Review: Whimsical but brief
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 17, 2012
Who doesn't love a good reluctant-leader story?This one involves a girl who lives by a lake of whiskey and hangs out with iron ducks. Like you do. But the god-king of fairyland called for a census, and everyone had to travel for it, and we all know how that turns out for the god-king. (hint: poorly).As a fairy story, it's very whimsical and full of lovely details. As a parable about the corruption inherent in power, it's a little obvious, but still full of lovely details. The moment when Mallow realizes that the king is literally eating the heart of his land is amazing.However, Mallow's story seems somehow incomplete, and we don't see her again until she is the corrupt ruler herself, in [book:The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making|9591398].Read if: You liked The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland. You love Valente's weird whimsical world construction. You long for more story about the man in the green jacket.Skip if: You are whimsy-intolerant. You are looking for a big sweeping story.Also read:The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own MakingAt the Back of the North Wind