The Faerie Queene - Edmund Spenser

Advantages: Well written...Quite a realistic story, despite faery galore
Disadvantages: Definately for young adults, so Spiderwick fans may miss out

......favourite Knight of the queen of the Unseelie Court of faeries. Just to clarify, the Unseelie Court is the 'bad' court of the faeries, the Seelie Court is the 'good' court. From here, Kaye falls from one revolation to another, and finds herself embroiled deep within the faery world. And not everyone, or everything is as it seems in this place, so when it climaxes, will you be able to see the twist?....It'll leave you wanting the sequel Ironside so adly, but luckly its out in a few months - i've been waiting 3, 4 years! (Valiant, though mentions the characters in this book at the end, and being about the Faery realm, isn't a sequel - it's just set in the same place) However, if you're thinking of this book for children, i'd not recommend it. This book is a young adult book due to scenes of violence, swearing throughout, and hints of sexual... Read review

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Advantages: Easy to read, captivating. Contains just enough twists and sinister goings-on to prevent it from being twee, without becoming heavy.
Disadvantages: You need to set aside time to read it all in one go!

...Inspired, magical and unashamedly romantic, "Stardust" is the ultimate Fairy tale for grown-ups. It is not a short book, but I read it from cover to cover in a single day; such is its captivating power over the reader. Full of enchantment and some deft touches of terror, this is typical Gaiman fare, with myth and folklore creeping into the mix at every opportunity and a plot which takes place primarily in Faerie. Opening in Victorian England, "Stardust" tells the story of Tristran Thorn, a young man who sets off on a quest to retrieve a fallen star and discovers more than he could ever have dreamed of. Unfortunately, he is not the only one in search of the star, as he soon realises! His journey takes him deep into the fay realm, where he encounters terrible queens, some unlikely friends and a lot more besides. Gaiman has a knack... Read review

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Advantages: actually very funy.
Disadvantages: huge cast.

...with Demetrius. Demetrius is in love with Hermia. Does it sound like a soap opera yet? Group two are a collection of artisans - Peter Quince, Bottom the weaver, Flute, Starveling and friends. They are rehersing a play to be performed at the king's wedding. Much of the comedy comes from this ittle troupe. Then we have the faeries - their king and queen, Oberon and Titania, have had a fallnig out over ownership of a mortal boy. Oberon employs a particularly wiley faerie called Puck to play a few tricks on the Queen and to sort the young lovers out. Bottom the weaver ends up with a donkey's head and with the faerie queen lusting after him. The lovers end up even moer confused, and much hillarity ensues. Puck is the classic troublesome faeire, Robin goodfellow, the prankster, perhaps there's even a suggestion of Pan in him. he's a wonderful character... Read review

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