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Valenbound #1
The Unfairfolk
A promise made is a promise kept, until the very end of all death.
Sixteen year old Lilith Pierce’s mom is getting remarried. Which, sucks. To one of the richest men in Europe. Which, honestly? Sucks a little less.
Lilith’s warily stoked - after Dad disappeared, it’s been all tears and police visits and sleeping pills for Mom. So, yeah. She’ll suck it up for seven months and get shipped off to the ultra-luxe, ultra-selective Institut Le Silvere - a prestigious boarding school in the Swiss Alps - while they honeymoon. How hard can it really be? It’s not like she’s got maybe-permanent hypervigilance, or anything.
It’s not like the woods around the school are maybe-alive.
It’s not like she’s being stalked by a man with glowing red eyes.
It’s not like the neighboring village whispers that all the students are cursed.
It’s not like resident model Ciel Lautrec is the most beautiful boy she’s ever seen, or anything. Too beautiful to be human. So beautiful the hypervigilance shuts right up. It’s not like she can’t handle Silvere’s self-appointed, self-conceited lawkeeper slash bully Alistair Strickland. Because she can. She can handle it all.
She’s always handled it all. Because she’s Lilith-fucking-Pierce.
And the forest knows that best of all.
Sixteen year old Lilith Pierce’s mom is getting remarried. Which, sucks. To one of the richest men in Europe. Which, honestly? Sucks a little less.
Lilith’s warily stoked - after Dad disappeared, it’s been all tears and police visits and sleeping pills for Mom. So, yeah. She’ll suck it up for seven months and get shipped off to the ultra-luxe, ultra-selective Institut Le Silvere - a prestigious boarding school in the Swiss Alps - while they honeymoon. How hard can it really be? It’s not like she’s got maybe-permanent hypervigilance, or anything.
It’s not like the woods around the school are maybe-alive.
It’s not like she’s being stalked by a man with glowing red eyes.
It’s not like the neighboring village whispers that all the students are cursed.
It’s not like resident model Ciel Lautrec is the most beautiful boy she’s ever seen, or anything. Too beautiful to be human. So beautiful the hypervigilance shuts right up. It’s not like she can’t handle Silvere’s self-appointed, self-conceited lawkeeper slash bully Alistair Strickland. Because she can. She can handle it all.
She’s always handled it all. Because she’s Lilith-fucking-Pierce.
And the forest knows that best of all.
446 pages, ebook
First published February 29, 2020
65 people are currently reading
658 people want to read
About the author
Sara Wolf
28 books3,776 followersSara Wolf adores baking, cats, and screaming helpfully at her own imagination. When she was a kid she was too busy eating dirt to write her first terrible book. Twenty years later she mashed her fists on a laptop and created the Lovely Vicious series. She lives in Portland, Oregon where the sun can't get her anymore.
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May 11, 2020
You can find this review of The Unfairfolk on my blog, Heart's Content!
Received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. So a big shout out and thank you to Sara Wolf for this opportunity!
I think this is always something that I have to come to terms with when I read Sara Wolf's work. I can't ever be prepared for them. I can never guess anything and in this book, The Unfairfolk, there just is absolutely nothing I understood, could guess or even sometimes come to terms with as they were happening.
The characters. I think Sara Wolf does this thing where she fleshes out characters really well, then weaves layers around them and then sticks to their personality at the same time that she unravels these layers. For example, Lilith is mildly flighty, cracks inappropriate jokes during awkward situations--making them worse--and uses the word 'like' a lot. All of this remains true to her until the very end (and I mean even in scary ass situations where anyone normal will lose their head) even as the reason behind her behaviour slowly starts to reveal itself. I do wish we got to see a lot more of her past, but at the same time you don't feel that lack of it because a lot of subtle understanding that happens on the reader's part just from the small peeks we are given. (But you may be frustrated wanting to know more.)
Alistair, Ciel, Ana and Bianca too, follow this pattern. They're all characterised by a few small things, before it unravels and there are some much deeper, perhaps moving or even disturbing reasons behind it. The little note that Sara left in the end made so much sense to me because I had picked up the general pattern throughout the book and even if --as she said--this book was just for her, this book reflected a lot of our own realities in its own way.
The plot and pace. The Unfairfolk is my third book of Sara's so by this point, I know that her books start off slow until about twenty percent. Once you hit it, the book starts to pull you in and keep you going. The pace doesn't quicken exactly, but the story starts to form and get you interested in it. My slump melted away and I was reading you guys. Reading as if I weren't even in a slump! *wipes lone tear away* The plot, like the other two Sara Wolf books I've read, were fantastically unique. The world Sara has created is utterly unseen before, despite possibly already having heard of these fantastical creatures. The benefits of creating your own version of something is that you can keep the reader poised at the edge of doubt at all times. Also, I have to say, this was probably one of the first books where I was genuinely freaked the hell out as a scene took place and I finally got it when my cousin keeps telling me how books too can scare the shizz out of a living being.
The emotions. This is something I mentioned in passing and I want to stress a bit on it. Sara has in her own subtle way used this book as more than just a way to tell a story. It's her way of speaking about experience, pain, misplaced priorities, struggles of the young despite social status etc,. The protagonist is young, she's hurting and she doesn't always know what to do, or even do the right thing. I personally went through some ups and downs pertaining to her taking a certain responsibility and burden of her past and allowing that to make her feel like she owed her mother somethings. It broke my heart because while I utterly understand how the mind works, her situation was very different and that concept that she couldn't tell her mother any of this...? Yeah, heart-broken sounds about right for what I felt. Be prepared for imperfections.
I don't want to reveal anything about this book. Go in blind, find your own things to care about, be upset about, relate to and love/question. Definitely recommend this book. Despite the possible reality that nothing has been revealed, I feel like everything we need to know is already there in this book, the puzzle just hasn't come together yet, so also be prepared for that too. Four and a half stars! KU users, this book is yours for the taking!
Happy reading and I hope you'll are all safe and remain so.
Received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. So a big shout out and thank you to Sara Wolf for this opportunity!
I think this is always something that I have to come to terms with when I read Sara Wolf's work. I can't ever be prepared for them. I can never guess anything and in this book, The Unfairfolk, there just is absolutely nothing I understood, could guess or even sometimes come to terms with as they were happening.
The characters. I think Sara Wolf does this thing where she fleshes out characters really well, then weaves layers around them and then sticks to their personality at the same time that she unravels these layers. For example, Lilith is mildly flighty, cracks inappropriate jokes during awkward situations--making them worse--and uses the word 'like' a lot. All of this remains true to her until the very end (and I mean even in scary ass situations where anyone normal will lose their head) even as the reason behind her behaviour slowly starts to reveal itself. I do wish we got to see a lot more of her past, but at the same time you don't feel that lack of it because a lot of subtle understanding that happens on the reader's part just from the small peeks we are given. (But you may be frustrated wanting to know more.)
Alistair, Ciel, Ana and Bianca too, follow this pattern. They're all characterised by a few small things, before it unravels and there are some much deeper, perhaps moving or even disturbing reasons behind it. The little note that Sara left in the end made so much sense to me because I had picked up the general pattern throughout the book and even if --as she said--this book was just for her, this book reflected a lot of our own realities in its own way.
The plot and pace. The Unfairfolk is my third book of Sara's so by this point, I know that her books start off slow until about twenty percent. Once you hit it, the book starts to pull you in and keep you going. The pace doesn't quicken exactly, but the story starts to form and get you interested in it. My slump melted away and I was reading you guys. Reading as if I weren't even in a slump! *wipes lone tear away* The plot, like the other two Sara Wolf books I've read, were fantastically unique. The world Sara has created is utterly unseen before, despite possibly already having heard of these fantastical creatures. The benefits of creating your own version of something is that you can keep the reader poised at the edge of doubt at all times. Also, I have to say, this was probably one of the first books where I was genuinely freaked the hell out as a scene took place and I finally got it when my cousin keeps telling me how books too can scare the shizz out of a living being.
The emotions. This is something I mentioned in passing and I want to stress a bit on it. Sara has in her own subtle way used this book as more than just a way to tell a story. It's her way of speaking about experience, pain, misplaced priorities, struggles of the young despite social status etc,. The protagonist is young, she's hurting and she doesn't always know what to do, or even do the right thing. I personally went through some ups and downs pertaining to her taking a certain responsibility and burden of her past and allowing that to make her feel like she owed her mother somethings. It broke my heart because while I utterly understand how the mind works, her situation was very different and that concept that she couldn't tell her mother any of this...? Yeah, heart-broken sounds about right for what I felt. Be prepared for imperfections.
I don't want to reveal anything about this book. Go in blind, find your own things to care about, be upset about, relate to and love/question. Definitely recommend this book. Despite the possible reality that nothing has been revealed, I feel like everything we need to know is already there in this book, the puzzle just hasn't come together yet, so also be prepared for that too. Four and a half stars! KU users, this book is yours for the taking!
Happy reading and I hope you'll are all safe and remain so.
March 18, 2020
Atmospheric, thrilling, and enthralling. For me, these are the three words that can best describe The Unfairfolk. This book is the first of a new series from Sara Wolf that will beguile readers from the first chapter until the very last.
The Unfairfolk follows Lilith Pierce as she puts on her brave face and flies to a foreign a country to attend a prestigious boarding school, as her mother and her new husband enjoy a luxurious honeymoon around the world. In Institut Le Silvere, she meets Ciel Lautrec, an otherworldly person she can’t help but feel attracted to, and Alistair Strickland, a seemingly cruel lawkeeper she keeps running into. Unfortunately for Lilith, she also encounters other people, things, and creatures that she just can’t ignore. Like Von Arx who seemed to hate her the first time they meet, or Knight Durand, a building inside the school grounds that’s been on renovation for several years now, the man with fiery red eyes who seems to be stalking her, and more. What Lilith doesn’t know is that she’s about to uncover something else in this school, and it will all start with the forest.
The writing style is atmospheric in every way possible. The author never fails to make the reader feel so much of the character’s thoughts and emotions, or the surroundings or setting of a current scene, or the ominous threat that seems to loom over the characters. There were a number of times when I truly felt the eeriness of a scene being described in the book, as if I was watching a scene from a horror movie. It’s also impressive how the tone changes every time the point of view switches in every chapter. There’s the first person point of view from Lilith and a third person point of view that alternates between Ciel Luatrec and Alistair Strickland. In every chapter, the tone changes and it matches the characters and the setting so well that it just pulls you in the moment.
The characters are absolutely enthralling. They all have their own personalities and each of them offers a story to tell to the readers. Lilith Pierce is one hilarious (yet deeply scarred) main character. I love her humour and her frankness, but at the same time, there are moments that she was childish. And she knows this herself, she knows it’s her flaw. Alistair Strickland, on the other hand, is layered. I thought I already knew his character, but he kept surprising me as the story progressed. Last but not the least, Ciel Lautrec is one intriguing character. There’s something unnerving about him, whether it be his beauty or his personal (and obscure) ambitions. These characters have a lot more to show to the readers, and I’m excited to see them in the sequel.
I also love how the book touched on several social issues, and I hope the author will tackle more of them in the next books. Lilith and her mother, as well as other characters, are victims of abuse and went through traumatic events. Social class and power imbalance are also a primary theme in the book. We see how toxic and detached rich people can be. And we see how being a child of powerful and influential people means never experiencing normal things and always being too careful around the public. Sexuality is also talked about in the book, albeit in brief passing moments.
The plot is intriguing, mysterious, and thrilling in a way that you’re excited to know what happens next but also very afraid of what the next chapter will bring. I have to say though, at its entirety, the book seems like a prologue. A lot of events transpired in the book, yes, but the progress of the main conflict went slow. It wasn’t until the last 20% of the book that we truly got to know more of the sinister man that’s been following Lilith, or the magical yet strange things that roam around the Institut Le Silvere. As a result, the ending feels a lot like a cliffhanger. But at the same time, it also feels like a promise—a promise that there’s something more and that it’s just the beginning of the story.
Overall, this book is a great read, and the Valenbound series seems promising as ever. I can’t wait to read the next book and see what comes of Lilith’s journey!
(This book review was first published on The Nerd Daily.)
The Unfairfolk follows Lilith Pierce as she puts on her brave face and flies to a foreign a country to attend a prestigious boarding school, as her mother and her new husband enjoy a luxurious honeymoon around the world. In Institut Le Silvere, she meets Ciel Lautrec, an otherworldly person she can’t help but feel attracted to, and Alistair Strickland, a seemingly cruel lawkeeper she keeps running into. Unfortunately for Lilith, she also encounters other people, things, and creatures that she just can’t ignore. Like Von Arx who seemed to hate her the first time they meet, or Knight Durand, a building inside the school grounds that’s been on renovation for several years now, the man with fiery red eyes who seems to be stalking her, and more. What Lilith doesn’t know is that she’s about to uncover something else in this school, and it will all start with the forest.
The writing style is atmospheric in every way possible. The author never fails to make the reader feel so much of the character’s thoughts and emotions, or the surroundings or setting of a current scene, or the ominous threat that seems to loom over the characters. There were a number of times when I truly felt the eeriness of a scene being described in the book, as if I was watching a scene from a horror movie. It’s also impressive how the tone changes every time the point of view switches in every chapter. There’s the first person point of view from Lilith and a third person point of view that alternates between Ciel Luatrec and Alistair Strickland. In every chapter, the tone changes and it matches the characters and the setting so well that it just pulls you in the moment.
The characters are absolutely enthralling. They all have their own personalities and each of them offers a story to tell to the readers. Lilith Pierce is one hilarious (yet deeply scarred) main character. I love her humour and her frankness, but at the same time, there are moments that she was childish. And she knows this herself, she knows it’s her flaw. Alistair Strickland, on the other hand, is layered. I thought I already knew his character, but he kept surprising me as the story progressed. Last but not the least, Ciel Lautrec is one intriguing character. There’s something unnerving about him, whether it be his beauty or his personal (and obscure) ambitions. These characters have a lot more to show to the readers, and I’m excited to see them in the sequel.
I also love how the book touched on several social issues, and I hope the author will tackle more of them in the next books. Lilith and her mother, as well as other characters, are victims of abuse and went through traumatic events. Social class and power imbalance are also a primary theme in the book. We see how toxic and detached rich people can be. And we see how being a child of powerful and influential people means never experiencing normal things and always being too careful around the public. Sexuality is also talked about in the book, albeit in brief passing moments.
The plot is intriguing, mysterious, and thrilling in a way that you’re excited to know what happens next but also very afraid of what the next chapter will bring. I have to say though, at its entirety, the book seems like a prologue. A lot of events transpired in the book, yes, but the progress of the main conflict went slow. It wasn’t until the last 20% of the book that we truly got to know more of the sinister man that’s been following Lilith, or the magical yet strange things that roam around the Institut Le Silvere. As a result, the ending feels a lot like a cliffhanger. But at the same time, it also feels like a promise—a promise that there’s something more and that it’s just the beginning of the story.
Overall, this book is a great read, and the Valenbound series seems promising as ever. I can’t wait to read the next book and see what comes of Lilith’s journey!
(This book review was first published on The Nerd Daily.)
December 15, 2020
4.0 ⭐️
Review coming soon! Or not, I have no idea on which frequency my brain is working at. If the review does NOT come out, as cause of unending procrastination, I’ll just say that... I have mixed feelings. Do I think it was the best Sara Wolf book ever written? No, no I don’t. Am I still skeptical about some things? Yes, yes I do. Am I going to go asleep because it’s really late? Don’t think I need sleep nowadays.
Review coming soon! Or not, I have no idea on which frequency my brain is working at. If the review does NOT come out, as cause of unending procrastination, I’ll just say that... I have mixed feelings. Do I think it was the best Sara Wolf book ever written? No, no I don’t. Am I still skeptical about some things? Yes, yes I do. Am I going to go asleep because it’s really late? Don’t think I need sleep nowadays.
June 19, 2020
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars!
For More Book Reviews Check Out My Blog: Dreamy Addictions
The Unfairfolk is the first installment in Sara's new urban fantasy series The Valenbound where a human girl gets tangled in a magical conflict. What grabbed my interest wasn't the gorgeous cover, but the sassy heroine. They're my favorites. So did Lilith meet my expectations? Sadly no but I did enjoyed her character. I expected her to be more like Zera from Bring Me Their Hearts who was more mature.
The story follows Sixteen Year old Lilith who's transferred to an elite boarding school after her mom remarries a rich guy. While her mom was in her honeymoon vacation, Lilith needs to learn to survive between the rich kids who treats her like an outsider. On her first day, she meets the alluring Ciel Lautrec whom she can't help but feel attracted to. And then she meets the mysterious Alistair Strickland, the strict lawkeeper everyone avoids. After sometime, Lilith learns that Institut Le Silvere harbors many secrets. When she visits the neighboring village, she's warned that all the students of Le Silvere are cursed. When a mysterious red eyes starts to stalk her, Lilith wants to know the answers that she was denied. But Lilith isn't the one to back down easily. In order to uncover the secrets of the school, she sets on her own dangerous mission which ultimately leads her to the deadly forest that everyone fears.
Lilith is sarcastic, funny, witty, brave, cute, and a little immature. She curses a lot and constantly cracks jokes even in awkward situations. It was kinda cute but really hated her long inner monologues. It was one of the issues I had with this book. So far, I enjoyed her character but I wouldn't say that she was my favorite. I liked Alistair! He was broody and mysterious. His cold personality makes people avoid him like plague. I was kinda sad that he can't trust anyone. The relationship between Lilith and Alistair is one of the best parts I enjoyed the most. They clashed every time they meet but slowly they start to trust each other. Ciel Lautrec was an intriguing character. He possesses an inhuman beauty that makes people drawn to him. He's pretty much obsessed with magic. I think his character wasn't fleshed out well enough and I hope we get more of him in the next book.
The plot was interesting but the execution could've been more better. There are some parts that left me confused and nothing major happens until we get to the last part where we finally get to meet the fair folk of Valen. Although I enjoyed the characters, the writing style didn't work out for me. It took some time for me to adjust to it. It seemed different than her previous works. I struggled with the narration and I wish the inner monologues were short. The book was mostly written in Lilith's POV but we also get a third person POV from the mysterious guy with red eyes. I loved the boarding school setting and the mystery surrounding it. The author had built a perfect atmosphere. There's not much magic in this book but I hope we get more in the sequel.
Overall, I enjoyed this book but I didn't love it! So far, I loved all of Sara's books that I've read and this would be my least favorite. I really didn't expect to give it a less than a four star rating. I hope the sequel is better than this one. The cliffhanger had left me wanting for more so I'm definitely picking up the next book when it comes out.
For More Book Reviews Check Out My Blog: Dreamy Addictions
The Unfairfolk is the first installment in Sara's new urban fantasy series The Valenbound where a human girl gets tangled in a magical conflict. What grabbed my interest wasn't the gorgeous cover, but the sassy heroine. They're my favorites. So did Lilith meet my expectations? Sadly no but I did enjoyed her character. I expected her to be more like Zera from Bring Me Their Hearts who was more mature.
The story follows Sixteen Year old Lilith who's transferred to an elite boarding school after her mom remarries a rich guy. While her mom was in her honeymoon vacation, Lilith needs to learn to survive between the rich kids who treats her like an outsider. On her first day, she meets the alluring Ciel Lautrec whom she can't help but feel attracted to. And then she meets the mysterious Alistair Strickland, the strict lawkeeper everyone avoids. After sometime, Lilith learns that Institut Le Silvere harbors many secrets. When she visits the neighboring village, she's warned that all the students of Le Silvere are cursed. When a mysterious red eyes starts to stalk her, Lilith wants to know the answers that she was denied. But Lilith isn't the one to back down easily. In order to uncover the secrets of the school, she sets on her own dangerous mission which ultimately leads her to the deadly forest that everyone fears.
Lilith is sarcastic, funny, witty, brave, cute, and a little immature. She curses a lot and constantly cracks jokes even in awkward situations. It was kinda cute but really hated her long inner monologues. It was one of the issues I had with this book. So far, I enjoyed her character but I wouldn't say that she was my favorite. I liked Alistair! He was broody and mysterious. His cold personality makes people avoid him like plague. I was kinda sad that he can't trust anyone. The relationship between Lilith and Alistair is one of the best parts I enjoyed the most. They clashed every time they meet but slowly they start to trust each other. Ciel Lautrec was an intriguing character. He possesses an inhuman beauty that makes people drawn to him. He's pretty much obsessed with magic. I think his character wasn't fleshed out well enough and I hope we get more of him in the next book.
The plot was interesting but the execution could've been more better. There are some parts that left me confused and nothing major happens until we get to the last part where we finally get to meet the fair folk of Valen. Although I enjoyed the characters, the writing style didn't work out for me. It took some time for me to adjust to it. It seemed different than her previous works. I struggled with the narration and I wish the inner monologues were short. The book was mostly written in Lilith's POV but we also get a third person POV from the mysterious guy with red eyes. I loved the boarding school setting and the mystery surrounding it. The author had built a perfect atmosphere. There's not much magic in this book but I hope we get more in the sequel.
Overall, I enjoyed this book but I didn't love it! So far, I loved all of Sara's books that I've read and this would be my least favorite. I really didn't expect to give it a less than a four star rating. I hope the sequel is better than this one. The cliffhanger had left me wanting for more so I'm definitely picking up the next book when it comes out.
February 21, 2020
I was super excited to receive a digital ARC from the author for my honest review. From the second I heard that this book was happening, I've been excited for it, and I am very happy to say that this book not just met my expectations--but surpassed them.
This book centers on Lilith, a California girl whose mother marries one of the richest men in Europe. She's sent to the elite Sylvare boarding school in Switzerland, where she is thrown into a world of wealth and privilege that she's never seen before. She makes her friends and her enemies: friendly Ana, brilliant Bianca, the handsome Ciel, and the brooding Alistair Strickland. As she struggles to adjust to this new environment, Lilith stumbles onto a dark mystery that plagues the grounds of Sylvere, and comes face to face with a darkness that wants her for its own.
The Unfairfolk is BRILLIANT. I love Lilith. She's super quirky and funny. I laughed my way through this book and it was so refreshing to see a MC as unique as she was. I also love the dynamic developing between her and Alistair. I'm totally stanning them. I loved the cloak and dagger, old-money feel of Sylvere and the mysteries and secrets it holds. The Unfairfolk is certainly not the traditional method of writing fae, it is much darker and I am here for it. That ending left me spinning and I need more of Lilith and Alistair in my life. I'm dying for the next book. Go read this book. Its awesome!
This book centers on Lilith, a California girl whose mother marries one of the richest men in Europe. She's sent to the elite Sylvare boarding school in Switzerland, where she is thrown into a world of wealth and privilege that she's never seen before. She makes her friends and her enemies: friendly Ana, brilliant Bianca, the handsome Ciel, and the brooding Alistair Strickland. As she struggles to adjust to this new environment, Lilith stumbles onto a dark mystery that plagues the grounds of Sylvere, and comes face to face with a darkness that wants her for its own.
The Unfairfolk is BRILLIANT. I love Lilith. She's super quirky and funny. I laughed my way through this book and it was so refreshing to see a MC as unique as she was. I also love the dynamic developing between her and Alistair. I'm totally stanning them. I loved the cloak and dagger, old-money feel of Sylvere and the mysteries and secrets it holds. The Unfairfolk is certainly not the traditional method of writing fae, it is much darker and I am here for it. That ending left me spinning and I need more of Lilith and Alistair in my life. I'm dying for the next book. Go read this book. Its awesome!
March 9, 2020
I didn’t know what this book was about going into it, which is usually how I prefer to read. I avoid synopsis at all costs. Maybe, in this case, I should have read it then I would have known it involved a “boarding school romance thing”, which isn’t the type of thing I would usually read so take all my opinions with a grain of salt.
I did know there were fairies in this story hence the title which I think is pretty clever. I did like the darker direction she chose for them. More like folklore than the obscenely annoying pretty boys with wings but I digress. Sadly they were only present at the beginning and very end of the story and basically just mentioned throughout the rest story. It focuses mainly on Lilith who goes from being poor to moving to a posh Swedish boarding school thanks to her mother getting engaged to a super-rich guy. She is uncouth, bigger, and has a habit of spewing every thought that pops into her head, basically the embodiment of “not like other girls” which made her a bit annoying at times. I did like that she was confident despite other people judging her. She falls head over heels for the first boy she meets and manages to get on the blacklist of another boy who needs severe anger management. She does have a touch aversion problem from an abusive past, and I appreciated that the author put something like that in, it was interesting to read. It didn’t make up for the overkill of the slang and annoying behavior of nearly all the characters. Ciel and Alistair were a bit of a cliché. The pacing is fantastic; I read it in a day. The author knows how to keep you reading and I do find her writing style engaging. It just wasn’t for me.
(I received an arc in exchange for my honest review)
I did know there were fairies in this story hence the title which I think is pretty clever. I did like the darker direction she chose for them. More like folklore than the obscenely annoying pretty boys with wings but I digress. Sadly they were only present at the beginning and very end of the story and basically just mentioned throughout the rest story. It focuses mainly on Lilith who goes from being poor to moving to a posh Swedish boarding school thanks to her mother getting engaged to a super-rich guy. She is uncouth, bigger, and has a habit of spewing every thought that pops into her head, basically the embodiment of “not like other girls” which made her a bit annoying at times. I did like that she was confident despite other people judging her. She falls head over heels for the first boy she meets and manages to get on the blacklist of another boy who needs severe anger management. She does have a touch aversion problem from an abusive past, and I appreciated that the author put something like that in, it was interesting to read. It didn’t make up for the overkill of the slang and annoying behavior of nearly all the characters. Ciel and Alistair were a bit of a cliché. The pacing is fantastic; I read it in a day. The author knows how to keep you reading and I do find her writing style engaging. It just wasn’t for me.
(I received an arc in exchange for my honest review)
March 18, 2020
Sara Wolf is a writing force to be reckoned with. Regardless of whether she's writing fantasy or contemporary, her stories never fail to enchant and haunt their readers. The Unfairfolk is no different. It's the first book in her new Valenbound series and it is magnificent.
Lilith is a fish out of water at her new school, and extremely uncomfortable, but that doesn't stop her from being herself or making friends, something she's not good at. Due to her past life experiences, Lilith doubts everyone and trusts only herself. She's so likable. My 16 year-old self may not have thought she was cool, but she would've thought she was funny. I loved the way she spoke and acted, much as a teenager would. It felt very realistic and authentic.
Besides Lilith, I'm intrigued by the other people at the school. The headmistress is a delight of hidden information while also being extremely menacing. Alistair and Ciel are almost foils of each other, and it's interesting to see how their outward appearances differ from their inner characteristics and personality traits. I'm looking forward to learning more about them.
Sara Wolf tantalizes readers with hints of what's happening behind the scenes at Institut Le Silvere and in the surrounding forest. Yes there are many questions raised, and some are answered, but it's a great set up for the next book in the series, and I can't wait to read it!
Lilith is a fish out of water at her new school, and extremely uncomfortable, but that doesn't stop her from being herself or making friends, something she's not good at. Due to her past life experiences, Lilith doubts everyone and trusts only herself. She's so likable. My 16 year-old self may not have thought she was cool, but she would've thought she was funny. I loved the way she spoke and acted, much as a teenager would. It felt very realistic and authentic.
Besides Lilith, I'm intrigued by the other people at the school. The headmistress is a delight of hidden information while also being extremely menacing. Alistair and Ciel are almost foils of each other, and it's interesting to see how their outward appearances differ from their inner characteristics and personality traits. I'm looking forward to learning more about them.
Sara Wolf tantalizes readers with hints of what's happening behind the scenes at Institut Le Silvere and in the surrounding forest. Yes there are many questions raised, and some are answered, but it's a great set up for the next book in the series, and I can't wait to read it!
March 17, 2020
2.5; I am so confused HAHAHA oh man. After spending a solid chunk of Unfairfolk skimming through a lot of Lilith's stream of consciousness that ending just came out of nowhere and seriously tested my imagination.
I really like Wolf's Bring Me Their Hearts series but unfortunately this one didn't do much for me. The narration was honestly a major struggle but eventually I got desensitised to it. Lilith was just so repetitive and would go off-topic every other paragraph which made it honestly hard for me to focus on the actual plot, ESPECIALLY at the beginning. Alistair's chapters were a lot more interesting for me and I feel like they better suited the atmospheric, almost creepy vibe Wolf kind-of-but-not-quite created.
Seriously nothing happens for a good long while but now that I've got a taste of Valen I'm really interested to see what happens nexts. Now if only it wasn't in an ENTIRELY SEPARATE BOOK grr
I really like Wolf's Bring Me Their Hearts series but unfortunately this one didn't do much for me. The narration was honestly a major struggle but eventually I got desensitised to it. Lilith was just so repetitive and would go off-topic every other paragraph which made it honestly hard for me to focus on the actual plot, ESPECIALLY at the beginning. Alistair's chapters were a lot more interesting for me and I feel like they better suited the atmospheric, almost creepy vibe Wolf kind-of-but-not-quite created.
Seriously nothing happens for a good long while but now that I've got a taste of Valen I'm really interested to see what happens nexts. Now if only it wasn't in an ENTIRELY SEPARATE BOOK grr
April 22, 2020
This book is amazing, and I can’t wait for more! That ending!! I loved her moments with Alistair (who intrigues me a lot), and I’m curious to see what will happen between them in the next book. Also, I’m in love with the cover. So beautiful!
February 25, 2020
*I received an ARC from the author against an honest review*
I really liked the characters: Lilith and humor, Alistair insecurities and loyalty or Ciel obsession for magic.
Lilith and Alistair confrontations are the best part of the book ! It was so funny !
It was an addictiv reading even if strange.
The story is set in Switzerland (and I live there😊) and has some french word, the translation and the writing in french were often incorrect... and it has bothered me a little...
The story is original but too slow and not enough developped for me, we are waiting all the book for explanation without really have it at the end...
and most of the book is just a nice private school story with some mysteries, but I needed more !
I need to know where it goes so I will probably read the sequel.
I really liked the characters: Lilith and humor, Alistair insecurities and loyalty or Ciel obsession for magic.
Lilith and Alistair confrontations are the best part of the book ! It was so funny !
It was an addictiv reading even if strange.
The story is set in Switzerland (and I live there😊) and has some french word, the translation and the writing in french were often incorrect... and it has bothered me a little...
The story is original but too slow and not enough developped for me, we are waiting all the book for explanation without really have it at the end...
and most of the book is just a nice private school story with some mysteries, but I needed more !
I need to know where it goes so I will probably read the sequel.
March 4, 2020
**Received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review**
I am reeling. What did I just read? This book was so good! I'm a huge fan of Wolf's Lovely Vicious series (seriously check them out they're amazing) and I will admit at first I was a bit hesitant while reading this because Lillith reminds me a heck of alot like Isis. But the more I read the more I realized that Lillith is a complex super snarky one of a kind and I love her and I'm so excited to go on this journey to see her grow. The story overall is magical. Wolf has created a beautiful multi layered world that not only explores the lives of the wealthy and privileged but also the underlying feelings of how all teenagers just want to be teenagers. The setting was beautiful and the characters were lovely. Wolf weaves a complex triangle between characters that set the stage for epicness.There's alot of little hints throughout the book about what's going on but we don't start getting real answers until the end so don't let that deter you because when sh*t gets real, sh*t gets real. I am so excited to continue this series and I will be impatiently waiting for the next one hopefully soon!
I am reeling. What did I just read? This book was so good! I'm a huge fan of Wolf's Lovely Vicious series (seriously check them out they're amazing) and I will admit at first I was a bit hesitant while reading this because Lillith reminds me a heck of alot like Isis. But the more I read the more I realized that Lillith is a complex super snarky one of a kind and I love her and I'm so excited to go on this journey to see her grow. The story overall is magical. Wolf has created a beautiful multi layered world that not only explores the lives of the wealthy and privileged but also the underlying feelings of how all teenagers just want to be teenagers. The setting was beautiful and the characters were lovely. Wolf weaves a complex triangle between characters that set the stage for epicness.There's alot of little hints throughout the book about what's going on but we don't start getting real answers until the end so don't let that deter you because when sh*t gets real, sh*t gets real. I am so excited to continue this series and I will be impatiently waiting for the next one hopefully soon!
February 22, 2020
Omgggg!!! Why did it have to endddd!!! That cliffhanger though!! I was sitting on the edge of my seat freaking out! I’ll say I straight up disliked Ciel from the start, he just sounds soo creepy always taking advantage of his good looks. That’s just my feeling, nothing to do with the book. No spoilers! I’m #TeamAlistair. Alastair totally gave me a Mr. Darcy feel, swoon. Angry young man who seems like the anti-hero. Love it!! Now, may I humbly request the sequel(s). I would how many will be in the series. I cannot wait to buy this book on Audible. That snarky Lilith will be Devine on audio. She’s just so REAL, and out loud and blunt. Love it!!!
Thank you for the ARC, given by the AMAZING Author Sara Wolf!!
Thank you for the ARC, given by the AMAZING Author Sara Wolf!!
February 28, 2020
Hello it is I, Sara Wolf's biggest fan. (I will fight whomever would wish to take my title.) When I saw this in my email I screamed so loud the cat thought I was dying. I dropped everything I had planned for the day and just READ.
Full review to come.
Full review to come.
June 30, 2020
Pretty much same story as burn after reading but in a fantasy setting (which I quite enjoyed). Ended on a cliffhanger though, so I hope the next book comes out ASAP!!! (I want to know what happens to Lillith and Alistair?!?)
March 17, 2020
4.5 Stars
I loved this book - this author's writing has always spoken to me and this book hit perfectly for me this past weekend. I love the heroine - Lilith - a messy combination of mature and immature, deflecting her inner demons with sarcastic humor as she navigates a rich academy that has something very strange and insidious going on. Her scenes with Alistair crackle off the page and had me eager for their next encounter as soon as each was over. I am also intrigued by why model-perfect and magic-obsessed Ciel doesn't impact her the way everyone else does. Things really take a turn toward the end, and I like the slower build of her life at the academy before these paranormal/fantasy elements really come in. It needs one more editing pass - mostly for incorrect capitalization and punctuation in dialogue tags - but these things probably won't bother most readers at all. I truly am super, super excited for the rest of the series.
I loved this book - this author's writing has always spoken to me and this book hit perfectly for me this past weekend. I love the heroine - Lilith - a messy combination of mature and immature, deflecting her inner demons with sarcastic humor as she navigates a rich academy that has something very strange and insidious going on. Her scenes with Alistair crackle off the page and had me eager for their next encounter as soon as each was over. I am also intrigued by why model-perfect and magic-obsessed Ciel doesn't impact her the way everyone else does. Things really take a turn toward the end, and I like the slower build of her life at the academy before these paranormal/fantasy elements really come in. It needs one more editing pass - mostly for incorrect capitalization and punctuation in dialogue tags - but these things probably won't bother most readers at all. I truly am super, super excited for the rest of the series.
March 29, 2020
A refreshing genre to wet the appetite
I throughly enjoyed this book so intriguing so unexpected the witty banter from Alistair and Lilith kept me turning the pages laughing out loud from Lilith god she reminds me of isis now that ending gahhhh I need the next book ASAP Sara how do you do this love you so your writing skills amaze me
I throughly enjoyed this book so intriguing so unexpected the witty banter from Alistair and Lilith kept me turning the pages laughing out loud from Lilith god she reminds me of isis now that ending gahhhh I need the next book ASAP Sara how do you do this love you so your writing skills amaze me
March 9, 2020
HELLSSSS YEEEEESSSS! Just read this book :) :) Don't think, just read it!
March 9, 2020
Terrified and excited is what I am!
February 24, 2020
Alright all, this is my first review ever - that I've written on the internet at least....
Ok, first off, I am a HUGE Sara Wolf fan and I was ecstatic to hear that she was coming out with another series and I had the privilege to receive an ARC and let's say I was not disappointed after binge reading all night.
If you are looking for wittiness that makes you laugh your pants off; I'm serious, I was cry laughing and my husband would give me his quizzical brow, adventure, mystery, burning attraction, fart jokes, and...... a little magic then I HIGHLY suggest you read this book.
It's about a girl named Lilith, who's been shipped to timbuktu aka Switzerland to go to a rich boarding school, where all the students wear legit diamonds and name brand everything, while Lilith is a girl from the LA suburbs, who can eat 3 bags of hot cheetos under 30 minutes and has 'I Love Pizza' shirt.
While she is trying to adapt to the new school she begins to 'hallucinate', seeing a man with red eyes, but after a blood promise with her arch nemesis, who also is seeing the mystery red eye man, she realizes the superstitions and myths the students whisper about, may be more true then you know and Lilith may be at the center of it all.
Get ready for the ride of this 6 book series cuz it's going to be fairy magical. This is not your typical fairy who tricks you and makes you dance till your feet bleed. Oh no, this is Pan's Labyrinth scream for your lives fairies.
Ok, first off, I am a HUGE Sara Wolf fan and I was ecstatic to hear that she was coming out with another series and I had the privilege to receive an ARC and let's say I was not disappointed after binge reading all night.
If you are looking for wittiness that makes you laugh your pants off; I'm serious, I was cry laughing and my husband would give me his quizzical brow, adventure, mystery, burning attraction, fart jokes, and...... a little magic then I HIGHLY suggest you read this book.
It's about a girl named Lilith, who's been shipped to timbuktu aka Switzerland to go to a rich boarding school, where all the students wear legit diamonds and name brand everything, while Lilith is a girl from the LA suburbs, who can eat 3 bags of hot cheetos under 30 minutes and has 'I Love Pizza' shirt.
While she is trying to adapt to the new school she begins to 'hallucinate', seeing a man with red eyes, but after a blood promise with her arch nemesis, who also is seeing the mystery red eye man, she realizes the superstitions and myths the students whisper about, may be more true then you know and Lilith may be at the center of it all.
Get ready for the ride of this 6 book series cuz it's going to be fairy magical. This is not your typical fairy who tricks you and makes you dance till your feet bleed. Oh no, this is Pan's Labyrinth scream for your lives fairies.
February 24, 2020
3.5 stars
This was good beginning to the series. I couldn’t put it down. I spent all day curled up reading and trying to figure out what was happening. I am curious to see where this will go.
Lilith was an interesting character. Brash and immature, with a side of irritating. She’s a kid basically. I don’t recall ever reading a book with a character like her. She spends more time with her foot in her mouth than on the ground. I do hope she grows up by the end of the series.
While this was a fun book, it was bit confusing at times and the constant political digs were annoying. I like my fantasy books free of our real world issues. But I know others won’t care, but this is why I knocked a half star off. These factors won’t stop me from continuing the series though.
I received an arc from the author for an honest review.
This was good beginning to the series. I couldn’t put it down. I spent all day curled up reading and trying to figure out what was happening. I am curious to see where this will go.
Lilith was an interesting character. Brash and immature, with a side of irritating. She’s a kid basically. I don’t recall ever reading a book with a character like her. She spends more time with her foot in her mouth than on the ground. I do hope she grows up by the end of the series.
While this was a fun book, it was bit confusing at times and the constant political digs were annoying. I like my fantasy books free of our real world issues. But I know others won’t care, but this is why I knocked a half star off. These factors won’t stop me from continuing the series though.
I received an arc from the author for an honest review.
February 26, 2020
First off THANK YOU to the author for adding in the content warning at the beginning of the book. I was ready for what was in the book and as it didnt surprise me I found I enjoyed it more.
The book itself is probably my favorite by this author. It has everything from darkness to light and a main character that I could really get behind. Why? Because they had actual growth during the story and not just a helpless character. I need more romance and more of Alistar!
Add in the snark, chapter headers and hilarious map at the beginning and I was in love with this book.
If you want a broody boy, a headstrong girl, and a bit of magic then this is for you!
The book itself is probably my favorite by this author. It has everything from darkness to light and a main character that I could really get behind. Why? Because they had actual growth during the story and not just a helpless character. I need more romance and more of Alistar!
Add in the snark, chapter headers and hilarious map at the beginning and I was in love with this book.
If you want a broody boy, a headstrong girl, and a bit of magic then this is for you!
February 24, 2020
I jumped right into this book because A) I love Sara Wolf’s work (Bring Me Their Hearts, anyone?) and B) I like magic school or any “special” kind of school tropes. Boy, I got waaaay more than I expected.
As for Lilith, the main character... can’t decide if I like her or not. I am undeniably jealous she gets to go to a school my Ravenclaw butt would absolutely enjoy. And she does not see the sanctity in learning. At least she says witty things.
I am really quite curious now as to what happens next, because of my precious bbs Alistair and Ciel.
As for Lilith, the main character... can’t decide if I like her or not. I am undeniably jealous she gets to go to a school my Ravenclaw butt would absolutely enjoy. And she does not see the sanctity in learning. At least she says witty things.
I am really quite curious now as to what happens next, because of my precious bbs Alistair and Ciel.
February 20, 2020
I've barely finished the book and I already miss Alistair and Lilith! This book was so much fun! It's going to be a looong wait until Book 2.
* Full review to come soon *
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.
* Full review to come soon *
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.
Read
November 21, 20214? 5? 4.5?
Look, I really liked this book. Lilith's annoyingly crude yet incredibly intelligent (while she and most other characters consider her the village idiot, she has an extensive vernacular) monologue aside, this story was fantastic. The plot was great, the writing was fantastic, and it was totally immersive. I got mad Raven Boys vibes, and the tease of magic was a lot of fun to grapple with. There were also some HEAVY themes that the author handled really well, and I liked that we finally got a FEMALE PROTAGONIST WHO ACTUALLY ATE FOOD!!! Watching the relationship between Alistair and Lilith develop was fun, as was learning that CIEL IS A MAJOR SNAKE!!! I also liked Ana and Bianca's friendship with Lilith - refreshing to see a girl with lots of genuine girl friends (not name drops or backstabbing vampires COUGH Lia).
Spoiler reminder to me for before book two comes out - honestly reread it, it's a lot of fun. But Lilith gets sent to a boarding school while her mum is on honeymoon with new mysterious ~billionaire~ will. She meets Ciel (perfect amazing she is in love) and Alistair (dark brooding meets her quip for quip aka the obvious choice) and Alistair's crazy grandmother/headmistress/Belgian royalty. She also discovers that SoMeThInG is after her ("Him" - Julien, Alistair's uncle... maybe?) and basically unravels this something, ending the book being kidnapped by the Fair Folk (cosplaying deer) who either save her from Julien or for Julien (I am not entirely sure...)
Look, I really liked this book. Lilith's annoyingly crude yet incredibly intelligent (while she and most other characters consider her the village idiot, she has an extensive vernacular) monologue aside, this story was fantastic. The plot was great, the writing was fantastic, and it was totally immersive. I got mad Raven Boys vibes, and the tease of magic was a lot of fun to grapple with. There were also some HEAVY themes that the author handled really well, and I liked that we finally got a FEMALE PROTAGONIST WHO ACTUALLY ATE FOOD!!! Watching the relationship between Alistair and Lilith develop was fun, as was learning that CIEL IS A MAJOR SNAKE!!! I also liked Ana and Bianca's friendship with Lilith - refreshing to see a girl with lots of genuine girl friends (not name drops or backstabbing vampires COUGH Lia).
Spoiler reminder to me for before book two comes out - honestly reread it, it's a lot of fun. But Lilith gets sent to a boarding school while her mum is on honeymoon with new mysterious ~billionaire~ will. She meets Ciel (perfect amazing she is in love) and Alistair (dark brooding meets her quip for quip aka the obvious choice) and Alistair's crazy grandmother/headmistress/Belgian royalty. She also discovers that SoMeThInG is after her ("Him" - Julien, Alistair's uncle... maybe?) and basically unravels this something, ending the book being kidnapped by the Fair Folk (cosplaying deer) who either save her from Julien or for Julien (I am not entirely sure...)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2020
This left me with that uncomfortable feeling you get when a person uses the stall right next to you in a completely empty restroom.
I’m a normal 5 Star Lovely Vicious enthusiast, but Sara did us dirty on this one.
There were these almost moments - potentially sassy girl with some war wounds, mystical school, TWO cute boys, but than things got drawn out..way drawn out. NOTHING happens until 90% in and you know Sara loves a cliffhanger.
Lilith took it too far being obnoxious, always desperate, just plain dumb and very weak. I’m sure the next book will have her lift a finger, but I will never know.
The winning character of the book is Alistair. His story kept evolving and I just wanted to read about him.
I’m a normal 5 Star Lovely Vicious enthusiast, but Sara did us dirty on this one.
There were these almost moments - potentially sassy girl with some war wounds, mystical school, TWO cute boys, but than things got drawn out..way drawn out. NOTHING happens until 90% in and you know Sara loves a cliffhanger.
Lilith took it too far being obnoxious, always desperate, just plain dumb and very weak. I’m sure the next book will have her lift a finger, but I will never know.
The winning character of the book is Alistair. His story kept evolving and I just wanted to read about him.
March 10, 2021
I was 60% thru a different book when I decided I’d had enough and made a bee-line to Sara Wolf’s The Unfairfolk, which had been patiently waiting on my kindle, for like, a whole week. I knew I was going to regret it because of those two parenthesis next to the title with the words “Valenbound Book 1” between them. My brain understood that this means it’s the start of a new series - one that doesn’t have a book 2 available yet - and the possibility of a cliffhanger. Yet, it didn’t seem to matter. I opened it anyway.
I was right. There was a cliffhanger!! And dang it! Now I need book two.
Sara’s writing ALWAYS entertains me - even if there’s not much going on. In this story there is “stuff” happening but it unfolds at an intriguingly slow but steady pace. The main character has the biggest potty mouth EVER! and for that reason I probably won’t be able to recommend it to friends or my teenagers. My brain tried to skip over those horrendous verbs and indelicate nouns but they are there on every page! Beware!
There were some minor editing errors. For example, “in from of the wall of Christmas trees...” should have been “ in front.” Maybe they’ll get fixed in a later edition.
——————
Who knows when the next book becomes available. Here is a recap so my brain wont’ have to struggle remembering everything: A million spoilers ahead so do not read on if you haven’t read the book!
Lilith is sent to a very pompous and prestigious boarding school. All the kids there are wealthy, smart and beautiful - but not necessarily nice.
Lilith has personal boundaries issues - she doesn’t like people in her space and she definitely does not like being touched ( a result of some abuse when she was younger). However, on her first day at the private school she accidentally trips and a classmate catches her. She is instantly enamored and feels like he may be her only shot at a normal relationship because she didn’t freak when he touched her. She gets a tad obsessed with him. But the whole school is too, soooo...
Then she meets Alistair Strickland. At first she thinks he’s a guy who just likes beating people up and she takes an instant dislike to Alistair. He has grown up on campus (his grandmother is the headmistress lady - who has custody of him because his mom is horrible) and has appointed himself campus police. He makes sure the students stay in line - passing out detentions or beating up guys who take advantage of girls, etc. He keeps a list of everyone who hates him. Lilith is on that list.
Lilith thinks she’s being followed by a man with glowing red eyes (she has a problem with the color red - and blood). A little girl (Alistair’s sister) drew a picture in Lilith’s notebook that depicted the school and the red-eyed man. Alistair made Lilith promise to not speak about the drawing to anyone. She agrees to stay silent if he will set her up with his friend Ciel (the guy she thinks will be the only person she will be able to touch without having a breakdown). They make a blood promise to each other - which his grandmother later gets furious about when she finds out.
Lilith’s new stepfather hired his chauffeur to keep an eye on her, but Lilith starts to sus that he might be part of some secret cult - possibly one that meets in an old building in the woods (if students get too close to the dilapidated building in the woods huge security guards show up and escort the kids away). The security guards smell like roses and always wear sunglasses. The chauffeur drugged Lilith and took her to the headmistress who wanted to give Lilith over to “Him.” The white deer says it isn’t time yet. Lilith wakes up later but doesn’t remember anything.
Lilith talks with a priest and finds out that Alistair’s uncle disappeared from the school years ago. Lots of kids have gone missing from the school over the decades. Lilith finds out the uncle’s name and when she tells it to the headmistress the woman gets unhinged.
Lilith is seeing crazy stuff like a white deer, a man (with read eyes) taking a breath to sing, someone standing in a gold robe at the forest’s edge, liquid gold oozing out of plants and TV’s, etc.
Her (almost) friend Bianca goes missing. Bianca is super smart and was researching old folklore- type stuff for Lilith.
After she made the blood promise with Alistair he sees a man with red eyes too. Could the man be after him? Alistair seems to always be training for an assassination attempt. He was poisoned as a kid and now never eats in front of anyone and only eats food he makes himself (except for the chocolate Lilith gave him after he yelled at her to let him eat alone). He is always training to be prepared for any situation.
Ciel seems excessively curious about magic. He is convinced it exists because when he and Alistair were younger they came across a fairy mushroom ring and a mystical being in the forest. He is always looking for proof. He steals Lilith’s tuft of white fur that the white deer left behind. He says unkind things to her one minute but then is nice to her the next.
After a party in the woods, Alistair, Ciel and Lilith are attacked by black human-ish beasts - one of which was eating a white deer. We get the sense that theses three kids have been “marked”, singled out, chosen for something?? A security guard shows up(we find out he isn’t human) and they almost defeat the beings, but then Lilith gets taken.
The story ends with Lilith waking in a “basket” house (her missing friend was laying on a bed there too for a sec) surrounded by colorful, odd, human-ish persons/fairies?? - she isn’t dead, but not able to return to her normal life. She is the chosen one to go to Valen
I was right. There was a cliffhanger!! And dang it! Now I need book two.
Sara’s writing ALWAYS entertains me - even if there’s not much going on. In this story there is “stuff” happening but it unfolds at an intriguingly slow but steady pace. The main character has the biggest potty mouth EVER! and for that reason I probably won’t be able to recommend it to friends or my teenagers. My brain tried to skip over those horrendous verbs and indelicate nouns but they are there on every page! Beware!
There were some minor editing errors. For example, “in from of the wall of Christmas trees...” should have been “ in front.” Maybe they’ll get fixed in a later edition.
——————
Who knows when the next book becomes available. Here is a recap so my brain wont’ have to struggle remembering everything: A million spoilers ahead so do not read on if you haven’t read the book!
Lilith is sent to a very pompous and prestigious boarding school. All the kids there are wealthy, smart and beautiful - but not necessarily nice.
Lilith has personal boundaries issues - she doesn’t like people in her space and she definitely does not like being touched ( a result of some abuse when she was younger). However, on her first day at the private school she accidentally trips and a classmate catches her. She is instantly enamored and feels like he may be her only shot at a normal relationship because she didn’t freak when he touched her. She gets a tad obsessed with him. But the whole school is too, soooo...
Then she meets Alistair Strickland. At first she thinks he’s a guy who just likes beating people up and she takes an instant dislike to Alistair. He has grown up on campus (his grandmother is the headmistress lady - who has custody of him because his mom is horrible) and has appointed himself campus police. He makes sure the students stay in line - passing out detentions or beating up guys who take advantage of girls, etc. He keeps a list of everyone who hates him. Lilith is on that list.
Lilith thinks she’s being followed by a man with glowing red eyes (she has a problem with the color red - and blood). A little girl (Alistair’s sister) drew a picture in Lilith’s notebook that depicted the school and the red-eyed man. Alistair made Lilith promise to not speak about the drawing to anyone. She agrees to stay silent if he will set her up with his friend Ciel (the guy she thinks will be the only person she will be able to touch without having a breakdown). They make a blood promise to each other - which his grandmother later gets furious about when she finds out.
Lilith’s new stepfather hired his chauffeur to keep an eye on her, but Lilith starts to sus that he might be part of some secret cult - possibly one that meets in an old building in the woods (if students get too close to the dilapidated building in the woods huge security guards show up and escort the kids away). The security guards smell like roses and always wear sunglasses. The chauffeur drugged Lilith and took her to the headmistress who wanted to give Lilith over to “Him.” The white deer says it isn’t time yet. Lilith wakes up later but doesn’t remember anything.
Lilith talks with a priest and finds out that Alistair’s uncle disappeared from the school years ago. Lots of kids have gone missing from the school over the decades. Lilith finds out the uncle’s name and when she tells it to the headmistress the woman gets unhinged.
Lilith is seeing crazy stuff like a white deer, a man (with read eyes) taking a breath to sing, someone standing in a gold robe at the forest’s edge, liquid gold oozing out of plants and TV’s, etc.
Her (almost) friend Bianca goes missing. Bianca is super smart and was researching old folklore- type stuff for Lilith.
After she made the blood promise with Alistair he sees a man with red eyes too. Could the man be after him? Alistair seems to always be training for an assassination attempt. He was poisoned as a kid and now never eats in front of anyone and only eats food he makes himself (except for the chocolate Lilith gave him after he yelled at her to let him eat alone). He is always training to be prepared for any situation.
Ciel seems excessively curious about magic. He is convinced it exists because when he and Alistair were younger they came across a fairy mushroom ring and a mystical being in the forest. He is always looking for proof. He steals Lilith’s tuft of white fur that the white deer left behind. He says unkind things to her one minute but then is nice to her the next.
After a party in the woods, Alistair, Ciel and Lilith are attacked by black human-ish beasts - one of which was eating a white deer. We get the sense that theses three kids have been “marked”, singled out, chosen for something?? A security guard shows up(we find out he isn’t human) and they almost defeat the beings, but then Lilith gets taken.
The story ends with Lilith waking in a “basket” house (her missing friend was laying on a bed there too for a sec) surrounded by colorful, odd, human-ish persons/fairies?? - she isn’t dead, but not able to return to her normal life. She is the chosen one to go to Valen
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2020
Wow. I've expected a lot from a brand new Sara Wolf book, but that ending? Not expected at all! How? And why? I neeeed the second book ASAP!
Anyway, have to arrange my thoughts before writing a review in czech & english. And heal my broken heart too. *sobs*
Anyway, have to arrange my thoughts before writing a review in czech & english. And heal my broken heart too. *sobs*
Read
November 15, 2020Y'all are in for a treat.
March 28, 2020
After bingeing both books from the Bring Me Their Hearts series, I went in search for more Sara Wolf books and found this one called The Unfairfolk. It sounded interesting and it was on Kindle Unlimited, so I downloaded it right away.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but it was a definitely a wild ride. We get a front row seat into Lilith’s thoughts, a she is a teenager with many, many thoughts – sometimes it’s maddening! She gets sent to a boarding school in Europe where dignitaries from all over the world, send their kids. The only connection to money she has, is her new step-father, so she doesn’t quite belong in this school.
Lilith does manage to make friends and an enemy as well. But school social hierarchies are not the only thing that poses a challenge to Lilith – there is something going on at the Institut de Silvere, something dark and sinister. Will Lilith uncover what is going on or will it be too late?
Likes:
*I love Sara Wolf’s snarky characters! And it’s the same in The Unfairfolk where Lilith is just full of comebacks and humor to shield herself. She is a complicated teen. She is fearful from something traumatizing that happened in the past but that doesn’t stop her from seeming tough on the outside.
*There is an array of interesting and diverse characters in this story – I look forward to learning more about them!
*Most of the story takes place at the boarding school with hints of something sinister in the woods. There was a dark tone to this story and I tend to love stories that go there, but also it’s vague which was frustrating.
*Lilith has a past and this book touches on some dark topics like domestic abuse and there is also a part about someone who is a cutter. It’s definite triggers, but also – I remember being a teenager and knowing people in my circle dealing with those problems…so it definitely brings up real feelings about this issues. I liked Lilith’s teenage voice, being a victim of abuse herself and witnessing it. I felt her fears when it came to people grabbing her out of the blue or just people touching her in general. That was eye-opening and a good reminder, some people don’t want to be hugged or touched for reasons we don’t know about.
Made Me Go Hmm 🤔:
*Coming off reading Bring Me Their Hearts series, I did start comparing this to that and this story is way different and not what I was expecting. The Unfairfolk is urban fantasy…but the fantasy or magic is mostly hinted at in this volume. Nothing really happens until the very end where we are thrown into another world! It’s wild, and I was hoping we’d get there sooner in the story but most of the book is about Lilith and being at boarding school.
*If you don’t want to be stuck in a teenager’s head who curses a lot and has crude humor then you might not enjoy this book. I don’t mind and thought a lot of it was funny as well. 🤷🏻♀️
*What is up with the ending and cliffhanger! Ugh…just when we were being introduced to the Fair Folk of Valen! 😏
*Triggers: abuse, cutting
Final Thoughts:
Am I going to read the next book in the series, YES. Was I entertained? Yes. Were we in Lilith’s head a bit too much – maybe. Do I want to know what the heck Valen is and who we will meet there?….Heck yes. This story was funny, at times dark and mysterious. Strange? For sure, at times I wasn’t sure what I was reading but it definitely kept me intrigued. Solid first book for a young adult urban fantasy with lots of room to grow!
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but it was a definitely a wild ride. We get a front row seat into Lilith’s thoughts, a she is a teenager with many, many thoughts – sometimes it’s maddening! She gets sent to a boarding school in Europe where dignitaries from all over the world, send their kids. The only connection to money she has, is her new step-father, so she doesn’t quite belong in this school.
Lilith does manage to make friends and an enemy as well. But school social hierarchies are not the only thing that poses a challenge to Lilith – there is something going on at the Institut de Silvere, something dark and sinister. Will Lilith uncover what is going on or will it be too late?
Likes:
*I love Sara Wolf’s snarky characters! And it’s the same in The Unfairfolk where Lilith is just full of comebacks and humor to shield herself. She is a complicated teen. She is fearful from something traumatizing that happened in the past but that doesn’t stop her from seeming tough on the outside.
*There is an array of interesting and diverse characters in this story – I look forward to learning more about them!
*Most of the story takes place at the boarding school with hints of something sinister in the woods. There was a dark tone to this story and I tend to love stories that go there, but also it’s vague which was frustrating.
*Lilith has a past and this book touches on some dark topics like domestic abuse and there is also a part about someone who is a cutter. It’s definite triggers, but also – I remember being a teenager and knowing people in my circle dealing with those problems…so it definitely brings up real feelings about this issues. I liked Lilith’s teenage voice, being a victim of abuse herself and witnessing it. I felt her fears when it came to people grabbing her out of the blue or just people touching her in general. That was eye-opening and a good reminder, some people don’t want to be hugged or touched for reasons we don’t know about.
Made Me Go Hmm 🤔:
*Coming off reading Bring Me Their Hearts series, I did start comparing this to that and this story is way different and not what I was expecting. The Unfairfolk is urban fantasy…but the fantasy or magic is mostly hinted at in this volume. Nothing really happens until the very end where we are thrown into another world! It’s wild, and I was hoping we’d get there sooner in the story but most of the book is about Lilith and being at boarding school.
*If you don’t want to be stuck in a teenager’s head who curses a lot and has crude humor then you might not enjoy this book. I don’t mind and thought a lot of it was funny as well. 🤷🏻♀️
*What is up with the ending and cliffhanger! Ugh…just when we were being introduced to the Fair Folk of Valen! 😏
*Triggers: abuse, cutting
Final Thoughts:
Am I going to read the next book in the series, YES. Was I entertained? Yes. Were we in Lilith’s head a bit too much – maybe. Do I want to know what the heck Valen is and who we will meet there?….Heck yes. This story was funny, at times dark and mysterious. Strange? For sure, at times I wasn’t sure what I was reading but it definitely kept me intrigued. Solid first book for a young adult urban fantasy with lots of room to grow!
April 8, 2020
Let me start this off with saying that this is by far the best YA book I have read in 2020. Sara Wolf is an author that hits the nail on the head with all her books for me and I have been following her for years so I may be a little biased.
I actually found the book on the authors Twitter page:
☀️THE UNFAIRFOLK comes out today! Do you miss YA/Paranormal? Do you like creepy boarding schools? How about ass-crackingly hilarious bisexual MCs? I've got ya covered.
😮😮😮😮
The book covered that and much more. The protagonist Lillith is funny, endearing and very very relatable. She has a lot of fears that may or may not resonate with you but the way she reads and sounds like an actual human with insecurities and flaws makes you connect with her as a reader on another level. She isn't the usual "perfect" heroine and it makes you root for her much more.
I am someone that enjoys character and atmosphere driven stories the most. A lot of books tend to focus on the plot and fail to really pull me in what is going on. This book took enough time for the boarding school setting (I mean come on there is never enough of that) to really come through and give all the ins and outs.
I actually found the book on the authors Twitter page:
☀️THE UNFAIRFOLK comes out today! Do you miss YA/Paranormal? Do you like creepy boarding schools? How about ass-crackingly hilarious bisexual MCs? I've got ya covered.
😮😮😮😮
The book covered that and much more. The protagonist Lillith is funny, endearing and very very relatable. She has a lot of fears that may or may not resonate with you but the way she reads and sounds like an actual human with insecurities and flaws makes you connect with her as a reader on another level. She isn't the usual "perfect" heroine and it makes you root for her much more.
I am someone that enjoys character and atmosphere driven stories the most. A lot of books tend to focus on the plot and fail to really pull me in what is going on. This book took enough time for the boarding school setting (I mean come on there is never enough of that) to really come through and give all the ins and outs.
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