The Encanto's Daughter by Melissa de la Cruz is the beginning of a new series with a Filipino twist on fairies. Read my review.
Out: Now
3 stars
MJ is half-encanto and has been hiding in the human world most of her life. Her father dies and she is the heir to his throne in Biringan, the realm thrown off balance without a ruler. Not only must she convince the council to accept her, a half-human as sovereign, her father's death may not have been natural after all. The mystery of his death leads to the hunt for a witch, an unlikely alliance and the possibility of giving her heart away.
It starts with a seemingly regular day at school and goes crazy in just a few pages, a whirlwind of continuous storytelling. In all the excitement info is thrown to us left and right and we gobble it up to learn what we can about this world. The story finds its footing and inviting groove in Biringan. This awe-inspiring fairie realm showcases the author's creativity and exactly how she envisions it with her richly detailed descriptions. Sprinkles of whimsy embellish the narrative. the Filipino mythological aspect renders a new spin on what we know about fairies and I'm enjoying it.
MJ prepares to be a queen in fairieland —she even goes to school for it — is as entertaining as you think it will be. Her genuine awkwardness and inexperience are endearing. Her angst is both expected and warranted. Credit to the author for not making this teenager whiny. MJ can carry her own but not all attempts are 100% successful, quite often leading to amusing encounters. I love that she is a quick study, learning from her mistakes. She surprises us and even herself with the unexpected level of her determination.
There are recognizable but always welcome archetypes like the new best friend who approaches the lead first of the inevitable 'I want what's yours' person of the bullying variety you love to hate. Lucas, the frenemy on his way to becoming the romantic interest makes me smile. A lot. You don't know what to make of him. He is as intriguing as the mystery surrounding her father's death and a lot of the unexplainable things happening as danger slithers in.
Some scenes seem to end whiplash, often like they are missing something to really conclude. Additionally, some storylines needed to be developed more in my opinion. We are given certain revelations where the explanations feel rushed. The critiques mentioned above do not diminish the fact that I liked this book and I'm reading the sequel (especially after that ending).
For me, the main theme of this book is about coming into your own. It also deals with the sense of belonging, something we all need and the strength, honor and pitfalls of duty.
Yummy royal court drama, political games and nefarious plots encompassed by magic and darkness culminate into this clever, sharp-witted first installment in this new and totally engaging fairy fantasy series.
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