Owl King: Faery Realms series: The darkly enchanting YA fantasy

Ilsette has always been protected by her sister, Lyla. Being half-human, half-faery would make her an outcast if anyone in the Realm of Never Moon found out and Lyla would do anything for her sister. However, summoned by the dark, dangerous Owl King to his court, they, along with everyone else, are compelled to obey and when Ilsette's beautiful singing voice attracts his attention, Lyla seeks to distract him and finds herself being chosen as his next wife.

Horrified to learn that the Owl King takes feathers from his brides, draining them of their magic, Ilsette pledges to find a feather which will save her sister's life. Meanwhile, Lyla seeks to save herself by telling the Owl King stories, giving them time to become close and changing the relationship between them.

Rich in folklore and fantasy, Owl King is a beautifully told tale. The strength of love between the two sisters is at the heart of story as each tries to protect and support the other in the face great peril and self-sacrifice. Islette adores her sister. Without the nurture and protection Lyra has offered her all her life, Islette knows that she would never have survived the cruelty of the fae who hate humans, but their bond goes far deeper than gratitude. Lyra is her 'companion…comfort…compass' and yet, as Islette spreads her wings and sets out on her own to save her sister, she longs to learn who she truly is, not what she has had to become, hiding her true self and staying in the shadows. Courageous and resourceful, she finds her own way, forming new friendships, but never forgetting her sister.

The story draws on Swan Lake and One Thousand and One Nights, mingled with the darker side of the Fae. Atmospheric and compelling, it intertwines the stories of the two sisters with tales told about the other faeries.

272 pages / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 14+

The kings and queens of the faery realms exchanged talismans to ensure they didn't have power over each other. The Owl King didn't realise how much of his magic he would lose and now his kingdom has become dangerous as he feeds off the magic of others. When devoted sisters Ilsette and Lyla are summoned to court, the Owl King's eye soon falls on the beautiful Lyla and he takes her for his bride. Ilsette blames herself for bringing her sister to the king's attention and sets out on a quest to find the talisman that he gave up in order to save her sister from a painful death. Will IIsette find the talisman before time runs out? How safe will she be in the faery realms when her secret is revealed?

I absolutely adored this second journey back into the faery realms. Owl King is a captivating tale that is told from the two sisters' perspectives. I also enjoyed the 'bird' tales that Lyla tells to the Owl king, in order to delay him stealing her magic. The author has cleverly woven into this adventure some of her previous characters from her first faery realm book, Nettle.

Well written and immersive, the Owl King is full of magic and mystery and is perfect any 12+ reader who enjoys a fantasy story that is steeped in tradition and folklore. This is an easy recommendation.

272 pages / Reviewed by Linda Brown, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 11+