Hunter's Moon (The Chronicles of Faerie Series) by O.R. Melling

From the Publisher

Gwen travels to Ireland to visit her cousin Findabhair, expecting a summer of backpacking, late nights, and the usual road trip adventures. But when Findabhair is kidnapped by the King of Faerie, Gwen must race to save her cousin before the rise of the Hunter's Moon, when the fairies need a human sacrifice.

Kenan Metzger - Alan Review

This comical yet touching fantasy adventure will keep the reader engaged. The main character, Gwen, is always obsessed with food, which provides comic relief. Findabhair, Gwen's cousin, acts as a foil for Gwen, adding further humor. The relationship between the two cousins is heartfelt, especially the lengths Gwen goes to in trying to save Findabhair. Against the backdrop of Irish folktales and culture the adventure is played out. The characters undergo a transformation as they fight against the evil forces of the isle. Every Hunter's Moon a sacrifice is required of the mortals by this evil force. The fairies must offer up this sacrifice, until the heroines come along. Female readers will appreciate the fact that this book has a heroine who is fully human yet strong and adventurous. Hopefully a new addition to this series will be soon forthcoming, as the author is quite talented in her descriptive skills. 2005, Amulet Books, 284 pp., Ages young adult.

School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up-Idealistic Findabhair and her cautious cousin Gwen have always shared a love of fantasy and hunted for a door into other worlds. The teens plan to spend their summer hitchhiking through Ireland, but when Findabhair is abducted from a barrow by the King of the Faeries himself, Gwen has to become self-reliant and overcome her fears in order to rescue her cousin. When she finds a gateway into the Faeries' world, she is unprepared for the beauty of their land, and for her cousin's decision to stay. Complicating the matter is Gwen's memory of the words from a dream: "I, too, was the Hunted and the Sacrificed." Fearing for her cousin's life, Gwen must take help in whatever form it comes to see Findabhair safely delivered from the Faerie lands. Originally published in Ireland (1992) and Canada (1993) to much acclaim, this novel is a compelling blend of Irish mythology and geography. Characters that breathe and connect with readers, and a picturesque landscape that shifts between the present and the past, bring readers into the experience. Melling's taut plotting, with its unexpected turns, moves the story quickly to a climax and leaves readers wanting more. Fortunately, this is the first book in a trilogy.-Melissa Moore, Union University Library, Jackson, TN Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Against a detailed backdrop of Ireland new, old and very old, friendships form, adversaries become allies and romance blooms as an ancient evil demands its due. Hitchhiking around Ireland, Findabhair and her American cousin Gwenhyvar daringly roll out their sleeping bags in a barrow at Tara-and Gwen wakes up alone, her companion having accepted an invitation in the night from Finvarra, Faerie's king. With both magic and mundane help from a succession of friendly strangers, Gwen pursues the seelie court to get her back, a mission that turns particularly urgent when she learns that Findabhair has really been taken as a sacrifice to Crom Cruac, a monster driven from heaven even before the time of the elves. But Finvarra has fallen in love with his new consort, as she with him, and so Gwen suddenly finds herself gathering a band of modern-day heroes (plus one immortal) to defy the looming, evil Worm. Pausing only for lush descriptions of the landscapes and food in Ireland and in Faerie both, Melling opens the first US edition of her trilogy on a strong note, with a tale, romantic on several levels, that culminates in a heavy sacrifice. (afterword, pronunciation guide) (Fantasy. 11-13)

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