Deirdre Monaghan is alone in the girls' bathroom, throwing up before a performance (she always throws up before she has to play in front of an audience), when Luke Dillon appears. It's odd that she didn't hear him come in, yes -- but then, she was rather distracted -- it's odd that he's in the girls' bathroom, yes -- but then, he said that he heard her in there -- but what's oddest of all (odd as odd, as Luke would say) is that she's never met him before, but that she's dreamed about him. Odder than that, even, is that she doesn't really find it all that odd. Along those same lines, a bit later:
Before he shut the passenger door behind me, I briefly smelled a snatch of herbal fragrance in the summer air, quite apart from Luke's odor or the usual asphalt stench of Dave's parking lot. And then I realized I didhave a third secret to go with my key: there was some sort of danger gathering around me, but I wasn't afraid.
Where to begin? Faeries, an assassin, telekinesis, a love triangle so good that I couldn't decide which couple to root for (though I do feel myself leaning in a very definite direction), prose with a rhythm and cadence and dreamlike quality that fit the chock-full of Celtic folklore storyline but that still felt that it fit in the here and now, a heroine who is bright and likable and who, though she is attracted to a beautiful boy, doesn't lose her own self because of it (*cough* Bella Swan *cough*). Lament is very definitely a must-read for fans of Melissa Marr and other stories about the dark and dangerous side of Faerie.
Oh, sounds like a good book! I have never heard of it before. I see that she another book coming out soon.
Posted by: kailana | 04 February 2009 at 12:36 PM
**sigh**
Poor James, though. Poor, poor James. I really need Maggie to GET ON WITH THE SEQUEL already, because I need to know what becomes of my J-boy.
Posted by: TadMack | 04 February 2009 at 01:35 PM
Oh I am SO stoked for BALLAD to come out, because James' voice was incredibly fun to write (and look, pretty cover!).
And Leila, I'm kind of in love with this review. It makes me want to go out and read it, and then I get all disappointed because I remember I wrote it.
Posted by: Maggie Stiefvater | 04 February 2009 at 01:45 PM
I knew you'd like this one. And I'm with TadMack - I want to know what's up with James, too. And whether or not Deirdre gets to see Luke again. And stuff. But it's not out until September or something equally horrid.
Posted by: Kelly Fineman | 04 February 2009 at 01:57 PM
You're reviewing all of my favorite books this week!
I love love loved this when I read it and am looking forward to her sequel due out in October.
Posted by: faith | 04 February 2009 at 01:59 PM
oooohhhh. Leila what are you doing to me?! I already have too many things to read...
Posted by: Heidi | 04 February 2009 at 07:37 PM
So glad you enjoyed this one! It's one of my favorite 2008 reads. I see I'm going to have to reread it though. I was in love with Luke, but everywhere I turn, people seem to love James.
Posted by: Laura | 05 February 2009 at 03:26 PM
Sounds delectable. Must force my librarians to purchase it. :)
Posted by: Sarah I. | 06 February 2009 at 12:22 PM
Yes! Not losing herself because of her love for Luke was one of the things I loved most about the book, too. Among many other things. :-)
Posted by: darla d | 28 July 2009 at 07:14 PM
i love luke!! he is my favorite. does he appear at all in Ballad?? i hope so. im gonna cry if he isnt.
Posted by: rachel | 10 October 2009 at 10:01 PM