The Falconer by Elizabeth May book review (spoiler free)


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The Falconer by Elizabeth May 

Rate:
4.5 of 5 Stars
★★★★

Book Reviewer: Abbey




About The Falconer:
Edinburgh, Scotland, 1844
            Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, was destined for a life carefully planned around Edinburgh’s social events – right up until a faery killed her mother.
            Now it’s the 1844 winter season and Aileana slaughters faeries in secret, in between the endless round of parties, tea and balls. Armed with modified percussion pistols and explosives, she sheds her aristocratic facade every night to go hunting. She’s determined to track down the faery who murdered her mother, and to destroy any who prey on humans in the city’s many dark alleyways.
            Heiress. Debutant. Murderer. A new generation of heroines has arrived.
            But the balance between high society and her private war is a delicate one, and as the fae infiltrate the ballroom and Aileana’s father returns home, she has decisions to make. How much is she willing to lose – and just how far will Aileana go for revenge? 
Review: 
            Elizabeth May’s debut novel, The Falconer, is a brilliant steampunk fantasy. Set in the 1840s of Scotland, Aileana is more than just an aristocratic eighteen year old girl. She is the Falconer.
            In this brilliant world, a Falconer is a woman who fights the fae-a faery race with an obsession of killing humans. After the soul wrenching loss of her mother, her one true goal is to avenge her. That means killing Sorcha, a Daoine Sith-one of the most powerful fae existing.
            With the help of her mysterious and alluring mentor, Kiaran, she learns how to fight these creatures like any other Falconer all while having to hide her fae hunting from others. This is not as easy as it sounds. Missing a dance to save a human’s life from a faery should be no big deal, but here it’s practically a crime.
            Training isn’t enough though. Aileana must use her gift with tools to create steampunk inventions and weapons like flying machines and lightning pistols poisoned to kill the fae. She must use these along with the help of her pixie, Derrick and Daoine Sith, Kiaran to defeat them.
            Amongst all the action, Aileana gets her secretive mentor to finally explain something to her. An ancient seal that holds the darkest and most powerful fae away is about to crack open.
            The world is on the brink of extinction and it’s up to her to save it.
            Saving the world with only a year of training is hard enough then add in her duties as an aristocratic woman in the mix. Her father insists that she starts being more of a lady and less of a disrespectful girl, as he would put it. With that said, she’s about to get married to an old friend whom she doesn’t even wish to wed.
            Fleeting from balls just in time to fight the fae and train even harder, Aileana soon discovers how hard the task really will be and how easily she’s effected by the Daoine Sith’s powers. This is something that could end her and her world.
            The Falconer is a brilliant story that any fantasy lover would enjoy. It has action, romance, steampunk technology and unique Scottish fables unlike any other read.
            I found the book to be hilarious also. Whether it’s her honey loving pixie with quite a mouth or her enticing Daoine Sith mentor, you’re sure to laugh. It also uses the time period well which makes small things a big deal. Have a man in your bedroom? Scandalous. Don’t attend a ball? Preposterous.
            Each page unravels a new secret, thrilling adventure or hilarious antic. I recommend The Falconer to any fantasy or steampunk book lover. It is an exquisite first book in The Falconer trilogy, and I can’t wait to read the next one. 

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