Review: The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

Hardcover, 352 pages
Published September 27th 2011
Tor Teen / Macmillan

Debut novelist Kiki Hamilton takes readers from the gritty slums and glittering ballrooms of Victorian London to the beguiling but menacing Otherworld of the Fey in this spellbinding tale of romance, suspense, and danger.

The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood.

Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen’s son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist.

Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty…

I enjoyed reading The Faerie Ring. I thought it was a nice story that wasn’t to over the top and had a nice pace to it. In the beginning it does run a little slow, but this gave me a little more on the characters and helped me understand them better. Once the story picked up though, it was page-turner for me.

Tiki is an orphan just trying to survive, but she isn’t alone, she lives with other orphans and their only way of surviving is picking pockets and stealing whatever can make them money. She is very good at disguising herself and getting what she and her family needs. There is always a chance she can get caught, but a girl has got to eat, right? Tiki actually does come close to getting caught and this causes her to take a different route than she normally would. She ends up in a house where she finds a ring that she just cannot help but steal. Thinking this ring will bring her and her family lots of money, and put food on the table for a long time; Tiki gets really excited and takes it. Eventually she figures out just how much danger comes with this ring. The ring she stole belongs to the Queen and it’s the reason that there is peace between England and the world of Faeries. If the ring is not in the Queen’s protection, the peace between England and The Fae is broken and a war can take place. By stealing that ring Tiki goes through so much.

You’re also introduced to a character named Rieker who throughout the whole book I wasn’t sure if he was really the enemy, or if he was there trying to truly help Tiki. There is also a nice romance that was unexpected. I didn’t even think there would be one to be completely honest. It isn’t until maybe a little past the middle of the book where things start to develop and towards the end you just fall right in love with Tiki and her “boy.” I am going to keep it secret, because it was a cute twist for me. I didn’t see it coming and I think that made me like the book even more.

Originally I was going to give it three stars, but the way things unraveled and ended left me wanting more. I really hope there will be a second part to this book. With the secrets that were revealed, and the way things played out, I am dying to know what happens now. The Faerie Ring is a Good Choice for Reading! :-)

4 out of 5 Stars!

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