Valiant

Valiant by Holly Black (A Modern Tale of Faerie)

What was this book about?

Val Russell needs to escape from life as she knows it. Her mother, her boyfriend, and her best friend have destroyed her trust and her life as she knows it. She escapes/runs away into New York City, only because she has no where else to go.

In New York she meets several teens that have an interesting story. They speak of faeries and trolls, of this drug called Never. They introduce her into this life. Val must find herself so that she can save them all.

What did you like/dislike about the book?

The beginning was so slow. I almost put the book down and said “Done with this”. But then things started to pick up. Part of my problem was my lack of being able to identify or even like the characters. Val was interesting. But the kids she was with had drug problems, stole and were just generally unlikable. Her former best friend was horrible to her. It just all seemed to be too much.

What genre would you consider this?

Teen Paranormal

Overall: B-. I think I am going to try another one just to see where things go. Hopefully this just needed a slow start to get rolling.

Spoilers: There is teen sex (with adults), drug use and other things that I wouldn’t want a young person necessarily reading.