13 Curses

By Michelle Harrison (June 7^th 2011, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)

Book description:

Weeks after a horrible car accident left Red an orphan, her baby brother James is taken by fairies.  For nearly two years, Red has toiled to find a way to retrieve her brother. But when her chance comes and she finals finds herself in the fairy realm, she is kidnapped by an evil witch.

Back in Elvesden Manor, things are back to normal for Tanya – that is, until Warwick, the grounds keeper, falls into a fairy ring and is spirited away to the fairy realm.

In the fairy realm Red and Warwick find each other, and journey to the fairy court to try and find James. But things aren’t as they seem, and when Red strikes a deal with fairies, she gets more than she bargained for… 

Pros:

Red is the undeniable star of 13 Curses. I’d had some reservations about the author’s decision to change the protagonist mid-series (13 Treasures follows Tanya’s story) but I need not have worried.

Red, or Rowan Fox, is more than a worthy heroine: brave, intelligent, resourceful, and eternally dedicated to getting her brother James back. There is much to love and admire about her.  Not only was she an excellent hero, but a complex character as well. There is a certain harshness about her that the author wisely maintains throughout both books which I felt made her more empathic and realistic, considering her situation.

The secondary characters are excellent, too, from kind Tanya to brave Warwick. The only complaint I have is that I wish there was more about Raven and Gredin, Tanya’s fey guardians.

If I had to choose, I would say plot was the aspect I enjoyed most. Despite being over 500 pages long, 13 Curses is a tight story, full of intrigue and secrets. Even when Harrison goes back to tell Rowan’s story, none of it feels derivative or irrelevant.

Cons:

There are some events that felt a bit contrived to me, like how Warwick ends up in the fairy realm for, example. I felt that it happened far too easily, which was quiet unbelievable, considering Warwick’s expansive experience with fairies.

Also, some of the dialogue was a little too info-dumpy. There were several instances of page-long chunks of dialogue that made the characters sound like robots rather than people.

The ending was also a problem for me. (Possible spoilers) I felt that the author just wanted to get rid of James, and chose a rather heartless way of doing it. It was especially cruel considering that Red had dedicated every waking moment of the last two years to retrieve him.

Though I personally don’t believe it’s a weakness, it’s important to consider who to give this book to. Since 13 Curses is quiet dark and scary in some instances, it may not be suitable for very young readers. 

Verdict:

Darkly magical, thrillingly plotted, and well executed, 13 Curses is a star entry in an already excellent series.

 Rating: (8/10)

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MMGM: Thirteen Treasures

by Michelle Harrison

(April 12^th 2010, Little, Brown Books)

 Book Description:

Thirteen-year-old Tanya has an unusual gift: she can see fairies. When she’s sent off to her grandmother’s manor in the country after yet another incident involving them, she discovers a fifty-year-old secret whose ramifications still haunt her family. With the assistance of Fabian, the groundskeeper’s son, she must unravel the mystery of the disappearance of Morwenna Bloom and stop her legacy for destroying Tanya’s family forever.

Pros:

13 Treasures is an atmospheric fantasy that’s chock-full of fairy lore – perfect for days when you want a dark (but kid-friendly) fantasy. The mystery of Morwenna Bloom’s disappearance at the center of it all is well constructed and fascinating. The inclusion of members of Tanya’s grandmother’s household also means more risks and a personal stake in the solving of the mystery. Michelle Harrison’s use of fairy lore here, while not unique, is great. It’s difficult to make small creatures like the fey seem dangerous, but she does an admirable job of it. So many other concepts here are also superb. My favorites are the Seelie and Unseelie Courts and the thirteen treasures, but there are some others that almost as great.

Tanya makes for a good, if unremarkable, heroine; but the real stand-outs here are sharp-as-a-whip Fabian and dauntless, single-minded Red. Their support of the story as it progresses decreases boredom with slower-moving portions of the plot and adds much-needed zest.

The portrayal of abusive and unhealthy relationships is well-calibrated, as is the treatment of the negligent parental relationships (with one major exception). The author never sets out to vilify or demonize, as is common. Rather, she demonstrates the consequences of such relationships on people earnestly. There’s some emotional resonance here as well. The near-perpetual fear that Tanya experiences is realistic, and Red’s sacrifice at the end of the book is surprising, but is, at last, moving. The finale is brilliant and delivers non-stop action until the bittersweet, mostly-conclusive ending.

Cons:

Much of the writing in 13 Treasures is the stilted prose of a writer who hasn’t quite found her style yet. When Harrison attempts to craft more sophisticated prose it ends up feeling inorganic and flat. This severely affects the treatment of the emotions of characters in that she often tells instead of showing.

I felt that Tanya’s mother’s decision to (temporarily) abandon her child during a difficult time is an appalling, messy plot contrivance. It’s doubly offensive considering the significantly harsher treatment of the less-bad relationship between Fabian and Warwick.

Also, the first half of the book is far too uneventful. Much of what occurs could have easily been compressed significantly. In fact, I’m sure it could have been cut down by half.

Harrison’s dialogue, while good in general, can sometime falter in that characters will often make long, rehearsed-sounding, info-dump-laden speeches. This becomes specifically irritating during the ending where the antagonists obligingly explain in detail their plans to the protagonists.

Verdict:

With its atmospheric setting, magic, and mostly-engaging plot, 13 Treasures is a flawed but ultimately satisfying tale that will make readers impatient for future volumes. This promising first book will appeal to fans of the Spiderwick Chronicles and British manor fantasies.

Rating: (6.5/10)

Get 13 Treasures on Book Depository. 

For more excellent MG book recommendations, go to Shannon Messenger's blog.

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