The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton-Parent book review

Quick Facts

• Author-Kiki Hamilton
• Pages-352
• Genre-Fantasy/Victorian Era
• Series-The Faerie Ring book 1
• Age-11 to 15

Debut novelist Kiki Hamilton takes readers from the gritty slums and glittering ballrooms of Victorian London to the beguiling but menacing Otherworld of the Fey in this spellbinding tale of romance, suspense, and danger.

The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood.

Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen’s son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist.

Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty…

The Faerie Ring, a story about orphans in London during the Victorian Era, touches your heart from the very beginning. Tiki, is the mother like figure to five orphans, though she is only a teenager herself, she cares for the other kids like they are her own. The Faerie Ring is complicated by the need to find money to pay for medical care for Clara , one of the orphans. I really enjoyed how The Faerie Ring bonded the orphans and when other people got to know the orphans they could see beyond just dirty kids stealing to be able to provide for the next meal. Kiki Hamilton did a nice job of weaving the faerie mythology into the story and making it come alive. The language is fine and as far as romance there is only a couple kisses in The Faerie Ring though at times you can see Tiki is struggling with her feelings for another boy. There is very little violence and nothing gruesome. The Faerie Ring can be enjoyed by kids as young as eleven and will be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys a good faerie story.