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A review by sergek94
The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There by Catherynne M. Valente
4.0
Actual Rating: 4.5/5
“She did not know yet how sometimes people keep parts of themselves hidden and secret, sometimes wicked and unkind parts, but often brave or wild or colorful parts, cunning or powerful or even marvelous, beautiful parts, just locked up away at the bottom of their hearts. They do this because they are afraid of the world and of being stared at, or relied upon to do feats of bravery or boldness. And all of those brave and wild and cunning and marvelous and beautiful parts they hid away and left in the dark to grow strange mushrooms—and yes, sometimes those wicked and unkind parts, too—end up in their shadow.”
It was an entire year ago when I last spent time with September, having met her back when she was an innocent child, without a heart, because children have no hearts, since they're too big of a burden to carry during that phase in someone's life. I was with September as she took a small break from the ordinary world of everyday life, when the Green Wind swept her away and took her to Fairyland. There, I witnessed how she met her wyvern companion A-through-L, her mysterious new friend Saturday the Marid, and of course, Gleam, the floating lantern. I witnessed how poor September was manipulated by the Marquess, the queen of Fairyland who had the realm under her iron grip. I witnessed their epic battle and the heartbreaking truth behind the Marquess. But as everything else in life, this lovely adventure came to an end, and I closed that book and just like September, I returned to my normal human life. Now, a year later, Fairyland found me again, and I found myself being at September's side once more. We both have changed a whole year later and a lot of things are different now, but what didn't change is how astounding and whimsically satisfying it is to plunge into Fairyland again...
...Or should I say, the world of Fairyland below? It is in this alternate version of Fairyland where we embark on our adventure, because magic from Fairyland is being drained away, due to a mysterious creature stealing the shadows of all of the creatures who live in Fairyland and taking them down to Fairyland below. It is up to poor September to plunge into this netherworld and find out what is going on, before it's too late and the magic of Fairyland has all drained away, leaving it as nothing but an ordinary field, somewhere in Nebraska.
“Hearts set about finding other hearts the moment they are born, and between them, they weave nets so frightfully strong and tight that you end up bound forever in hopeless knots, even to the shadow of a beast you knew and loved long ago.”
Staying true to Fairyland down below, September's adventure is a slightly more darker one here. Poor September has to venture into this world by herself, not knowing who is truly on her side, and who's waiting for the right opportunity to push pinpricks into her when she's not looking. She has to realize that life will take many twists and turns and hurt her in places where she didn't know she would feel pain. Poor September has to experience the sting of betrayal by people she so truly wanted to trust, and she has to know how to process her First Kiss being taken away from her without her permission. September is 13 now, and since she is now a teenager, she finally began growing her own heart, but having a heart comes with experiencing all sorts of not-so-pleasant feelings, which poor September will have to experience a fair share of in this adventure.
“September had never been betrayed before. She did not even know what to call the feeling in her chest, so bitter and sour. Poor child. There is always a first time, and it is never the last time.”
But worry not, dear reader, for as much pain as a heart is capable of feeling, it can more than well compensate for it with all of its potential for joy and laughter. It is true that September's sky isn't as clear as it used to be once upon a year ago, but bright rays of sunlight will eventually wash away the darkness off her hair and bring her back to her lush and hearty self. In the end, when we confront our shadow, and bring it up into the light, we will realize that our darker aspects are just sides of us that needed our love and care, and once we nurture them, they're not so scary after all.
“For though, as we have said, all children are heartless, this is not precisely true of teenagers. Teenage hearts are raw and new, fast and fierce, and they do not know their own strength. Neither do they know reason or restraint, and if you want to know the truth, a goodly number of grown-up hearts never learn it.”
Catherynne M. Valente has once again succeeded in creating a beautiful masterpiece readers of all ages can enjoy. She is a very talented writer, who excels in her world building and characterization, and doesn't fail to add so many nuanced layers to her prose, that is on one hand, very beautiful to read, and on the other hand, full of timeless wisdom. I had planned to finish my year off with another installment of her Fairyland series since the end of last year, and I'm glad I did. I am reading one installment at the end of each year, because I want to drag this adventure on for as long as possible, and finishing off my reading year with a dose of September's adventures in Fairyland is the perfect way to close this 12 month long chapter.
This is my last review for this year and I'm glad to have wrapped it up with a Fairyland book. I definitely recommend this series if you're into whimsical, smart and rich children's fantasy that is also very enjoyable for the adult reader.
------------------------------------------------
“The smell of loving is a difficult one to describe, but if you think of the times when someone has held you close and made you safe, you will remember how it smells just as well as I do.”
“She did not know yet how sometimes people keep parts of themselves hidden and secret, sometimes wicked and unkind parts, but often brave or wild or colorful parts, cunning or powerful or even marvelous, beautiful parts, just locked up away at the bottom of their hearts. They do this because they are afraid of the world and of being stared at, or relied upon to do feats of bravery or boldness. And all of those brave and wild and cunning and marvelous and beautiful parts they hid away and left in the dark to grow strange mushrooms—and yes, sometimes those wicked and unkind parts, too—end up in their shadow.”
It was an entire year ago when I last spent time with September, having met her back when she was an innocent child, without a heart, because children have no hearts, since they're too big of a burden to carry during that phase in someone's life. I was with September as she took a small break from the ordinary world of everyday life, when the Green Wind swept her away and took her to Fairyland. There, I witnessed how she met her wyvern companion A-through-L, her mysterious new friend Saturday the Marid, and of course, Gleam, the floating lantern. I witnessed how poor September was manipulated by the Marquess, the queen of Fairyland who had the realm under her iron grip. I witnessed their epic battle and the heartbreaking truth behind the Marquess. But as everything else in life, this lovely adventure came to an end, and I closed that book and just like September, I returned to my normal human life. Now, a year later, Fairyland found me again, and I found myself being at September's side once more. We both have changed a whole year later and a lot of things are different now, but what didn't change is how astounding and whimsically satisfying it is to plunge into Fairyland again...
...Or should I say, the world of Fairyland below? It is in this alternate version of Fairyland where we embark on our adventure, because magic from Fairyland is being drained away, due to a mysterious creature stealing the shadows of all of the creatures who live in Fairyland and taking them down to Fairyland below. It is up to poor September to plunge into this netherworld and find out what is going on, before it's too late and the magic of Fairyland has all drained away, leaving it as nothing but an ordinary field, somewhere in Nebraska.
“Hearts set about finding other hearts the moment they are born, and between them, they weave nets so frightfully strong and tight that you end up bound forever in hopeless knots, even to the shadow of a beast you knew and loved long ago.”
Staying true to Fairyland down below, September's adventure is a slightly more darker one here. Poor September has to venture into this world by herself, not knowing who is truly on her side, and who's waiting for the right opportunity to push pinpricks into her when she's not looking. She has to realize that life will take many twists and turns and hurt her in places where she didn't know she would feel pain. Poor September has to experience the sting of betrayal by people she so truly wanted to trust, and she has to know how to process her First Kiss being taken away from her without her permission. September is 13 now, and since she is now a teenager, she finally began growing her own heart, but having a heart comes with experiencing all sorts of not-so-pleasant feelings, which poor September will have to experience a fair share of in this adventure.
“September had never been betrayed before. She did not even know what to call the feeling in her chest, so bitter and sour. Poor child. There is always a first time, and it is never the last time.”
But worry not, dear reader, for as much pain as a heart is capable of feeling, it can more than well compensate for it with all of its potential for joy and laughter. It is true that September's sky isn't as clear as it used to be once upon a year ago, but bright rays of sunlight will eventually wash away the darkness off her hair and bring her back to her lush and hearty self. In the end, when we confront our shadow, and bring it up into the light, we will realize that our darker aspects are just sides of us that needed our love and care, and once we nurture them, they're not so scary after all.
“For though, as we have said, all children are heartless, this is not precisely true of teenagers. Teenage hearts are raw and new, fast and fierce, and they do not know their own strength. Neither do they know reason or restraint, and if you want to know the truth, a goodly number of grown-up hearts never learn it.”
Catherynne M. Valente has once again succeeded in creating a beautiful masterpiece readers of all ages can enjoy. She is a very talented writer, who excels in her world building and characterization, and doesn't fail to add so many nuanced layers to her prose, that is on one hand, very beautiful to read, and on the other hand, full of timeless wisdom. I had planned to finish my year off with another installment of her Fairyland series since the end of last year, and I'm glad I did. I am reading one installment at the end of each year, because I want to drag this adventure on for as long as possible, and finishing off my reading year with a dose of September's adventures in Fairyland is the perfect way to close this 12 month long chapter.
This is my last review for this year and I'm glad to have wrapped it up with a Fairyland book. I definitely recommend this series if you're into whimsical, smart and rich children's fantasy that is also very enjoyable for the adult reader.
------------------------------------------------
“The smell of loving is a difficult one to describe, but if you think of the times when someone has held you close and made you safe, you will remember how it smells just as well as I do.”