By one of the modern leading authors in young adult fantasy fiction, Tithe by Holly Black is a beautiful
dip into the realm of faeries but be warned, these are not the faeries your storybooks told you about. Tithe follows sixteen-year old Kaye Fierch in her fantastical delve into the world of faeries. After her first encounter with the seductive faery knight Roiben, Kaye ’s once intermittent meetings with the fair folk now become frequent and often consuming as she quickly learns how much apart of their world she truly is.
Holly Black’s characters show a truthfulness of the young adult condition often lacking in fantasy works. While other books often focus on the fantastical element to carry their stories, Black truly shows the angst of the modern teenager dealing with the challenges of raising a parent, sexual desire and jealousy within friendships. Needless to say the fantastical is not withheld as our brief glimpses of the faerie court show a vindictive and unconscionable side to these mystical beings. Unlike traditional fairies, Black’s creatures enjoy tormenting and take delight in the physical, mental and emotional pain of others whilst throwing a wild party.
In this coming of age story, young adult readers will find it easy to connect with a heroine who truly was whisked away at birth and falls in love with the dutiful courtier yet deals with the pangs of friendship, death and sacrifice.
