Review Detail

The first time I read Lament, I picked it up intending only to skim the opening pages. They were so compelling that I couldnt keep myself from consuming the whole book in one greedy bite.

Deirdre Monaghan (Dee) is an extremely talented musician. She arrives at a local competition full of anxiety, but set to play her harp and get it over with so she can return to her "ordinary life. Thats kind of a problem, since she is anything but ordinary. Dee has abilities she doesnt even know about yet&and they arent the normal kind.

Everything changes when Dee meets Luke Dillon, the boy of her dreams. Literally. Luke is as perfect as perfect. (Read it. Youll get it.) He encourages her to push herself, to step outside of safe, but he fails to mention he might be part of the danger she encounters once she does. Luke is full of mystery and magic, and hes quite possibly the most ideal supernatural male in contemporary fiction.

Yep. I said it.

I read Lament the second time because I wanted to steep my mind in the richness of the story and savor the development of the characters. Who doesnt like a strong female protagonist? (And if you dont, whats your problem?) Dee doesnt sit back and watch her world change around her shes part of the process.

The third time well, frankly the third time was just for me. Maggie Stiefvater has a way with words, people. There were moments when I was so caught up in her storytelling I forgot the setting was stateside and not somewhere in the ancient hills of the Emerald Isle. Stiefvater has a lot to offer to those who long for a good example of how to wind words into a story, and she obviously takes her craft seriously.

I only had one problem with the book, and its that it didnt come with a soundtrack.  That can easily be remedied by visiting:

http://www.maggiestiefvater.com/music.html

Be prepared to be enchanted. I cant wait for the sequel and you won't be able to either Ballad, Fall 2009.