This book did a good job of bridging the story lines between books 1 & 3. I am not a huge fan of gothic illustrations, I found the dark colors distracting (but that is just me) and I felt like sometimes the faces were distorted, not sure if that was on purpose. ( )

It had the same flaws of the first book (terrible pacing and flat characters) but with what feels like even less plot. At least the first one had the intrigue of her missing mother. ( )

Teen/adult graphic novel; fantasy. It's been so long since I read the first book in this series, I'd forgotten all of the characters, and had to re-read to figure out who everyone was (they all look pretty similar, even the boys vs. girls--which isn't to say that the artwork isn't still great, but well, many of the characters have the same face), and what the story was. My problem with this series is that it's something you should really just read straight through, book1, book2, book3--bam bam bam. I would recommend waiting until #3 comes out before picking up 1 and 2. ( )

Still not very impressed with this series. The storytelling and plot is far too condensed to really get into proper character development, and the hints at larger themes just leave me disappointed that the story isn't being fully realized. At least the art is somewhat improved in this volume, since there are more scenes set in faerie than previously. One more quickie volume to go, and then the annoyance is over! Though I sure hope that Holly Black's upcoming forrays into the graphic novel medium (the revamped Lucifer series set to come out this fall) are done better. ( )

Rue wrestles with her newfound identity as a half-fairy, while trying to keep her friends safe from the fairy world's depredations. There's a plan to transform the human city into the fairies' playground, and only Rue has the power to see it--and possibly to stop it.

I have two problems with this. First, it's far too short. The relationships between characters aren't fleshed out, and their motivations are too mysterious and complicated for such a slim volume. Secondly, the art is great--except that I can't tell the characters apart. Everything is heavily shadowed. They look different in every panel, and most of them have one of two haircuts (angled&tangled bob or shaven with long bits in front), so I can't even tell who is who based on hair. Frustrating!

That aside, the gothy art really does fit Black's mixture of realistic urban youth and fairies. And the fairies and wonderfully scary and creepy, with just enough beauty thrown in to make them truly dangerous. ( )