[Day Three of 31 Days] Book Recap: The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

Cover Inspection: 
L-O-V-E
Very fitting, as the ring is actually the crux of the story.

SUMMARY (book description based on GoodReads):
The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood.
Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen’s son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist.
Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty…

BOOK REPORT CARD:

Cover	3.5
Plot	3.0
Writing	3.0
Characters	3.0
Ending	3.0
Overall Rating	3.0 Very Good! (89% to 92%) * highest rating possible is 4.0

LOCATION/SETTING:
London in the year 1871. The locations/places in London in this book is quite specific. The book even has a map.

MAIN CHARACTERS:
The main character is Tiki. She was once living comfortably with her parents, but after her mother and father died of consumption, she became an orphan. She was only 14 at that time, and so she had to live with her aunt and her aunt's husband. However, whenever her aunt's husband gets drunk, Tiki was molested (implied). So, Tiki was forced to live in the streets until a bunch of street kids of London adopts her. They eventually became a family. Tiki has a big heart - she is motherly, loyal, and protective. She learned how to pick pocket in the streets of London in order to feed herself and her so-called family. She also has a mark around her wrist, and it is said that it is the symbol of the fae.

WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT:
Tiki steals Queen Victoria's ring not knowing that the ring is actually a contractual symbol of the peace treaty between the Queen and the fae. It is said that the ring must be in the possession of the Queen (or one of her descendants), otherwise a war might erupt. Then things begin to change for Tiki. She feels that something or someone is following her. Rieker, also a thief - a handsome one at that, approaches Tiki saying that the ring must be returned to the royals as London is in grave danger of the fae. But Tiki does not want to return the ring as she doesn't believe in faeries. They are only stories from her childhood. Another reason why Tiki does not want to return the ring is that it is her way out of the streets, and she needs the money to pay for Clara's (another orphan whom she considers as family) hospital expenses. Things turned for the worse when Clara was kidnapped from the hospital. Rieker believes that Clara was taken by the faeries, and will be returned in exchange for the Queen's ring. Now, Tiki does not know what to do, what to believe and who to trust.

LOVE:
I love the Tiki-Rieker banter. They are just hilarious together. There were parts in the story where it was like a watching a comedy movie. I want more of them! I also love that this book is actuall about finding one's home. Having a big, luxurious house does not automatically mean that the house is a home, and that a "family" might actually exist without living in a house. I also love how Kiki Hamilton breaks the tension in a serious scene. Imagine a very serious, heartbreaking scene, then BAM! One-liners that make you laugh out loud! You would have to read the book to understand what I mean.

NO LOVE:
I honestly didn't like the first half of the book. It was boring for me. I would give the first half only three stars. However, the second half was the complete opposite! I'd give it five stars! It was exciting, funny, and romantic.

FAVORITE CHARACTER:
Rieker! I love Rieker because beneath his tough and carefree exterior, there is a young man who has a very, very big heart. I also love how he laughs in the book. He laughs so hard he has to wipe tears coming out of his eyes. So adorable.

FAVORITE LINE:

How was it possible to love someone one minute and then hate him the next?

MUSINGS:
I was satisfied by this book. It wasn't the best book I've read, but it's one of the good ones I've read this year. The ending was also satisfying. Erase that - I liked the ending. But there are still some unanswered questions which would most likely be dealt with in the sequel. Would I still read the sequel? Yes! I love Rieker, and I want to unearth his secrets. The book is also very clean. Hardly any kissing. But that doesn't make it not romantic. It actually is. This is one of those books where a smoldering look equals a hot kiss.

DOODLES:

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:
Kiki Hamilton

SIMILAR READS:
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

CONTENT REVIEW:
profanity: none
violence: mild
sexual content: mild
mature themes: mild - moderate
age recommendation: 13+