The Summer King (review)

Fans of the first volume in The Chronicles of Faerie series, The Hunter's Moon (BCCB 4/05), may be surprised with an unfamiliar batch of characters in the second volume: the connective thread of the series seems to be interactions with the world of faeries, not recurrent protagonists. This installment features sixteen-year-old Laurel, who has been mired in grief and guilt since her twin sister died while they were vacationing in Ireland. One year after her sister's death, Laurel's curiosity about the last moments of Honor's life and the role of faeries in her death compels her to return to Ireland. There she is immediately drawn into a complex mystery wherein she is the only person who can save the world of faeries (and, in turn, also save humankind). Promised access to her dead sister if she agrees to help, Laurel relies on her few allies, a sharp wit, and her fierce independence to find the Summer King and free him, even after learning that he is not the innocent hero she imagined. This fast-paced and compelling high fantasy almost overcomes the melodramatic plot twists and overwhelming mixed mythologies that provide the context. However, Melling's characters are often used awkwardly to impart history lessons, and the considerable knowledge of Irish culture and history that would be required to fully understand the story cannot be sufficiently obtained from a mere reading of the glossary. In spite of the obstacles, this is a lush exploration of the faerie world, and the inclusion of dark and tormented mythical beings will be appealing to those who like their fantasy beautiful but with some bite. Maps, a glossary, and an author's note on the Irish language are included.