The Faerie Ring (Faerie Ring, #1)

by Kiki Hamilton

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...

• ISBN10: 0765327228
• ISBN13: 9780765327222
• Publish Date: 27 September 2011
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 6 November 2013
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Tor Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 352
• Language: English

Reviews

[tweetybugshouse]

I really liked the setting of this book you can really see all the places that tiki and the other characters visit in London. Their are some great one liners that make you chuckle like right at the start when tiki steals the ring and escapes out of the huge house only to find out it was Buckingham Palace and she stolen the Queens ring. The love interest was nicely done not taking over the whole story and keeping it flowing along nicely. I was a bit disappointed that end did not have some huge climax that made me want to dive in to the next book right off i really like when the author leaves me gasping and like wanted to dive head first into the rest of the series. I am intrigued to find out more about tiki connection with the fae world and this ring that is holding the war at bay.

[Kelsenator]

For the full review check out my blog Kelsey's Cluttered Bookshelf.

I bought this for myself back in November, because I liked the looks of the cover, and I was hearing good reviews for it. I really loved reading this book, it was worth the purchase and I really can’t wait for the next one in the series.

I wasn’t sure at first how they would mix together, but Faeries and old London was a good choice. There was a map included, and I love when authors do that, it helps me visualize their adventures more.

I really liked the character of Tiki, seeing how she had to pick pocket for a life after her parents died, all while dealing with a stolen ring and Faeries that keep popping up. Rieker and Leo were also interesting characters, and they just kept me engaged with the book, not knowing what Rieker was really up to, and Prince Leo who was trying so hard to get the ring back for his family. The other support characters were interesting as well, pick pocket orphans who live with Tiki, helping each other so they can survive.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys Faeries, a bit of 1870′s London, and of course adventure. A very good book for a debut author!!

[bookishzelda]

For some reason the synopsis of this book didn't grab me but the cover and great reviews did. I can't fathom why though, I love Historical Fiction and Fantasy and this book has both. Victorian London is such a great setting for a book like The Faerie Ring and Kiki Hamilton does a great job transporting us there. Not only does she do a great job describing the setting, there is a map provided at the beginning of the book and in the Authors notes at the end she tells you that you can visit the sites if you happen to be in London. If it were possible I would be on the next plane so I could I hang out in St. James Park and look for the fey.


Tiki was a great protagonist. She was strong and witty from the beginning and an expert at picking pockets. Which I have a suspicions that more about her talents will be revealed in later books. I felt like she was a more well rounded character. Her desire for a better life and sometimes just wanting to be a girl in pretty dresses. We see some sparks of jealousy that make her do silly things. Of course it always easy to bond with a character who spends her time in a bookshop. Rieker is of course dark and mysterious, who doesn't love that. I like the way he interacts with Tiki and that you can tell he is somewhat enchanted with her, even if he doesn't blatantly show it. The way the characters play off each other is what makes it believable. One of my favorite parts is when Tiki is trying to explain an argument that she has with him. Leo, Fiona, Shamus and Clara add depth to the story. I enjoyed the characters different qualities as well.


The plot flowed seamlessly. I had a hard time putting the book down. I would find myself reading over a hundred pages without even realizing it. Then I would be sad realizing I was getting close to the end. I'm so glad there are more books in the series otherwise I would be devastated. The way Kiki wraps up this book makes it so if you don't want to read the rest of the series you don't really have to. There was a good balance of unanswered questions and resolution but I'm not sure why anyone would want to stop. I'm excited to find out more about Tiki's life. In London and in the Otherworld. Now I just have to anxiously wait for the next book.

[Suz @ Bookish Revelations]

The Faerie Ring is a fantasy set against the late 18oo's backdrop of Victorian London, involving a Prince, a theif, and a pauper who are basically supposed to secure a treaty. But, this treaty isn't just any kind - it's a treaty meant to keep the peace between the Fey and the Royals. When the ring is stolen, however, it becomes a different story and disasterous things such as war, could come to pass if it's not returned to Queen Victoria.

Hamilton did a magnificent job of combining some of my favorite elements into a novel consisting of fantasy lore, magical realms, dangerous adventure, historical elements, memorable characters, and romance all into one fast paced intriguing, well developed novel. I love that the historical aspects of The Faerie Ring were spot on and that it carried over into the dialouge between the character's. There were just so many exciting details about The Faerie Ring that I found to be amazing and very much captivating.

I fell in love with the magical realms and the world building that Hamilton successfully pulled off so flawlessly. Her attention to detail and historical accuracy, set the tone for The Faerie Ring early on and was able to keep me captivated with her unique turn of phrase, beautiful imagery, and clever plot twists. It's not hard to lose yourself in this spectacular novel filled with two world's colliding - one magical, while the other is completely unforgiving in its lesson's on survival.

One of them, belonged to the character's. Tiki, is such a wonderful, likeable, and very relatable character. She was strong, indepenent, a bit fiesty, and came with mystery and intrigue all her very own. She possessed such a compassionate quality about her, with regards to her self-made rag-tag little family that she'd somehow created for herself. The lengths that she went to, in order to ensure that Clara was safe and had gotten the medical attention that she so desperately needed, was endearing and pulled at my heart strings in so many ways.

I also enjoyed the fact that there was so much more to Reiker and that Tiki, in time, got to see that for herself in getting to know him throughout all the action and adventure. It was enjoyable to witness their verbal sparring and to see how protective he was of her. Their budding romance, was sweet and irresistable as well and I found myself rooting for these two consistently throughout the novel.

Vastly suspenseful and filled with dark enthralling mystery and magical peril, The Faerie Ring will keep you up all night until the last page is turned. This is easily a five star novel. The Faerie Ring is an epic adventure that you will not want to miss out on.