Lament & Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

First little note. These covers that you see here aren't original covers, these are covers of Serbian publication that I have read. I'm happy to see that our publishers are working hard on translating and publishing popular YA novels.

Book summary for Lament:

Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a painfully shy but prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a cloverhand—one who can see faeries. Deirdre finds herself infatuated with a mysterious boy who enters her ordinary suburban life, seemingly out of thin air. Trouble is, the enigmatic and gorgeous Luke turns out to be a gallowglass—a soulless faerie assassin. An equally hunky—and equally dangerous—dark faerie soldier named Aodhan is also stalking Deirdre. Sworn enemies, Luke and Aodhan each have a deadly assignment from the Faerie Queen. Namely, kill Deirdre before her music captures the attention of the Fae and threatens the Queen's sovereignty. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is James, her wisecracking but loyal best friend. Deirdre had been wishing her life weren't so dull, but getting trapped in the middle of a centuries-old faerie war isn't exactly what she had in mind . . .

Lament is a dark faerie fantasy that features authentic Celtic faerie lore, plus cover art and interior illustrations by acclaimed faerie artist Julia Jeffrey.


After reading The Wolves of Mercy Falls series Maggie became on of those authors that I really admire. Her style was something new for me and also something that left me speechless. So it's not surprise that I expected a lot from this series. Unfortunately this book left me speechless for some other reasons.

When I started reading first I noticed the writing. I was so disappointed that I couldn't believe my eyes. It was, how to put it just narration. When have that poetic Maggie's style disappeared is mystery to me. Story itself is not so bad. It's magic and like in other fairy tales interesting. For me this book doesn't have emotions that I need. Dee (it's Deirdre - but her nickname is easier to remember) and her love story with Luke is sweet and childish and that whole magic world that they've got into is something that will keep your attention. At the end of the book things become slightly inserting, even though you can assume what will happen.

I can only say that this book lacks that poetic writing of Maggie's.

Book summary for Ballad:

In this mesmerizing sequel to Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception , music prodigy James Morgan and his best friend, Deirdre, join a private conservatory for musicians. James' musical talent attracts Nuala, a soul-snatching faerie muse who fosters and feeds on the creative energies of exceptional humans until they die. Composing beautiful music together unexpectedly leads to mutual admiration and love. Haunted by fiery visions of death, James realizes that Deirdre and Nuala are being hunted by the Fey and plunges into a soul-scorching battle with the Queen of the Fey to save their lives.

Ballad is not much different than Lament. Of course story is different and even narrator is, but same things are missing like in Lament.

Here James (I forgot to mention - he is Dee's best friend) is narrator. For me he is better storyteller than Dee. With his attitude and sarcasm he is even fun in some parts. Only here Nuala is what I didn't like, her chapters. Duh I also forgot to say that this story is told form two POVs, James' and Nuala's.
Again interesting story about fey and also interesting love story. Only more than half of the book is just plain old story, not so much action and you have to wait almost till the end for the things get complicated. Just to add I was a bit surprised with the ending here.

So I guess Maggie spoiled me with her writing in The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy so I couldn't enjoy this one. Good thing is that I hope last book in this trilogy Requiem will blow my mind.

The same rating is for both books in this series.

Until the next time,