Customer Reviews

Faerie Tale

5 star:		(62)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

With "Faerie Tale," Feist allows his readers a glimpse into the world of Phil Hastings and family. Though not what one might call the typical American family, the author invokes our sympathy by making the Hastings family a realistic one (i.e. a divorced family with a teenager from one and two small children from another marriage). The Hastings clan makes the mistake of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. They become caught up in a situation that few could comprehend - indeed, the only person in the novel that has any conception of the situation is an old Irish alcaholic. Feist very cleverly weaves ancient Irish myth and modern life together in a work that keeps its reader on the edge of his seat. This book is a terrific example of today's industrialized society clashing with the gods of yesterday. It is a ghost story that reminds us that some things from the past are best left unknown. This was the first book I read by Mr. Feist and I belive it to be the best of his works. In my career as a bookseller, I recommended this book dozens of times and have never come across anyone that was able to stop reading. I forced all of my colleagues at the bookstore to read it and years later, they still recommend it. In fact, I think I may be personally responsible for keeping this book on the shelf! If you enjoyed any of Feist's other works, I strongly suggest you try "Faerie Tale." Fans of the suspense/horror genre will also find this an entrancing read. I have been an avid reader for many years and this book has definitely made my top ten, if not my top five.

Let me cut to the chase. I loved this book! I simply could not put it down. I only lament the fact that I had left it sitting unread on my bookshelf for years. It is really unlike anything else I have ever before read. The book that comes closest is "The Stolen Child" by Keith Donohue. So, if you enjoyed that book, you will definitely enjoy this one.

In this book, the author, who is renowned for his epics in the fantasy genre, gives the reader a contemporary tale interspersed with elements of fantasy and horror. Well-written and highly imaginative, the author fully engages the reader with this finely crafted story about a family that, seeking respite from the pressures of our modern day world, moves from California to a small hamlet in upstate New York. Little do they know that their new home, set in a bucolic, rural setting, is really a gateway to another world, one that is inhabited by creatures of ancient lore. They will soon discover that looks can be deceiving and that ancient forces are at work all around them.

Be prepared to be swept away by magical portents and a faerie world that exists side by side with our world. Know that the battle between good and evil is ever present. This is a wonderfully told tale of a family that finds itself engulfed by events beyond their ken. So skillfully does the author tell this dark, well-crafted story that the unbelievable quickly becomes believable, fully engaging the reader in an absorbing book that the reader will find impossible to put down. Bravo!

Faerie Tale is a fast-paced, compelling story about a family who encounters the ancient mythic race known as faeries in modern upstate New York. It begins, as do many tales of the supernatural, when the family buys an old house in the country. The Hastings are an affluent family; Phil is a successful writer, his wife Gloria a former actress. They have a pair of twins, Sean and Patrick, who love to play baseball and hike in the woods. Phil's daughter Gabbie (from a previous marriage) is an heiress from a wealthy family on her mother's side. Unusual things begin to occur in and around the house. The twins sense a dark, evil presence beneath the aptly named Troll Bridge. Gabbie is almost raped my a mysterious man who then vanishes into the woods. The Hastings learn that the house was previously owned by someone with ties to a secret society that dabbled in the occult. What I like best about the novel are the vivid descriptions of the faeire folk and their mysterious behavior. Feist packs the story with a lot of genuine folklore. By the end, some of this gets mixed up in original and probably not historically accurate ways, but that's not a problem with a fantasy. I found the mundane aspects of the book less compelling than the supernatural. The family interaction sometimes seems a little too stereotypical. Some of the plot devices, such as Gabbie meeting the love of her life practically the day the family moves in, seemed a bit contrived to me. Another thing that I found annoying, which probably won't bother many readers, is the way the Hastings seem gratuitously rich. It seems that some books and movies give characters lots of money simply because the public enjoys being exposed to wealth. To me, this actually lessens the story to some extent, as it makes the characters less vulnerable; they could always buy another house and move if things get too scary. I found the excursions into Otherworlds and the vivid descriptions of the faerie folk to be original and exciting. Hastings also portrays the faerie world as very sexual, something not often focused on in this type of tale, and which adds another dimension. There is much here to recommend for fans of fantasy, Celtic mythology and faeries.

And, as I'm sure you might guess by reading the generally good reviews for the books of Raymond E. Feist, his books are in fact pretty good. I certainly like them. And I loved this one.

It is not his typical fantasy book, though, so readers of his other works should keep that in mind. This book is more of a cross between modern suspense/horror and fantasy. It is a great read, one of those hard to put down kinda books. Mr. Feist weaves a delightful tale that will thrill you page after page.

He has a very interesting idea about how things might be with regards to the 'handling' of supernatural events, also. I won't say more, so as not to spoil anything, as this part of the tale comes at the end. But if you are intrigued by the concept, other writers such as Katherine Kurtz sort of work a similiar idea in some of their tales.

At any rate, this is one of my favorite books to recommend, so that is what I shall do. Recommend it to you!

When Phillip Hastings moves his family from California to upstate New York, he believes that he is moving them to an area of peace and quiet. Little does Phil know that his new (old) house is build upon Erl King Hill, literally "Hill of the Elf King." Faeries dwell in the vicinity, and these are not the cute little pixies of science fiction, but the mischievous creatures that haunt the dark corners of folklore. A particularly evil faerie has plans for the Hastings family...nightmarish plans.

I must admit to some apprehension when it comes to reviewing this book. I found the book to be very intense, going far beyond any of Mr. Feist's other books...

This book is quite intense, swaying as it does between fantasy and horror. And yet, I enjoyed almost every minute of it. Mr. Feist is a highly talented author, and this book is shows his talents off masterfully. I highly recommend this book.

Now I must admit, I nearly put the book back on the shelf after seeing the cover. Im glad nothing else caught my interest at the library that day.

I have had no feelings on Faeries, good or bad. Outside of Peter Pan and Tinkerbell, my interest in them is very limited. However, after reading this book, I have begun researching the folklore attached to them. To me, a book that makes me do this is a good one. I want to know more, as Feist has inspired a new interest in my life. I am a horror fan, never fantasy, but nothing is scarier than the beliefs of those before us, who lived in a time when everything was magic. Feist brings that magic back.

I am an avid reader of fiction and this novel was by far one of the best I have ever read! This is one of those books that I absolutely could not put down. Feist plays upon the natural human instict to be mesmerized by the power of the mystical and the unknown. The book deals with both the enchantment and the horror of the "faeries". Some are good; some are evil. These creatures (although they have a magical world of their own) enjoy playing in our world and strive to obtain our attention. The book has moments of horror, heroism, mystery, and a touch of erotic interaction (which only makes the book better in my opinion). I would definitely recommend this book to any reader that is interested in the supernatural and the unknown. Superb, Superb, Superb!

I read Robert Feist's "Faerie Tale" during my senior year of high school. I was in the library and grabed a book off the shelf while I was between classes. For the next several days I couldnt put it down, it was one of the most entertaining books I have ever read. Every free moment I had, my nose was in that book. At night I would stay awake until my eyes hurt and I couldnt see straight. Then I'd go get some water, rub my eyes and keep reading until I fell asleep.
After I finished I looked for other books on the same subject and all I could find were the same stories and behaviors we hear from Disney. Robert Feist does a wonderful job describing the darker side of our faerie tales. If you're interested in this dark side, this is an excellent book for you.

Where did the Faerie Kingdom disappear too? Maybe it's in your backyard!

Raymond Feist spins an interesting tale in this novel, revolving around twin 8 year old boys and their family. The Hastings move from California to rural New York and soon get caught up in an ancient struggle with the dark faeries.

Mystery and terror abound in this well written tale. Mr Feist puts a new spin on the "Faerie Tale". If you have any interest in Celtic mythology or just like a good Horror/Fantasy read, then this book is a must. You'll soon begin to wonder just what might be in the woods out back.

Enjoy
Fantasy Fanatic

This novel by Raymond Feist was absolutely fantastic. It is nice because it not part of a sage or triology and stands completely on it's own. This time, I only wish there was a sequel! I enjoyed it that much. It does NOT make up a fantasy world you are sent to, but instead you are in current time and place for the novel. (Our real world to be exact, which happens to be New York State) It is entirely enthralling how the faerie realm invades the family seemingly calm and rich life. A must for a great entertaining read.