Ferrum is not a safe place, but Beckan and her friends are
still among the few fairies whose limbs haven't completely
been taken in war. Tensions are tight between the various
species, from faires to gnomes to tightropers, and Beckan
must form relationships with people she never expected to
keep her and her friends alive as peace seems more and more
out of reach.
A HISTORY OF GLITTER AND BLOOD is one of the most unique
books I've read. Hannah Moskowitz's vision of fantastical
creatures, especially the fairies, is reminiscent of older
folklore with dark themes and plots mixed with pure
originality. Beckan and her friends are easy to get
attached
to, though the reader is constantly reminded that the
narrator may not be the most reliable. The beginning
narration is a bit confusing, but everything eventually
works itself out and makes sense.
While I enjoy the different relationships, sometimes
distinguishing who truly loved who and in what capacity is
difficult. The characters are beautifully nuanced in
romantic and sexual identities, but figuring out if a
relationship is platonic or not is not always easy.
Emotions
are especially heightened as war looms and falls, and the
different discussions on love, family, and self during
those
times are fascinating and bring up excellent questions.
A HISTORY OF GLITTER AND BLOOD is gritty, intense,
sensational, and moving. While the beginning had me a bit
confused, and the relationships could have been a little
more defined, Hannah Moskowitz's characters will wrap
around
you and stay for a long time.
Sixteen-year-old Beckan and her friends are the only fairies brave enough to stay in Ferrum when war breaks out. Now there is tension between the immortal fairies, the subterranean gnomes, and the mysterious tightropers who arrived to liberate the fairies. But when Beckan's clan is forced to venture into the gnome underworld to survive, they find themselves tentatively forming unlikely friendships and making sacrifices they couldn't have imagined. As danger mounts, Beckan finds herself caught between her loyalty to her friends, her desire for peace, and a love she never expected. This stunning, lyrical fantasy is a powerful exploration of what makes a family, what justifies a war, and what it means to truly love.