been done so fast. Hopefully, the next book (yes, there will be a sequel) will develop the villain because he seemed a one-dimensional character.
The biggest let down was the insta-love. It needs to stop. At a moment Aofie didn’t like Shay because he had never spoken a word to her, but two days later she regretted not saying that she loved him back when she thought they were dying.
I recommend this book to young readers who enjoy fairies and magic.
[I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.]
I can’t say I liked the fairies which lived in the “paradise”. Ultan was very likeable, but Caitlin was just annoying – her attitude just made me want to choke her! Should I give her a break because of her past? Maybe, but her behavior and lies were a bit too much when we have a world with characters which are perfectly flawed.
Shay was probably my favourite character. His faith in Aoife and his conection with the fairies made him an interesting character. Also, the relation with his brother - I wanted to hug him and tell him everything was going to be okay.
I enjoyed the first part of the story a lot more than I liked the second part. I confess I was bit disappointed with the second part. The last chapters were very fast-paced; everything happened so fast that I had to ask myself if I was missing something (and I like fast-paced stories). I wish the revelation of the big villain hadn’t been done so fast. Hopefully, the next book (yes, there will be a sequel) will develop the villain because he seemed a one-dimensional character.
The biggest let down was the insta-love. It needs to stop. At a moment Aofie didn’t like Shay because he had never spoken a word to her, but two days later she regretted not saying that she loved him back when she thought they were dying.
I recommend this book to young readers who enjoy fairies and magic.
[I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.]
June 25, 2015
Declaration of internest: Helen Falconer is good friend and this trilogy is dedicated to my daughter Alana. That said, The Changeling is wonderful - dramatic, exciting, really well drawn characters who come alive from the first page. Aoife is a lovely, typical Irish teenage girl with normal worries - friends, boyfriends, clothes... and Shay, the boy who helps her when she sees the little girl on the hill, is the perfect teenage love interest. The relationships between the main characters are wonderfully described and totally believable, even those in the underworld. The writing is a powerful mix of lyrical description and swash-buckling adventure... its a book for all ages, though written for the teen market. Very cinematic - it would make an amazing movie. I read it in a day and a half and I LOVED the ending...perfect!
June 27, 2016
5 stars an amazing read. Read it in a day because it was so captivating. Loved the characters and the world created. I was a nice twist on a classic story. I loved the folklore and how it all combined together to make the story. The cover is also beautiful.
November 28, 2025
This was a fun read! I liked the world and the ideas behind it, and the last 100 pages or so are very intense and exciting. I thought the plot and characters felt a bit out of step with each other, like the plot is happening to them, as the characters weren't strong enough to push it themselves. Shay, Caitlin, and Ultan are the only ones who I could describe as distinctive characters, as Aoife's only trait seems to be that she's impulsive, which I feel is only so she can chase after the plot beats and get the plot moving. She spends so much of the book confused and misinformed about what's happening to her that it's difficult to say she makes solid choices, rather than running after her instincts. We spend half the book building up to what we already know to be the case - that Aoife is a changeling and that's why weird things are happening to her - then a third of the book wandering about in the fairy world, still confused, then a very rapid-fire sequence where suddenly the plot is all explained and Aoife has to make a stand and decide what she's going to do next.
But the book is so fun! The writing is cheerful and delightful, the characters tease each other, and the worldbuilding is so cool, even when it's not used to its full potential. The reveal about what's happening is genuinely very interesting, even if it's not explored in depth. I think their relationship could have been fleshed out a bit more, but Aoife and Shay were so sweet. I enjoyed the read and how the idea was executed, even if I think it could have been done more smoothly.
But the book is so fun! The writing is cheerful and delightful, the characters tease each other, and the worldbuilding is so cool, even when it's not used to its full potential. The reveal about what's happening is genuinely very interesting, even if it's not explored in depth. I think their relationship could have been fleshed out a bit more, but Aoife and Shay were so sweet. I enjoyed the read and how the idea was executed, even if I think it could have been done more smoothly.
May 14, 2018
At first I really loved it, the setting was slightly spooky, the folklore realistic and the idea really intriguing - ahh!! But... I have to admit... as the book drew on I found myself enjoying it less and less... Shay was cool, but a little cliche (not that I minded much... I'm a sucker for brooding heroes...) but the romance seemed a little forced and once they got to faerieland I found it less haunting and more annoying and ... cheap? I'm not quite sure how to explain it. The climax itself was drawnout and din't actually feel like much of a climax as the bad guy was never made to feel bad or creepy - just whiney and he was beaten way to easily---- or rather. They escaped him too easily. He wasn't actually defeated. They just flew away. And then home. So I'm in two minds about the book. I'd have loved some more haunting faerie stuff - because it was building up to be these old, creepy faerietales of old but ended up being urban fantasy and not at all that eerie faerie land that I'd expected from the tone of the book. I'd have also appreciated a better resolution, because it sort of felt like Falconer loved her faerietales but didn't quite know what to do with them.
Probably won't read the sequel.
Probably won't read the sequel.
August 7, 2018
Fairy, Changelings, Fairy world and set in Ireland.....I loved the sound of it so much that I brought the book there and then.....several months ago. As much as I really like this book and nearly cried at the ending, it took such a long time for the writing to get gripping and for the story to progress. The story itself only started to progress from normal to storyline half way through; amd even then It did not get to any faster pace until the last 30% of the book.
The writing itself was a slow pace, but I could not help but love the storyline. Thats the strange thing about this book, it is slow pace and the writing is probably more 10-12 age than young adult, but you want to see what happens and how.
You follow Aoife through her story as she grows in strength. The world itself (especially the Fairy one) is so imaginative, which just makes it so annoying with the writing. You have 3 main plotline reveals, and instead of building it up and making you want to read on intrigued and then surprised....they are introduced as a normal event in the story. Disappointing.
Overall; it is a beautiful and imaginative world, the plot is brilliant and the ending is emotional; but you will need to stick with it and keep reading. It is 100% worth reading though.
The writing itself was a slow pace, but I could not help but love the storyline. Thats the strange thing about this book, it is slow pace and the writing is probably more 10-12 age than young adult, but you want to see what happens and how.
You follow Aoife through her story as she grows in strength. The world itself (especially the Fairy one) is so imaginative, which just makes it so annoying with the writing. You have 3 main plotline reveals, and instead of building it up and making you want to read on intrigued and then surprised....they are introduced as a normal event in the story. Disappointing.
Overall; it is a beautiful and imaginative world, the plot is brilliant and the ending is emotional; but you will need to stick with it and keep reading. It is 100% worth reading though.
August 16, 2021
It's a really good book, I love the way that Irish mythology is intertwined with the real world, the contrast between the kind of Alice in Wonderland world and the really fucked up creatures/people in it, and contrary to popular opinion I actually liked Caitlin. But, as seems to be a theme with my reads recently, I didn't like the ending. It wasn't bad, it was just confusing, I read final faerieland chapters 3 or 4 times and still have NO IDEA how we got to that ending. The other big problem I have with the ending is the number of loose ends that were left most importantly, what happens to the people left behind? These characters, friends of people that are just left behind with no goodbye and this is left completely unresolved.
So, 4*s for me. I enjoyed it, I might read the sequel if the opportunity arose but I wouldn't seek its company.
So, 4*s for me. I enjoyed it, I might read the sequel if the opportunity arose but I wouldn't seek its company.
December 13, 2022
Authenticity myths combined with modern fantasy YA fiction. I heard of these myth creatures: changling and banshee and else since I moved to Ireland a lot but never read one that was actually caught my attention.
I wouldn't mind reading The Dark Beloved, and if it's still good, I'd read Thr Hawthorne Crown.
One thing, I thought it was a wee bit silly where Aoife was forced to get married. She was just a child like! That part disturbed me, yet thankfully she was able to avoid this foul encounter. The Idea reminded me of Lemony Snicket's, A Series of Unfortunate Events.
I wouldn't mind reading The Dark Beloved, and if it's still good, I'd read Thr Hawthorne Crown.
One thing, I thought it was a wee bit silly where Aoife was forced to get married. She was just a child like! That part disturbed me, yet thankfully she was able to avoid this foul encounter. The Idea reminded me of Lemony Snicket's, A Series of Unfortunate Events.
April 20, 2024
Read it a long time ago, when I was stil learning english, and I remember it being a bit chalenging (due to some irish terinology, I believe, which also makes it interesting). Still, being one of my first books involving faries, it was enjoyable, although I am not sure how much of an impact woult this fantastical young adult novel have on me now, many years later.
Regardles, it remains a sweet part of my colection and a reflection of my tastes over the years.
Regardles, it remains a sweet part of my colection and a reflection of my tastes over the years.
February 9, 2019
2.5
I had read this book before, but was disappointed the second time around. It has a nice story concept (I'm all for a good Irish mythology) but it honestly just felt too rushed and underdeveloped. I finished the book with a sense of confusion, and I won't be reading the next.
Would recommend for people who just want to do a bit of light reading.
I had read this book before, but was disappointed the second time around. It has a nice story concept (I'm all for a good Irish mythology) but it honestly just felt too rushed and underdeveloped. I finished the book with a sense of confusion, and I won't be reading the next.
Would recommend for people who just want to do a bit of light reading.
May 5, 2017
This is an amazing captivating book that brings you to a whole new world there is fantasy romance everything read this book and keep reading till the end because there are so many great moment through this book xx
September 11, 2018
It left me wanting more, the epilogue helps I guess bust the ending feels incomplete, how does Eva feel? What's happening about Tuatha de Danann? About her kingdom? Her palace? And then the end of the epilogue about the isles... it's missing that something special the other books held
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2020
I adored this book, I would have absolutely loved it as a kid. Reality meeting fantasy, dark realisations meeting joy and wonder. I couldn’t put it down! A wonderful, rich dance through fairy mythology, I’m looking forward to reading the next one.
January 14, 2023
Enael commence a faire des rêves étranges voir des choses que personne ne voit. Et un jour avec Shay, elle va se retrouver dans le monde des fées ou de nombreuses épreuves vont se mettre sur leur chemin.
March 4, 2019
Very gripping at times
November 14, 2019
Rating: 2.5 - 3
November 16, 2021
It was quite interesting, I loved the ending
Read
August 16, 2022Beautiful evocation of young adult life modern Ireland threaded through with a brilliant vision of what it might mean to be a changeling and how family and friends and love mean everything.
November 4, 2024
I don't really know what made me think I would like this book, I'm a bit too advanced for this book. But definitely a great story for young readers and ages 12-16
October 13, 2016
*I received an eARC from the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This didn't influence my opinion in any way
Wow, The Changeling completely took me by surprise! As you may know, I’m Irish, and I usually approach books set in Ireland with an unhealthy dose of apprehension. I have this terrible reflex that ignites my overly critical side, and I firmly blame by English and Irish classes from back in my school days. Being forced to read books that I had very little interest in definitely didn’t help me in the long run! It was with this worry I began reading The Changeling, and I am SO GLAD I can say that I loved it.
What I Liked
Aoife (pronounced Ee-faa) and Shay: In general, all the characters were really good, but Aoife and Shay were completely adorable. They were typical teens right from the beginning of the book and I couldn’t help but like both of them. I loved that Aoife’s human life was established, along with her friends and family, before the main fairy elements were introduced. It added so much to the story to see over Aoife’s shoulder as she’s discovering who she really is. It was so nice to see a friendship and trust that build up between Aoife and Shay, and how that carried on throughout the rest of the story.
The setting: The book is set in Mayo, and I loved that the rural country village vibe was captured and described so realistically. It was easy to imagine Kilduff and I really liked that the close-knit community vibe shone through.
The Irish folklore, but particularly the Banshee: FINALLY I’ve read a book that’s got the banshee right! I’ve grown up with stories of the bean sídhe for as long as I can remember, and it’s such a glorious feeling to read an authentic spin on the tale for a change. And Tir na nÓg! How could I not love that Tir na nÓg and the lands of the underworld was included!? It was described so vividly and beautifully, and it was so easy to visualise. I could see a few similarities from Oisín and Niamh’s tale running through the book, and I loved it!
What I Didn’t Like
Inconsistent pacing: The only issue I had was a dip in pacing around 55-ish to 75-ish%. The book is split into two parts, and I loved every word in Book 1. Book 2 seemed to be continuing on in a similar fashion, but after a short while it seemed like the story stalled, and it didn’t pick up again for a good 20%. My attention did wander quite a bit, but once I got through that, I really enjoyed the ending. (I may have had tears streaming down my face at one stage, but it was completely fabulous!)
Overall, The Changeling was such a pleasant surprise and exceeded all my expectations. I’d highly recommend it to anyone that’s interested in Irish fairy folklore. It’s a highly addictive and a fabulous story, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book.
This review, and others, can be found on my blog - Journey Through Fiction
July 14, 2015
***I received the eBook free as a review copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
A book that definitely kept me reading. (And look at that cover, it looks gorgeous!)
The Changeling is taking place in a village in Ireland called Kilduff. The 15 year old Aoife is living happily with her parents until she finds a heart-shaped gold locket with a picture of her parents and a baby. Soon she sees a little girl running on the bog that no one else can see. And that is when her life goes crazy.
I was intrigued by the book blurb, because I almost always read fantasy books. This book is divided into two parts. The end of the first part was announced by END OF BOOK ONE. At first I was really confused, I was starting to think, that In was reading a combined set of books until it dawned on me that they were parts. The world-building was done alright, but I found it a bit slow because Aoife was so stubborn. She drove two and a half kilometres on a bike in two minutes (twice!) and she thinks: "No, the timer on my phone must have been wrong twice. I don't have any superpowers. "Of course its understandable that she doesn't believe it at the start, while the reader knows what she is already, that's why it was slowly getting a bit annoying. Afterwards though, the action was really well written. Aoife slowly discovers herself while trying to avoid near death experiences. The story was flowing well and it became more exciting to read.
Aoife was an interesting character. She is caring, stubborn and very selfless. First I found her kind of childish, especially when she was texting with her best friend, Carla. But then I started liking her more and enjoyed reading the rest of the book out of her perspective. While I didn't have a character I was particularly attached to, I think that Caitlin was a pretty queer character as well as probably my favourite. She has an interesting back story and therefore a massive mistrust for other people. She does criminal things like stealing and then when she is caught, she tells everyone in her group that she didn't do it or else they would get beat up. Caitlin was very annoying at first, especially because she was skeptical of Aoife and Shay. But then I found it funny how she was treating Ultan and that she always insisted, that she didn't like something and wasn't scared of it.
It took some getting used to the writing style. I got a bit irritated at the beginning because when the characters talked, then their sentence structure was something like this: "I just wanted to ask are you coming?" I realized soon enough, that a double dot should have been somewhere in the sentence. But once again, I got used to it and then the story flowed really nicely. I always wanted to know what happened next, good suspense was created.
Overall, I really got to enjoy reading this story and loved it. I give it 4 out of 5 stars!
Check out more reviews on my blog: www.mycrazyreadingobsession.blogspot.com
A book that definitely kept me reading. (And look at that cover, it looks gorgeous!)
The Changeling is taking place in a village in Ireland called Kilduff. The 15 year old Aoife is living happily with her parents until she finds a heart-shaped gold locket with a picture of her parents and a baby. Soon she sees a little girl running on the bog that no one else can see. And that is when her life goes crazy.
I was intrigued by the book blurb, because I almost always read fantasy books. This book is divided into two parts. The end of the first part was announced by END OF BOOK ONE. At first I was really confused, I was starting to think, that In was reading a combined set of books until it dawned on me that they were parts. The world-building was done alright, but I found it a bit slow because Aoife was so stubborn. She drove two and a half kilometres on a bike in two minutes (twice!) and she thinks: "No, the timer on my phone must have been wrong twice. I don't have any superpowers. "Of course its understandable that she doesn't believe it at the start, while the reader knows what she is already, that's why it was slowly getting a bit annoying. Afterwards though, the action was really well written. Aoife slowly discovers herself while trying to avoid near death experiences. The story was flowing well and it became more exciting to read.
Aoife was an interesting character. She is caring, stubborn and very selfless. First I found her kind of childish, especially when she was texting with her best friend, Carla. But then I started liking her more and enjoyed reading the rest of the book out of her perspective. While I didn't have a character I was particularly attached to, I think that Caitlin was a pretty queer character as well as probably my favourite. She has an interesting back story and therefore a massive mistrust for other people. She does criminal things like stealing and then when she is caught, she tells everyone in her group that she didn't do it or else they would get beat up. Caitlin was very annoying at first, especially because she was skeptical of Aoife and Shay. But then I found it funny how she was treating Ultan and that she always insisted, that she didn't like something and wasn't scared of it.
It took some getting used to the writing style. I got a bit irritated at the beginning because when the characters talked, then their sentence structure was something like this: "I just wanted to ask are you coming?" I realized soon enough, that a double dot should have been somewhere in the sentence. But once again, I got used to it and then the story flowed really nicely. I always wanted to know what happened next, good suspense was created.
Overall, I really got to enjoy reading this story and loved it. I give it 4 out of 5 stars!
Check out more reviews on my blog: www.mycrazyreadingobsession.blogspot.com
May 1, 2016
Alors alors... alors tout d'abord ce roman est vraiment un roman jeunesse.. ce n'est pas un Young Adult dans le sens où le style est simple et vraiment adapté à un public jeune (12-13 ans je dirai) ce qui ne veut pas dire pour autant que c'est mal écrit ou trop simple. Non, j'ai dévoré ce livres en quelques jours (et encore, parce que je devais aller au boulot et que j'étais particulièrement fatiguée cette semaine) et j'ai vraiment apprécié ma lecture. D'ailleurs, à un moment, je me suis dit qu'il allait tomber dans le cliché du genre et non!! L'auteur a réussit à me surprendre en respectant et s'éloignant des codes du genre tout à la fois.
Je m'explique. J'aime beaucoup l'univers des fées et des changellings même si je réalise que ce n'est que le deuxième livre que je lis à ce sujet. Au début, ce roman m'a un peu fait penser à une trilogie qui m'a énormément déçue: la trilogie des Trylles. On retrouve les mêmes codes, même si l'univers est sensiblement différent mais ce qui m'avait prodigieusement énervée dans cette trilogie et que je pensais retrouvé ici n'est pas présent et rien que pour ça merci merci merci Helen Falconer!
On suit l'histoire d' Enael dans ce qui semble être de prime abord une vie normale qui tout à coup va prendre un tournant intriguant et fantastique. J'ai adoré découvrir le folklore Irlandais qui est très bien expliqué par l'auteur au fil des pages et on découvre en même temps qu'Enael et Shay l'univers dont la jeune fille est issue. Malgré le fait que ce roman soit un roman jeunesse, on ne se débarasse pas tout au long de l'histoire d'un sentiment de malaise, parfois lattent parfois plus oppressant qui m'a donné de délicieux frissons à certains moments.
Attention, ça reste soft mais j'ai aimé cette notion sous l'histoire qui semble simple et mignonne. C'est quelque chose d'assez rare dans ce genre de livre et j'ai vraiment apprécié cette lecture à double niveau qui m'a vraiment fait me plonger dans l'histoire et ne plus vouloir la lacher malgré la simplicité de l'écriture.
Je trouve vraiment ça encourageant de voir que la littérature jeunesse prend de plus en plus son envol et que des romans de ce genre, qui peuvent sembler s'adresser à un public plutot jeune plonge le lecteur dans une autre ambiance, quelque chose d'un peu plus sombre, pour les amener doucement mais surement vers des lectures plus "grandes". Attention, je ne dénigre pas du tout la littérature jeunesse bien au contraire mais ce roman à mon avis est parfait pour initier les pré ado à des lectures plus "sombres" style dystopies ou autre.
Au final un premier tome qui pose les jalons d'une histoire qu'il me tarde de continuer. Une auteur au style agréable fluide et entraînant qui nous donne envie d'en savoir plus sur Enael et le monde des fées.
Je m'explique. J'aime beaucoup l'univers des fées et des changellings même si je réalise que ce n'est que le deuxième livre que je lis à ce sujet. Au début, ce roman m'a un peu fait penser à une trilogie qui m'a énormément déçue: la trilogie des Trylles. On retrouve les mêmes codes, même si l'univers est sensiblement différent mais ce qui m'avait prodigieusement énervée dans cette trilogie et que je pensais retrouvé ici n'est pas présent et rien que pour ça merci merci merci Helen Falconer!
On suit l'histoire d' Enael dans ce qui semble être de prime abord une vie normale qui tout à coup va prendre un tournant intriguant et fantastique. J'ai adoré découvrir le folklore Irlandais qui est très bien expliqué par l'auteur au fil des pages et on découvre en même temps qu'Enael et Shay l'univers dont la jeune fille est issue. Malgré le fait que ce roman soit un roman jeunesse, on ne se débarasse pas tout au long de l'histoire d'un sentiment de malaise, parfois lattent parfois plus oppressant qui m'a donné de délicieux frissons à certains moments.
Attention, ça reste soft mais j'ai aimé cette notion sous l'histoire qui semble simple et mignonne. C'est quelque chose d'assez rare dans ce genre de livre et j'ai vraiment apprécié cette lecture à double niveau qui m'a vraiment fait me plonger dans l'histoire et ne plus vouloir la lacher malgré la simplicité de l'écriture.
Je trouve vraiment ça encourageant de voir que la littérature jeunesse prend de plus en plus son envol et que des romans de ce genre, qui peuvent sembler s'adresser à un public plutot jeune plonge le lecteur dans une autre ambiance, quelque chose d'un peu plus sombre, pour les amener doucement mais surement vers des lectures plus "grandes". Attention, je ne dénigre pas du tout la littérature jeunesse bien au contraire mais ce roman à mon avis est parfait pour initier les pré ado à des lectures plus "sombres" style dystopies ou autre.
Au final un premier tome qui pose les jalons d'une histoire qu'il me tarde de continuer. Une auteur au style agréable fluide et entraînant qui nous donne envie d'en savoir plus sur Enael et le monde des fées.
January 22, 2016
Aoife O'Connor thinks she's a normal teenager, until she sees a small child out on the bog - a child no one else sees. Then more strange things happen - she finds money out of nowhere just when she needs it, which later disappears and is replaced by dead leaves. She is unintentionally able to exert influence over people, and things like locks which she can open just by touching them. She finds a locket buried in a field behind her house, apparently with a picture of herself as a baby inside, but her parents reaction to it is very strange. They finally tell her that the picture is of their true daughter, Eva, who was taken by a banshee 11 years ago, and that Aoife is the faerie child - the changeling - left in her place. Frightened, angry and confused, Aoife turns to the one person who might be able to help - local boy Shay, whose own family is deeply affected by a long ago connection with the faerie world. Together, they set off on a long, strange journey to discover the place Aoife really comes from.
I've recently developed a love of re-imagined fairy tales which show their truly dark side. I particularly love changeling stories. 'The Changeling' delves into Irish mythology and balances it perfectly with our world. There are some very dark elements to this fairy tale, Disney it is most definitely not! Aoife's a great main character - funny, smart, yet vulnerable and given to acting without thinking. I loved her best friend Carla too - she's tough and hilarious. As for Shay...well, he's just lovely. There's an element of romance but it is handled with maturity and is sweet and real rather than soppy and fake.
Absolutely loved this book, especially the exploration of Irish folklore and the characters. Oh and for this line:
'If they want to risk getting sucked dry by a dullahan for the sake of a packet of cheese-and-onion Taytos, that's their business'.
I've recently developed a love of re-imagined fairy tales which show their truly dark side. I particularly love changeling stories. 'The Changeling' delves into Irish mythology and balances it perfectly with our world. There are some very dark elements to this fairy tale, Disney it is most definitely not! Aoife's a great main character - funny, smart, yet vulnerable and given to acting without thinking. I loved her best friend Carla too - she's tough and hilarious. As for Shay...well, he's just lovely. There's an element of romance but it is handled with maturity and is sweet and real rather than soppy and fake.
Absolutely loved this book, especially the exploration of Irish folklore and the characters. Oh and for this line:
'If they want to risk getting sucked dry by a dullahan for the sake of a packet of cheese-and-onion Taytos, that's their business'.
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