Small Favors

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Author(s)

Erin A. Craig

Co-Authors / Illustrators

Rachel Music

Publisher

Listening Library

Genre(s)

Age Range

13+

Release Date

July 27, 2021

ISBN

978-0593306741

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From the critically-acclaimed author of House of Salt and Sorrows comes a mesmerizing and chilling fairy-talesque novel about Ellerie Downing, a young woman in a small town with monsters lurking in the trees and dark desires hidden in the shadows - in Amity Falls, nothing is more dangerous than a wish come true.

Ellerie Downing is waiting for something to happen. Life in isolated Amity Falls, surrounded by an impenetrable forest, has a predictable sameness. Her days are filled with tending to her family's beehives, chasing after her sisters, and dreaming of bigger things while her twin, Samuel, is free to roam as he wishes.

Early town settlers fought off monstrous creatures in the woods, and whispers that the creatures still exist keep the Downings and their neighbors from venturing too far. When some townsfolk go missing on a trip to fetch supplies, a heavy unease settles over the Falls.

Strange activities begin to plague the town, and as the seasons change, it's clear that something is terribly wrong. The creatures are real, and they're offering to fulfill the residents' deepest desires, however grand, for just a small favor. These seemingly trifling demands, however, hide sinister intentions. Soon Ellerie finds herself in a race against time to stop Amity Falls, her family, and the boy she loves from going up in flames.

Editor reviews

2 reviews

As Haunting As It is Captivating

December 11, 2021

Overall rating

5.0

Plot

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Characters

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SMALL FAVORS by Erin A. Craig is a haunting YA fantasy that will keep readers guessing to the bitter end. The story follows Ellerie and the Downing family as their town faces a supply shortage that may not see them through winter. Ellerie is a young woman on the cusp of adulthood who feels inadequate when measured against her twin brother. She works hard at everything she does, taking on extra tasks and basking in her father’s attention as they care for the bees she loves so much. After some strange occurrences including malformed animals and strange weather patterns coupled with desperation as supplies begin to run low, neighbor turns on neighbor and the little town of Amity Falls may crumble with it.

I enjoyed this one from start to finish. Ellerie makes for a wonderful narrator as the story plays out through her perspective. I learned a lot about her family’s apiary, the family dynamics, and the people of Amity Falls. After a fire leaves her mother injured, Ellerie’s parents must head to the city to find help at the hospital. Because winter is approaching, the pass will be closed, and they will not be able to return until after the thaw. That leaves the youngest sisters in the care of Ellerie and her twin. But Sam is shirking his duties, disappearing for days at a time and still taking their much needed supplies for himself. Ellerie really steps up here, taking on both her mother’s and father’s responsibilities at their farm all while making a list of all their food and how to make it stretch for the long winter.

Ellerie and her sisters are interesting characters. I enjoyed following their story and seeing how they reacted to the chaos surrounding them. Ellerie is a realistic character who has normal teenage wants and needs–she wants to find love, make her own home, and have a family to call her own, especially as it seems her twin is already doing those things. With her parents gone, she gets a taste of what that may be like for her in the future. When she meets a newcomer to the town who will overwinter there, she is enamored. I liked the character. He grounds Ellerie in the present when her life is overwhelming.

I listened to this one and highly recommend it for audiophiles. Rachel Music breathes life into the world of Amity Falls through her diction and tone. I easily kept track of which character was speaking and what was going on in the story. If anything, she adds mystery to an already creepy tale.

Final Thought: Haunting and captivating, SMALL FAVORS is sure to be a hit for fans of YA fantasy, keeping readers invested in the fate of the Downing family.