The Last Changeling - Chelsea Pitcher

Elora is unhappy with her mother's, the Dark Queens, rule, so she's conspired with the Bright Queen to overthrow her. The Bright Queens wants an offering in return, Elora has to find a human boy who's a 'young leader of men' and bring him to her (God knows what she plans to do with him). As this obviously shows that the Bright Queen's rule will be splendidly peaceful and a huge improvement from the Dark Queen's, Elora decides to go undercover at the local high school to find just such a specimen. Real undercover, and flying around at night like real humans do all the time...

 

I'm not sure about The Last Changeling. On one hand it's definitely the best of the numerous faery books I've read this year (like Undertow, Faelorehn and The Winter People), probably because it doesn't focus on whiny girls who suddenly get stalked by too-goo-to-be-true guys. The story itself might not be the most original premise, but I was still interested in just how it would be done this time. I also liked the diversity of the characters, which might be in a wheelchair or LGTB.

 

But the characters in the end felt a bit flat. Like the ideas were good but it needed a bit more to make it feel real. Quite a large part of the book is actually about saving Prom, which wasn't what I was expecting in this fantasy novel. The ending was a bit messy for my liking and left me a bit confused. I think the second really will be necessary to figure out where the story is going. And, don't get me started about the romance. Of course you take the random girl you just met into your home because she's got no place to go, is perfectly normal. Even if she disappears at night. Just insta-love her and all will be fine. She would never take advantage of you! Oh, wait...

 

The Last Changeling is the first book in the Faerie Revolutions series.

 

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.