Blood & Flowers

Gr 8 Up—In a dangerous, paranoid world, all of society's problems—crime, drugs, violence—are blamed on fallout from the neighboring Faerie realm. Those caught with connections to Faerie, its inhabitants, or its magic are severely punished. But for Persia, the Fey and their magic have meant salvation. Escaping a troubled home life, she joined the Outlaw Puppet Troupe, a secret traveling band of actors, magicians, and misfits, both mortal and Fey. The troupe's performances are beautiful, magical, and laced with moral and political messages. Through the Outlaws, Persia discovers family and friendship, yet unspoken secrets hint at the troupe's possible connections to a dark past. When a vengeful adversary falsely accuses them of practicing illegal magic and distributing dangerous faerie drugs, the group flees to Faerie to seek refuge. But instead of sanctuary, they discover dangers just as threatening as those they left behind. The concept of Blubaugh's effort is highly intriguing, and her writing style is unique. Unfortunately, the characters lack depth and distinction, and the imagery related to the setting falls flat. Frequent editorializing by the narrator disrupts the flow of the story, giving it a fractured feel. This book will likely find a home with diehard fans of faerie fiction, but it isn't one of the better ones.—Alissa J. LeMerise, Oxford Public Library, MI