Book Review: The Fairy King by Laura Gilfillan

Media Type: Ebook

Title: The Fairy King

Author: Laura Gilfillan

Publisher: Gilfillan House

Pages: ebook; 260

Release Date: July 31, 2013

Source: Author

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Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

HDB Rating: 4 Keys to My Heart

Recommended to: Readers who enjoy nature and fantasy creatures.

Add it on: Goodreads | Amazon | BookLikes

Elora has unwittingly attracted the attention of the fairy king because of her kindness to his subjects. Not that Elora was ever aware that the fairy king even existed. Or that there was really any such thing as magic.
That sweet oblivion comes crashing to an end on what starts out as an ordinary day, spent working in her garden. A couple of fairy goons snatch her from her very own yard, shrink her down to the size of an ant, and abandon her in the ant tunnels. A favor from the fairy king. And only the beginning of her troubles. For now that she has his attention, the fairy king is going to turn her world upside down.

Balance is important in life. Everything we do and don’t do creates this delicate balance of the earth. Sometimes that balance gets thrown off and the consequences can be devastating, especially if you are the fairy king.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I opened this eclectic story. There is something for everyone. A young girl experiencing her first love, lots of magic, mythical creatures and friendships that defy “normal”. While fairies, unicorns and elves aren’t things I generally look for in a novel, I’m very glad I decided to give this a try. 

Laura Gilfillan creates a vivid world for us. From the tiniest ant hill to the expanse of the arctic glaciers there is no moment that falls flat. Each transition from location to location brings new and exciting characters, imagery and understanding from Elora. We view the world from her eyes and it is terrifying and beautiful at times. 

Elora is a subtle character, full of wonder and young ignorance. She has this sense of undying curiousness that fuels her exploration into these other places. Even when she feels most alone, she ventures out to find answers. 

The fairy king is a mysterious character and we don’t learn a lot about him, but we know enough to know his intentions are good. There is a balance of light and dark in the world (literally and figuratively) and it is his job to help maintain the balance. He intentions are good, but execution is terrible when it come to his affection for Elora which leads to some interesting adventures for both of them.

A light, fun adventure filled read, recommended for lovers of fantasy and nature!