this was a good book, strong characters. the setting was interesting. i originally requested this one because the rest of the series was also on netgalley, but i didn't get approved for them, which unfortunately meant the desire or rush to read this one kind of fizzled out. i am sure i will eventually continue with the series especially after the cliffhanger.

An enjoyable but extremely light read, especially considering that so many of the plot elements are supposed to be quite dark (death, violence, fae apocalypse, forced marriage and the like). I quite liked the heroine, Aileana, her pixie friend Derrick, her ignorant-of-fae human friend Catherine, and Catherine's brother, Gavin, who is the third prong in a love triangle and altogether a better choice than the romantic option the book would seemingly have us prefer. Kiaran is the typical "bad boy" type, sexy but a problematic and emotionally unhealthy choice. I do wish more YA books would avoid these.

The Scottish setting is fun but rather thin; there are really just some descriptions of historical Edinburgh and a great many "Ayes" to go on. I've been to Edinburgh a few times and know a bit about the history of urban planning there, but for those who do not, I wish it had been better explored. The steampunk elements are also a bit thin, more or less limited to Aileana's inexplicable hobby of inventing her own weapons and flying machines. I say inexplicable because it is never even remotely explained how it can be that Aileana has had any sort of education in engineering, or the ability to procure parts. I'm glad that she's very smart, of course, but her inventing pastime is plausible and kind of "just because" it's trendy to have that sort of thing in one's novel, I guess. The novel's name, incidentally, is also underexplained. Her kind being called "falconers" seems pasted on simply because the author thought the word sounded cool.

I'm picking at the details, but at no point was I bored reading this, and I will likely read the next installment. I would like to see more of these characters, and am curious as to where the plot will lead after a pretty big cliffhanger of an ending. The action was well-balanced with the more personal scenes, the society bits, and the humor. The whole thing was just fun, and light. Would I have liked more darkness, character development, and worldbuilding? Yes. Did I enjoy this book anyway? Yes.

Book provided by NetGalley.com. Rating 3.5

In all honestly, I most likely wouldn’t have picked up this book if I had know it was in the steampunk genre. Getting very tired of steampunk in general but fae legends have always been interesting. There is something about the way the author writes that gets on my nerves - possibly the way she reveals plot twist one after another without stopping to explain or fully provide reasoning behind them.

I adore a good young adult novel. Make it in a sci-fi/fantasy genre and it becomes even more appealing.

Within short order of starting this novel, I was hooked. Lucky for me all 3 books in the trilogy were already written and published so I could work my way through them without a break!

Aileana has a secret. She isn't just a pretty Scottish aristocrat. She learns upon her mother's death that she is a Falconer, the last warrior in a line of those sworn to protect humans from fairies.

Lucky for her, there's an outcast fairy willing to train her so humanity might have a chance of survival.

I loved the characters, the setting (steampunk, which was new for me), and the overall plot. Through in the bit of romance and it has all a gal can ask for!

I was initially drawn to this book by its gorgeous cover, and I'm glad I had the chance to read it.

Aileana has been obsessively hunting and killing fae since the death of her mother. She lives the double life of debutante and assassin, and is a strong main character. One of the things I liked was her creativity creating weapons and other inventions. I loved that she didn't have to go to some nerdy sidekick - she thought of and made her own stuff, and it was great. I also loved her pixie sidekick Derrick.

I found this book on an "action packed" list, and it certainly belonged there. There was plenty of action in the first half, and it ramped up even further in the second. Warning though - HUGE and abrupt cliffhanger ending. Good thing the next book is out already!

The book didn't match what I was expecting from the description in the worst way. Also, THAT CLIFFHANGER. Omg, buyer beware! I think I need to come back to this review after letting it sit for a bit.

EDIT: Nope, I don't like it better after time has passed. Such a bummer!

An amazing opening novel, this is the strong female heroine that YA needs. I am eagerly awaiting the sequel.

This book was just OK for me. I always recommend going ahead and reading a book, if it sounds interesting to you because I am just one person and just because I might not care too much for something, doesn't mean someone else might not love it.

Steampunk and faeries, the perfect combination!
Elizabeth May’s debut into the world of YA fiction is a smashing success. The Falconer Trilogy, from the start of book 1 to the end of book 3, is consistently an authentic and enthralling journey into a steampunk version of mid 1800s Scotland. Elizabeth does an amazing job of building an intricate and vivid world in each book of the series, so much so that I would find myself pondering a plethora of things long after I stopped reading for the day. For those unfamiliar, steampunk is “a style of design and fashion that combines historical elements with anachronistic technological features inspired by science fiction.” (Online dictionary) Steampunk fits perfectly with mid 1800s Scotland and provides a rich environment for the development of the lead character Aileana. She has to be one of my top female fantasy characters; the perfect combination of struggling human and bada** fighter, she is smart and witty and authentic. Angry mortal on a vendetta over the murder of her mother to shrewd and resilient Falconer, a line of female warriors empowered by fae to stand against evil fairies bent on the destruction of the human race, is seamless and captivating.

The supporting characters; like her best friend Derrick, a lesser fairy, and her fae mentor Kiaran MacKay, are solid and provide for great dialogue and interaction. They are each unique and bring this original, action packed story to life. The budding romance between Aileana and Kiaran compliments the plot line without overshadowing it. Because I went on and on to my daughter Erin about how great this series is she read it to and loved it. I liked her comment, “This was a great story that has romance, not a romance with a little action thrown in.” We both agree that we would give The Falconer, The Vanishing Throne, and The Fallen Kingdom each…

I don't read a lot of faery stories but I have had my eye on this for quite some time. This was such a fast paced amazing story that I couldn't believe it was over so quickly. The characters were so very well developed, the pacing was on point, and the overall story was well done. Let's not forget the fight scenes! May did such an amazing job of writing her fight scenes that I felt as if I was watching them in front of me instead of reading them from a book.

Aileana, our protagonist, was brilliant. Her ongoing battle against the faeries was beyond words. The way she carried herself, handled herself, defended herself, and stayed true to herself was such a delight to read. She was so intelligent, witty, logical, and snarky. All very good qualities in my book. Not to mention the romance she had with Kiarin. He was such a dream boat! I felt swept away in watching their relationship develop and grow. He fought it tooth and nail! He didn't want to feel what he felt for her but he just could not help himself. The other characters were just as memorable: Derrick, the pixie, and Catherine. Both added so much to overall story.

I didn't want to give too much away (hopefully I didn't!) but this was such an amazing story. It completely caught me off guard in the best way possible. This was full of adventure. action, romance, and more! I cannot wait to pick up the second book in the series.

Well, well, well, well. Who would've thought that I would enjoy The Falconer so much? The fae, that's who! *wink

I believe this is the very first steampunk paranormal book that BLEW ME AWAY! Yes, it's that AMAZING! Sure, I enjoyed The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare but that series does not come CLOSE to the amazingness that is The Falconer!

The Falconer checked all the boxes for me. Awesome female character? Check! Antihero-ish mysterious character? Check! Spunky, comedic character? Check! Minimal romance? Check! Set in the Victorian England? Check! Awesome action scenes? Hell, yeah!

The Falconer follows Aileana (such a unique name, by the way) who is a fae killer (Falconer) and she is out for revenge. She is trained by the mysterious fairy Kiaran MacKay to effectively use her gifts.

Elizabeth May creates a very enthralling steampunk world in Victorian London which adds a mysterious, yet creepy touch to the overall feel of the story. I was amazed at how perfect the world building felt! And this is coming from me, who usually shy away from faerie fantasy books (A Court of Thrones and Roses).

Enter in a spectacular cast of characters, The Falconer feels fresh and despite the dark themes throughout the book, there is a touch of fun. I especially love Derrick, the tiny pixie who lives in Aileana's closet and gets drunk on honey!

I also love the fact that the romance is subtle and I didn't even mind that it was a slow burn romance! And I hate slow burn romance!

Did I mention the action? Well, there are a few action scenes and it just blew me away! I felt like Elizabeth May introduced scarier and scarier fae as the story progressed. I felt like I have never read about these types of fae before!

Really, the best feature of this book is Aileana who is a very strong character on her own. I love her dilemma between conforming to society and also trying to avenge her mother's death. Her struggles felt real to me, and I really appreciate that.

I'm really surprised why The Falconer didn't get as much buzz as other series because this book is AMAZING! I definitely recommend this to EVERYONE!

One year ago, society Lady Aileana Kameron watched as her mother was murdered by a bloodthirsty faery. Ever since, then Aileana has been plotting vengeance. Training to become the best weapon she can be, hunting down the faery murderer, and killing any fae who get in the way. All while pretending to be the perfect Victorian Lady. Only two know her secret - the pixie who lives in her closet and the faery man who trains her and shows her her destiny as a Falconer. But Aileana soon discovers that the murderer is the least of her problems. A race of the most powerful fae were sealed underneath the city centuries ago. And the seal is about to break.

The Falconer was pretty good. It is a bit darker than I expected, what with the blood-sucking fae, murders, and vengeance. Yikes. I would not want to get in Aileana's way, much less the stronger fae man who trains her. There was something almost feral in their brutality.

It is set in Scotland during the Victorian Age. Think rigid society rules paired with brutal magic and a little bit of steampunk. In general, I love the Victorian Age as a setting. All the coded words bearing insults in designers, the unspoken rules, and the scandals that can result from a tiny misconstrued mistake. So it was interesting to see it combined with faery magic. The Lady has a secret life people can only guess at. She's a terrible liar, though.

Which brings me to the love triangle. The fae man training her is the person Aileana is most interested in. However, he is inhuman in many ways. Too many for me to wish the, together. He's hiding dangerous secrets from her, and yet she trusts him with little reservation. And even if he wasn't, the gap between the cold, emotionless faery and the passionate Falconer is too great to bridge, in my opinion. The other individual in the love triangle is the Seer, a childhood friend Aileana once had a crush on. He returns from college and almost immediately discovers her secrets and enters her group. He seems a little weak, unfortunately. But in other ways, he is a perfect match for her. And they run straight into the perfect excuse to get married, historical sexism aside. Still, Aileana likes the faery man, though the last words of the book have me doubting everything he professes to be. I guess I'll have to read book two to find out.

If anything in this review intrigues you, I encourage you to read it yourself.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I loved the complexity of this world and its hierarchy. It was very rich, and I was impressed by how interesting and complex the world was. And on top of all that, it had a strong female heroine and a great narrative style. I think my favorite part, though, is that this wasn't a boy meets girl instalove kind of story. It felt more real and developed, which is sometimes hard to find, especially in fantasy YA.

Faeries + Scottish Setting + BA heroine = AMAZING BOOK! I can't wait for the sequel! Aileana is amazing and definitely the kind of character I found myself relating to right off the bat. You're going to want to binge read this series the second you start The Falcolner (you've been warned).

The Falconer: Book One of the Falconer Trilogy Kindle Edition
by Elizabeth May
I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest exchange,

Scottish faeries (no where near as nice as their Irish or Welsh relatives) were magically trapped beneath the earth by women who wee known as the Falconers. Through the centuries, the magic has weakened and the Falconers have died out.

All except two. Aileana and her mother. On the night of her coming out, Aileana watches something, a dark fairy rip her mother's heart out. When she is discovered by the aristocracy, elbow deep in her mother's blood, Aileana is suspected of murder and made an outcast.

That is until Kiaran, a High Warrior Faerie, recognizes her for what she is and begins training her.

Ms. May does an excellent job of giving Aileana quirks. She has a pixie who uses her dresses to make his own clothes and has the hobby of inventions that she puts to work to destroying the evil faeries with her mentor Kiaran,

Ms. May's world borders on steam-punk, with DaVinci flying machines and stun guns alongside corsets and arranged marriages.

Fight scenes take place in the freezing cold, as we draw close to the Winter Equinox, the time the seal breaks. Ms. May paints the violence and frenzy of human on Fae fight with a talented brush. Blood and mud and rain and snow all mix to create an ephemeral battlefield filled with icy fog. Aileana fights like a madwoman and at the same time she is the perfect Victorian lady, drinking tea and picking out a wedding dress. Meanwhile, she is falling for Kiaran. Ms. May twists the plot into a labyrinthine story.

Ms. May also uses the Scottish version of the Fae as opposed to the Irish or the Cornish. This is a fabulous twist. Although, warning for Americans, all Celt added letters and you may need to go to google translate to pronounce a word or a dozen. It is is well worth it.

The characters, well they are fantastic. I love the pixie and want one of my own. The gadgets, the stitchers, the automatic tea pot and so on truly hint at a cross between Dr. Who and Downtown Abbey.

I am sad to say there is no HEA. In fact, there is no true ending, we are left with a dark, creepy cliff hanger where the burgeoning love between Kam (Aileana) and Kiaran may or may not be destroyed.

An excellent coming of age, heroine's journey with humor and corsets! This book is Book Nerd Approved

5 out of 5

I've heard wonderful things about The Falconer so I went in with fairly high expectations and that led to a bit of disappointment. Set in an alternate history filled with intriguing inventions and a new spin on the Seelie, Unseelie, and Solitary Fae, I thought that this just had to be the book for me.

Not quite.

Aileana never struck me as anything special. I liked that she invented her own weapons and other useful devices, though it always seems to come in as a side comment, something she just does (I wanted to know more about the inventions!) but otherwise she's a Faery hunter. A chosen one, the last of her "kind." And so she spends the book preparing to face the big bad and save the world. Woo... haven't seen that one before...

Honestly, I wanted Kiaran's story. He was mysterious enough to make me curious with this layer of humanity he tried to hide behind his Fae nature. His history starts revealing itself closer to the end but he (and Derrick, the pixie) held my attention over Aileana.

Then there was this romance-thing. It started out looking like there would be a love triangle between Aileana, Kiaran, and Gavin (her best friend's brother). Thankfully that wasn't the case but the way it's written that isn't really confirmed until later. But the romance that was there kind of caught me off guard in the "oh this is actually going to be a thing now" way. I was shipping them, don't get me wrong, but it was almost a zero to sixty scenario, with the world ending and whatnot, so it didn't feel real, if that makes sense.

Despite following the Chosen One trope and introducing what could have been a love triangle (the fact that it wasn't is a redeeming point but the lead-up to that particular reveal was annoying), I loved the way The Falconer took the Fae and twisted the legends into something new. I love all things faerie, especially the stories of the Seelie and Unseelie Courts, which are mentioned here so hoping to see more of them. Combined with the Scotland setting and the alternate history, I think the backdrop for this story was my favorite part.

As for the story, I liked the beginning because it did catch my attention. Then the story slowed down and nothing really happened. I mean, Faeries attacked but it was kind of the same thing over and over while the doomsday clock kept ticking and Aileana didn't move to stop it until the last minute. Then the end was one big action scene ending in a massive cliffhanger that I would assume was intended to make you NEED the next book, but I didn't feel that.

Honestly, I reached the end at felt a mild interest in the sequel but nothing stronger than that.

The Falconer had the potential but never quite reached it for me. Here's hoping The Vanishing Throne does a better job of holding my attention. This one was just an average fantasy.

The Falconer (The Falconer, #1)
by Elizabeth May
A powerful story of coming of age. Young Kam has been haunted by her mothers death, but its the secrets that she was keeping and what she was willing to risk for her daughter caused Kam the most struggle. Kam has had hard training for the last 6 months, she has learned to kill. The fae have comeback into the world their violent natures, and their appetite is unleashed on the world, and Kam is the last person who can stand up to them. But the book does not let it be a simple manner. A great book with lots of Steampunk twists and techniques.

Faeries like you've never imagined them meet steampunk in this first book in a series. I love a good series, and after reading The Falconer, I can't wait for the next book.

Fast-paced, dripping with fight scenes, and fae lore? Um, yes please. Sign me up! I greatly enjoyed the first book of the Falconer trilogy and I devoured it in just a couple of days. The battle scenes were well done, both inventive and exciting while also easy to follow. The heroine is feisty and bloodthirsty, something so many writers shy away from with strong women, not wanting to make them too rough around the edges. And, lore is exquisite and fascinating.

Now, for the downsides. The love triangle is silly. I didn't mind the quickness of the true romance's start (They're going to die. Wouldn't you just go for it too?) but the earl would be much better as just a friend looking out for Aileana than another love interest. Her lack of feelings for him would also strengthen the case for how she's changed since her mother's death. Then there is the cliff-hanger, which is a doozy. I get that it sells books but I already liked it based on the merits of the story. Instead, I sat there at the end wondering if my copy was complete (It's that abrupt.) which wasn't a great way to end the reading. There are some passages that are kind of repetitive as well which makes me think more editing might have been useful.

All in all though, I enjoyed the read and I already purchased books two and three. (Must know what happens to Derrick, above all else!) Despite my criticisms, the good parts of the book far outweigh them. It wouldn't be YA fiction if I didn't roll my eyes at a love triangle at least once.

Note: I received a free Kindle edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher Chronicle Books, and the author Elizabeth May, for the opportunity to do so.

"Blood. My need for vengeance exists because of the night I was baptized in it. I've always considered that to be my night of lasts---the last time I saw my mother alive, the last time I was a girl who had never seen violence. Now the darkness inside me wants little else than to kill again. I can't help but wonder if this is all I have left: the nightly hunt, all for that singular moment of intoxicating, all-consuming joy at the end."

Lady Aileana Kameron, the daughter of a Scottish marquess, has little to worry about in life. She has position and comfort, but also beauty and smarts. Living a life of extravagance can be set to ruin when something cruel, tragic, and terrifying happens.

She witnessed her mother's death by a faerie.

Encourage by revenge, Aileana funnels her emotions into hunting down not only her mother's killer, but faeries in general.

Set in the Victorian era, steampunk gadgets and folklore collide in a battle between humankind and faerie folk.

-------------------------------

I had so much fun with this read. Was it absolutely perfect? No. However, it's entertainment value was simply undeniable---and sort of bizarre. But oddity is a famed thing.

Aileana is the exact replica of what I imagine as the main character in a steampunk novel (even though this is the first "steampunk" book that I've read.) She is sweet, as little sassy, and very resourceful. Gliding around in opulent Victorian dresses by day, blood-seeking fae hunter by night.

Aileana leads us through a storybook of Scottish and Celtic folklore. From her pixie "friend" Derrick, to Kiaran theDaoine Sith, there are redcaps, revenants, and the like. We quickly get the picture that the fae are creatures not to be trifled with. Yet, that's exactly what Aileana does.

With the help of Kiaran, a not friend, but also not a foe, Aileana learns how to track and fight the different types of fae. However, Aileana's attraction to Kiaran is undeniable---but causes some obvious attention, seeing how he's a fae, and she human.

Luckily, there is no love triangle in this book. For a bit, I thought there would be, but the risk tamped down.

I really liked Kiaran's character. He reminds me a lot of Rhysand from A Court of Thorns and Roses series, but way better in my opinion. This book is more Young Adult reader appropriate than ACOTAR, as it was able to stay true to it's genre. Kiaran and Aileana's relationship is full of all different types of tension, and you don't quite know what will happen because of the many complications standing between them.

In regards to the steampunk aspect of it, I thought it was appropriately proportioned to the rest of the tale. Instead of taking the focus away from the main plot line, as I thought it would, it was a nice little icing that added some kicks to the overall plot. I mean, there was a steampunk metal horse and flying machines, fae-hunting gadgets, and Victorian ensembles!?

It was pretty cool.

I didn't find that the overall plot wasn't extremely complex, but I didn't seem to care much about that, because I was so caught up with just enjoying each facet of this book (especially the creatures of folklore.) The only part that really bothered me was the "war" towards the end...because there just wasn't much detail given about it. It seemed rushed, and somewhat forced. This is the main reason why I'm rating this 4 out of 5 stars. I needed more build up, backing, and complexity.

Overall, I liked this read, and am looking next to The Vanishing Throne.

Violence: Quite a bit - seeing how Aileana's main quest is to hunt and kill fae.
Vulgarity: I think there is some.
Sexual content: Kissing.

4 stars.