Clare-Dragonfly

Oh man, it would be easier to say what I didn't like about it! I really enjoyed it :D Let's see. The main character rocks; she's smart and brave and interesting and complex, and she's a great balance of "insider" and "outsider" to the culture she lives in, so the information comes in at a comfortable rate for the reader (at least for me). There's some moral ambiguity. There are echoes of fairy tales, but it's not a close retelling of any particular one (well, it's very similar to Pinocchio in places, but it doesn't follow the plot exactly). There's a Queen of the Underworld. There are faeries! It's well-written, easy/quick to read, and the plot kept doing unexpected things. I'm eagerly anticipating the sequel even though it's not coming out until next year... I checked the book out of the library, but I'll definitely be buying the sequel.