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Faery Rebels #3
Arrow
Rhosmari has lived her whole life on a sheltered chain of faery islands. But with the Empress's power growing, and her desire to enslave the entire faery race becoming a reality, Rhosmari knows she must fight back.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 6, 2011
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2,946 people want to read
About the author
R.J. Anderson
16Ìýbooks1,469ÌýfollowersR.J. (Rebecca) Anderson was born in Uganda, raised in Ontario, and has spent much of her life dreaming of other worlds entirely. She is the author of ten traditionally published fantasy/SF books for children and teens, including the UK-bestselling faery romance KNIFE. Her latest published book is TORCH (Book 3 of the Flight and Flame trilogy, which began with SWIFT and NOMAD).
* * * REVIEW POLICY * * *
I review books that I enjoyed reading and think other readers may enjoy as well, but that doesn't mean I agree with or endorse those books in every respect. If you're concerned about content, please check out other reviewers or sites that provide detailed warnings.
I'm no longer giving star ratings as I don't find them nuanced enough, but for books I've already rated, see below:
5 stars: I loved this book so much that I expect to read it again and again -- I reserve this rating for beloved classics and books that knocked my socks off.
4 stars: I really enjoyed the book and/or thought it was excellently done -- there is a good possibility that I'll re-read it.
3 stars: I enjoyed the book and thought it was well done. Should not be taken as belittling the book or its author -- it really does mean "I liked it".
2 stars: I didn't connect to this book as I'd hoped. This category includes books by authors whose other works I truly love, so it's not a dealbreaker. Just found this particular book wasn't for me.
1 star/DNF: Definitely not for me. But I won't be reviewing it because I choose to focus on books I enjoy.
* * * REVIEW POLICY * * *
I review books that I enjoyed reading and think other readers may enjoy as well, but that doesn't mean I agree with or endorse those books in every respect. If you're concerned about content, please check out other reviewers or sites that provide detailed warnings.
I'm no longer giving star ratings as I don't find them nuanced enough, but for books I've already rated, see below:
5 stars: I loved this book so much that I expect to read it again and again -- I reserve this rating for beloved classics and books that knocked my socks off.
4 stars: I really enjoyed the book and/or thought it was excellently done -- there is a good possibility that I'll re-read it.
3 stars: I enjoyed the book and thought it was well done. Should not be taken as belittling the book or its author -- it really does mean "I liked it".
2 stars: I didn't connect to this book as I'd hoped. This category includes books by authors whose other works I truly love, so it's not a dealbreaker. Just found this particular book wasn't for me.
1 star/DNF: Definitely not for me. But I won't be reviewing it because I choose to focus on books I enjoy.
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October 5, 2010I am as proud of this book as I am of anything I've ever written. I hope those who've enjoyed the first two in the series will find it a satisfying resolution!
July 9, 2022
AH! YES! The super, duper amazing finale to this super, duper amazing series!! I'm in LOVEE! Also, Martin! ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜
Sorry, but this series is highly recommended! Especially this third one! So epic! So worth it!
Content warnings: I would highly recommend the No Ordinary Fairy Tale series as well as Anderson’s Flight and Flame Trilogy to all individual readers 10+ and also to parents looking for a read aloud for slightly younger children.
Sorry, but this series is highly recommended! Especially this third one! So epic! So worth it!
Content warnings: I would highly recommend the No Ordinary Fairy Tale series as well as Anderson’s Flight and Flame Trilogy to all individual readers 10+ and also to parents looking for a read aloud for slightly younger children.
September 17, 2017
The exposition for race in this book is literally the best I've ever seen it. This is a book with a black female protagonist with an interracial romance. I really did not appreciate this diversity when I was 11 but now. Oh man. It's so good.
I also like the slightly religious moral undertones of this whole series. They're not in your face there, but it does a lot to show people being kind to one another and helping strangers. Choosing to do the right thing and be honest, that sort of stuff. Again, I never picked up on it when I was younger so it's obviously not that overt, but this time I could really appreciate the subtleties.
This was always my favourite book of the series. The opening is so enticing and the world building is just there. And it strikes the balance between Rhosmari's personal growth (justly giving her a focus) while also raising the stakes for The Final Battle.
I also like the slightly religious moral undertones of this whole series. They're not in your face there, but it does a lot to show people being kind to one another and helping strangers. Choosing to do the right thing and be honest, that sort of stuff. Again, I never picked up on it when I was younger so it's obviously not that overt, but this time I could really appreciate the subtleties.
This was always my favourite book of the series. The opening is so enticing and the world building is just there. And it strikes the balance between Rhosmari's personal growth (justly giving her a focus) while also raising the stakes for The Final Battle.
November 21, 2023
I will fight anyone who criticizes this series. Not that I know anyone who has, but still.
Again, I had a bit of a struggle with the early part of this third and final installment, adjusting to the new main character and being away from Oakhaven (and knowing from having read the companion trilogy first that ). It was really once we got back to the Oak that the story started to sing for me. I'm just a massive fan of the faeries of the Oakenwyld; while other settings are conjured well, the Oak feels like the stories' true home.
It's lovely being back among the old crew, too. It was fun to see Peri from another person's point of view (with an air-rifle and a crossbow), and Timothy grew on me in this novel, particularly when he ; Paul's okay, but we don't see a whole lot of him. Thorn I wasn't sure about when I met her in the companion trilogy, but I thoroughly enjoy her now after seeing her in these three books; I love her sarcasm and quips, both of which are actually very technically challenging traits to pull off in a character and often overdone. Here, though, they're just right. Her colorful phrases feel thoroughly appropriate to the setting, and are always bang-on ("...this is a fine mess of badger droppings if ever I saw one" is a personal favorite). Martin, too, emerges from the shadows of REBEL in this one, and even though I knew his story from the FLIGHT AND FLAME series, there were moments that still managed to surprise me and make me want to go reread that second trilogy to better appreciate his character arc.
These books have a lot of themes packed into them, exploring different ethical challenges and especially the nature of trust and of power, alongside issues of prejudice, fear, selfishness, and betrayal. They're quite keen-eyed, yet not overly dark and certainly not gloomy. I had a marvelous time with them and am sorry to have finished. I'd love another series.
Again, I had a bit of a struggle with the early part of this third and final installment, adjusting to the new main character and being away from Oakhaven (and knowing from having read the companion trilogy first that ). It was really once we got back to the Oak that the story started to sing for me. I'm just a massive fan of the faeries of the Oakenwyld; while other settings are conjured well, the Oak feels like the stories' true home.
It's lovely being back among the old crew, too. It was fun to see Peri from another person's point of view (with an air-rifle and a crossbow), and Timothy grew on me in this novel, particularly when he ; Paul's okay, but we don't see a whole lot of him. Thorn I wasn't sure about when I met her in the companion trilogy, but I thoroughly enjoy her now after seeing her in these three books; I love her sarcasm and quips, both of which are actually very technically challenging traits to pull off in a character and often overdone. Here, though, they're just right. Her colorful phrases feel thoroughly appropriate to the setting, and are always bang-on ("...this is a fine mess of badger droppings if ever I saw one" is a personal favorite). Martin, too, emerges from the shadows of REBEL in this one, and even though I knew his story from the FLIGHT AND FLAME series, there were moments that still managed to surprise me and make me want to go reread that second trilogy to better appreciate his character arc.
These books have a lot of themes packed into them, exploring different ethical challenges and especially the nature of trust and of power, alongside issues of prejudice, fear, selfishness, and betrayal. They're quite keen-eyed, yet not overly dark and certainly not gloomy. I had a marvelous time with them and am sorry to have finished. I'd love another series.
September 1, 2021
In retrospect, beginning to read RJ Anderson's books with SWIFT was the incorrect choice, as that series picks up one of the best characters from this series halfway through what I now realise is a tremendous character arc. Oops.
Anyway, ARROW picks up after REBEL as Rhosmari, a faery from the sheltered Green Islands, sets out on a quest to retrieve the lost treasure of her people from the rebellion against the evil Empress. But Rhosmari is a naive young scholar, and she's walking into a war zone...
This book contained two of my very favourite things. For one, there's a delightfully untrustworthy character who gets around stabbing backs, stealing hearts, and wreaking havoc, and I have yet to meet a character of this sort I didn't love on sight. For two, the protagonist spends a significant part of the book in a condition of utter powerlessness and must then learn to trust again, and I cannot get enough of vulnerable protagonists. I'm sure there are other things I'm forgetting, but I just enjoyed reading a book that did two of my favourite things SO VERY WELL. (My one complaint is that I took a couple of days off in the middle of this book to inhale another 5-star book, BETWEEN FAMILY by WR Gingell, and I might be suffering a surfeit of backstabbing and feels).
The whole trilogy is fantastic, but this might be my favourite book of the lot. Truly the sort of storytelling that can be enjoyed by all ages, and I can't wait to return to the sequel trilogy with a better understanding of the background!
Anyway, ARROW picks up after REBEL as Rhosmari, a faery from the sheltered Green Islands, sets out on a quest to retrieve the lost treasure of her people from the rebellion against the evil Empress. But Rhosmari is a naive young scholar, and she's walking into a war zone...
This book contained two of my very favourite things. For one, there's a delightfully untrustworthy character who gets around stabbing backs, stealing hearts, and wreaking havoc, and I have yet to meet a character of this sort I didn't love on sight. For two, the protagonist spends a significant part of the book in a condition of utter powerlessness and must then learn to trust again, and I cannot get enough of vulnerable protagonists. I'm sure there are other things I'm forgetting, but I just enjoyed reading a book that did two of my favourite things SO VERY WELL. (My one complaint is that I took a couple of days off in the middle of this book to inhale another 5-star book, BETWEEN FAMILY by WR Gingell, and I might be suffering a surfeit of backstabbing and feels).
The whole trilogy is fantastic, but this might be my favourite book of the lot. Truly the sort of storytelling that can be enjoyed by all ages, and I can't wait to return to the sequel trilogy with a better understanding of the background!
July 2, 2011
I'm not sure how I feel about the character of Rhosmari! I liked that she had a reason for being a pacifist and that she was determined to stick to her principles, but she could be so passive at times that I just wanted to shake her.
Timothy was even more awkward in this book than he was in Rebel. And not in a genuinely awkward-teenager way, but in a sentimental spouting-deep-feelings way that was awkward to read. Did we HAVE to have another human/faery romance? I refuse to believe that everyone meets their ~true love~ aged fifteen.
Timothy was even more awkward in this book than he was in Rebel. And not in a genuinely awkward-teenager way, but in a sentimental spouting-deep-feelings way that was awkward to read. Did we HAVE to have another human/faery romance? I refuse to believe that everyone meets their ~true love~ aged fifteen.
October 27, 2024
This trilogy of books is just so incredibly wholesome. Anderson is at home using motifs from mythology, classic literature, and scripture, and she's just as capable with the kind of themes you might expect in more recent YA. Don't get the wrong idea, these books are not "issues-heavy" or didactic! There is a load of whimsy, beauty, and thrilling adventure. And the themes? I'm in awe of the oh-so-delicate handling of religious faith and doubt, skin colour, depression, pacifism, guilt, and justice, among others. They always flow organically from the story and never overwhelm it.
And they are YA books that are *actually appropriate* for teenagers! While not talking down to them! Seriously, run to add these to your family library.
And they are YA books that are *actually appropriate* for teenagers! While not talking down to them! Seriously, run to add these to your family library.
November 8, 2016
It is surprising for me to find myself caring and liking the miniature faeries and the humans in the story so much throughout this trilogy. Although I don't care about Rhysmari, the MC of this volume as much as I did for Knife, still her struggle to do the right thing and her journey through the human world is still a realistic, engaging one. The ending is good too, even though it's a little too rushed to my liking. I'm totally looking forward for the sequels.
January 11, 2011
"Arrow" is the 3rd installment in the series about the Faeries of Great Britain and especially the ones of the Oakenwyld.
R.J. Anderson takes us back into a magical world of love and war, true or false, friendship and revenge and bewitches the reader with her wonderful way of writing.
Yet again the story is from a totally different perspective then the ones before. After Peri ("Knife") and Linden ("Rebel") the reader is introduced to the young Rhosmari.
Rhosmari is one of the Children of Rhys and has never been on the mainland and the only human she has ever met is Timothy. And for some reason she can´t quite seem to get him out of her head.
After Linden and Timothy had left the Children of Rhys and returned sucsessfully to the Oak they brought with them the Stone of Naming aswell as a great number of Rebels to fight against the Empress. But now Rhosmari is determinded to return the stolen Stone and bring back the peace to the Green Islands.
This seems to be a very blindsided decision by Rhosmari and I soon had to realise that our new main charakter is indeed a bit green behind her ears and very irrational in her decisions. But Rhosmari is still a very sweet little faerie that you can´t help but fall in love with despite all her bad choices.
The story lines we learned about in the first two installments now come to a satisfying conclusion and R.J. Anderson ones again managed to capture the interest of the reader and made this storie into a one-of-a-kind.
Turning the last page of this book I was convinced of a happy ending. But it seems that we´re not quite there yet for "Swift" the 4th and as it seems last book of this series will be coming out in spring 2012.
R.J. Anderson takes us back into a magical world of love and war, true or false, friendship and revenge and bewitches the reader with her wonderful way of writing.
Yet again the story is from a totally different perspective then the ones before. After Peri ("Knife") and Linden ("Rebel") the reader is introduced to the young Rhosmari.
Rhosmari is one of the Children of Rhys and has never been on the mainland and the only human she has ever met is Timothy. And for some reason she can´t quite seem to get him out of her head.
After Linden and Timothy had left the Children of Rhys and returned sucsessfully to the Oak they brought with them the Stone of Naming aswell as a great number of Rebels to fight against the Empress. But now Rhosmari is determinded to return the stolen Stone and bring back the peace to the Green Islands.
This seems to be a very blindsided decision by Rhosmari and I soon had to realise that our new main charakter is indeed a bit green behind her ears and very irrational in her decisions. But Rhosmari is still a very sweet little faerie that you can´t help but fall in love with despite all her bad choices.
The story lines we learned about in the first two installments now come to a satisfying conclusion and R.J. Anderson ones again managed to capture the interest of the reader and made this storie into a one-of-a-kind.
Turning the last page of this book I was convinced of a happy ending. But it seems that we´re not quite there yet for "Swift" the 4th and as it seems last book of this series will be coming out in spring 2012.
April 11, 2019
I LOVE this series! It is so full of whimsy and magic. It is a little cheesy but it's still a great book.
The little faeries makes it seem that this book is for children, and while this book is great for readers who are on the young side it is certainly a YA book. It deals with war and enslavement and death, and while not much of this is very graphic it is for older children/young teens.
I love how the main character is a person of colour in such a way that it's not really a thing. By a few mentions you realise that in the world it might be, but that faeries do not care about skincolour. So that's great and the way this story challenges believes and makes the characters question what they have learned to be true. And how even if you're not from the same place or believe the same thing that doesn't mean you can't band together and be friends.
I recommend this book to anyone with a sense of whimsy.
The little faeries makes it seem that this book is for children, and while this book is great for readers who are on the young side it is certainly a YA book. It deals with war and enslavement and death, and while not much of this is very graphic it is for older children/young teens.
I love how the main character is a person of colour in such a way that it's not really a thing. By a few mentions you realise that in the world it might be, but that faeries do not care about skincolour. So that's great and the way this story challenges believes and makes the characters question what they have learned to be true. And how even if you're not from the same place or believe the same thing that doesn't mean you can't band together and be friends.
I recommend this book to anyone with a sense of whimsy.
February 8, 2017
I have finished this on the 4th, but given university finals, I didn't have the time or the creativity to write a review.
This is a solid trilogy, as it is. I would say it has an open ending and at the same time closure. Me and endings never get along anyway, you may consider this a quite satisfying ending and for me is there and not quite.
I love the way we see previous characters and how we see them perceived through so many eyes and I love how this author can deceive me, considering some characters and decisions.
Even though I would like to talk about Knife and Linden, we have to stick with this main character as well. Rhosmari, was an interesting character in the beginning, but in the middle she really lost her shit and was starting to piss me off. Know I understand some of the things she said and I see how she connects with the love interest because of it, but for the love of eberything that is logic get your shit together and also those fucking priorities. And there is all this. She grows by the end of the book, but I could not forget the middle section that made me shake the book a little.
Now, the love interest, I don't even know if I should get into spoilers. I like him more in some parts and little in others, he is an interesting character and I like the way he is perceived, but thinking about it I like his dynamic with other characters more, and spoiler:
As for the action and the plot and not to mention secondary characters added, the book is perfect. I am actually very intersted in the spin off duology, given a certain character.
All in all this trilogy is a very good start for faery knowledge, if like me you have none, but I think even if you know, you are really going to enjoy it.
And I will definetly check some other works by this author, since I already started Ultraviolet.
This is a solid trilogy, as it is. I would say it has an open ending and at the same time closure. Me and endings never get along anyway, you may consider this a quite satisfying ending and for me is there and not quite.
I love the way we see previous characters and how we see them perceived through so many eyes and I love how this author can deceive me, considering some characters and decisions.
Even though I would like to talk about Knife and Linden, we have to stick with this main character as well. Rhosmari, was an interesting character in the beginning, but in the middle she really lost her shit and was starting to piss me off. Know I understand some of the things she said and I see how she connects with the love interest because of it, but for the love of eberything that is logic get your shit together and also those fucking priorities. And there is all this. She grows by the end of the book, but I could not forget the middle section that made me shake the book a little.
Now, the love interest, I don't even know if I should get into spoilers. I like him more in some parts and little in others, he is an interesting character and I like the way he is perceived, but thinking about it I like his dynamic with other characters more, and spoiler:
As for the action and the plot and not to mention secondary characters added, the book is perfect. I am actually very intersted in the spin off duology, given a certain character.
All in all this trilogy is a very good start for faery knowledge, if like me you have none, but I think even if you know, you are really going to enjoy it.
And I will definetly check some other works by this author, since I already started Ultraviolet.
June 29, 2018
I'm a little ashamed to admit I spent much of the book wondering what the arrow of the title referred to. Happily, the reveal did not disappoint. A strong finish to R.J. Anderson's faery trilogy (yes, I do see that there are two additional books after this one, hooray!), with plenty of action, betrayal, hopeless situations and last-minute saves. I didn't initially care for Rhosmari as a character nearly as much as Knife or Linden; she was too clueless and cautious for my taste. However, she has a strong sense of justice and compassion, and her character arc is strong indeed. I recommend this series to all readers, young and old alike.
January 28, 2024
This was a good and exciting book! There were a lot of twists and I found myself being able to relate to the main character, Rhosmari, which I love! While I didn't expect the ending, I thought it was a really great way to end the series!
June 14, 2018
I don't believe in the faery Rhosmari! I don't. I don't.
(Hope that make her drop dead.)
It's been a while since a protagonist did not make me so angry.
Rhosmari is a fifteen-year-old fairy who lives on Green Island, a utopian society that abjured violence for centuries, but still maintains occasional commercial contact with humans. But she is privileged, her mother is a member of the Council of the Elders of the island, she has servants, and she has never lacked anything in her life. It's easy to feel superior moral and believe that the rest are 'barbarians' when you've never gone through that, right? I understand that the problem of choosing teenage protagonists is that they always believe they know everything, when they do not even know where they are standing, but WHY DID THE AUTHOR CHOSE THIS GIRL? I mean we have Knife, who is fabulous,she is a kick-ass heroine who goes out into the world and confronts monsters, and pursues the truth at enormous personal costs; and then we came to understand Linden in Rebel, with his idea of ​​following your personal beliefs and not changing who you are despite adversity, but Rhosmari? Pff.
Despite her excuse to go for the Stone of Names, no matter that all the rest of the fairies are in the middle of a bloody WAR and the Stone is the only thing that prevents them from being slaves of a tyrant, it is Timothy. Timothy! whom she has not even crossed a word, who does not even know that there is even half of the book !, and who then do not speak more than twice throughout the book (and we all know that the poor boy is only attracted to her by her physical type), because she, unlike Peri (Knife), is that person who, while everyone is burning in a war, is at home complaining of noise and smoke, who hopes that everyone else will soon resolve the conflict and everything, and all the time is disappointed because she can not return to her quiet home where she does not have to see the violence with which others fight for the FREEDOM of ALL fairies!
UG.
It would have been more interesting a POV of the Empress Tyrant, Jazmin, or Rob (a fairy who becomes a fox: 3, who knows so many things and horrors and only insinuates it).
I do not put a 1 star but for Martin, one of those gray characters that are the most real. Martin, violent, sweeping, you ship him, you understand him, you hope he survives.
"I have already touched the Stone of Naming eleven," he said. "And what kind of freedom did it give me? Freedom to run in terror, without refuge or rest; freedom to beg, and starve, and live in squalor. At least if I belong to the Empress, I eat well and sleep sound. "
"You could join the rebels," said Rhosmari, but Martin laughed.
"Go to the Oak and live like a squirrel in a tree? I know better than to imagine I could ever be content with such a life. And they have no more protection from the Empress than I do. "I raised his voice to address the room at large. "You gain nothing by keeping me prisoner. I can tell the Empress nothing about you that she does not know already, and she will offer neither bargain nor ransom for my sake. So either kill me, or let me go. "
And that ending... Nailed.
But Timothy ... wake up, kid. She is not worth it. Best returns to Uganda
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review original in spanish
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Hace rato que una protagonista no me hacia enojar tanto.
Rhosmari es un hada de quince años que vive en las Green Island, una sociedad utópica que abjuró de la violencia hace siglos, pero que sigue manteniendo contacto ocasional comercial con los humanos. Pero ella es privilegiada, su madre es miembro del Consejo de los Mayores de la isla, tiene sirvientes, y nunca le ha faltado nada en la vida. Es fácil sentirse con la moral superior y creer que el resto son bárbaros cuando nunca se ha pasado por eso ¿cierto? Entiendo que el problema de escoger protagonistas adolescentes es que siempre creen saberlo todo, cuando no saben donde estan paradas, pero ¿POR QUÉ ELIGIÓ LA AUTORA A ESTA CHICA? Me refiero tenemos a , que es fabulosa es una heroina patea-traseros que sale al mundo y se enfrenta a monstruos, y persigue la verdad a enormes costos personales; y después llegamos a entender a Linden en , con su idea de seguir tus creencias personales y no cambiar quien eres pese a las adversidades, pero ¿¿Rhosmari?? Pff.
A pesar de su excusa de ir por la Piedra de los Nombres, sin importar que todo el resto de las hadas esta en medio de una GUERRA cruenta y la Piedra es lo único que evitan que sean esclavos de una tirana, es Timothy. ¡Timothy! quien con ni siquiera ha cruzado palabra, que ni siquiera sabe que existe ¡hasta la mitad del libro!, y que después no hablan más que dos veces en todo el libro (y todos sabemos que el pobre chico sólo se siente atraido hacia ella por su tipo fÃsico), porque ella ella a diferencia de Peri (Knife) es esa persona que mientras todo el mundo arde en una guerra esta en su casa quejandose del ruido y del humo, que espera que todos los demás resuelvan pronto el conflicto ý todo el rato esta decepcionada porque no puede regresar a su tranquila casa donde no tiene que ver la violencia con que otros luchan por la LIBERTAD de TODAS las hadas.
UF.
Hubiera sido más interesante un POV de la Emperatriz tirana, Jazmin, o de Rob (un hada que se convierte en zorro :3, que sabe tantas cosas y horrores y sólo lo insinua).
No le pongo un 1 nada más por Martin, uno de esos personajes grises que son los más reales. Martin, violento, arrebatador, lo shippeas, lo entiendes, esperas que sobreviva.
Y ese final. Clavado.
Pero Timothy... wake up, kid. Ella no lo vale. Mejor regresa a Uganda.
-------
(Hope that make her drop dead.)
It's been a while since a protagonist did not make me so angry.
Rhosmari is a fifteen-year-old fairy who lives on Green Island, a utopian society that abjured violence for centuries, but still maintains occasional commercial contact with humans. But she is privileged, her mother is a member of the Council of the Elders of the island, she has servants, and she has never lacked anything in her life. It's easy to feel superior moral and believe that the rest are 'barbarians' when you've never gone through that, right? I understand that the problem of choosing teenage protagonists is that they always believe they know everything, when they do not even know where they are standing, but WHY DID THE AUTHOR CHOSE THIS GIRL? I mean we have Knife, who is fabulous,she is a kick-ass heroine who goes out into the world and confronts monsters, and pursues the truth at enormous personal costs; and then we came to understand Linden in Rebel, with his idea of ​​following your personal beliefs and not changing who you are despite adversity, but Rhosmari? Pff.
Despite her excuse to go for the Stone of Names, no matter that all the rest of the fairies are in the middle of a bloody WAR and the Stone is the only thing that prevents them from being slaves of a tyrant, it is Timothy. Timothy! whom she has not even crossed a word, who does not even know that there is even half of the book !, and who then do not speak more than twice throughout the book (and we all know that the poor boy is only attracted to her by her physical type), because she, unlike Peri (Knife), is that person who, while everyone is burning in a war, is at home complaining of noise and smoke, who hopes that everyone else will soon resolve the conflict and everything, and all the time is disappointed because she can not return to her quiet home where she does not have to see the violence with which others fight for the FREEDOM of ALL fairies!
UG.
It would have been more interesting a POV of the Empress Tyrant, Jazmin, or Rob (a fairy who becomes a fox: 3, who knows so many things and horrors and only insinuates it).
I do not put a 1 star but for Martin, one of those gray characters that are the most real. Martin, violent, sweeping, you ship him, you understand him, you hope he survives.
"I have already touched the Stone of Naming eleven," he said. "And what kind of freedom did it give me? Freedom to run in terror, without refuge or rest; freedom to beg, and starve, and live in squalor. At least if I belong to the Empress, I eat well and sleep sound. "
"You could join the rebels," said Rhosmari, but Martin laughed.
"Go to the Oak and live like a squirrel in a tree? I know better than to imagine I could ever be content with such a life. And they have no more protection from the Empress than I do. "I raised his voice to address the room at large. "You gain nothing by keeping me prisoner. I can tell the Empress nothing about you that she does not know already, and she will offer neither bargain nor ransom for my sake. So either kill me, or let me go. "
And that ending... Nailed.
But Timothy ... wake up, kid. She is not worth it. Best returns to Uganda
-----------
review original in spanish
---------
Hace rato que una protagonista no me hacia enojar tanto.
Rhosmari es un hada de quince años que vive en las Green Island, una sociedad utópica que abjuró de la violencia hace siglos, pero que sigue manteniendo contacto ocasional comercial con los humanos. Pero ella es privilegiada, su madre es miembro del Consejo de los Mayores de la isla, tiene sirvientes, y nunca le ha faltado nada en la vida. Es fácil sentirse con la moral superior y creer que el resto son bárbaros cuando nunca se ha pasado por eso ¿cierto? Entiendo que el problema de escoger protagonistas adolescentes es que siempre creen saberlo todo, cuando no saben donde estan paradas, pero ¿POR QUÉ ELIGIÓ LA AUTORA A ESTA CHICA? Me refiero tenemos a , que es fabulosa es una heroina patea-traseros que sale al mundo y se enfrenta a monstruos, y persigue la verdad a enormes costos personales; y después llegamos a entender a Linden en , con su idea de seguir tus creencias personales y no cambiar quien eres pese a las adversidades, pero ¿¿Rhosmari?? Pff.
A pesar de su excusa de ir por la Piedra de los Nombres, sin importar que todo el resto de las hadas esta en medio de una GUERRA cruenta y la Piedra es lo único que evitan que sean esclavos de una tirana, es Timothy. ¡Timothy! quien con ni siquiera ha cruzado palabra, que ni siquiera sabe que existe ¡hasta la mitad del libro!, y que después no hablan más que dos veces en todo el libro (y todos sabemos que el pobre chico sólo se siente atraido hacia ella por su tipo fÃsico), porque ella ella a diferencia de Peri (Knife) es esa persona que mientras todo el mundo arde en una guerra esta en su casa quejandose del ruido y del humo, que espera que todos los demás resuelvan pronto el conflicto ý todo el rato esta decepcionada porque no puede regresar a su tranquila casa donde no tiene que ver la violencia con que otros luchan por la LIBERTAD de TODAS las hadas.
UF.
Hubiera sido más interesante un POV de la Emperatriz tirana, Jazmin, o de Rob (un hada que se convierte en zorro :3, que sabe tantas cosas y horrores y sólo lo insinua).
No le pongo un 1 nada más por Martin, uno de esos personajes grises que son los más reales. Martin, violento, arrebatador, lo shippeas, lo entiendes, esperas que sobreviva.
“I have already touched the Stone of Naming once,� he said. “And what kind of freedom did it give me? Freedom to run in terror, without refuge or rest; freedom to beg, and starve, and live in squalor. At least if I belong to the Empress, I eat well and sleep sound.�
“You could join the rebels,� said Rhosmari, but Martin laughed.
“Go to the Oak and live like a squirrel in a tree? I know better than to imagine I could ever be content with such a life. And they have no more protection from the Empress than I do.� He raised his voice to address the room at large. “You gain nothing by keeping me a prisoner. I can tell the Empress nothing about you that she does not know already, and she will offer neither bargain nor ransom for my sake. So either kill me, or let me go.�
Y ese final. Clavado.
Pero Timothy... wake up, kid. Ella no lo vale. Mejor regresa a Uganda.
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September 23, 2012
I am an absolute sucker for stories which feature the power of names, so I really loved this!
Arrow begins with the plight of the Children of Rhys, a group of Welsh fairies, whose island homes are hidden in the mists off the coast of Britain. They’ve lost their naming stone, they’ve exiled the followers of Garan who took the stone and has gone off to fight in the War of the Oak somewhere on the mainland and, worst of all, they’ve brought their existence to the attention of the dark queen, Jasmine.
By tasting their blood and thereby learning their true names, Jasmine has enslaved countless fairies and forced them to do her bidding. Her hatred of humans is ironical � she herself is a changeling almost three hundred years old. It is exacerbated however when the fairies of the Oak ally themselves with two boys.
Rhosmari was Garan’s betrothed. Realising the dangers facing the Children of Rhys who are forbidden to shed blood and who would be annihilated in a war with Jasmine’s forces, she resolves to leave her mist-shrouded island and get the naming stone back.
To do this, she has to travel through the world of humans � and, well, her old-fashioned cloak and her attempt to acquire money through trading a perfectly-matched pearl necklace at a jeweller’s, not to mention the fact that she can’t enter a house or shop without an invitation, all combine to make her very conspicuous.
She is found by Martin, a fairy who has acquired a new name from the naming stone and has gained his freedom from Jasmine � and who is now on the run from her forces, in particular the raven brothers, Byrne and Corbin Blackwing.
Only when she is betrayed into Jasmine’s hands does she begin to have any idea that her action in leaving home has changed the balance of power entirely � Jasmine now has a real chance of the ultimate power that had eluded her to that point.
I was initially surprised to read that there would be a fourth book in this series because it seems to be tied up quite neatly at present.
Though on discovering it features my favourite character - Martin - who is the sort of villain you just can’t help feeling sorry for, I ordered it straight away.
Arrow begins with the plight of the Children of Rhys, a group of Welsh fairies, whose island homes are hidden in the mists off the coast of Britain. They’ve lost their naming stone, they’ve exiled the followers of Garan who took the stone and has gone off to fight in the War of the Oak somewhere on the mainland and, worst of all, they’ve brought their existence to the attention of the dark queen, Jasmine.
By tasting their blood and thereby learning their true names, Jasmine has enslaved countless fairies and forced them to do her bidding. Her hatred of humans is ironical � she herself is a changeling almost three hundred years old. It is exacerbated however when the fairies of the Oak ally themselves with two boys.
Rhosmari was Garan’s betrothed. Realising the dangers facing the Children of Rhys who are forbidden to shed blood and who would be annihilated in a war with Jasmine’s forces, she resolves to leave her mist-shrouded island and get the naming stone back.
To do this, she has to travel through the world of humans � and, well, her old-fashioned cloak and her attempt to acquire money through trading a perfectly-matched pearl necklace at a jeweller’s, not to mention the fact that she can’t enter a house or shop without an invitation, all combine to make her very conspicuous.
She is found by Martin, a fairy who has acquired a new name from the naming stone and has gained his freedom from Jasmine � and who is now on the run from her forces, in particular the raven brothers, Byrne and Corbin Blackwing.
Only when she is betrayed into Jasmine’s hands does she begin to have any idea that her action in leaving home has changed the balance of power entirely � Jasmine now has a real chance of the ultimate power that had eluded her to that point.
I was initially surprised to read that there would be a fourth book in this series because it seems to be tied up quite neatly at present.
Though on discovering it features my favourite character - Martin - who is the sort of villain you just can’t help feeling sorry for, I ordered it straight away.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2015
A nice conclusion to the Faery Rebels series by R.J. Anderson! I perhaps didn't enjoy Arrow as much as the first two books ... I know Knife was definitely my favorite.
Arrow had more magic than Book 1 at least. It made me a bit uncomfortable; not sure what to think. There are some good and poignant sort of allegories and themes to this book, but I still wasn't sure about some elements. Hmm. It's hard to know. There was some seemingly unresolved issues of revenge/bitterness too.
I don't think these books are Christian, but there is the 'Great Gardener' who could almost be a being who represents God. I don't know. And there's a white 'naming stone', which is strikingly similar to a white stone mentioned in Revelations. It's kind of funny; I'm not sure if the author was at all trying for that comparison, but I was reading Revelations chapter 2, and it was speaking about a stone that reminded me so much of the one in this book! *grin*
Anyway. A sweet, clean, and subtle romance. That was pleasant. And cute, <3
We interact with characters from the other books, such as Paul, Peri (Knife), Linden, Rob, Timothy, and others. And we have a new character (or at least I don't remember her from before): Rosemari, who belongs to a peaceful faery group, secluded from the rest. We continue the battle against the evil Jasmine, who's determined to take every faery captive by stealing their true names.
I usually really enjoy novels about faeries. And I did enjoy this one! Some of the magic just bothered me a bit. It was interesting and kept me reading ... and I may have to pick up Swift and Nomad sometime! *smiles*
Arrow had more magic than Book 1 at least. It made me a bit uncomfortable; not sure what to think. There are some good and poignant sort of allegories and themes to this book, but I still wasn't sure about some elements. Hmm. It's hard to know. There was some seemingly unresolved issues of revenge/bitterness too.
I don't think these books are Christian, but there is the 'Great Gardener' who could almost be a being who represents God. I don't know. And there's a white 'naming stone', which is strikingly similar to a white stone mentioned in Revelations. It's kind of funny; I'm not sure if the author was at all trying for that comparison, but I was reading Revelations chapter 2, and it was speaking about a stone that reminded me so much of the one in this book! *grin*
Anyway. A sweet, clean, and subtle romance. That was pleasant. And cute, <3
We interact with characters from the other books, such as Paul, Peri (Knife), Linden, Rob, Timothy, and others. And we have a new character (or at least I don't remember her from before): Rosemari, who belongs to a peaceful faery group, secluded from the rest. We continue the battle against the evil Jasmine, who's determined to take every faery captive by stealing their true names.
I usually really enjoy novels about faeries. And I did enjoy this one! Some of the magic just bothered me a bit. It was interesting and kept me reading ... and I may have to pick up Swift and Nomad sometime! *smiles*
May 1, 2020
This is getting worse and worse. I hate that this series has gone down down down, to my disappoint level, which is not great. I kind of regret reading this because this series, have given too much, too much falling in head-to-toe.
If you're writing a series book, it's meant to build up, but this series, nu-uh. Anderson should learn how to write some series book, build it up, not just pour all over the first book, and the money spent on buying this book, I'm quite upset. The reading was ok, but I have loved Knife and Paul so much that it didn't bring me the joy to read again.
If you're writing a series book, it's meant to build up, but this series, nu-uh. Anderson should learn how to write some series book, build it up, not just pour all over the first book, and the money spent on buying this book, I'm quite upset. The reading was ok, but I have loved Knife and Paul so much that it didn't bring me the joy to read again.
May 4, 2012
I wasnt such a big fan of the 3rd book. It took in ages for me to finish it. I guess the story just did not make me interested enough.
November 28, 2014
A beautiful conclusion!
August 30, 2016
3,5 Sterne
May 3, 2022
Loved it! I read this book after I read Flight and Flame Trilogy, so I was very curious about Martin and read this one. Recommended to all fantasy lovers! :)
December 28, 2019
The plot of the book is amazing and I always looked forward to read the next chapter. It was a brilliant read and I liked how things were revealed. The twist were brilliant and I didn’t see any of them coming.
I love how the characters were made. Rhosmari was an mazing character to read about, especially from her own point of view (though in third person). Her morals are something that holds her back, but it’s also what makes her unique. She makes logical decisions which I could make sense of (and if you read previous reviews I don’t always understood the characters) and she is one of the best characters I have ever read.
Martin was also a great character and is a realistic depiction of a certain type of person. I find that there are people outside of books, who will only save their own lives � or, at least, seem to only do this. He really expands the world of magic by seeing a different sort of person and I hope to see him in future books.
I also like how the world was further expanded. The Children of the Rhys are drastically different to the Oakenwyld and so have different customs. It is also to see how this furthers the plot.
However, I found that the romance between Rhosmari and Timothy came out of nowhere. I know that it came up close to the beginning of the book, but it also came up very unexpectedly. There was no mention of it being a possibility in Rebel, where we had Timothy’s point of view and Rhosmari was mentioned, and it seemed to be in this book just to give Rhosmari a love interest.
I would recommend this book to those who like the previous books, or are looking for something different. It is a brilliant climax to this part of the series and it is the best book in this series.
I love how the characters were made. Rhosmari was an mazing character to read about, especially from her own point of view (though in third person). Her morals are something that holds her back, but it’s also what makes her unique. She makes logical decisions which I could make sense of (and if you read previous reviews I don’t always understood the characters) and she is one of the best characters I have ever read.
Martin was also a great character and is a realistic depiction of a certain type of person. I find that there are people outside of books, who will only save their own lives � or, at least, seem to only do this. He really expands the world of magic by seeing a different sort of person and I hope to see him in future books.
I also like how the world was further expanded. The Children of the Rhys are drastically different to the Oakenwyld and so have different customs. It is also to see how this furthers the plot.
However, I found that the romance between Rhosmari and Timothy came out of nowhere. I know that it came up close to the beginning of the book, but it also came up very unexpectedly. There was no mention of it being a possibility in Rebel, where we had Timothy’s point of view and Rhosmari was mentioned, and it seemed to be in this book just to give Rhosmari a love interest.
I would recommend this book to those who like the previous books, or are looking for something different. It is a brilliant climax to this part of the series and it is the best book in this series.
January 5, 2024
Didn't click with me quite as much as Knife and Rebel did, perhaps because I never finished this one as a child so I didn't have that nostalgic factor to it, but I still enjoyed it very much. R. J. Anderson's writing is easy and engaging to read, her world-building and lore continue to contain incredible depth, and her characters are likeable and interesting. One thing I didn't mention in my previous reviews but that very much applies across the series is that her fae characters are very tangibly, well, fae - their mentalities and mannerisms and speech patterns are all just believably inhuman in a very intriguing way.
April 30, 2020
This took me longer to get into than the rest of the series but it was still a good book.
I loved learning more about the children of Rhys and seeing all the different wylds come together.
First book is still my fav from this series, the world building and Knife as a main character really made it great
I loved learning more about the children of Rhys and seeing all the different wylds come together.
First book is still my fav from this series, the world building and Knife as a main character really made it great
May 15, 2023
This is my favorite of the trilogy! It is a wonderful finale to this story of the plight of the magicless fairies. I loved Rhosmari as the protagonist. She grappled with so many difficulties and decisions that would make or break her.
Appropriate for ages 12 and up. While there is violence and romance, none of it is gratuitous. Very well done!
Appropriate for ages 12 and up. While there is violence and romance, none of it is gratuitous. Very well done!
October 18, 2018
Oh how our family have loved this trilogy. If you’re looking for intelligent faery stories for all ages (our daughter is 7 and has truly adored the more in-depth plots & characters), with excellent wisdom and methods of communicating that wisdom, RJ rules. We’re moving on to Swift & Nomad now.
February 23, 2020
i have been reading this book for 68 days. that about sums it up.
July 7, 2022
so so much childhood nostalgia im going to reread this whole series literally used to read this on my kindle all the time when i was little omg
September 3, 2022
A satisfying conclusion to the trilogy!
September 27, 2022
This was a fun wrap up for the series. It solved all the problems that were put forward while leaving the characters open to future adventures. I enjoyed this series!
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