I maybe read this too hot on the heels of [b:The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There|13538708|The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There (Fairyland, #2)|Catherynne M. Valente|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1334547766s/13538708.jpg|14556391]. I was desperate for my Valente, and it turns out that this book is available as a free ebook (from Tor), so of course, I moved straight into it. But it lacked the delight of the full length books of the series. Maybe more deprivation in between would have helped me appreciate it more.

Yes, it is quite inventive: with carriageless horses and many types of magic. Yes, there is some interesting central plot about Fairyland stealing tithes from other worlds. There is a simply lovely introduction about the concept of history.

But I was hoping for more backstory on Mallow, maybe even dating back to the Maud days, and overall, I just don't think that the short story format is well-suited for fairyland, which I enjoy because of the perception of a vast, rich world. ( )

I loved this one. I'm so glad to get a prelude novella to this universe. I loved hearing about all the old Queens and winds and how the city came together. Catherynne has such a marvelous way to go about telling stories in this universe. ( )

This tale is too full of sorrow and heartache for any child to read it. If ever were it meant for any children to read at all.

But, ALAS! Maybe this I think because it wrecked me, for no reason I could fathom or explain. So much heartache, and I cannot even blame it on the books because I haven't read them yet.

Oh but these books will hand me my heart back minced on a platter, I can just tell. I will let them too. There is a bloody price to good stories, to be paid as we travel through them or when we leave.

RECOMMENDED! ( )

A nice addition to the Fairyland series. It was great to learn about Mallow "before." She has much of the pluck that September (from the rest of the series) has, and that pluck, plus the wonderful crazy Fairyland world is part of why I enjoy the series so much. ( )

This story was more pleasing to me than the book it technically precedes was. That having been said, Sasha hits the nail on the head when she says this story isn't for children. The themes are continuing to get darker and more adult, which altogether is much more pleasurable than the feigned kid-friendliness that permeated in small degrees the first book.

This story was good. A quick read. A rather sad read after you know what's going to happen.

Make certain you read [b:The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making|9591398|The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (Fairyland, #1)|Catherynne M. Valente|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388179691s/9591398.jpg|6749837] before yu read this. ( )