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Book Review UKYA

REVIEW: Banished by Liz de Jager

Banished was another of my most highly anticipated books of 2014, and so I was delighted when I won a copy from the publisher. A blend of Maggie Stiefvater’s Lament, with the intensity and passion of Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments, you really need to watch out for this trilogy.

Kit is part of the impressive Blackhart family. Trained to fight, Kit isn’t any normal person, for her family fights enemy Fae. When the prince of Alba, the Fae world, needs rescuing, things turn from bad to worse because Kit has to face a lot more than a rogue Fae. Fae battle Fae in a war that threatens the human world and Kit has to fight for those that she holds dearest.

By far the thing that made me love Banished so much was Kit herself. She takes charge and really drove the story on. Her voice was so clear and shone through, unwavering in its consistency. Kit was very action-driven and I loved reading about her.

I also loved reading about Kit’s cousins. I really hope we get to see more of them in future novels because from the parts we saw them in during Banished they seem really awesome. Why can’t I be a Blackhart?!

I loved the inclusion of snippets of information about the lore and traditions before some of the chapters. It offered a really great insight into the world de Jager has created, which I can’t wait to hear more about in future books. I love it!

I’ve always been a huge fan of mythology and folklore so it’s not a surprise how much I loved the Fae world. De Jager has put her on spin on it, Banished being a truly unique novel. I just want more!

The plot is thrilling and there’s so much packed into one book. There are lots of plot twists and the climax was just amazing. The last 100 pages or so had me on the edges of my seat because I was so engrossed in the story. After reading the ending, I was left wanting more because it was just so good.

There were a few things I disliked, but I think this is mostly down to the fact that I haven’t been reading much lately and so it’s weird to be back in a fictional world again. On reflection though, I really loved the story and think everyone will really enjoy it.

You should definitely read Banished if you’re a fan of fantasy and the like. Even if you’re not, there is so much you can take out of this novel and I can see it being really popular once it’s released. Read it, read it, read it!