The Chronicles of Faerie: The Summer King [Hardcover]

O.R. Melling (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Chronicles of Faerie

Sequel to the critically-acclaimed The Hunter's Moon

This second book in a series "shimmering with magic, myth, and romance" (Booklist), follows sixteen-year-old Laurel as she tries to understand the cause of her twin sister's mysterious death. Honor believed in Faerie, a parallel land of mischievous immortals. Laurel doesn't. That is, until the fairies come and ask her to take up her sister's failed quest to find the Summer King, a lord who can light the midsummer fire that keeps the two worlds, human and Faerie, cleaved. Laurel must decide to help those whose cause killed her sister, and, in the process, come to believe that there is still magic-and love-in the world.

Lush descriptions of Ireland and Celtic lore make this a satisfying read for travelers to other lands, real and mythic.

Praise for The Hunter's Moon

*"A compelling blend of Irish mythology and geography." - School Library Journal (starred review)

"...[This] sensation-loaded celebration of Ireland and Faerie will be a powerful draw for many readers." - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up–A story that is lyrical and mesmerizing in subject and scope. In the year since her twin sister's death, practical and pragmatic Laurel has had dreams filled with fairies, giant birds, and questions about a king. While back in Ireland at her grandparents' home for Honor's memorial service, Laurel encounters a messenger from the Fairie realm who tells her that to save Honor, she must find the Summer King to light the Midsummer Fire. Hoping to bring her sister back, Laurel forces herself to share Honor's belief in Fairie and enlists the help of Ian, the village bad boy. Their relationship is complicated by the fact that she was on a date with him the day Honor died by falling off a cliff wall into the ocean. While trying to complete their task in the allotted time, they encounter a cluricaun who may or may not be telling them all he knows, ravens trying to stop them from freeing the Summer King, and unexpected things about Ian's true nature. Melling has taken Irish folklore and made it not only accessible, but also alive to readers unfamiliar with the stories. Through Laurel, an athlete who never had time for the fantasies that Honor loved so much, the tales are introduced seamlessly. Laurel's anger and indecision about being with Ian and his volatile anger bring these characters to life. An essential purchase for fantasy collections in which Tamora Pierce is popular.–Lisa Prolman, Greenfield Public Library, MA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 8-11. Nearly a year after the death of her twin sister, Honor, 18-year-old Laurel travels from America to her grandparent's home in Ireland to nurse her grief. Pragmatic Laurel had teased Honor about her interest in fairies and magic. Then Laurel begins to believe, too, after a leprechaun-like fellow appears and promises to restore her sister's life if Laurel embarks on a dangerous quest to save the imperiled realm of Faerie. Fans of Melling's first title in the Chronicles of Faerie, The Hunter's Moon (2005), will recognize similarly thrilling action, fascinating Irish mythology, and magnificently detailed magic as Laurel races to resolve an ancient feud and reunite with her sister. Some readers may find the crowded plot, which moves breathlessly between ever enfolding worlds--mortal and immortal, primordial and modern--a "bit of a head stagger," as one character says. Even so, readers will be easily caught by the continuous, heart-pounding suspense; the twists and romances; and the heroine, who is both a grieving, contemporary teen and an invincible rescuer of worlds. A glossary of Irish terms is appended. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 380 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams; First Edition, First Printing edition (May 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810959690
• ISBN-13: 978-0810959699
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,208,465 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great Faerie tale!, July 20, 2006

By 

Hobbitgirl - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Chronicles of Faerie: The Summer King (Hardcover)

I enjoyed The Summer King much more than Melling's previous book, Hunter's Moon. While Hunter's Moon shared the same magical Irish atmosphere, the characters had less depth and its sugary sweet ending really disappointed me. I had been expecting a more sophisticated conclusion.

The Summer King delivered exactly what had been missing from the previous book. More exitement, more developed characters, and a wonderful bittersweet conclusion to the story. All in all a very powerful fantasy.

I can't wait for the next installment in the series.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Death does not part them, May 17, 2007

By 

R. Kyle (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Summer King (The Chronicles of Faerie) (Paperback)

Almost a year after her twin sister's death, Laurel returns to Ireland to find out why. What killed her bookish, honor student sister who believed in faeries? And--if what the fae are telling her is true--can she really get Honor back?

O. R. Melling is the real deal. She's Irish, she speaks the language, and she's studied the myths. When she writes about Ireland, she takes you there--and you don't want to leave. Go Underhill with Melling and other faery tales will not seem quite so real.

While this book is written for YA audiences, I think it's a compelling story for all ages and well worth the read. I plan on passing my copy along to a 13 year old niece and I'll get her the rest of the series as well.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Death is not the enemy, September 10, 2006

By 

Sheila Ruth "Editor, WandsAndWorlds.com" (Baltimore, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Chronicles of Faerie: The Summer King (Hardcover)

Like its predecessor, "The Hunter's Moon," "The Summer King" is a beautiful and lyrical tale of the relationship between human and Faerie. With death as a major theme, The Summer King has a dark poignancy that touches the heart.

Melling's vivid imagery brings to life both Ireland and the Faerie places. The story has romance, excitement, adventure, and even a pirate: Grace O'Malley, Ireland's 16th century female pirate. The fairies come in a variety of forms: from the tricky but humorous cluricaun to the beautiful, frightening sea fairies known as the boctogai; from the dark Summer King to Midir, the noble faerie High King.

The Summer King is linked in some ways to The Hunter's Moon, but it's an independent story that can be read on its own. Melling deliberately wrote the books in the series so that each could be read independently.