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The Vanishing Throne
The Vanishing Throne
The Vanishing Throne
Ebook431 pages7 hours

The Vanishing Throne

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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About this ebook

A young Scottish warrior returns from the faery world to find Edinburgh in ruins in the second volume of this YA historical fantasy trilogy.

Aileana Cameron, the Falconer, disappeared through the portal that she was trying to close forever. Now she wakes up in the fae world, trapped and tortured by the evil Lonnrach. With the help of an unexpected ally, Aileana re-enters the human world, only to find everything irrevocably changed.

Edinburgh has been destroyed, and the few human survivors are living in an uneasy truce with the fae, while both worlds are in danger of disappearing altogether. Aileana holds the key to saving both worlds, but in order to do so she must awaken her latent Falconer powers. And doing so might cost her life.

Rich with imaginative detail, action, fae lore, and romance, The Vanishing Throne is a thrilling sequel to The Falconer.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateJun 21, 2016
ISBN9781452131054
The Vanishing Throne
Author

Elizabeth May

Elizabeth May received her Ph.D. from the Department of Music at UCLA, and taught at UCLA, Davis, Washington, Maryland, Michigan, and San Jose State.

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Rating: 4.000000041666667 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I loved The Falconer, which I felt was fun and Buffy-esque, with elements of steampunk and historical romance. I loved The Vanishing Throne for very, very different reasons.

    First, let me just say that this second installment feels less like YA fantasy and more like straight-up fantasy. Kam is still young, but this volume moves the characters and story into more mature and darker territory. At the very least, this is definitely High YA (14 ).

    Because this book is dark. Really dark. This darkness serves its purpose, though, deepening and enriching May's world and her characters. I could wax rhapsodical and batter your eyeballs with GIFs expressing all my feels, but I'd rather just tell you to go read The Falconer and then immediately pick this one up and devour it and then start wishing and hoping and begging for 2017 to arrive and, with it, The Fallen Kingdom. So much changes in this book, especially at the end, and I'm on tenterhooks wanting to know the consequences and long-term effects of the decisions and actions of these characters.

    Would have been five stars, but I was slightly disappointed by the lack of inventions/steampunk-y elements that I enjoyed so much in the first volume.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Well that complicated everything. Lady Alieana starts the story captive by the enemy and tortured for information, when pain and magic are combined to create a mess of any attempts to resist. She's rescued and discovers that in the real world a longer time has passed and the Fae have decimated humanity and instead of weeks or months it's been several years.Now she finds out more of the history of the fae and what's going on. And it all ends up very complicated.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    When we left Ailena Kameron she was trying to close the seal and Kiaran was lying down on the ground possibly dead. Sorcha got into her mind and made her remember her mother's death and she was distracted by Kieran as well and stopped working on the seal and didn't close it. Lonnrach, instead of killing her, takes her to Sith-bhruth, or what was once the Unseelie Kingdom. He wants her to see that the kingdom is falling apart and needs to be saved. That the reason he destroyed her world was to save his own.He needs a relic of some sort in order to take over the throne of both the Seelie and Unseelie Kingdoms. The Cailleach who is the current ruler hasn't been seen in thousands of years. She left her children in charge of the Kingdoms and Lonnrach does not believe them worthy to hold the throne. He thinks that Derrick, her little pixie friend, and Kiaran might have mentioned something about it while she was around without her realizing it. So he puts her in a room with mirrors and vines that hold her down and he bites her with his razor sharp teeth and injects his venom into her blood and sees into her memories. Eventually, she is too weak to fight him, not that it matters. Oddly he looks into her memories before she became aware of the fae. He very nearly breaks her will.Then one day after about two months in fairy land has passed she sees Kiaran in the room which is impossible since he can't enter fairy land upon threat of death. But Kiaran is there in spirit form only. His body is back in Scotland. He tells her his sister Aithinne has broken down the wards holding her in there and to go through the mirror and she will find her on the other side. She does and meets the odd Aithinne. They have a very difficult time getting out of fairy land and when she does she finds out she's been gone for three human years.Gavin and Catherine are both alive if different now. Three years of running for their lives and fighting the fae have changed them. Aithinne takes Ailena to the new compound that Derrik has set up on his home of Skye where the pixies used to live before it was destroyed. Here some of the fae and the humans live together under a truce. The fae goes out and gets food for the humans who can't leave and they agree to not harm a human as long as they stay on the human side of the compound. But if a human enters the fae side of the compound they are fair game. And the fae does their best to entice the humans to walk through the door. Lonnrach, however, is looking for Ailena because he needs her powers as a Falconer to open this relic. She is putting the people there in danger by being there. But Lonnrach isn't searching the area just for her but also for the relic. They are surprisingly getting help from Sorcha which is suspicious. What is her angle? It would help if Ailena was in her full powers but she isn't and doesn't know how to reach them.This book is a worthy sequel to the first book. It really hikes up the thrills when Ailena escapes Lonnrach and the tension felt when she goes into the human compound and is distrusted by many, including Gavin. It delves into matters of psychological and physical torture and how you handle it. Ailena isn't the only one who has been tortured. Aithinne was held inside the prison beneath the seal with the other fae who blamed her. Lonnrach, in particular, enjoyed torturing her. Ailena also deals with her guilt over failing to save the world and what has happened to it because of her failure. I really cannot recommend this book enough. It kept me up late at night reading it. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this trilogy. Quotes“You didn’t die. See? I told you it was easy.” “I’ve been bitten by some demonic woodland creature. My legs have been shredded by razor-sharp trees. We almost died. Easy? I’m getting you a damn dictionary.”-Elizabeth May (The Vanishing Throne p 64)The truth is, memories weigh a great deal. Each one bends your bones a little more until the heft of them wears you down. Now I know that some scars go so deep that they never fade.-Elizabeth May (The Vanishing Throne p 114)“He’s so handsome, but not too bright,” she says fondly, as if he were a pet. “And he still hasn’t learned never to underestimate a woman with a sword and a firearm.”-Elizabeth May (The Vanishing Throne p 245)My sister not by blood but by bond. Aren’t those the best kind of sisters, anyway?-Elizabeth May (The Vanishing Throne p 427)
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    the same as the first one really slow and hard to pay attention to. again my mind kept wondering and had to force myself to pay attention. good read for younger people. it just doesn't have the umph that other young adults do to keep me engaged.  
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Book two in the Falconer trilogy picks up right where book one left off. As I tend to prefer having familiar elements to latch onto (like the familiar Edinburgh setting of book one) when reading Sc-Fi/Fantasy, it took me a little bit of time to get acclimatized to the fae world and pixie realm of May’s design. The world build continues to be well detailed and not at odds with the story plot. May keeps the action going, providing the reader with slow periods to properly take in the surroundings and to become better acquainted with characters from the first book and the new characters being introduced. I love the levity the pixie Derrick brings to the story, but my favorite character in this book is Aithinne, Kiaran’s sister. Aithinne is a fascinating, complex character. She has all of the strength and fae power of her brother, but she also has a wry sense of humour and a more human compassion and understanding. Aithinne is the perfect counter balance to Kiaran’s stiff, darker brooding nature. I was hoping for more character development in our Falconer Aileana, given all that she has gone through. That didn’t transpire but overall I still found this one to be a satisfying bit of escapism reading with a good balance of surprise, suspense, action, Steampunk-styled mechanicals, fae lore and romance. A good summer read, but just get ready for the fact that this is a planned trilogy and book two ends off with the typical “leave the reader wondering what will happen next” kind of story arc. This is one reader who will be waiting in expectation for when book three is released.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This fantasy story is full of adventure that literally begins on the first page making it is easy to get swept up into action. The characters really spring to life yet I felt as though I was missing something having not read the first book to this series first. Aileana is definitely the kind of heroine that shines with valor. Overall a good fantasy read!I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Elizabeth May, an enchantress with words. This book made me feel connected to Aileana, and it was just amazing. Fantasy, romance, and action rolled into one amazing tale. It's just so full of imagery...I can't even. Thank you!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    First of all, I have to confess I'm a sucker for anything steampunk, but I'm also extremely hard to please with it.With that said, I love how May combines fae and steampink and create such a wonderful story.This was a wonderful continuation of the trilogy. I love May's writing style; it is so beautiful and descriptive it really makes the characters and world come alive. She reminds me of Julie Kagawa in the way that her writing can easily become a movie in my head and I see everything clearly.The story in this book follows Aileana after escaping imprisonment by Lonnrach. Now that she's "free" from him, she needs to awaken her full Falconer skills in order to save both the fae and mortal realm. We get a lot of history in this book, from how Falconers came to exist to how it relates to her.Overall, an amazing continuation of a story I'm learning to love. Can't wait for the third book!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Lady Aileana Kameron's life was a faery tale...right up until the moment she learned that the Fae are all too real, the moment her mother's heart is ripped from her chest by a dark faery, the moment her life changed forever. Driven by grief & rage, nightly, with the help & instruction of the mysterious faery Kiaran MacKay, she seeks revenge on the dark beings that prey on her beloved city. When Aileana learns she is a Falconer, a line of female warriors born with a gift for killing the Fae, she also learns that as the last Falconer it is up to her to save the world from being overrun by an army of vicious Faeries. As book one of the Falconer Trilogy draws to a close she is drawn into a desperate battle to reseal the Fae portal & keep her world, & those she loves, safe. For Aileana one moments hesitation leaves her fate & the fate of her world balanced, quite literally, on the edge of a knife. The Vanishing Throne picks up in the aftermath of the Battle. Defeated, Imprisoned, & Tortured Aileana receives help from an unlikely source in escaping the evil faery Lonnrach. She returns to find 3 years have past and the world she was supposed to have saved destroyed. With the help of old friends, new allies, & the enigmatic faery she loves she must fight to overcome her guilt, her fears, and death itself to gain her full powers and become the person who can save them all, the person she was born to be.. the Falconer. The Vanishing Throne, book two in the Falconer Trilogy, by Elizabeth May is a Dark, Steampunk, Faery Tale. The second part of this exciting epic blends seamlessly with the cliff hanger ending of part one, getting you quickly up to speed & back in the action. It pulls you recklessly back up the cliff only to drop you off the edge once again at the ending, leaving you anxiously awaiting book 3. Be Warned this is no stereotypical light & sparkly fairy tale, these are the cruel, unfeeling, & destructive creatures of Scottish Lore. Happy endings are not guaranteed. Neither is Aileana, an outcast from society, a inventor of mechanical weapons, a grieving young woman, & a rage filled assassin, your typical heroine. Making for, in my opinion, a much more interesting & complex read. Within the pages of this paranormal world I was delighted to find, action, drama, tragedy, comedy, & romance. The full spectrum of life, not just a narrow glimpse. There is also, so far, a refreshing lack of the much overused "love triangle" dilemma. Aileana's only got eyes for her sexy faery & who can blame her. I myself am smitten with Derrick, Aileana's honey loving, pixie companion who cracks me up with his every line.So, if you like paranormal adventures, Scottish Lore, Steampunk mechanicals, & a fierce hearted but flawed heroine who never gives up I think you will find this book & the Series as enjoyable as I do.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This was a wonderful continuation of this series. I love May's writing style, it is so beautiful and descriptive it really makes the characters and world come alive. I continue to enjoy all the fae elements to the story combined with all of the steampunky goodness. Aileana goes through a lot in this story and comes out changed; I loved watching her transformation even as I hated seeing her go through so much. I love Kiaran as well and really enjoyed him throughout the story; he is just such an awesome male lead and him and Aileana complement each other beautifully.However, my favorite part of the story was Kiaran’s sister Aithinne. Aithinne is in the story a ton and she was an absolutely delightful character; she is complex, powerful, hopeful and wounded all at once. I loved her and was just thrilled that she was in the story so much. A lot happens in this book and it is all very intriguing and engaging. The world as Aileana knew it before her imprisonment is gone and it’s up to her, Aithinne, and Kiaran to ensure that humanity survives the wrath of the Fae. There is a ton of action and the plot really kept me guessing.Overall I adored this book and I can't wait to see how everything wraps up in the third book. I pretty much loved everything about this book; the writing style, the characters, the plot, and the world...all of it was magnificent and I absolutely could not put this book down. I would recommend to those who enjoy dark fantasy involving the fae.

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The Vanishing Throne - Elizabeth May

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