Bronwyn Carlton

This book is second in the series of 3 'Books of Faerie'. I enjoyed this second book better than [Auberon's Tale], mostly because the storyline is more linear and integrates well with the 'Books of Magic' collection.
Titania's upbringing, her role in the Faerie court and the role the Amadan plays as her advisor are all well portrayed, and it helped tying up lose ends from the 'Books of Magic'. The drawings are also very good, the colours do lend some magic to Faerie, and the Faerie characters show more are very human in their political dealings and warfare. Very good book! It is recommended, especially if you are fan of the 'Books of Magic'. show less

A spinoff from Neil Gaiman's Sandman and Books of Magic series, this graphic novel is a collection of stories featuring characters from the land of faerie. The first few tales focus on the machinations involved in Auberon's ascendance to the throne when he was but a boy. Its the strongest part of this collection and its a pity that the story comes to an abrupt end just as the story is building up steam. Presumably the story is continued in future collections. The rest of this collection is a show more gathering of short odds and ends which don't really stand out in any way. Fans of Sandman etc. may want to have a look in, but otherwise, there's not enough substance here to attract newcomers. show less

The Reaching Hand had a Detective Wayne where people are being scared to death. Rockumentary was, I guess, Clark, Ollie, Barry, and Arthur as the Beatles, heh, but also turns the DC Universe into a music universe, pretty cool (heh, even here Harley and Ivy were ‘Alternative’). The Babysitter one was-- heh- The Incredibles eat your heart out. Vigilantes in 3B was… weird. Barbara and Dinah in the same apartment going after Catwoman. Superman Jr. Is No More has Junior quitting, but, show more coming back when his Dad dies. ScandalGate has a President Superman, and was very very drippy and weird. World’s Apart was… dude, yikes. Silver Age Elseworlds were all short cool stories. Dark Night of the Golden Kingdom is in the future where Superman has lost his nerve? It was different. Metropolis, like the movie not the city, was interesting. Batman Nosferatu was what I was expecting as well as sorta being a sequel to Metropolis. Blue Amazon is also a companion to the previous two, and just as weird. And then there’s JLA Act of God. That was okay, I liked some of it, but didn’t like the Wonder Woman/Superman stuff.

It was a fun bunch of stories and I’m psyched that they’re collecting all of these sorts of stories, because sometimes they’re hard to find. show less

I've always had a special tendre for fairy tales for as long as I can remember (having read Grimm, Andersen, etc.) which explains why I would read anything linked to it. Double whammy on this one since it's not only about the fantastical world that is of Fay but one that's linked to Queen Titania as created by Gaiman & Vess (see "Sandman Library").

Carlton gives us the origin story of Queen Titania of Faerie (was I ever surprised to learn that King Auberon isn't her first husband) and that show more Timothy Hunter (of Gaiman's "The Books of Magic") is her offspring! Okay, mental note to self: have to read "The Books of Magic" once more.

By lending such a bleak world that is 11th century England & that of the accompanying plague gives the reader a foil that enables one to understand why Rosebud/Titania is the way she is, and of the choices she made since leaving the Earthworld.

The mini-series gives one more questions than answers...yet engages me all the more.

Book Details:

Title The Books of Faerie
Author Bronwyn Carlton;Neil Gaiman (Consultant)
Reviewed By Purplycookie show less