REVIEW: The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

Description

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…

About the Author

Kiki Hamilton believes in faeries. And magic. Though she has a BA in Business Administration from Washington State University and has run a business with her husband for many years, as well as worked in a variety of management positions for other companies, her first love is writing young adult stories of fantasy and adventure. Kiki lives near Seattle, Washington, where it only rains part of the time. She is a member of The Class of 2k11, The Elevensies and also blogs at The Enchanted Inkpot.

 Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Tor Teen; First Edition edition (September 27, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765327228
• ISBN-13: 978-0765327222

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

***slight spoilers***

The Faerie Ring is not about those circles of mushrooms found in your grass nor is it about fairies dancing about, no, it is about a real ring with a red fiery stone. Tiki is lost in an Oliver Twist-like existence, living with a rag tag group of orphans in Victorian times forced to pick the pockets of the wealthy in order to survive.  She has recently turned sixteen and finds herself trying to steal bread from the royal household, but instead find herself almost caught and hides in a library where two men come in and discuss a ring.  The ring is dropped and like any good thief, she pockets it.  Little does she know that her world may come tumbling down because of this ring and it has special significance to her.

Tiki is street smart and care deeply for her newly found collection of friends that soon turns into a family of sorts. In her quest to support them and keep them well, she is forced to make decisions that may turn out to be a life or death situation.  There are charming characters, page turning chases, evil versus good and some humor thrown in to even everything out.  Reiker is an older, adult pick pocket who knows more than he lets on.  He is definitely one to watch since I am still not sure which side of the fence he is on.  He seems to rescue Tiki at her most vulnerable times but at the same time poses something that might harm her.  I hope the next installment answers the question of exactly what he is to TiKi.  Overall, a nice visit to the land of faery, even though we only see a few glimpses of them in this book.