5 stars I received a free copy of this book from the author to prepare me for the release of the next books of the Tainted Fae series. I knew I enjoyed her books because I read the Born of Water series several years ago. I am reminded of why I enjoyed that series as much as I did. This book was amazing, pulling me into the dying world of the fae, touching upon the issue of our poisoned world destroying magic. Told entirely from the POV of Raisg, the drug-addled fae outcast and hero, the reader can feel the struggles he endures. Early on, the narrator describes “Raisg felt as if he were part of the fixed things that people swirled by and that he watched the human world with a tree’s eyes.” Since he sees himself as part of a dying world, he wants nothing more than to die and end his misery. The drug to which he is addicted, ola, is a double-edged sword, like most drugs. The temporary feeling of elation is quickly replaced by endless despair. He struggles with the desire to no longer desire this drug that controls him. Not too surprisingly, the cure seems to be worse than the disease, but Raisg has suffered enough to realize he cannot continue down the same path. “Raisg tried to stand, but his legs felt like they’d been reconfigured with extra joints.” The cure “tasted like ambrosia mixed with rancid garbage.” The descriptions of the high associated with ola as well as the descriptions of the cure are vivid and relatable. “If ola brought the feeling of magic and belonging, Gavin’s cure made him (Raisg) feel like his insides were being sucked out through his belly button while he was powerless.” Sgleo, the ancient fae, is described using words that make him sound like a human tree. “...his thin arm appeared like a denuded branch drifting in the wind.” “His face looked like a mask made from an ancient oak.” He has “twiggy fingers” and “A mouth like a cut in a tree chewed as if Sgleo were a goat working on a mouthful of leather.” Meanwhile, another character, a brownie called Bramble, is described very cleverly, like a plant or a weed, taking on whatever horticultural form is required to camouflage himself. He’s small enough to fit in a pocket, just slightly larger than Raisg’s hand, covered with spines, has beetle-like eyes, and sharp thorn-like teeth.I chuckled when “Bramble ran with the grace of a drunk tumbleweed through the ferns.” Raisg’s quest is to transport Sgleo from Scotland to Boston. Though very powerful magically, Sgleo is unable to protect himself because he is so easily poisoned by everything in his environment (toxic fumes, pesticides, metals, and so forth—all the things that are inherent to modern-day life). Raisg needs to overcome his addiction, then outsmart Efflyn (the fae queen who seeks Sgleo). Although there are sure to be additional obstacles, the only goal in this installment is to make the trip to Boston. Once they reach the relative safety of Wind River, this episode ends and we’ll need to wait for the next book. I am so looking forward to it. January 17, 2021
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September 2022
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