Holly Black - Tithe.

Holly Black – Tithe.

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars.

Hey Everyone! It feels like I haven’t written a review in forever. I have been so busy. And had my head stuck in books, a common occurrence for me I have to admit. I am here now thought and I have a new review for you! I recently discovered the ‘A Modern Faerie Tale’ books by Holly Black. And after reading The Folk of the Air series I was so excited to read more from Black. I had mixed feelings but I will go into more depth on them later on. Here is my review for Tithe by Holly Black.

Synopsis:

Kaye used to see Faeries.

They’re still there. But Kaye is not a child anymore. Now sixteen, she’s dragged into the thick of their dangerous, frightening world. A realm where black horses dwell beneath the sea, desperate to drown you. . .where the sinister Thistlewitch divines dark futures. . .and where beautiful Faerie knights are driven to perform acts of brutal depravity for the love of their uncaring queens.

There, Kaye finds herself an unwilling pawn in an ancient power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms – a struggle that could end in her death. . .

A Little About The Author:

Holly Black is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over thirty fantasy novels for kids and teens. She has been a finalist for an Eisner Award and the Lodestar Award, and the recipient of the Mythopoeic Award, a Nebula, and a Newberry Honor. Her books have been translated into 32 languages worldwide and adapted for film. She currently lives in New England with her husband and son.

A Little About The Story:

This story starts out with Kaye and her mother in a bit of trouble that leads to them moving back in with Kaye’s grandmother. When Kaye was a child, living in the same place, she swore she saw faeries. But growing up this stopped. Until she moved back. Kaye is a pawn in a game she didn’t know she was playing. We watch as Kaye discovers something shocking and life altering about who she really is. We read along as she tries to navigate a whole new world and finds her place in it.

The main characters in this story were Kaye and her family, Janet, Corny, Roiben and the group of Faerie’s Kaye knew from her childhood. It was a story with many moving parts, it is hard to say which characters played the most important roles, because they all were thought out and relevant.

The main characters in the story had to come to terms with the existence of supernatural entities whilst navigating the crucial part they all have to play. All whilst navigating love and losses.

This whole book can be considered an adventure for Kaye. She was in a new world. One different to the one she was raised in. She was thrown into a terrifying situation and found her way out of it. The adventure was going to new places, meeting new people and learning to stand on her own two feet.

My favourite character was Kaye. I enjoyed learning more about an incredibly complex character. She didn’t have the most stable of upbringings, but she survived. She was launched head first into a new universe and she survived. She is a survivor, and she is damn good at it. I felt a sense of sympathy for her but I was also in awe of her strength. Anyone would have broken after going through the events of this book, but she survived.

I couldn’t relate to any of the characters in this story and that is okay. Sometimes I like to read about characters that I can relate to. Where we have gone through the same things. But I feel like reading about completely novel situations widens my horizons. It allows me to look at things from a perspective different from my own. So not relating to something isn’t something I find problematic.

For the most part I liked this book. I liked the way it flowed, I liked being dragged into another new world, but it was a bit of a slow starter for me and I found myself confused a few times. I may have to re-read it to give a rounded out opinion of this but I struggled getting through the first hundred pages, and then once I was in, I was hooked. The last half of the book sold me. I loved it. There was also a few things that confused me about it. Roiben. What was drawing him towards a sixteen year old girl. She isn’t even an adult yet. I can’t remember if we were ever told his age, but it didn’t sit right with me. I got over it eventually, kind of. But I didn’t like that part. Also, Corny. I really didn’t like his character at all. He weirded me out a little bit. I have to admit he grew on me by the end. But I never fully liked him.

My favourite part of the book was the ending. I didn’t see that coming at all. I probably should have but I was so shocked when it happened. Endings of books aren’t really important to me. I mean they are, but it’s not the end of the world if the book is amazing yet has a predictable ending. But I do love a good surprise.

My least favourite part of the book was the beginning, as I said, I thought it was slightly slow paced. This is my personal opinion, this works for other people and I know a lot of readers that love this, but personally it isn’t my favourite thing.

I would recommend this book to lovers of fantasy novels. Anyone who has a love of Holly Black’s other works, or anything my Sarah J Maas or Cassandra Clare. All of those people would love this book to be able to climb into a new world.

So that is my review for Tithe by Holly Black. As far as books go, it was good. It had everything I wanted. There were just a few things I wish were slightly different that would have pushed it up a star in my own opinion. I always hate saying negative things about people’s hard work, I much prefer to say my personal preferences don’t line up with this wonderful book entirely, and that that is perfectly okay. If you have read this book, I would love to hear your thoughts, and if you haven’t read this book, I hope my writing encourages you to pick it up!!

Stay Curious!

J x