Ironside

Gr 9 Up—The life of a faery isn't always full of glittering pixie dust. Kaye, a pixie, knows that all too well. In a drunken stupor, she declares her love for Roiben, king of the Unseelie Court. He responds by sending her on an impossible quest: bring him a faery who can tell an untruth. When her mother freaks out after Kaye admits she is a changeling, Kaye begins her own quest to find the human Kaye (Kate) and return her to Ironside. Kaye is joined by her best friend, Corny, and two brothers—Luis (who has True Sight) and Dave. Soon they find themselves following a trail that leads to Silarial, queen of the Seelie Court, and the four become pawns in a battle between rival faery courts. Holly Black's third book (Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2007) in the series is a magical mixture of love, betrayal, death, and dark beauty woven through a tale where love and loyalty are a weakness and wits are the superior weapon. Kate Rudd's top-notch narration is spot-on for every character. The strong language may be better suited for older teens. A truly enchanting listen.—Cheryl Preisendorfer, Twinsburg City Schools, OH