Dreamdark: Silksinger (Faeries of Dreamdark) (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

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

Product Description

One faerie, the last of her clan, must fight to complete her sacred duty

Whisper Silksinger is the last of the secret guardians of the Azazel, one of the powerful Djinn who dreamed the world into being. Relentlessly pursued by bloodthirsty devils, she flees to the city of Nazneen to restore the Azazel to his temple. At the same time, Hirik Mothmage is also on a secret quest, to find the Azazel and restore his disgraced clanÂ’s ancient honor.

And behind them all flies Magpie Windwitch, first champion of the new age of faeries, desperate to rescue Whisper and the Azazel alike before they fall in the clutches of a sinister hidden enemy.

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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 (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #26,855 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 All of my fingers are crossed for more Dreamdark novels!, October 11, 2009

By	Stephanie Perkins (North Carolina) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I LOVE this book. Silksinger is a sequel to Blackbringer -- only much, much more. The reader easily slides back into the fantastic world she created in the first Dreamdark novel, and then is catapulted into a story brimming with new secrets, quests, unusual creatures, and exotic settings. And the characters! I'm always drawn to books with strong characters, and the new additions -- especially Whisper and Hirik -- are just as intriguing and layered as Magpie and Talon. Like in Blackbringer, elements of horror and romance are intertwined with the fantasy, and it's all wrapped up with fabulous illustrations, beautiful prose, and a clever dialect/dialogue. I sincerely hope with the release of two new books this autumn, more people will discover Laini Taylor's work.