Dreamdark: Silksinger (Faeries of Dreamdark) (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5–9—In this second volume in the series, the adventures of Magpie and the other fairies of Dreamdark forest continue as they quest to find the remaining five djinn that created the world. Two legendary clans with special magical gifts, the Mothmage and the Silksingers, both long-thought extinct, reemerge as Magpie and her followers search for the djinn Azazel in Nazneen. Evil is brewing there, and many surprises await the fairy heroes as they try to protect the world's tapestry from unraveling. Silksinger defies genre barriers. It certainly feels like fantasy, but it has elements of adventure and horror as well. With excellent world-building and deft pacing, this story is difficult to put down. The characters are well developed, and their close relationships and rapid-fire dialogue enhance the story. Make no mistake, these are not girly Disney-esque creatures. Taylor's fairies are tough and can take care of themselves. Occasional sword violence is offset by a rigid respect for all life in this fairy culture. While Taylor does a good job of weaving details from the first book into the second, Silksinger will be best enjoyed if it is read in sequence. This is series fantasy at its best: readers who loved Blackbringer (Putnam, 2007) will certainly gobble up this installment.—Kristin Anderson, Columbus Metropolitan Library System, OH END

Review

"...another ripping yarn, once again taking readers into an uncommonly well-articulated world...where the fairies are anything but the sugarplum sort." --Kirkus, starred

"This is series fantasy at its best: readers who loved Blackbringer (Putnam, 2007) will certainly gobble up this installment." --School Library Journal

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 449 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile; 1 edition (September 17, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399246312
• ISBN-13: 978-0399246319
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #128,584 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtakingly Wonderful, September 17, 2009

By	Mary Kate (Wisconsin, USA) - See all my reviews

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I discovered the first novel in this series, Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer, in a used bookstore, picked it up, hesitated, read the flaps, hesitated again and then took a moment to read the prologue. I found it delightfully intriguing and happily, I made the choice to take it home. That moment of chance discovery and the choice to buy have proven to be lasting gifts. Blackbringer is one of my two or three favorite books of all time - and I'm over 50, so my `all-time' comprises quite a few years and thousands of books. I've been anticipating Silksinger like crazy; first, just to immerse myself once again in author Laini Taylor's gorgeous world and second, to discover if the second volume in this series could possibly live up to my (very high) expectations.

And, oh wow - it does that and more! Silksinger might, just might, be BETTER than Blackbringer. ** To my amusement, I feel a little disloyal even thinking that! Like maybe I should go stroke the cover of Blackbringer and assure it that I will never let another book usurp its place in my heart. I know, I know, I'm a little strange at times. :-)**

From the moving sacrifices of the opening chase to Whisper's gift of song at the close, Silksinger simply soars. Taylor's lyrical prose combined with her brilliant imagination, her ability to create unforgettable characters and her strong, solid plotting makes for a whole so magical it actually boggles my mind a little.

Silksinger has action and adventure and heroes of many different types - some quite unexpected - that are daring and determined. Some really nasty characters and the rather dark scenes they inhabit are balanced with humor and romance, magic, beauty, friendship and love. The story is involving and intricate, building beautifully on Blackbringer and hinting at what is to come.

In Silksinger, we are given the chance to revisit old friends and to meet a new group of fully developed and marvelously interesting characters. It would have been very easy for Taylor to make Whisper and Hirik only slightly altered clones of Magpie and Talon, but she avoids that, giving them their own personalities, suited to their back-stories. Whisper, in particular, is a somewhat non-traditional heroine and I think she (and her bravery) will appeal to many people, particularly children. Taylor's secondary characters continue to shine; I truly believe that a number of them could support their own books. (And the crows alone could have their own series!)

Taylor has also done an excellent job of developing a variety of different clans and societies in her stories, each with their own histories, which enriches the world of Dreamdark and gives it additional texture and depth. Happily, she manages to do this with a light touch, keeping the world building accessible to all ages.

As with Blackbringer, Jim Di Bartolo's illustrations - including his gorgeous cover art - enhanced my enjoyment. I also appreciated the "List of Plates" added in Silksinger. It makes locating the interior drawings quickly much easier.

Is Silksinger for kids? Yes. However, as mentioned above, IMO Silksinger is somewhat darker than Blackbringer which may affect its suitability for younger children. With only the smallest amount of editing, I read Blackbringer to my five year old granddaughter more than a year ago and she handled the scary parts just fine. I plan to hold off on reading Silksinger to her for another year or even two as I think she may find some of the scenes fairly disturbing. Kids in the intended age group of 9 - 12 should be fine with the more mature themes. As I often do, I suggest parents of younger children read the book first and use their own best judgment to determine if it suits their child's maturity level.

Is Silksinger for teens? Yes. It's a great story with stellar writing that will provide them with a break from the angsty romance currently so popular in young adult fiction. (Not that there's anything wrong with angsty romance!)

Is Silksinger for adults? Oh yes, most definitely yes. A novel this well-crafted is a delight for any age.

One note: If you haven't yet read Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer, I strongly suggest you do so before reading Silksinger. While Silksinger can certainly be enjoyed as a stand alone, I believe readers will take much more pleasure in it if they have knowledge of the history of Dreamdark as referenced in Blackbringer's pages.

My heart tells me this series is destined to become a classic. I know that, for me, it already has.

Very highly and joyfully recommended!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome - Even better than Blackbringer, September 28, 2009

By	E. Peck "JR Peck" (Orlando, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Blackbringer was an amazing book. That Taylor could create such a detailed and consistent world, populate it with such compelling characters and then fill it with such great story telling was quite a feat. I had the pleasure of getting a copy of Blackbringer and an ARC of Silksinger at the same time, so I read through them one right after the other. (Couldn't stop myself)

I would have to say that as awesome as Blackbringer is, Silksinger exceeds it. We find out even more about Taylor's world and the people in it. She covers classic themes and plots but brings them all alive in a new way. That is what a strong author can do. The pace was perfect, the tension and excitement non-stop. This is a book that I'll be holding onto, reading again and I am sure my kids will be doing the same.

Silksinger picks up almost immediately after Blackbringer. We catch up with old friends and meet some new ones along the way. The stakes are, if possible, higher this time around and we begin to gain a much deeper understanding of what shaped the world we found in the first book. The level of darkness is a touch higher and this may bump up the age at which kids are going to be able to understand and enjoy the book.

That said, Taylor doesn't compromise on treating her readers with respect. I appreciate that as I think children will too. ( I'm a 40 year old dad.) There's a high level of honesty in both these books that I don't see too much in stories for the younger set. I cannot wait to read the next book.

5.0 out of 5 stars great young teen quest fantasy, November 15, 2009

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The demon slayer faerie Magpie Windwitch has saved the Djinn Magruwen from the assault of malevolent "uncreator" Blackbringer. With her loyal crows, she believes she must find the other Djinn to keep them safe in order to save Dreamdark from the demonic horde. Maggie seeks Whisper Silksinger, the last of her faerie clan guardian who protects the Djinn Azazel.

The Silksinger has fled with Azazel inside her kettle as devils chase her. She reaches Nazneen where she hopes to return Azazel to the safety of his temple; not undertsnading betrayal also awaits them.

Hirik Mothmage is on a quest to take over the protection of Azazel from the Silksinger whether she acquiesces or not. He obsesses with returning honor to his abashed clan who allowed the assassination by noninvolvement of Fade the dragon.

These three Faeirie converge along with Prince Talon and others including vile demons trying to kill the Djinn. Egos clash among the faerie that could lead to failure of the prime mission to protect Azazel.

The sequel to the awesome BLACKBRINGER is a great young teen quest fantasy as once again the mythological species seem genuine. The story line is fast-paced with plenty of action starting with Whisper knowing death as being of two kinds, peaceful and violent with the latter seeming to be her destiny. Filled with battles and superegos clashing over what is right, fans will roots for the three faeries and their allies who must overcome their personal aspirations to be a hero in order to keep Azazel safe from the demonic horde.

Harriet Klausner