The Light-Bearer's Daughter tells the story of eleven-year-old Dana, who is about to emigrate to Canada from Ireland with her father, despite her protests. If she leaves, how will she ever find her mother, who disappeared when she was three?I have to say again that this is truly a great series to invest your time in. Book 3 in the Chronicles of Faerie series following on from The Hunter’s Moon and The Summer King, this story follows other girls’ adventures to save fairy from impending disaster. This little girl is rather young compared to the other girls in the first two books, as she is only eleven-years-old. We learn through the course of the book, though, that she is not a regular little girl. She has aspects of strength that she is not aware of and secrets that she has chosen to not remember. Her mother left her when she was very young, and Dana has always felt like it was her fault.
As Dana grapples with her father's decision, she is unwittingly drawn into the world of Faerie. She encounters a mysterious young woman who calls her into the woods. There, Dana is charged with an important mission: she must carry an urgent message from the High King of Faerie to his second-in-command deep in the mountains. If she succeeds, Dana will be granted her heart's desire - any wish will come true.
But why has the High King of Faerie chosen Dana for this mission, and what does it have to do with her long-lost mother?
She has always lived in Ireland, but her father is from Canada. He came to Ireland for a trip, met Dana’s mother, and decided that he did not see any reason to return to his homeland. Dana is getting older, though, and he finds it hard for a single man to deal with a child that is entering her teenage years, so he decides that it is time to move closer to his family so that the female members can help with her up-bringing. Dana does not know if she wants to leave her home, though. She keeps thinking that her mother will return, and she will not be able to find them if they live in a different country.
Anyways, Dana encounters the faerie folk, and suddenly her life takes a very different turn. She has been commanded to carry a message to one of the faerie kings because for some reason he has made it so that only humans can get near where he rests. So, Dana is sent out to stop him because the faerie folk need him. It is quite an adventure for an eleven-year-old, and the faerie that gives her the mission is often not sure if she can handle it. It means leaving her father for an unknown period of time and setting out in the forest by herself. She does not know who is friend or foe; she just has to keep her wits about her to get the message out in time.
Dana is a good heroine. Sometimes she ages the book, making you aware you are reading about a young child, but Melling writes so well that it really captures your attention. She does not just write simply to write, she has studied folklore and things, so she has a basis for everything that she is saying. It improves the quality of the story, making it better than some of the other faerie books that are on the market. I particularly like that there are translations and pronunciation guides provided at the end so you understand the Gaelic.
All in all, I like this series. I am reading book 4 right now, but it will likely be March before I review it. I like it, but I got a bit Melling’d out, so I am reading it slowly.
4/5
2 comments:
Man, how do you do Kailana - it seems all the books you pick up are winners :D
I was wondering, was this series is for young adults?
Yes, but the 4-in-1 is in the adult fantasy section.
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