A Feather So Black

Twenty years ago, the Fair Folk started a war against the human kingdoms, and it ended with the capture of 12 young girls. Fia, a changeling left in place of Princess Eala, daughter of the High Queen, was raised to call the Queen her mother but has always felt out of place. Hidden from most people is Fia’s gift, or curse, of greenmark magic, and her training to be a weapon at the will of the Queen. Then Fia is sent into Tír na nÓg with Prince Rogan, who is betrothed to Princess Eala, on a rescue mission but also to obtain a powerful magic object. Establishing the magic of the Fair Folk and the Gates, access points between Tír na nÓg and the human realm, is built into Fia’s own learning experiences, creating a shared sense of mystery around what’s true and who’s lying. Occasionally, however, it feels as if changes in a viewpoint aren’t fully explained, and some characters could use more development.