Title: The Treachery of Beautiful Things
Author: Ruth Frances Long
Publisher: Dial Books
Publication Date: 16th August 2012
Pages:384
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 5/5
Reviewer: Catherine
Synopsis
Synopsis
A darkly compelling mix of romance, fairy tale, and suspense from a new voice in teen fiction
The trees swallowed her brother whole, and Jenny was there to see it. Now seventeen, she revisits the woods where Tom was taken, resolving to say good-bye at last. Instead, she's lured into the trees, where she finds strange and dangerous creatures who seem to consider her the threat. Among them is Jack, mercurial and magnetic, with secrets of his own. Determined to find her brother, with or without Jack's help, Jenny struggles to navigate a faerie world where stunning beauty masks some of the most treacherous evils, and she's faced with a choice between salvation or sacrifice--and not just her own.
The trees swallowed her brother whole, and Jenny was there to see it. Now seventeen, she revisits the woods where Tom was taken, resolving to say good-bye at last. Instead, she's lured into the trees, where she finds strange and dangerous creatures who seem to consider her the threat. Among them is Jack, mercurial and magnetic, with secrets of his own. Determined to find her brother, with or without Jack's help, Jenny struggles to navigate a faerie world where stunning beauty masks some of the most treacherous evils, and she's faced with a choice between salvation or sacrifice--and not just her own.
Catherine's Review
This book is faultless. The plot weaves beautifully in and out, each mystery and exciting chapter leading into the next, just like the forest that it's set in. It's really gripping and the story grabs your attention from the very first page.
Jenny has lived an ordinary life, in the shadow of her older brother Tom. For many years she has worshipped him, until one night the trees swallow him whole, leaving Jenny with nothing but memories and memories only. Seven years on and Jenny still remembers her brother, remembers the night the forest claimed him. She now hears the trees whispering and she has always been wary of them and the Green Man that stole her brother away...
Soon enough, Jenny finds herself stuck in the same world as her brother- a land of the unimaginable, a land of fairy-tale dreams, a land of breath-taking beauty. However, Jenny must be cautious, as the beauty should not fool her, but warn her... as evil lurks inside. Jack, the boy of the forest, soon finds Jenny and along with his friend Puck the three set out to supposedly seek Jenny's brother. Jenny claims to hear his flute playing (as he was a musically talented boy), the song of his last evening with her drifting through the trees. From Jack and Puck's description, it seems to Jenny that Tom is the queen's piper, so to the palace they head.
However, Jack lets Jenny down many a time and she is determined to seek out Tom with or without his help. But in this faerie land where nothing is as it seems and evil lurks in the beauty, does Jenny need Jack after all?
The story weaves on and Jenny is still unsure of whose side Jack is really on. It seems he wishes to lead her to the edge, instead of to her brother, so Jenny goes off. Though Jack has warned her of dangers and she has not listened to his advice.. After finding herself trapped after being kissed by a Nix (One of Queen Titania's servants, using their astounding beauty to cause evil and much more), Jack saves her and consequently leaves Jenny puzzling more.
As it turns out, Jack is a servant... and much more. Jenny also knows that he has something to do with her brother's disappearance- the Green Man that Jenny is terrified of. If only more questions were to be answered by this mysterious character. Eventually, Jenny reaches the Queen, who is a very nasty piece of work as she has many other forms too. Astounded, Jenny finds that Tom still remembers her, however refuses to leave. She realises that he is now part faerie because if any humans consume the land's food, gradually they become human no more...
Jenny is torn between who to go for- Jack, who she has taken a shine to, or her own brother, Tom, The boy that she's missed for years. Oberon, grand, noble King and Jack's mighty owner wants Jenny, as she is known as the May Queen- Jenny Wren. It's her job to defeat Mab, an evil spirit trapped in the Queen, needing to be either defeated of the opposite. With challenges and secrets being unleashed Jenny is scared and is struggling to try and escape with her brother.
Will Jenny and Tom escape for good and be reunited once more? Does this mean that Jenny will win over stone-hearted Mab? And if Jenny does leave once and for all, will she ever see Jack 'o' the forest again? Find out in this epic novel!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, so much that I couldn't put it down! The storyline is unpredictable and interesting- fantasy mixed with romance, historical myths and legends thrown in too. You feel sympathy, despair, joy and many other emotions for Jenny in her struggle through the quest to find her brother and you are hooked onto every last word of her adventure.
If there was a sequel to this (which I certainly hope there is!), I'd be the first to read it- and would strongly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good fantastical mystery with romance, history and jam-packed with excitement. I can barely put into words how much I loved and enjoyed this amazing book but I can just say this- I loved it and you will too!
This book is faultless. The plot weaves beautifully in and out, each mystery and exciting chapter leading into the next, just like the forest that it's set in. It's really gripping and the story grabs your attention from the very first page.
Jenny has lived an ordinary life, in the shadow of her older brother Tom. For many years she has worshipped him, until one night the trees swallow him whole, leaving Jenny with nothing but memories and memories only. Seven years on and Jenny still remembers her brother, remembers the night the forest claimed him. She now hears the trees whispering and she has always been wary of them and the Green Man that stole her brother away...
Soon enough, Jenny finds herself stuck in the same world as her brother- a land of the unimaginable, a land of fairy-tale dreams, a land of breath-taking beauty. However, Jenny must be cautious, as the beauty should not fool her, but warn her... as evil lurks inside. Jack, the boy of the forest, soon finds Jenny and along with his friend Puck the three set out to supposedly seek Jenny's brother. Jenny claims to hear his flute playing (as he was a musically talented boy), the song of his last evening with her drifting through the trees. From Jack and Puck's description, it seems to Jenny that Tom is the queen's piper, so to the palace they head.
However, Jack lets Jenny down many a time and she is determined to seek out Tom with or without his help. But in this faerie land where nothing is as it seems and evil lurks in the beauty, does Jenny need Jack after all?
The story weaves on and Jenny is still unsure of whose side Jack is really on. It seems he wishes to lead her to the edge, instead of to her brother, so Jenny goes off. Though Jack has warned her of dangers and she has not listened to his advice.. After finding herself trapped after being kissed by a Nix (One of Queen Titania's servants, using their astounding beauty to cause evil and much more), Jack saves her and consequently leaves Jenny puzzling more.
As it turns out, Jack is a servant... and much more. Jenny also knows that he has something to do with her brother's disappearance- the Green Man that Jenny is terrified of. If only more questions were to be answered by this mysterious character. Eventually, Jenny reaches the Queen, who is a very nasty piece of work as she has many other forms too. Astounded, Jenny finds that Tom still remembers her, however refuses to leave. She realises that he is now part faerie because if any humans consume the land's food, gradually they become human no more...
Jenny is torn between who to go for- Jack, who she has taken a shine to, or her own brother, Tom, The boy that she's missed for years. Oberon, grand, noble King and Jack's mighty owner wants Jenny, as she is known as the May Queen- Jenny Wren. It's her job to defeat Mab, an evil spirit trapped in the Queen, needing to be either defeated of the opposite. With challenges and secrets being unleashed Jenny is scared and is struggling to try and escape with her brother.
Will Jenny and Tom escape for good and be reunited once more? Does this mean that Jenny will win over stone-hearted Mab? And if Jenny does leave once and for all, will she ever see Jack 'o' the forest again? Find out in this epic novel!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, so much that I couldn't put it down! The storyline is unpredictable and interesting- fantasy mixed with romance, historical myths and legends thrown in too. You feel sympathy, despair, joy and many other emotions for Jenny in her struggle through the quest to find her brother and you are hooked onto every last word of her adventure.
If there was a sequel to this (which I certainly hope there is!), I'd be the first to read it- and would strongly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good fantastical mystery with romance, history and jam-packed with excitement. I can barely put into words how much I loved and enjoyed this amazing book but I can just say this- I loved it and you will too!
Thank you for a lovely review! I wasn't sure to put this book on my wishlist or not, but this tells me I definitely should! ;)
ReplyDeleteWould you say it was a re-telling of A Mid Summer Nights Dream?
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like something that needs to be on my wishlist. Thanks for the recommendation!
ReplyDelete