Outstanding

For a while now I'd seen Holly Black's "Modern Faerie Tale" novels in the YA section, but I passed them by, assuming they were just one in a number of "edgy" fantasy tales with goth-y or otherwise "alternative" heroes or heroines. Don't get me wrong, I love edgy and have nothing but love for a good outcast type character and characters with piercings and green hair. But, I'd been disappointed in so many books (especially YA books) that believe that dressing their character in a Hot Topic wardrobe and putting a slight, dark twist on an average fantasy plot makes their book innovative and more appealing to a certain demographic. The result is often a predictable plot and boring characters.

I thank my friend's excellent taste for opening my eyes to Valiant, which is everything those lame wannabe books wish they were.

Valiant is the second book in Holly Black's Modern Faerie Tale trilogy. However, it takes a detour from the plot and characters of the first book in the series, making it an ok beginning if you, like me, couldn't find Tithe in your local bookstore.

For an extremely brief summary, the story is about a teenage girl named Valerie who, due to a nasty shocker in her home life, runs away to New York City. She ends up hanging with a group of fellow teenage drifters who live in the subway tunnels. Valerie finds that her newfound friends are involved with the secret faerie world that exists in and around the city. A murder mystery, an otherworldly drug addiction, and an unconventional romance ensue. Near the end, a small but important cameo by the main characters of the first book (Kaye and Roiben) ties Valiant to its predecessor.

The setting, characters, and plot are all incredibly engaging and realistic in the right places. It's a great read for fans of magical realism and dark fantasy. I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended.

Improves With Age
Like a fine wine. Sort of.

The first time I read Valiant, I liked it but didn't love it, but this is because I loved Tithe so much, Valiant had a lot to live up to. I couldn't stand Lolli or Dave and was luke-warm about Val. I did like the progression of the book, however, and the twists and turns it took. Black's faerie characters are infinitely interesting, and there is never room to get bored with them.

Anyway. I read the book again recently and liked it even better the second time. I was less emotionally attached to her Tithe characters and could fully devote myself to Valiant. I found I liked Val better and especially loved Ravus. I love that the "ugliest" character in the book turns out to be the most beautiful, and not because he transforms into a pretty little prince. I still can't stand Dave, but love the way his brother feels eternally responsible for him, no matter how terrible Dave acts.

One the the fabulous things about Black is that she writes a book that appears to be fantasy, yet its human elements are more realistic than any non-fantasy fiction I've read. Some people were appalled at Val's life on the streets, and disliked the book because of it. I think they reacted to the book that strongly because life on the street was written so realistically, unforgivingly. Black makes no apologies for her flawed characters and she shouldn't - to do so would take away that which makes them so human.

Don't Bother!!
I bought this book and the two others in the series because it was in the Young Adult section and usually that means that the books are good and mostly clean (no overt sex or foul language). These books are YUCKY!!!!! I could not read them! The "F" word was used constantly. The mother had sex with her teen daughter's boyfriend. It went on and on! What good is a faery-tale if you can't get past the filth?! Don't waste money on these books. I wouldn't read them if they were free.

Amazing read and yet...
As good as this book was, it wasn't actually necessary to the series. 'Valiant' was entertaining, but not what I expected when someone told me it was the next part in the series after 'Tithe'. While it does relate it still is sort of its own story withing the full story. Great on its own, it didn't need to sneak into the middle.

Valiant
When I first started this book, I wasn't sure I would like it as much as I liked Tithe. My advice is to stick with it! It ended up being a good read. Although it doesn't seem to have connections to Tithe other than the fact that it deals with Faerie, characters from this book show up in Ironside, the actual sequel to Tithe. If you have already read Ironside, I don't think that there is information that will ruin Valiant for you, and I would still read it. I would recommend this book to teens who liked Tithe, enjoy fantasy and even those who like books that are more realistic and are looking for something a little out of their comfort zone because of the very real and 'human' conflicts that plague the main characters.