Brian Farrey

Recommended for grades 4 and up. This is a terrific read. I thought I might enjoy it but i actually really loved it. It is a timeless, dark fairy tale-like book of bargains and choices; questions, loyalties, and leadership. The Queen is dying and Jeniah, the Queen Ascendent is 12, grieving, and terrified. Her mother brings in a final tutor, but he is one of those maddening types who answers questions with questions, and imparts lessons like "You are your own best teacher." What Jeniah wants show more to know is how to rule, how to be a good monarch, and how to maintain the peace and happiness of her monarchy. She also wants to know why the Dreadwillow Carse at the heart of the realm is forbidden to her, and the source of the warning that if a monarch enters it the monarchy will fall. Princess Jeniah has a chance meeting with a village girl named Aon, who is actually drawn to the Carse and the girls strike a bargain. Aon will try to uncover the secret of the mysterious, foreboding carse, and Jeniah will try to restore Aon's father to her, as he has recently been "taken" supposedly into the service of the monarchy. When Aon fails to return from the carse, Jeniah risks the monarchy to rescue her friend.

The book is really well done, and without being too didactic, prompts both its characters and its readers to grapple seriously with Big Questions about choices, responsibility, happiness, learning, and leadership. Highly recommended. show less

With or Without You now takes its place in my top ten most memorable books of all time. Even a day later, I can't shake the full bevy of emotions that I've been feeling since I finished the book. What Brian Farrey has done is craft a story that is so real, so raw, that it is almost too tough to read. He deals with subject matter that most writers are afraid to tackle, and does so with utter finesse. I am in love with this book.

Gushing aside, I'll do my best to explain to you what makes this show more such a fantastic read. First are the characters. Evan, Davis, Shan, Erik, every single one of these characters so wonderfully different. Their personalities shine off the page, and they are likable and believable. What I loved most was how Farrey bares their souls to the reader. For instance, when you see Evan, you don't just see a boy who is gay. You don't just see a boy who is a confused adolescent. Rather you see every single element that is Evan. From his love of painting, to his need to please those around him, right down to his utter and total love for his friend Davis, it's all there in vivid color. I think that is the reason why this book is so beautiful. There isn't any shade up between the reader and the characters. Evan is flawed, and it shows.

Then there are the relationships in the book. Rather than just dealing with the boyfriend relationship between Evan and Erik, With or Without You tackles so much more. We are allowed to see the friendship between Evan and Davis that seems so strong, but isn't as strong as they really think. There is the relationship between Evan and his parents that is tense, but loving in a very hidden way. Then there is the friendship/rivalry between Evan and his sister Shan. Each one of these is different and intriguing. It makes this story so multifaceted and, well, fascinating! Exploring each of these with Evan is what makes this book come alive.

Before I gush too much, or give too much away, I'll quickly tackle story line. Brian Farrey exhibits his talent as a writer by creating a story that will draw you in without you even realizing it. Evan is introduced to the reader and then, like rose petals, the different facets of his life are slowly pulled away and bit by bit more underneath is revealed. Evan's life unfolds in a gorgeous and raw manner, and you begin to see that everyone out there is not what they seem on the outside. Farrey shows us that we all have something we are hiding on the inside, some deep seeded secret, and in order to grow we need to face it and let it go.

It isn't very often that I find a book that so wholly draws me in that I forget to eat before going to work. If you think I'm kidding, I'm not. I was so immersed in With or Without You that I literally had to squeeze out every moment of available time before work so I could get to the last page. This book is, in a word, amazing. Raw, unnerving and beautiful, I am completely in love. show less

If the author continues to treat me like an intelligent being till the very end, this book will be awesome. Currently - 29%

Being treated like an intelligent being feels so SO good!
Thank you author, for respecting my basic rights as a reader.

This was better than the first book, but it also gave me a bad bad feeling. Because trouble is brewing, and I don't what anyone to die! *insert a wail of despair*
I adore the Grimjinxes. So lovely a people.

And straight into book three...
Because I show more must!

P.S. This book is the best of the lot IMO. show less

Intense indeed. ?áFor once the gay teens are not adorable. ?áIn fact, even our MC is a little shit. ?áBecause his parents didn't have a fit when he came out to them, Evan justifies keeping his r'ship with Erik secret by saying, I won't tell them about Erik because they haven't earned the right to know I'm happy." ?á

Well, at least that's what he tells himself. ?áReally it's a lot more complicated that - Evan is eighteen, just out of high school, and a lot of things are happening show more in his life and inside of himself. ?áThe book takes place during the iconographic pivotal summer and exploits the frame perfectly. ?áBrilliantly but subtley written, we read that it's not just Evan who matures and gets more interesting - since this is first-person, we get to know the other characters better as Evan looks outside himself and sees them more clearly, too. ?á

Another wonderful thing is all the art. ?áI felt sufficiently familiar with each artist mentioned to feel it unnecessary to check out each particular work, but this book would be perfect on a color e-reader so the reader could instantly access those images.?á

So, yes, there's coming-of-age, there's romance, there's gay history, complex characters, adventure, humor, and even charming extra bits: ""The fastest speed in the universe isn't the speed of light but the speed of stupid. [Don't] make decisions at the speed of stupid." ?áThink things through first.

Iow, lots to recommend, and I do so whole-heartedly, for readers age 16 up." show less