Christopher Shields (2)

I started reading this novel through the holidays. It dragged me back to its pages despite all the holiday insanity. I launched one of my own novels Christmas day, camped in front of my PC for hours, but I couldn't escape this book. I kept trying to find the time to snatch a few more minutes of reading.

About a 1/3 of the way in I was thoroughly seduced by the 2700 acre Weald. I found myself contemplating the purchase of real estate in Arkansas, and I've never been there. The author show more transported me to this enchanting countryside through three whole seasons of the year. Forestry, islands, country cottages, gardens, cliffs, caves, I could see it all crystal clear in my mind's eye.

The tale is an enthralling read about teenage Maggie's discovery that what she thought was a dead-end backwoods life in Arkansas is actually a secret sanctuary of the Weald Fae, a.k.a. Fairies. But these are not little Tinkerbelle pixie wing creatures. These are the demigods of old, masters of the elements. The Fae are extremely powerful, and not overly fond of mankind. Trespassers on the Weald property find horrible misfortune. And this brave teenage girl Maggie has been entrapped into a position of great responsibility and peril as the new Steward of the Weald.

It's a coming-of-age romance, an awesome supernatural thriller. It's a young adult paranormal fantasy. It's a damn good book for just about anyone of any age. I can't help but wish this was a movie.

And of course, I must read the second in the series, "The Changeling". The ending guarantees you cannot live without reading the next book. Hooked on the Weald. show less

The sequel takes the story to a whole new level.

I am really enjoying this series. I regret reading it before the third book was published, because I don't like waiting to continue a series this good. (and those endings are a killer) Luckily, The Aetherfae, #3, is coming in a few weeks.

The direction of this story is 100% unpredictable. Shields writes a masterfully woven tale of god-like supernatural villains and heroes, and its often impossible to discern one from the other.

The Fae of the show more Weald are dangerous, powerful and treacherous creatures. Its all Maggie can do to maintain day by day, hour by hour, amidst the intricate Fae rules, politics, and unknown pitfalls awaiting her every misstep. And of course, she has to figure out where they took her brother before he wastes away to death.

Maggie's brother has been stolen and replaced for a Changeling, and the clock is ticking, as both Fae and the boy are dying, their fates tied together. And who can Maggie trust? Her friends at school are unwittingly dangerous, with their lack of control over their thoughts and words. The Unseelie would have her dead in an instant, and the Seelie, her supposed allies, are potentially her most dangerous enemies.

Maggie must learn to harness her phenomenal abilities, secret away the full extent of her power from the Fae who surround her every minute, and protect her brother and family from the whims of these callous, deadly creatures.

A very intense read. Don't start this book unless you have the time to finish it in one sitting. show less

This book was well written and the story picked up about half way through but the first half was too slow for me, full of explanations and descriptions which interrupted the flow of the story - hence why I only marked it as a three. It is however well worth a read as the interesting/different take on the world of the Fae is very well thought out and done. I just found parts of this book hard work, but that's probably me and others appear to have been blown away with it. I can see why as show more well, so I'm upping my rating to four as I write, realising that I'm probably not the intended audience and I should really take that into account. show less

Maggie O'Shea discovers in The Steward that the world is not at all what she thinks it is. Her family returns to the Ozark in Arkansas to live their aunt after running into financial difficulties in Florida. As Maggie reluctantly settles into her new setting she discovers there is whole another realm interacting with her physical world, call the Fae. She also finds out she is slanted to be the next Steward, or protector of the intersection of those two worlds. Of course, this only happens show more after she passes a series of tests. . .

Shields' book is a fun read. There were some predictable moments similar to other stories in this genre, but it overall was enjoyable with very likable characters. I recommend this book to anyone who likes "unsuspecting character put into the role of saving her world" or those with "forbidden love" subplots. show less