Taylor, Laini. Faeries of Dreamdark; Blackbringer.

TAYLOR, Laini. Faeries of Dreamdark; Blackbringer. Penguin, Putnam. 434p. c2007. 0-399-24630-2. $17.99. JSA*

Ever since one incredibly clever devil granted three wishes to the humans who freed him from his fairy prison, Magpie Windwitch's work has grown exponentially. No fairy would

be foolish enough to uncork the spelled silver bottles found floating in the ocean, but now that humans have begun to do so en masse, it has become apparent that no fairy, save Magpie, is brave enough to leave Dreamdark forest in order to track down and recapture the devils once they have been let loose.

Magpie's already difficult mission is complicated considerably when she finds an uncorked bottle bearing the seal of the Magruwen. the king of the seven powerful Djinn who dreamed the entire world into existence before mysteriously disappearing several hundred years ago. In its wake, the newly freed devil leaves only traces of darkness, a memory of hunger, and--unthinkably--a dead Djinn called the Vritra. The tapestry of the world begins to unravel with Vritra's death, and it is up to Magpie to save not only the Magruwen, but also the very existence of her race.

Taylor's book is one of those remarkable works of storytelling in which the sheer merit of the plot and characters will draw in readers of any age or skill level, despite the fact that it is not as challenging as typical adult fiction. Magpie herself is incredibly intelligent, slightly uncouth, and utterly charming; being approximately 100 years old, she also is not limited in her appeal to any specific age group. The story itself is strikingly similar to Fern Gully (1992, animated), with a dark force trying to destroy fairy woods and a magical matronly figure intervening, but Taylor improves on the story so substantially that even jaded fantasy readers will find this to be a satisfying breath of fresh air. Cara Chancellor, Hollywood, FL

J--Recommended for junior high students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.

*--The asterisk highlights exceptional books.