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| Heiress. Debutant. Murderer. A new generation of heroines has arrived. Edinburgh, Scotland, 1844 Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, was destined for a life carefully planned around Edinburgh’s social events – right up until a faery killed her mother. Now it’s the 1844 winter season and Aileana slaughters faeries in secret, in between the endless round of parties, tea and balls. Armed with modified percussion pistols and explosives, she sheds her aristocratic facade every night to go hunting. She’s determined to track down the faery who murdered her mother, and to destroy any who prey on humans in the city’s many dark alleyways. But the balance between high society and her private war is a delicate one, and as the fae infiltrate the ballroom and Aileana’s father returns home, she has decisions to make. How much is she willing to lose – and just how far will Aileana go for revenge? |
The Falconer turned out to be a better read than I expected it to be. First approaching it my reaction to this book was not good. When I read the back cover the first line that struck me was "She's a stunner". I immediately felt like this female character was set for perfection. I don't like my characters perfect. It is the foibles and the flaws that give the character character. Ailena, however, doesn't exploit her beauty. Her beauty is simply a factual presence in the story and is not used to heighten the story's plot line and move the story along. This was much appreciated by me.
To be bluntly honest, the main reason I picked up this book was due to it's cover. Shame on me for once again judging a book by its cover but lets be honest, it is a pretty cool cover. I like how clean it looks. All the lines and edges of the image is crisp. The cut of the image is also great, featuring just enough of the heroine and plot of the story to give the reader a glimpse of what type of novel he or she is getting into.
In regards to the texture and plot of the book, I thought it was pretty well drawn out. I didn't find the book to be "spectacular" in the aspect of never having seen such a plot line, but it was certainly enjoyable as a light read with some built in anticipation, drama, intrigue, fantasy, etc. I'll admit that there were some unique aspects of the book, so don't take it as there is nothing-like its completely cliche- cause its not. It just as the same feel as a lot of fairy, fantasy novels.
Aileana is further explained in the book to be a Falconer: a descendant of a long line of female fairy hunters. The name is derived from the fact Falconers are able to mentally connect with a/their personal falcon and see through its eyes, thus a Falcon-er. She is also explained to be the last remaining Falconer (as of this point), which I found to be a bit cliche in the plot aspect but I was okay with-whatever to make the plot intriguing. She had the traditional girl and guy best friend ( a fairy in this case) along with a classic childhood love interest which surprisingly turned out not the be interested in her and she him! ( Magic! I know! I pray this doesn't change and turn into a love triangle. I can't stand love triangles. (There are exceptions.) They kill me.)
This book was certainly not heavy on the romance, which I rather enjoyed. There were some subtle parts that I could sense something going on between Aileana and Kiaran, her fairy trainer (classically dark, mysterious, and handsome) that I believe is her main love interest, that I feel would be further developed in the series as The Falconer is part of a trilogy. It was light, kind of like icing on the cake to the main plot. I find it irritating when one has the two lead characters fall in love instantly. Then the novel looses all opportunity to develop and go deeper, tormenting the reader for that final sweet moment of romantic expressal. *the sigh of the climax
I am, however, a bit concerned how this possible romance between the two leads is going to work out. Kiaran, as I stated previously, is a fairy that doesn't age. Even though Aileana is a Falconer, so slightly unique, this difference doesn't grant her immortality. I'm rather intrigued by this and I hope to find out. I just pray it won't be tragically beautiful like the end of Cassandra Clare's The Infernal Devices series. I loved Cassandra Clare's ending to that series, I'd just rather not suffer the emotional heartache that came with it.
Also, the case of the murder of Aileana's mother was very cleverly explained- I must say. At first I thought it would be a small part of the story line to aid the plot development. Instead, it turned out to have had effect on the plot explaining how Aileana came to be who she is now. Overall I liked the development of this aspect of the plot. It wasn't bland and milked for plot because it could have been. It made sense and tied in with the story cleanly.
Overall, this The Falconer was descent and I liked it when I read through it. I would say if you had time to go pick it up and read it. It certainly won't do you no harm and maybe you'll really like it! I'm just so immune do to the novels from English that I'm immune to love stories and fantasy right now.... All I can think about is free will and Cassius. *Julius Caesar you kill my brain
Anyways, read The Falconer. I recommend it. Not heavy and not filled with cheese. And let me state again, the cover is beautiful.
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