Violet Wings by Victoria Hanley

From the Publisher

For Zaria Tourmaline, the three years without her mother and brother have been lonely ones, living with a cold and distant guardian while she completes her education. Just as she is ready to join the world of adult fairies and genies, she finds a spellbook written entirely in her mother’s hand. But this treasured object is not safe from a new enemy, a fairy with more power than Zaria ever dreamed existed. Only among the humans–who must never know fairies and genies exist–can Zaria hide the spellbook; but hidden magic, it turns out, can expose a fairy in ways she never thought possible.

Publishers Weekly

Dyed-in-the-wings fairy fans will best appreciate Hanley's (The Seer and the Sword) novel vision of Feyland, a world of fairies, genies, leprechauns and gnomes. After her parents and brother take a portal to Earth and are captured by humans, Zaria Tourmaline, a fairy, is orphaned and left in the care of her teacher. Three years later, as Zaria is coming into her power, she can't shake her fascination with the land of humans. Zaria and her best friend Leona (who both learn they are exceptionally powerful fairies) use an unsecured portal to visit and explore Earth, but are spotted and recorded by humans, which leads to being disciplined by Feyland's High Council. Still, the girls can't resist the lure of Earth and, eventually, uncover a plot that threatens Feyland. Although magic in Feyland is regulated, rationed and taxed, spells and deceptions fly fast and furious (Hanley provides background about Zaria's world in chapter introductions). While the fact that the characters' surnames are all gems and minerals feels, ahem, precious, tween readers will appreciate the strong friendships between Zaria and her allies. Ages 10–14. (Aug.)

School Library Journal

Gr 4–6—When Zaria Tourmaline and her fairy classmates receive their wands at age 12, she is shocked to discover that she and her friend Leona have extraordinarily high levels of magical ability and power reserves, talents that have become almost unheard of in Feyland. For Zaria the news is tinged with bitterness, for she cannot share it with her parents, who disappeared three years earlier on a mission to Earth. Despite (or perhaps because of) this, she is drawn to the human world, and creates a stir when she is spotted by a pair of children. Now Zaria must face the consequences of her carelessness while fending off the attacks of her sinister mentor, Lily Morganite, who seems determined to get her hands on Zaria's powers. Themes of classism and responsible use of power are touched on but get lost in the uneven plotting. The fairy world and Zaria's struggles with Lily make for a solid fantasy adventure, but the story grinds to a halt when it moves to Earth, where the action feels perfunctory and extraneous.—Christi Esterle, Parker Library, CO

Kirkus Reviews

Fairies, genies, pixies and trolls: material for preschoolers' books? Not so in Hanley's new effort following on her fantasy trilogy that began in The Seer and the Sword (2000). Zaria, a 12-year-old fairy from Tirfeyne, a parallel world unseen by humans, has received her wand and the watch that reveals her inborn levels of magic and power. She's exceedingly powerful, but she's also "Earth-struck," far too interested in what happens on Earth, perhaps because her family disappeared during a visit there. Zaria discovers that her mentor Lily Morganite is evil, but with the help of friends and growing knowledge and control of her own powers, she's able to battle for control of the governing council against the stronger woman in a breathless climax that clearly sets up a follow-on novel. Each chapter begins with an excerpt from a history of Tirfeyne, creating a believable depth and detail in the fairy world. Although Zaria's character is well developed, others are superficially drawn. The well-realized world and believable main character make this a worthwhile read. (Fantasy. 10-14)

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