Review: Tithe by Holly Black

"After all, when you were already in a slippery place, reality-wise, you couldn't afford to assume that things would be straightforward from here on in." - from Tithe, page 124

Sixteen year old Kaye has always known she was a little different from everyone else. When other little girls were playing with Barbies, she was playing with faeries in her backyard, creatures she insisted were real but which no one else could see. After a strange incident at one of her mom's gigs, Kaye returns to the home where she spent much of her childhood. And the faeries are back. Kaye finds herself a playing piece in a struggle between two powers, neither of whom has Kaye's interests in mind.

Most of my experience with faerie comes from fairy tales (which I love) and books of squished pixies (which I don't). This book is neither. Dark and unsettling, Tithe draws you into a world where none of the usual rules apply. No one is who they appear to be, and their motives are impossible to define. And the pixies are more likely to squish you.

I thought this book was a bit of a slow starter, but once it got going, I really loved it. Kaye is a high-school dropout who spends all her time working to support her rocker-chick wannabe of a mom... definitely not the type of role model I would want for my daughter. She's extremely likeable nonetheless. The dark parts of this story make the lighter moments shine all the brighter. There's a great romantic component here, as well as themes of friendship and loyalty. Don't go in expecting Cinderella's fairy godmother, and you and this book will get along just fine.

Website for Holly Black.

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Check out another great book review of Tithe by Jo from Ink and Paper