A Midsummer Night's Faery Tale

A collaboration between famous doll-maker Wendy Froud and award-winning author/editor Terri Windling - could you ever ask for a better team? In this beautifully created book the two present the story of the faery Sneezle - small, helpless and over-looked, who is desparate to make a difference on this particular Midsummer Night, the night where all manner of faery creatures join to together in celebrations unknown to Sneezle - he's always sleeped through them! He is determined though that tonight will be different, and immediately goes out in search of something to do to help, though often his attempts cause more harm than good. Finally though he is given a task by Lord Oberon himself, a task so important however that Sneezle doubts his chances to successfully achieve it. With Queen Titania under a strange spell of sleep, Oberon orders Sneezle to fetch her crown from the Heart of the Wood - but a beautiful-yet-dangerous enchantress is out to fetch the crown also, to become Oberon's new queen.If there is something wrong with this book, it is perhaps that the narrative is too complicated. I get the distinct impression that this book will most likely reach the bookshelves of more adults than children, but nevertheless the story often branches out into several tangents that do not quite flow. Though the story starts with Sneezle's quest to find something useful to do and a few encounters with various faery folk, he soon comes across the sleeping Titania. He then goes in search of Oberon, who sends him off to fetch the crown. Then there is Twig, the young faery who (and this I really disliked) wanted time to perfect her appearance before going on a life-or-death quest to fetch the crown. Then there's the matter of the sword and Titania's missing and transformed handmaidens, and of Rianna's several appearances and her adjenda that conflicts with Sneezle's own. Perhaps the intricate, many stranded plot was what Windling was going for, but it doesn't quite come across as the simple `faery tale' that is in the title of the book. I'm not saying that Windling should have made a simple story line that only children would have found enjoyable, nor that I particulary disliked it - just that a few creases in the structure could have been ironed out to make it a more fluid storytelling effort, rather than a rushed and jumbled story. On the other hand, the story is charming, not too sugary (like many other `fairy' tales) and has a good underlining message to just be yourself. This is just a little quibble of mine - nitpicking in the face of an otherwise perfect and beautiful book.Wendy Froud's exquistie dolls are the real reason for purchasing this book. Whether they are the tiny sylph-like faerys or the larger, more solid, graceful humanoid dolls, the distorted and somewhat macabre gnomes and imps or the merticulously crafted unicorns, each one is unquie, beautiful and inspiring. Each one has its own personality, its own individuality and a beautiful costume. Yet

It's not very surprising that Wendy Froud happens to be the wife of the renowned fantasy artist, Brian Froud himself, who is quite famous for his very unique fairy and faerie creations. And Terri Windling's writing isn't too shabby here, either. So with all Mrs. Froud's very life-like arrangement of faery figures so elaborately designed and dressed and then carefully positioned within an equally believable woodland setting, Ms. Windling's fairy tale begins with the busy preparation for a great ceremonious faery festival: The Midsummer Night - as derived from one of William Shakespeare's famed plays. The hero of this tale is a very humble little Sneezle, who happens to be a sleepy-eyed wingless faery of the tree roots. He wants so much to be part of the much bristling about, yet he keeps getting underfoot or into a big mess. So the poor innocent little creature is quite crestfallen, yet he does not yet know that he would soon be playing a very crucial role in thrawting the crafty plans of an evil faery about to overtake the whole faery realm! Yet...young Sneezle just does NOT has much courage or any skill to fight at all - a very unusual kind of a fantasy protagonist. Beautifully written with a rustically poetic style and marvelously illustrated by all those well-made dolls that would truly delight any fantasy fans and serious fancier of fairies and faeries!

Loved It! One of the most beautifully photographed books i've ever seen, all of my friends say the same thing about it. If you like faires, you love this book, absolutly wonderful.

This is a wonderful book for all lovers of folklore, fairy tales, and the magical forests of the British Isles. I bought it to read to my children, but I loved Terri Windling's poetic tale also and Wendy Froud's dolls are stunningly beautiful, so I would recommend this as a perfect gift for adults too. I have also purchased Terri Windling's brand new faery story for older children, The Raven Queen, and recommend it to all faery lovers. It's another poetic and magical faery story from the talented Miss Windling and the only thing that would have made it better is cover art by Wendy Froud. Long live the faeries!

It is Midsummer's Eve and all the faeries are coming to Old Oak Wood to celebrate the summer solstice. Since this is a time of powerful magic, something dreadful is as likely to occur as well as something wonderful. The fairies have to be on guard at this time. However, unbeknownst to anyone, a traitor to King Oberon and Queen Titania has emerged. Only one individual needing a lot of luck can possibly save the realm. However, Sneezle is a youngster, being only two centuries old. He has never made it through the festivities without falling asleep. Yet he is the last hope to stop a treacherous act from succeeding. MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S FAERY TALE is an entertaining story filled with fabulous illustrations throughout the fantasy. The story line is typical of the genre with a nice but kind of pitiable individual turning into an epic hero. However, Wendy Froud and Terri Windling make it work because Sneezle has a charm that will delight children and adults. Fans of faeries and otherworldly beings will enjoy this rich tapestry as the pictures are filled with elaborate detail, enhancing a fun plot.