The Chronicles of Faerie: The Hunter's Moon (The Chronicles of Faerie, 1)

The Hunter's Moon is an adventurous story about a 16 year old girl named Gwen Woods who has always shared a love for fantasy with her Irish cousin Findabhair(Fin-a-veer). When the two adolescent girls decide to travel around Ireland expecting to have a normal time, Findabhair gets kidnapped by the most beautiful, deadly, magical creatures a few humans have ever seen. Fairies. Now Gwen must venture out to save her cousin and even the fairies themselves. This jaw-dropping story with poetic language will have you at the edge of your seat. This is the first book to The Chronicles Of Faerie.

This story is like a breath of fresh air. It's pure delightful whimsy. I had no trouble at all following the plot and, yes, the characters aren't very deep and insightful. But somehow I don't think they're supposed to be. The story reads like an old-time fairy tale, full of ideas and events that are cliche but no less true and valuable. You might get tired of seeing the shy character that pulls out of her shell through the course of a quest or journey, but that doesn't diminish the power of such a transformation. If you read this story with no preconceptions then you end up feeling like a kid again, in awe of the power of the hidden world. This book made me tremendously happy, and I didn't even set out to feel that way! It didn't matter that it was illogical in places or simple or unrealistic. It was magic! Magic doesn't have to make sense. This book won't give you any profound existential insight, but it does have the potential to give you the joyful suspicion that maybe, just maybe, there really are fairies in the hills and the chance that you might one day go adventuring with them. Call me flighty, and I probably am, but that idea makes me happy. Thank you for a great story Ms. Melling.

Two cousins from two different parts of the world who share the same name and a passionate belief that faery exists, set out on a summer vacation in Ireland. Gwen, the US cousin, is tentative and dreamy. Findabhair, the Irish native, is passionate, beautiful and impulsive. At Tara, they dare to spend the night in a Faery mound. Finn answers the call of the Faery King. Gwen is left behind to rescue her. Time is running out--Hunter's Moon approaches and if Gwen can't get her cousin back, Finn will become the annual sacrifice to the Great Wyrm. "The Hunter's Moon" is an amazing fantasy adventure told by someone who really KNOWS Irish folklore. Melling's education qualifies her to write non-fiction, yet she's choosing instead to educate us with enchanting tales of Irish folklore. I highly recommend "The Hunter's Moon" for fantasy lovers of all ages. The story itself is delightful. The guides included relating to Gaelic language and Irish folklore are amazing.

I first read this book reluctantly for a novel study in grade 7. After finishing it I immediately went out and bought my own copy, as well as other titles by O. R. Melling. Gwen's quest in search of her cousin is a fascinating read as Melling sweeps the reader across Ireland giving a tale nothing short of epic in the eyes of a 13 year old. Now in university and studying the classics, this book is still incredible to me. I have recommended it to friends not of Irish descent who have loved it just as much as I have. It is a universal story of struggle and the right of passage for young girls in the modern world. I absolutely loved this book, and anyone who feels it is beneath them because of its target audience is robbing themselves of an excellent read. I have re-read this book countless times and still find it a joy, using it and others as a bridge between the books I have to study. Anyone looking to get teenagers interested in reading or in need of a good book to escape into should definitely give this a try.

I first read this book up to page 3 in grade 4 and then put it down. I started reading it again this year and realized all I had missed!! this is one of the most amazing books i have read. I would recomend it to people who have been(like me!) enchanted with finding another world, as Finn and Gwen did. Faeries have been my haunt for a while now and I really enjoyed this book. If only it could have been me, dancing with the Daoine Sidhe!