I spent this past weekend reading The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There
I already reviewed the first book in the series, and all the wonderful things from that book carried over here–the magic and the whimsy and the beautiful, beautiful writing. This series combines so much of the loveliness of classic children’s fantasy with more complex characters facing more complicated choices.
The last book promised us this sequel was coming, and I think it’s worth quoting that line again: All stories must end so, with the next tale winking out of the corners of the last pages, promising more, promising moonlight and dancing and revels, if only you will come back when spring comes again.
The second book begins with our heroine, September, eagerly looking forward to a return to Fairyland. I’m drawn in right at the beginning, as Valente explores how hard it really would be for Dorothy to go back to Kansas–I mean, for September to go back to Nebraska. It doesn’t take long for her to fall back into Fairyland, where she eagerly anticipates fun adventures with her friends–only to discover that something has gone awry. September lost her shadow in the first book, and now she finds out that someone has been stealing shadows (and with them, magic) away from Fairyland. September must go on a quest into Fairyland Below–and there we find “moonlight and dancing and revels.” September meets old friends strangely changed and many new creatures and places that are decidedly odd indeed. Fairyland Below is a darker, more mysterious place and September doesn’t always know who she can trust.
The Girl Who Fell still has L. Frank Baum’s whimsy and J. M. Barrie’s charming way of addressing the reader, with an added dash of Lewis Carroll. September goes to a quite strange tea and coffee house, and we see chess references occasionally too.
Unlike Peter Pan (or really all the endlessly-young, never-changing children of classic fantasy), September is begining to grow up in this volume. She feels things a little deeper, thinks a little more, and there are just a few hints of romance. I love September; she’s a brave, resourceful girl who wants to solve the problems around her and do the right thing. But she doesn’t always know what the right thing is, and she struggles to know who she is herself, and what role she’s meant to play.
Many major characters from the previous book, like A-through-L, September and the Marquess return in this one–but Fairyland Below is dark and mysterious and all may not be quite as it seems. We also get to go to a Goblin Market, meet a minotaur and a dodo bird, and seek out a sleeping prince. There’s philosophy and there’s lyrical writing and we even get to play a bit with fairy tale tropes.
It is perhaps not a perfect book. There are a few time-jumps that are slightly disconcerting, and the ending is maybe a touch convenient. Though the ending makes me happy, so I don’t actually mind that much. And even if it’s not perfect, it comes very close. Unquestionably one of the best new books I’ve read this year.
Really, I don’t know how to do justice to this book. I loved it. I really, really, really loved it. I follow Valente on Twitter and she’s been referencing work on Fairyland 3. I will be pre-ordering that one as soon as it becomes available!
Author’s Site: http://www.catherynnemvalente.com/
Other reviews:
Little Red Reviewer
The Book Smugglers
Books Writing Tea
Anyone else?
I’ve been meaning to read Valente’s books for ages but still haven’t. Will definitely try the first book in the series.
I hope you love it! 🙂
I’m not reading your review purely because I’m currently reading the first! And enjoying it. It’s strange and beautiful, I suppose it puts me in mind a little of The Wizard of Oz or Alice in Wonderland.
Lynn 😀
I hope you’re loving it! It also reminds me of the old classics very much.
There’s going to be a 3rd Fairyland book? squeee!!! The 2nd book has closure, and a satisfying ending, but I’m sure September will always want to return to Fairyland.
I LOVED the Goblin Market. Valente twists everything just a little bit, so it’s never what we expect, but it’s always what we wish it were.
All I can swear to is that I’ve seen her reference “Fairyland 3.” So I assume… I’m thrilled by the prospect of a third (or a fourth, fifth, sixth…) I’d love to see September continue to grow and to change–and of course, I want to explore more parts of Fairyland and enjoy more of Valente’s clever twists!
My daughter enjoyed the first one. I read it with her, but I felt like I just didn’t get it. I think I was the wrong audience. I may have to pick this one up for her, but I’m going to pass.
It’s definitely a very distinctive style. I loved it, obviously, but it may not be for everyone!