“Inspirations and Influences” is a series of articles in which we invite authors to write guest posts talking about their…well, Inspirations and Influences. The cool thing is that the writers are given free reign so they can go wild and write about anything they want. It can be about their new book, series or about their career as a whole.
Michelle Harrison is the lovely author of the 13 Treasures books, a young adult trilogy about a girl with the ability to see fairies, and her twisted family legacy. Both Smugglers read and loved 13 Treasures, and lucky UK-based Ana finished the trilogy and loved it even more. In celebration of the release of 13 Secrets, the third book in the trilogy, we have the wonderful Michelle Harrison for a guest post and a giveaway of the entire trilogy.
Please give a warm welcome to Michelle!
My two older sisters, Theresa and Janet, were a huge influence on my wish to be an author and illustrator. From an early age they read to me, and even made up stories of their own (usually starring me as the heroine)! Theresa was a gifted storyteller, and both were good at drawing, so I often got illustrations to accompany these tales. They weren’t always kind! Janet in particular was a tease, often drawing a character with a mean, warty face and presenting him as my future husband, which sometimes made me cry. But it was also Janet who came home one day and announced: ‘I’ve decided. I’m going to be an author.’ I followed the first few chapters of Down the Tomato Hole (based on some sort of game she and Theresa had played when they were small) with interest. It was never finished – she lost interest, but even so, it had sown its seeds. Being an author had not occurred to me before, but with that, it somehow became a possibility.
The books my sisters read to me were musty, yellowing hand-me-downs from the 70s, and the vast majority were by Enid Blyton. The woman gets a lot of criticism these days, and yes, her books were of her time but I remain loyal: she’s the reason I became a reader. Naughty Amelia Jane, Mallory Towers, and especially the Famous Five – I read them all. I loved the independence of the characters and the excitement of their adventures, which will be obvious to anyone who reads my work. Secret passages, anyone?
The next author to have an impact on me was Christopher Pike. I’d been through my Point Horror phase and was already writing derivative short stories. I discovered Pike at my local library. I fell in love. I was inspired. I wanted to write those kinds of stories; with killer twist endings, and a knack of making the fantastical believable. I carried on writing, attempted a novel I didn’t finish. It didn’t matter. It was practise. When I left school, I knew I wanted to be an author and illustrator, but if someone had told me I’d be writing about fairies in ten years’ time I’d have laughed in their face.
I kept diaries which, thankfully, I destroyed, and at the start of art college wrote lots of TERRIBLE poetry. The introduction to fairies came from my tutor, Iain Lowe, himself a talented artist whose work I pored over. He presented me with a book called Faeries by Brian Froud and Alan Lee. I was immediately taken with how beautiful it was, and how removed these creatures were from the glittery, sweet things we’re brought up believing in. These fairies were wild and sinister, and the accompanying folklore wove a spell of its own. My artwork instantly took on a new direction, and I began to want to write about fairies.
The idea for my main character came from my niece, Tanya. When she was two, her mother (Janet) went to see a medium who said Tanya would grow up to be psychic. Remembering this, it occurred to me that I could use it in a story, and that her ability could be to see fairies that no one else could. Those were the beginnings of The 13 Treasures.
I’m constantly inspired by what’s around me: people, places, objects. For me, the fantastical becomes possible when it’s melded with reality. Hangman’s Wood, mentioned in the 13 Treasures books, is a real place that I grew up near to, and the deneholes in the woods exist as well, though my renaming of them as ‘catacombs’ is my own. Similarly, the servants’ staircase at Elvesden Manor is inspired by an identical one in an Essex pub, which was blocked off just as it is in the story.
By now you’ve probably gathered that I’m a bit of a magpie. I think of these snippets of places and people as trinkets that I can hide away until the time comes to weave it into a story. In my personal life I’m no different; I’ve always been a knick-knacky person who would rather spend money in a flea market on an 18th century key or a jewelled frog than clothes.
My study room is just the same, crammed with ornaments and pictures, anything I find inspiring. The problem I have now it dusting it all, but sometimes I just tell myself that a bit of dust doesn’t matter. An ancient key or charm bracelet swathed in cobwebs is so much more mysterious, don’t you think?
Thank you, Michelle!
Giveaway Details:
We are giving away a full set of the 13 Treasures trilogy: 13 Treasures, 13 Curses, and 13 Secrets, to ONE lucky winner. This giveaway is open to everyone, and will be open until Saturday, February 5 at 11:59PM (PST). In order to enter, leave a comment here letting us know what is your favorite fairy story (short story, novel, series, film, whatever). Good luck!
156 Comments
Lynossa
January 28, 2011 at 9:50 amKyaaaaa! OMG, I been wanting this series for some times. I hope I win! And yeay for Enyd Blyton reader. I used to read them when I was a kid, and yeah she received plenty criticism these days but her books suitable for people at that time. That is why I strongly disagree toward any censor, stay true to the original helps us to understand more about the past.
Favorite fairy story… does Grimm’s fairy tale considered as fairy story?
MarieC
January 28, 2011 at 10:01 amwhat a great giveaway! I’ve put this series on my wishlist since seeing it here!
I love fairytales (have all of Andrew Lang’s color fairy book and several other compilations), but one of my favorite stories is ‘Sleeping Ugly’ by the remarkable Jane Yolen.
Sandy G
January 28, 2011 at 10:03 amI haven’t had a chance to read this series yet. Would love to win it.
Jen
January 28, 2011 at 10:04 amooo, ive heard lots of great things about these books, i would so love to win them!
i love some comics/graphic novels with fairies, such as auberon’s tale and the books of magic. i also loved last light of the sun by guy gaveril kay, which has some faerie elements to it.
thanks for the great contest!
Ceci
January 28, 2011 at 10:07 amI’ve been waiting for a while now for the next two books in this trilogy to be released for so long! What is the hold up?! Anyways, I would love to sign up for this contest. 🙂
My favorite fairy series would be Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely series. I know it’s the first series that comes to mind if your big on YA but I was astounded at the quality and the characters. There is so much going on at times that it confuses even me.
Lexie C.
January 28, 2011 at 10:09 amThe Magical Legend of the Leprechauns hallmark TV movie from the late 90’s. Even now, more than a decade later, I still adore it and love to rewatch it.
Kaethe
January 28, 2011 at 10:09 amSince it’s the most recent, I’m going to pick Guardian of the Dead as my favorite. I like evil fairies.
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January 28, 2011 at 10:19 am[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by The Book Smugglers and wilaiwan, Dana Alma. Dana Alma said: RT @booksmugglers: Michelle Harrison's Inspirations & Influences and giveaway of 13 Treasures trilogy is up! http://tinyurl.com/13treasures […]
Allison
January 28, 2011 at 10:25 amOf all the fairy stories I’ve read, the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning is definitely my favorite.
Thanks for the giveaway, after reading your reviews I’m really excited to check out this series!
Angie
January 28, 2011 at 10:42 amMy favorite fairy story is the Wicked Lovely series.
I can’t wait to read the 13 Treasures series!
Ellie
January 28, 2011 at 10:44 amThis trilogy sounds really interesting and I would love to win!
The most recent fairy book I read was Guardian of the Dead and I loved it!
Paige
January 28, 2011 at 10:50 amI’ve always loved Cicely Mary Barker’s flower fairies books. I remember poring the wayside fairy book when I was little, then scouring our yard for signs of those same fairies.
Evy m Valdez
January 28, 2011 at 10:51 amIt’s my birthday on the fifth! If that is not reason enough! I have loved everything to do with faeries for as long as I can remember 😉 and would love nothing better than books that that they are the subject matter of! Hope to hear from u soon.
Katy
January 28, 2011 at 10:59 amMy favourite would have to be Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev. =)
Tara
January 28, 2011 at 11:08 amI’m fairly new to the YA and fairy worlds…(last year or so), so I’ve only had one introduction into fairy reading! That is “The Iron King” by Julie Kagawa, which I really enjoyed. I’ve been sneaking peaks at this series for some time now. Thanks for this giveaway!
Beverly H.
January 28, 2011 at 11:11 amI haven’t read this series yet, but I really want to! My favorite fairy novel right now is The Iron King by Julie Kagawa. Thanks for the give away 🙂
Linda Henderson
January 28, 2011 at 11:36 amMy favorite fairy tale film is Ever After with Drew Barrymore. It’s a wonderful take of Cinderella and I enjoy it every time I watch it.
seriousreader at live dot com
Teresa
January 28, 2011 at 11:57 amOh, Enid Blyton, me too, me too. I never read Amelia Jane ( english is not my native language) but read everything of hers I could find. I think my utmost favorites were the Adventure books, and then Famous Five. And the school books. I have a major weakness for books with that *feeling* so I am really interested in this series now.
Favorite fairy tale, Tam Lin, though I am not crazy for any of the many many book adaptations. Recent fairies, the ones on Maggie Stiefvater Lament and particularly Ballad, though I really don´t like her werewolf books.
Josh
January 28, 2011 at 12:02 pmRemember that old Tom Cruise movie “Legend?” Where there is a demon (Tim Curry, i think) killing unicorns and Tom Cruise is out to save them and he is a faerie. Or maybe and elf….it has been a lot of years since I have seen it.
Susan Laura
January 28, 2011 at 12:06 pmI like the animal/fairy myths – selkies and such. I also thought the depiction of the fae folk in Patricia Briggs’ books was well done. That’s where I first heard that you should never say “Thank you” to the fae so, just in case, I will say I am glad you are offering these books as a prize. Love to win the set to read with my daughter.
Hannah
January 28, 2011 at 12:08 pmOh my gosh I have been wanting these books forEVER. Thank you so much for running this contest! And oh gosh, I am such an Enid Blyton fangirl as well. Yes her books are terribly of her time and as a feminist and hell, moral human being they make me cringe reading them nowadays, but they’re still the books of my childhood. The Adventurous Four was where I found my first fictional crush in Andy. <3
As for my favourite fairy story…I recently re-read Robin McKinley's Beauty and remembered how much I utterly adore it. But my heart with always lie with Hans Christian Anderson’s A Little Mermaid because it was the first thing I ever read to have a properly tragic ending and I thought it was beautiful.
Alex
January 28, 2011 at 12:11 pmHm. My favourite fairy tale would have to be Cinderella, but my favourite retelling EVER is Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. It’s pretty much perfect.
Michelle
January 28, 2011 at 12:11 pmI actually haven’t read that many stories involving faeries, but of the few that I’ve read, my favorites as the Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr and Faery Rebels by R.J. Anderson (titled Knife in the UK.) WL has the sinister more folklorish kind of faeries, whereas FR’s world is inhabited by more Disney-esque faeries that are tiny and live in trees and whatnot (but they still managed to be awesome.)
Thank you so much for the awesome giveaway! (:
Su
January 28, 2011 at 12:13 pmI cut my reader teeth on Enid Blyton, too. Amelia Jane and Christopher Robin are still my top picks for baby names.
I’d have to say my favourite fairy story would have to be La Belle Dame sans Merci, both the Keats poem and the painting by Waterhouse.
Kahlan
January 28, 2011 at 12:29 pmI grew up reading and loving Enid Blyton books. What good times! Thank you for running this contest.
My favourite fairy series is Wicked Lovely by Marissa Marr. I have many other favourites, but that one really stands out right now. I’d love to read the rest of the 13 Treasures trilogy. I got to read the first book and it was brilliant!
Lisa (starmetaloak)
January 28, 2011 at 12:32 pmWould love to win this series! Thanks a lot!
Amanda Lee
January 28, 2011 at 12:38 pmI actually haven’t read many fairy stories, so I’ll go with my favorite fairy tale, which is Beauty and the Beast. I also love Anderson’s original Little Mermaid, which is so sad and heart-breaking, that you can’t help but remember it after you’ve read it.
Chelsea B.
January 28, 2011 at 12:39 pmBeauty and the Beast! Guh! Love that!
KL Dixon
January 28, 2011 at 12:48 pmOh my! I am really really excited for the next two book to be out inthe US. I just totally snarfed down the first one (with a side of Hot chocolate and cinnamon toast for fortification).
My absolute favorite is a short film made by Duirwaigh Studios (available for free on their website)entitled “a Knock at the Door”
Rachel
January 28, 2011 at 12:48 pmMy favorite fairy story would probably be “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Shakespeare. I always hated it until I had to study it for a university class, and peeling back the many layers of the play in a classroom setting helped me appreciate how awesome it really is.
Alexandra
January 28, 2011 at 12:57 pmI really love fairy stories. It’s so hard to choose. The book that comes first mind is Tithe by Holly Black…I also absolutely adored Perilous Guard by Elizabeth Pope. Pretty much anything Tam Lin really. An Unearthly Knight by McNaughton is really good too.
Thanks for reminding me of them!
Katrina
January 28, 2011 at 12:59 pmI love all sort of fairy tales and myths. From Grimm’s tales, to Russian folklore.
beccafoh
January 28, 2011 at 12:59 pmThese books sound great!
I think my favourite book with fairies is War For the Oaks by Emma Bull. It was the first book I read where Faeries were something to be feared. And of course something to be loved in some cases!
danielle
January 28, 2011 at 1:03 pmHolly Black, fo shiz.
Charlotte
January 28, 2011 at 1:03 pmMy favorite book of fairy tales is one that was my father’s when he was a boy–Old Swedish Fairy Tales, by Anna Wahlenberg…lovly stuff!
Stephanie
January 28, 2011 at 1:18 pmI’m not sure if this would be considered a fairy story (hey, it has magic and a woodstick fairy!), but I love Pan’s Labyrinth. It’s a beautiful, gorgeous film that definitely made me want to escape to to Princess Moanna’s world!
kairos
January 28, 2011 at 1:28 pmDoes Fables count?
kairos
January 28, 2011 at 1:30 pmSorry! Not fables in general. Fables the comic book series (Bill Willingham)
Also sorry for..posting twice? *hides in a corner*
Maybe you can delete the first one…*back to hiding*
kirsty
January 28, 2011 at 1:43 pmI love Fire and Hemlock by Diane Wynne Jones, a retelling of the Tam Lin fairy tale.
Ceilidh
January 28, 2011 at 2:01 pmOne of my best friends has a Brian Froud fairy tattooed on her arm. It’s gorgeous.
I don’t know if it quite counts as a fairy story but I’ve always loved the movie Labyrinth. It’s so much more messed up than people believe it to be, it’s got great character designs, some truly dark moments, fun music and a wonderful dream-like atmosphere coupled with reminders of how wonderful your imagination can be. Plus David Bowie’s…stage presence.
Sebina
January 28, 2011 at 2:07 pmYay; Faeries by Brian Froud and Alan Lee has been one of my favourite books for years too.
In terms of favourite fairy stories, then I really fell in love with the more recent Wondrous Strange trilogy of novels by Lesley Livingston.
Marie B.
January 28, 2011 at 2:18 pmAwesome giveaway! I read L.J. Smith’s Night of the Solstice duology when I was a kid and LOVED them – they were a different take on the King Arthur myth that had Morgan Le Fay as a fae sorceress. Need to pull them out and re-read them one of these days
brit
January 28, 2011 at 2:18 pmI just checked out the first book based on the review here. It would be awesome to win the trilogy. I look forward to reading them.
Michelle
January 28, 2011 at 2:25 pmWow, there are so many fairy stories to choose from! I would say either my first Urban Fantasy: “Jack the Giant Killer,” by Charles de Lint, or my second: “War for the Oaks” by Emma Bull. And then there’s Bordertown…
Teresa N
January 28, 2011 at 2:27 pmGreat giveaway, thanks!
My favorite fairy story actually comes from a children’s encyclopedia and talked about how pansies sort of look like they have faces because some are actually fairies. If you pulled off the petals, you might find a hidden fairy. Needless to say, I ruined several of my mom’s plants when I was five.
Mel S
January 28, 2011 at 2:37 pmI liked the Gingerbread Man as a story my parents read me when I was a kid. The idea of food just deciding to break out of its expected role and be independent was an idea that sparked my imagination! 🙂
Scribe Kira
January 28, 2011 at 2:38 pmi can’t say i’ve read all that many fairy novels. the only one i can recall is Wings and Spells by Aprilynne Pike which i both hate and love. Love because they’re addictive. Hate because I don’t like the guy laurel is currently with and find some parts boring. Did Septemius Heap have fairies? No…neither did the hunger games or maximum ride or fire or graceling…hmmmmmmmmm………… oh well, i suppose i’ll just have to go with Wings then because i DID like wings, just had some guy issues with spells, though i was throughly addicited.
okay, enough with my ramblings!!! thanks for the amazing giveaway!!! books sound awesome!!!!!!!!=)
😀 😀 🙂 🙂 🙂 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
Arhcadia
January 28, 2011 at 2:39 pmGreat post – i too was weaned on enyd blighton and remember mallory towers and the famous five with a great deal of fondness.
Love all of brian froud’s work – he’s fabulous!
Hard to choose a favourite faery story – holly black’s books are amazing, as are charles de lint’s. OR Melling has also written some fabulous faery tales. I’m sure i’m forgetting some…
Looking forward to the 13 treasures!
JenP
January 28, 2011 at 2:50 pmI also loved Fire and Hemlock by Dianna Wynne Jones
Vivienne Dacosta
January 28, 2011 at 2:52 pmThis was the set I was drooling over on Twitter this morning. Fabulous books. Didn’t realise Michelle was from Essex. The names of the places she mentioned sound awfully familiar. I grew up with the Enid Blyton books too.
My favourite fairy books are Tithe and Rebel.
Lovely giveaway.
Throuthehaze
January 28, 2011 at 2:57 pmI really like the Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr
A'lina
January 28, 2011 at 3:17 pmI liked Lament by Maggie Stiefvater, Little Grrl Lost by Charles de Lint and Storm Born by Richelle Mead. Thanks for the great giveaway! Can’t wait to read these!
clemmie3e
January 28, 2011 at 3:19 pmI adored the Supernatural episode “Clap Your Hands if You Believe” which aired earlier this season. It piqued my interest in fairies and since then I have put several book titles on my tbr list, including this series.
Teresa (Lovely Treez Reads)
January 28, 2011 at 3:52 pmMy favourite fairy story is actually a “real-life” one which we were all told as children at primary school. Opposite our school was a field owned by a particularly curmudgeonly farmer (still alive today!) who destroyed a fairy ring on his land. The result was a disfiguring skin disease on his hands which was probably a bad case of contact dermatitis but the story equally thrilled and chilled us as children. So don’t go near the fairy rings! 🙂
Breanne M.
January 28, 2011 at 4:31 pmSeanan McGuire’s Toby Daye series! Loved 13 Treasures too, can’t wait to read the rest.
Allie
January 28, 2011 at 4:41 pmNot sure if this is considered a fairy story, but Snow Whitw and Rose Red has always been my favorite fairy tale. Tinkerbell is my favorite fairy if that counts. 😀
Lindsay Elizabeth
January 28, 2011 at 5:00 pmI think that my favorite fairy story would probably have to be Holly Black’s Tithe. I love the traditional Changeling story told from the changeling’s point of view.
Jessica
January 28, 2011 at 5:07 pmMy favorite book was Faeries by Brian Froud and Alan Lee. My grandmother had this book and we would always look at it together.
Megan
January 28, 2011 at 5:07 pmOooo I want! I’m bummed the sequels aren’t out in the US yet. My favorite book about a fairy growing up was probably Lynne Reid Banks’ The Fairy Rebel. I should probably give that a re-read one of these days…
Stephanie
January 28, 2011 at 5:24 pmI really loved Storm born by Richelle Mead. However my favorite fairy book would have to be Little, Big by John Crowley.
Victoria Zumbrum
January 28, 2011 at 7:05 pmI love Beauty and the Best and the Little Mermaid. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
Eveandriss
January 28, 2011 at 7:06 pmI think Holly Black’s “Tithe” sealed the deal when it came to faeries and me.
Jennifer Jensen
January 28, 2011 at 7:12 pmMy favorite fairy story is probably “The Fairy Rebel” by Lynne Reid Banks. It’s an oldie, but a goodie. 🙂
I also really like “Wicked Lovely” and the third book in Julie Kagawa’s series, “The Iron Queen”.
Jenn C.
January 28, 2011 at 7:18 pmMy favourite fairy stories at the moment are Lament and Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater. And of course, the Sevenwaters series by Juliet Marillier, and O. R. Melling’s Faery novels.
Ellie
January 28, 2011 at 7:36 pmAwesome giveaway!!! 😀
My favorite faery story (by far) is the Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr… I can’t wait for Darkest Mercy!!!! ^^
Collette
January 28, 2011 at 7:37 pmRight now, I’m loving the Melissa Marr series. I’m looking forward to and dreading the next one because it’s the last. I just don’t want it to end.
To have the entire trilogy at once would be so, so delicious!
Alexandra
January 28, 2011 at 8:13 pmMy favorite faery series is the Tithe series by Holly Black. The world she brings to life in her work is amazing! I love the characters and story! Awesome giveaway 🙂
winnie
January 28, 2011 at 8:22 pmFavourite fairy story is Wicked Lovely.
Thanks for the giveaway!
chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com
Stephanie K.
January 28, 2011 at 8:31 pmMy favorite fairy series is the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning.
Stacy
January 28, 2011 at 8:41 pmI gotta go with Wicked Lovely.
Oh, I use to love those Christopher Pike books 😀
Lucia Hua
January 28, 2011 at 8:48 pmI can’t really decide… but the first one that came into my head would be The Iron Fey by Julie Kagawa. Team Ash!!
Mia
January 28, 2011 at 8:54 pmI think my favorite fairy story has to be Tam Lin– the original or Pamela Dean’s version.
April
January 28, 2011 at 9:03 pmMy first favorite fairy story or novel was also “The Fairy Rebel” by Lynn Reid Banks.
And I don’t know how much it counts but I did like the fairies in the first Artemis Fowl book. 🙂
Bethie
January 28, 2011 at 9:15 pmThanks for the giveaway. I would love to win this. My fav right now would be the Iron Fey series.
Llehn
January 28, 2011 at 9:21 pmJack of Kinrowan by Charles de Lint.
Jufuzle19
January 28, 2011 at 9:29 pmi’m a just traditional grimm brothers kind of girl! that and my favorite cinderella story ella enchanted
Chachic
January 28, 2011 at 9:39 pmThis series looks really interesting! Does Stardust by Neil Gaiman count as a book about fairies? If it does then that’s my favorite. LOL. If not then probably Maggie Stiefvater’s Lament and Ballad.
Kairisauru
January 28, 2011 at 10:33 pmMy favorite so far would be the movie “Ever After” with Drew Barrymore. I just like that the two characters got to know each other first (at some level) before they fell in love. =)
Jennifer
January 28, 2011 at 10:39 pmI have to admit, it’s a hard choice…
But my favorite fairy story is probably Tithe, by Holl Black. 😀
Greg
January 28, 2011 at 11:46 pmOk my tastes run towards dark so my favorite fairie story has to be Pan’s Labyrinth
Mariska
January 29, 2011 at 12:54 amIs Cinderella can be count ? 🙂
Gina
January 29, 2011 at 12:55 amHmm…favorite fairy story…that’s a tough one especially with the multitude that come out each month. 🙄
I’d say of recent times the WICKED LOVELY series by Melissa Marr has never steered me wrong though Tinkerbell they are not. In my younger days, there was this awesome book of Fairy Poems for Young Readers that I still remember one of the poems from by heart.
Thanks for the chance to win this great series! Happy reading…:D
grgenius(at)gmail(dot)com
katsie
January 29, 2011 at 12:58 amTithe and oh, I really want these books!
Fif
January 29, 2011 at 1:32 amMy daughter and I both agree on How to Ditch Your Fairy.
Carol Thompson
January 29, 2011 at 1:38 amWhen ever someone asks what my favorite fairy story or movie is, the first thing that springs to mind is Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.
So blame it on Disney but it was those cute little dwarves that did it to me.
There are probably many other stories that are better but I am brain-washed.
Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Its off to work I go. !
Carol T
Amy C
January 29, 2011 at 1:45 amMy favorite series involving fairies? The Artemis Fowl books 🙂 Not fairies in the traditional sense, but still wonderful and lovable and awesome all around.
Pauline
January 29, 2011 at 3:08 amFairest by Gail Carson Levine and The Iron Fey series 😀
debbie
January 29, 2011 at 4:38 amI haven’t really read any, so I would have to say tinker bell in peter pan.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
Maryam H
January 29, 2011 at 5:15 amI’ve been wanting to read this series for ages!
I’d have to go with the Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr.
Thanks for the chance to win! 😀
Lucia
January 29, 2011 at 5:21 amGreat giveaway!!!
I loved Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr and Holly blak’s books, too!!
Katy
January 29, 2011 at 5:35 amOMG. I’m so excited for this!! I WANT these books! Favorite fairy story is really just my favorite fairy, and I’m not being original here, but Tinkerbell in James Barrie’s Peter Pan is my favorite. Even though Peter Pan isn’t per se a “fairy story,” Tink wins hands down, so that’s my fave!
Audra Holtwick
January 29, 2011 at 6:06 amDoes the movie LEGEND count – I think it had Tom Cruise in it- and I want this set really bad my -middle son loves to read my books with me.
audie(at)wickerness(dot)com
Cindy
January 29, 2011 at 6:41 amThank you for the giveaway !
So far I like “Stardust” by Neil Gaiman and a lot of YA books. Bu my favorite fairy story was written by a French author Lea Silhol. It is called “Musiques de la Frontière” – “Music of the Frontier” in English – and it is really beautiful, set in our world. Changelings appearing suddenly all over the world, how they are rejected by their families because they are different and the city – Frontier – where they will find a home.
Anne M Leone
January 29, 2011 at 6:57 amOh, yes, please! =)
As for favorite fairy story, I have to go classic with Peter Pan. Love the whole idea of fairies as a metaphor for belief and childhood.
Jill
January 29, 2011 at 7:04 amI soooo want these books! I don’t know if it’s my favorite fairy story but right now my daughter and I are listening to Dandilion Fire by N.D. Wilson and it has fairies in it but they are your tinklebell type of ones. They are short and pudgy! It’s kinda funny to hear it that way!
ritu
January 29, 2011 at 7:34 amThis is on my TBB list after I saw your review(s) and recommendation. Duno how it slipped my radar though! My favorite fairy tale.. I will go with the October Daye series by Seanan Mcguire (again, based on your reviews!).
Lobo
January 29, 2011 at 8:11 amMy favourite is Stardust from Neil Gaiman and I loved Willow, the movie and it also came out as a novel I just do not remember who wrote it:)
Ginny
January 29, 2011 at 8:13 amI love books about faeries, they’re easily my favourite sub-genre. I think Holly Black’s Tithe will always be one of my favourites, book & author, as it was the first fey book I had read. Talk about a lasting impression.
blackplume
January 29, 2011 at 8:13 amWow! this books looks interesting. I love to win of course. Thanks for the giveaways! For my favorite Fairy story, Actually I have read only few fairy books and so far I’m loving The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa.
Estefania
January 29, 2011 at 8:21 amMy favorite story is the classic tale “East of the Sun, West of the Moon” and I have already read two retellings “East” and “sun and moon ice and snow”. I love fairy tale retellings.
I would love to read the 13 series!!! It is my lucky number
Laura R.
January 29, 2011 at 8:49 amI’m so thankful to Michelle for sharing her inspirations! Please enter me in the giveaway. My favorite fairy story is the movie FairyTale about 2 English girls who believed they photographed a fairy in 1917. It’s based on a true story & is SO good.
Jocelyn C.
January 29, 2011 at 9:13 amI’d love a chance to win this series. I tend to prefer malevolent faeries, and I really enjoyed the dark and manipulative faeries of “Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.”
Stephanie Tran
January 29, 2011 at 9:27 amX3 oh man! I’ve been checking this book and its awesome cover at the bookstore for quite some time! I have to say, it was Holly Black’s Valiant that first hooked me into the Faerie world and I would LOVE to read this and add to my collection too!
Irene
January 29, 2011 at 9:47 amOooh, these books sound intriguing!
My favourite fairy story? Hmm…there are too many! Although I am a Melissa Marr fan. 🙂
Etta
January 29, 2011 at 9:47 amMy favorite fairytale is The Seven Swans (beautifully retold by Juliet Marillier in Daughter of the Forest).
Enid Blyton’s books were favorites when I was a child.
Amanda W
January 29, 2011 at 10:12 amMy current favorite fairy story is The Replacement by Brenna Yavanoff.
Giada M
January 29, 2011 at 10:15 amMy favorite fairy movie is Pan’s Labyrinth. I really really love the story and I watched it many times.
Thank you for posting and for this awesome giveaway! 😀
Giada M.
fabgiada (at) gmail (dot) com
Priya
January 29, 2011 at 10:29 amMy favorite fairy series would be Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely series- it’s superbly written and so unique.
Enid Blyton is still a favorite. =]
I would love to win these books- thanks for the giveaway! =]
swaid124(at)gmail(dot)com
NatD23
January 29, 2011 at 10:47 amI loved reading Christopher Pike books when I was in my teens, sadly I gave them all away when we moved house when I was 18.
I wish I still had them, I’d love to reread them now.
The fairy stories that first spring into my mind are Cicely Mary Barkers Flower Fairies. My favourite was sweet pea and lavender, we had those flowers at the bottom of our garden and I was convinced I would find a fairy there one day.
Jade Walker
January 29, 2011 at 10:50 amThese sound amazing!
My favorite fairy story is either the recently released The Replacement, as it shows the darker, sinister side of fey, and comes from a boys point of view, or Ash by Malinda Lo as it is LGBT literature, something we seriously lack in young adult lit. 😀
Courtney
January 29, 2011 at 1:32 pmI think one of my favorites is the Wings series by Aprillynne Pike.
Lise
January 29, 2011 at 1:47 pmI don’t think I’ve ever read a book about fairies! but after hearing about this book, I really want to change this! the books look so amazing! 😀 awsome giveaway! 😀
Sierra
January 29, 2011 at 2:41 pmMy favorite fairytale is Just Ella my Margaret Peterson Haddix. 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂
janicu
January 29, 2011 at 3:43 pmAh, yes, I too remember reading Enid Blyton. I only recently heard about the criticisms, which colors those good memories. :\
Anyway. For favorite fairy story, I’m going to go with one of the first UFs I ever read: Emma Bull’s WAR FOR THE OAKS.
Jackie
January 29, 2011 at 4:27 pmOh, I’m definitely entering the giveaway–these books sound fantastic!
It occurs to me I actually haven’t read many fairy stories–I do remember loving “War for the Oaks,” though, so I’ll go with that as my favorite.
(And Christopher Pike was one of my absolute favorite authors as a kid/teen. “The Starlight Crystal” still sticks with me.)
Tania
January 29, 2011 at 5:11 pmMy Fav faerie story is Wings By Aprilynne Pike!! Its amazingly good. 😀
Nicole
January 29, 2011 at 5:49 pmI adore them in all forms, but if I had to pick just one, it’d be Andersen’s The Snow Queen. It’s breathtaking; and I later on learned it was my mother’s favourite as well.
curiousnomad
January 29, 2011 at 6:00 pmEXTRAORDINARY (by N. Werlin)
Melanie L
January 29, 2011 at 8:04 pmMy favorite is the Wondrous Strange trilogy.
Angela
January 29, 2011 at 11:30 pmMy favorite is The Iron King by J. Kagawa.
Looking forward to this giveaway! Thanks!
Dawn N.
January 30, 2011 at 12:14 amThe whole series?? Omgosh, I’d love to win thata!! My favorite story with fairies would have to be The Spiderwich Chronicles.
Caroline
January 30, 2011 at 5:52 amMy favourite fairy story is Artemis Fowl, a bit more fun than your average fairies 🙂
Shanti
January 30, 2011 at 9:35 amYour enthusiasm for this series is absolutely infectious! I have moved it to the top of my reading list and hope to get to it before the end of March. Not sure if I qualify for the contest (being in Toronto, CA) but I also wanted to share my discovery/new love of faerie-fiction. It actually started with Maggie Stiefvater’s ‘Shiver’. I read the first and second, started following her blog and the Merry Sisters of Fate…I simply couldn’t get enough of her…and I stumbled upon Ballad and Lament, which became instant favourites for someone who didn’t even know they were a fantasy reader, much less wolves and faeries. I followed that up with Holly Black’s Modern Faerie Tales trilogy and more recently Brenna Yovanoff’s The Replacement. So far, Maggie Stiefvater’s duet is still my favourite, but I also found The Replacement to be quite a brooding, eerily beautiful and memorable read.
Judy
January 30, 2011 at 11:11 amMy favorite faerie book is Jonathan STrange and Mr. Norrell – what an intricate, dark world!
I would love to win this set! Thanks so much.
Becky
January 30, 2011 at 11:48 amMy favorite fairy series is Karen Moning’s Fever series…But I haven’t read very many.
Kimberly B.
January 30, 2011 at 2:17 pmThis sounds like such a terrific series! My favorite fairy stories are Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones and The Perilous Gardby Elizabeth Marie Pope!
Thanks for the great giveaway!
Sylvia Sybil
January 30, 2011 at 5:27 pmMy favorite old fairy tales were the banshee tales. Banshees were ghost women either from your own clan, sobbing and wailing, or from an enemy clan, screaming in hateful triumph. You could only hear them when someone was about to die. Guess which variety were my favorite stories to hear. 😈
My favorite modern fairy tale is Ash by Malinda Lo.
Shishi
January 30, 2011 at 6:12 pmMy favourite fairy stories is, I think, Holly Black’s Tithe and Ironside.They have that lovely sinister feeling about them.
Megan
January 30, 2011 at 6:37 pmAny version of Cinderella is my favorite
mearley1979 at gmail dot com
Jasmine
January 30, 2011 at 6:55 pmPerilous Gard, or Wicked Lovely. 😀 They both started me into reading YA, but different veins.
sarah
January 30, 2011 at 9:54 pmi have serious want for this series! it looks uh-MAZE-ing.
i looooooove fairy tales. retold fairy tales too. for some reason, i’ve always felt drawn to rapunzel. i especially loved a caribbean picture book version i found by patricia storace called “sugar cane.”
Rebecca
January 31, 2011 at 6:42 amMy favorite fairy story of all time is Stardust by Neil Gaiman. He is a genius in general and this story is engaging and magical with just a touch of darkness. I have 13 Treasures on its way to me in the mail. Unfortunately in the US 13 Curses will not be available until June and who knows when we might get 13 Secrets. I would love to have all three here before they are available most especially because though I intend to read them I really want them for the school where I am the librarian. My kids love fantasy/sci. fi.
Lauren
January 31, 2011 at 6:51 amMy favorite fairy tale is Beauty and the Beast. I seek out any redition of it, and enjoy the unusual, beautiful, twisted and odd. McKinley has two excellent ones, and I read a short story once (can’t remember collection or author) where the beast was female. Exceptional!
Kaya H
January 31, 2011 at 9:10 amI love the idea on their twist of faery. Looks fantastic I would love to read them. I bet they might be great for a bedtime read also for my tweenetts 🙂 Thanks for the opportunity.
Dovile
January 31, 2011 at 10:16 amMy favorite is the Iron King series by Julie Kagawa.
spamscape [at] gmail [dot] com
Celia
January 31, 2011 at 2:19 pmMy favorite fairy tale retellings are Beauty by Robin McKinley and Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier.
I also love the fun take on fairies and elves in the Artemis Fowl series 🙂
Tracey Byram
February 1, 2011 at 6:12 amMy favorite is the Fablehaven series of books by Brandon Mull.
Ginny
February 1, 2011 at 12:15 pmOh, goodness I can’t wait to get my grimy hands on these books!
Favorite faerie story? well, i have to say Artemis Fowl was really good… for a kid. I like it because it fit what i was looking for in a book at that time: adventure, intelligence, and thrill! haha, well theres my comment… 🙂
Ginny
February 1, 2011 at 12:36 pmI also liked Elfland by Freda Warrington although I’m not sure if that can be considered faerie… also,sry for commenting twice… *sheepish grin*
Van P.
February 1, 2011 at 2:22 pmThe October Daye series by Seanan Mcguire
Sparkles
February 1, 2011 at 10:17 pmMy favourite fairy story is the Wicked Lovely series 😀 Thank you for the giveaway
Brooke
February 1, 2011 at 10:21 pmMy favorite fairy tale is Beauty and the Beast.
Thanks!
Nikki Egerton
February 2, 2011 at 3:30 amWhat a great giveaway!
My favourite books about faeries are probably the Wicked Lovely series, and also Seanan McGuire’s October Daye books.
I also remember an episode of Goosebumps when I must have been about 13 I think, where a little girl finds faries and keeps them as pets, feeding them. At the end they kill her and it freaked me out for weeks afterwards. I prefer there to be darkness in faerie stories.
Thanks!
:o)
Jules@OneBookShy
February 2, 2011 at 1:35 pmThat’s a tough question – I like A LOT of different fairie stories. I have to say I’m really loving the Fever series by KMM. I just started them and am really hooked.
As for a movie, I really like the version of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with Michelle Pfeiffer. That was a fun fairie romp!
I have been hearing wonderful things about Michelle’s series (and I love the covers). I can’t wait to get started on it now!
Thanks for the giveaway and great post.
Christine
February 2, 2011 at 3:17 pmWhat a generous giveaway! Thanks for the chance. I think both my teens and I would love to read these books.
I’ve been reading a lot of ‘fairy’ books lately… my favorite, huh? Hmmmm… I think I will go with Except the Queen by Jane Yolen & Midori Snyder.
Nikki
February 3, 2011 at 4:21 pmOh my! I’ve had the Thirteen Treasures books on my to-read list for quite some time now. What a great giveaway!
Favorite fairy stories… hmm… ya know, I’ve always adored Tinkerbell’s feisty and even jealous personality from Peter Pan. Oh, and Labyrinth! Hoggle, the fairy exterminator! (It’s okay – they’re the tricky, bitey variety.)
andrea
February 4, 2011 at 12:49 amthis trilogy looks excellent! thanks for the chance to win a set..
mm, favorite fairy tale? i love tam lin and east of the sun & west of the moon. favorite re-tellings? i love love donna jo napoli’s writing generally – maybe zel is my favorite. also shannon hale’s first book and robin mckinley of course. everything by her, not just the fairy tale ones.
Aaron Vincent(Guy Gone Geek)
February 4, 2011 at 3:19 amI love Brandon Mull’s Fablehaven series. The series also features fairies and he pretty much gave them a interesting twist. Fablehaven itself as a series is an awesome one. One that is so easy to get lost into. Love every page of it.
Ray Pratt
February 4, 2011 at 3:03 pmApart from the Andrew Lang books, I suppose Terry Pratchett’s “The Wee Free Men” and “A Hatful of Sky” would qualify as the most fun I’ve encountered in the last few years.
Eva SB
February 4, 2011 at 4:18 pmI loved Enid Blyton so much when I was a kid!
My daughter keeps telling I should read the 13 series because they are so good – maybe this is my chance!
Favourite fairytale? The Wilds Swans
LiLi
February 4, 2011 at 4:18 pmI like a fairy story in a series format because of the Merry Gentry series by Laurell K. Hamilton. She knows how to do it like no other; I hope to find the same in Michelle too.
Susan
February 4, 2011 at 4:31 pmI LOVE fractured fairytales – things where traditional fairy tales are turned upon their heads or broken and put together in new and interesting ways! Off the top of my head though, my favourite fairy tale film is probably The Princess and the Frog (… 1920s, jazz, and the Princess is quite happy to look after herself thankyouverymuch), and my favourite author is probably Catherynne M. Valente, who while not writing traditional fairytale, does tend to write things with the same tone/style as fairytales. 😀
Tina
February 5, 2011 at 7:56 amMy favorite fairy stories are Irish folktales. My grandma used to tell them to me when I was little.
Vashti Werkmeister
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