"If you enjoy tales of the Fae or fantasy stories then give this one a try."

The Between

Written by LJ Cohen

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Book Synopsis

High school senior, Lydia Hawthorne, is less than grateful when Oberon has her snatched from the mortal world and she finds out she's actually Fae. And not just any Fae, but a trueborn with enough inherent magic to tip the balance between Oberon and Titania's warring Bright and Shadow courts.

But that's their game and she doesn't want to play by their rules. Together with Clive Barrow, a Bright Court Fae with embarrassing family ties to the mortal world, Lydia fights to regain her old life, fueling her magic with the very human power of love and loss, challenging the essential nature of Faerie itself.

Bec's Rating

Bec's Review

Stories involving the Fae are many and varied. This story takes on the fae from a young adult stand point, where a young girl discovers her whole life is a lie and that she really is one of the Fae. Forced to choose between Titania and Oberon and their Shadow and Bright courts, Lydia must make a choice while not knowing who to trust. For while the Fae tell no lies, they don’t always speak the whole truth.

I actually enjoyed the telling of this story and the way it tried to show that there is not necessarily a good or evil side to every conflict. The selfishness of the Fae was true to form, and the way they could not tell lies and yet still deceive. Lydia was well represented as a girl who has had her whole identity ripped away from her and doesn’t know which side to pick, changing her mind several times. And yet while I enjoyed most of the story I was left wanting.

One particular part was a plot point that I had hoped would be foreshadowing but which didn’t go anyway. When the source of the conflict between Oberon and Titania was revealed it was revealed there was a male human changeling in Fae somewhere, a fact that is again repeated later on as a secret Lydia knows. Hints about a certain characters family background and lack of maternal feelings to their fae child where also mentioned and the character is referred to as being quite human like at times. And yet despite expecting this character to be revealed to be a changeling and for this to be somewhat relevant to the story, this plot point never went anywhere. There was never any further mention of this changeling after the few times it was mentioned, rather it was as if it was forgotten, making the whole revelation of this other changeling, and all the hints at who it might be, completely irrelevant. Perhaps I am reading too much into the situation, but I feel there is room for a twist there.

The ending as well did not completely satisfy me. While I was fine with the fate of the Fae King and Queen I would have liked to have a more tied off ending. Instead I was left wondering what would happen to both Lydia and Clive. But beyond these few problems the story was quite enjoyable. While it would have been nice to see a twist where one had been so hinted, and a more wrapped up ending, these things do not diminish too much from the story. If you enjoy tales of the Fae or fantasy stories then give this one a try.

Disclaimer: May not be appropriate for young children due to mature elements.