I plan on reviewing the Girl Who…Fairyland series, but before I get there, I’m going to start with a short work, sometimes called a prequel, by the author, Catherynne Valente, which was published on Tor.com in 2011. It’s called The Girl Who Ruled Fairyland – For a Little While and you can read it for free just by clicking on that link.
Mallow has been living alone in peace and quiet when the king announces festivities leading up to the first tithe in a thousand years. As no one knows (or has long since forgotten) what a tithe is, the news is received with much excitement and anticipation. Her companion on the journey is quite interesting and upon arrival introduces her to giant cats and winds. It soon becomes apparent that King Goldmouth will stop at nothing and cause harm to whomever he pleases. And Mallow, who has always wanted nothing more than to keep to herself and read and learn a few magics finds herself in a position to stop him.
This was a very complicated short story, made more difficult by my not having any prior experience with Fairyland or Mallow. While it is a prequel, it might be of more interest to those that have already read part or all of the series.
Age Recommendation: Due to complex themes and vocabulary and lots of lovey-dovey stuff, I would say this would be best for advanced readers in Grades 5 and up.
Sex, Nudity, Dating – A girl is asked if she finds any youths attractive in a “marrying way”. Fairies “make…love if they can”. Fairies love telling about their loves lost and won. Mallow doesn’t mind picking up love for awhile when her friend is in town. Many have lost their loves to others. There’s a kissing booth. A couple embraces. A girl thinks she won’t kiss someone. Lamias kiss.
Profanity – None.
Death, Violence and Gore – There’s a mention of heroines bleeding and fighting. A girl carries a sword which is really a sewing needle. A girl might be done in by pirates (hypothetically, of course). There’s some mention of a Tithe meaning that people will lose a child. There is to be a blood price. There’s a game where someone guesses your death for a nickel. Mallow is bitten by a giant cat. Fairies are forced to do something that causes them to develop boils and bleed and scar. Mallow thinks cattle will be slaughtered. Someone is killed. Blood washes over the killer’s hands. The king grabs someone’s throat. A man’s arm is severed. Someone slips in blood while trying to remove a severed arm from her throat. There is a great battle. Someone is dying and will be dying for a very long time. Someone is sewed up into a package, with seams running through the skin. Mallow punches someone.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – A girl lives on the edge of a whiskey lake. A textbook contains information on spoiling beer.
Frightening or Intense Things – The king reaches down someone’s throat, pulls out a topaz and eats it. Magic and joy are stolen from other worlds.
