Set in Victorian-era Scotland and filled to the brim with fae, this is an historical steampunk fantasy adventure that will sweep you away.
Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, was destined for a life carefully planned around Edinburgh's social events - right up until a faery killed her mother.
Now it's the 1844 winter season and Aileana slaughters faeries in secret, in between the endless round of parties, tea and balls. Armed with modified percussion pistols and explosives, she sheds her aristocratic facade every night to go hunting. She's determined to track down the faery who murdered her mother, and to destroy any who prey on humans in the city's many dark alleyways.
But the balance between high society and her private war is a delicate one, and as the fae infiltrate the ballroom and Aileana's father returns home, she has decisions to make. How much is she willing to lose - and just how far will Aileana go for revenge?
Readers love The Falconer:
'I LOVED IT. I swallowed this book. Plain and simple. The quick pace was captivating, the descriptions and landscapes breathtaking and the heroine really badass!!' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'This book is so different in terms of what's out there in the YA market. I loved the historical aspect . . . Besides the bloody awesome fight scenes, if you guys know me, I'm all about the romance and the romance in this book is one of my favourite kinds' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'I found the storyline unique . . . I liked everyone in this book which usually doesn't happen . . . I loved the relationships . . . Overall, this was a great book' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'I was only a few pages into this book when I knew it was going to become a part of me . . . Elizabeth May has such a way with words, and she has woven a gorgeous tale full of adventure, magic, and romance' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'Annnnnnnd this book enters my top ten of favourites . . . Read this for the angsty fae goodness' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'THE FALCONER was PHENOMENAL!!! From its Scotland lure, to its vengeance and murder, to its THRILLING, action-packed adventure, and heart-pounding, slow burning romance' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'This book is action-packed with excellent character and relationship development, world-building, and witty repartee' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
I'm not entirely sure what to think of this book. I was really anticipating reading it. And it wasn't quiets as good as I'd hoped it would be, but once your expectations reach a certain level a thing can only really let you down. So part of it is on me.
Some things I really liked. It was funny and cute and witty. There were certainly some great moments.
But also it felt like Buffy and Supernatural and [b:The Season|3751593|The Season|Sarah MacLean|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1297370321l/3751593._SY75_.jpg|3795453] and I don't know if those are places she drew inspiration from or if they just left such an imprint on me that I'm conjuring the comparison. I'd like to think it's the latter because I'd hate to think once someone does something in a story, no matter what any does thereafter it will draw comparisons no matter how original they're trying to be.
I think my main issue was not connecting with the characters motivations. Elizabeth May did a fine job of explaining them, I just didn't understand them because they're not the choices I would have made. I don't understand why Gavin walked out of the room.
And I don't understand why she said she only had platonic affection for him when they flirted and were literally perfect for each other and moved in perfect harmony. And were so good together.
Though I suppose if I was the eighteen year old version of myself I might have preferred the alluring, mysterious guy I fought with.
Kieran made sense to me. He's like that line from Pirates of the Caribbean. "I'm dishonest. And you can always trust a dishonest man to be dishonest. Honestly, it's the honest ones you have to watch out for. You never know when they're going to do something stupid." Kieran had secrets and dodged the truth and had more character consistency than any of them. Except maybe Derrick.
And for most of the story I had no idea WHY they had to wait. It made sense in the end, but the way it was played there's no way any of the people insisting they had to wait would have known they had to wait. And even then, why wait until everyone's out? Why not just repair it as soon as possible? She tried to explain that but the plausibility was flimsy.
In the end, I think I would have liked it considerably more if I'd believed any of those things (the plot bit or Gavin). Or the clock bit - why running into a clock helped at all I didn't catch.
But I did like 85% of the characters and that one moment and a lot of the dialog. I'm curious to read the next one to see if it makes me like it all more or less. I didn't even mind the gigantic cliffhanger, though I think I'd seen that mentioned somewhere so I'd steeled myself.
