This story has been my favorite of the three that I have read so far, but they are all so unique it is really hard to decide. There were so many times that I had to stop and absolutely admire the author's prose and imagination. The weather descriptions really struck me. Most of them are in my update comments. If you haven't met September and her friends in this series of unforgettable stories, you are missing out, dear reader!

I love Catherynne M Valente's writing, and recommend her to others only second to my beloved Diana Wynne Jones. My first introduction to her was the first book in the Fairyland series, which grabbed hold of me such that I was ecstatic to see the prequel short and overjoyed that a second book came out. I only just today learned that this is to be a five book series, and I had this one, the third, on Kindle pre-order the moment I learned of it. I have talked up her Orphan's Tales series beyond all...

It took me quite a long time to finish this book. Why? I'll get to that later. The book series started out in 2009 as a crowdfunded middle-grade online novel (originally, a fictional children's book in the author's other book Palimpsest). I know, right?! How come this series is so "old", yet barely known throughout the world?! Doesn't seem appropriate.As anyone following my reviews knows, I was absolutely smitten with the first book and equally delighted with the second (although the first book

At this point, if you haven’t read the first two books, I definitely don’t suggest you jump in here. If you have, then what’re you waiting for? Fairyland has more enchantment, sadness, and whimsy for you. And in this book, September gets to spend time with Ell and Saturday again — the Ell and Saturday she knew in the first book, and not their shadows.Once again, September doesn’t go back to Fairyland; at least, not so simply and directly. We have another new setting for the friends to explore, a...

Just because it's imaginary doesn't mean it isn't real this is September, a.k.a. The Girl Who Captured My Heart and Took It On A Marvellous Ride to Fairyland ...... for the third time. Repeat offender this cutie, but I don't mind. On the contrary, I hope she makes plans for many more wacky, bittersweet, tenderly wistful returns to the land where Imagination runs free and where she can follow the imperatives of her Criminal heart.That's right, you heard me! The denizens of Fairyland have dubb

Also not quite as good as the first, although better than the second, since it reunites the characters that the first book put so much work into investing us in.And I did highlight some things. For instance:"That's your first hint that something's alive. It says no... No is the heart of thinking."Also,"At the bottom of philosophy something very true and very desperate whispers: Everyone is hungry all the time. Everyone is starving. Everyone wants so much.. Everyone is hungry and not only for foo...

While the language is beautiful and still bright, and while we've got a little older September to contend with, I don't think this is the best of the Fairyland books. She's growing up, learning that Yeti's hands can control serious time and Words have a magic that is all the greater because it belongs not only to Fairies, but to everyone, and the clothes you wear are like the words you use. It's sweet, and it's good, but there was something missing in the middle of the book.Direction. I loved th...

I love Cathrynne Valente's language in this series, and the way she weaves a variety of folktale creatures into her tale about September's adventures in Fairyland. I was a little surprised by the ending of this installment, but loved how Valente showed how September was grappling with growing up.

[June 28, 2015] This was probably never going to be anything less than five stars. I love it, I'm invested, some of my favorite characters are here, and at the end of the day, Valente can tell us just about anything in the most beautiful language. She can make up any land and any creature and just brings it all to life with wit and clever phrases. I love reading these words so much, it's hard to hold anything else against them. Each of her books seems to have a theme at the heart of them and as

Let it be known that I love, love, love Catherynne Valente's Fairyland books. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making was one of those books that I think justifies an author's entire career all by itself — its language, its heart, its ability to seize grown-up hearts as readily as it speaks to those of children. It's a book that makes me wish I had children so I could read it to them.Do not speak against TGWCFIASOHOM. I will defriend you. (Kidding. Maybe.)That was the

I love these books. I've said it before, and if there are more to come, I'll damn well say it again. I love these books. These are books I'd be so happy to read to children, and I would barely be able to suppress my glee to see what stories they'd come up with themselves, prompted by these inventive and whimsical tales. September, every time she goes to Fairyland, steals my heart.Note: The rest of this review has been withheld due to the recent changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You ca...

This was a lovely third book to the Fairyland series, where September has struggled to return to Fairyland and is wondering if you can ever really go back. The characters left behind in Fairyland have struggled too, missing her and loving her. Life apart is not always easy.September meets a few versions of Saturday and starts to question whether she gets choices in her life, and between that and the nostalgia of childhood and facing being a grownup and what that means for her fairy land and fair...

Escapism at its best. The most magical fairytale you’ll ever read and I fully understand why people compare it to Alice in Wonderland. The only difference is that the Fairyland series sometimes misses the fast pace Alice in Wonderland has, I’d say. Especially in this installment, the monologues and lectures made me lose concentration from time to time, but that’s my only complaint. I feel like September and A-through-L and Saturday are my friends and I was so happy that we finally got a lot of s...

Trigger warnings: violence.15/7/2019On reread I'm bumping this down to 4 stars. I still love the world and the characters a lot, but I feel like this time around it took me literally forever to read it. I still have a lot of feelings for Ell and Saturday. I still think the writing is magnificent. I just kind of feel like maybe I've overdosed a little on this world by reading the first three books in the series back to back... 16/3/20164.5 stars. This was beautiful in so many ways. The writing is...

I have adored this series from the start, with its whimsical and highly imaginative storyline very reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland however this installment was very slow to start as it only really picked up at the 40% mark. The writing, still beautiful in places, seemed to have become OTT with overly descriptive pages with no room for a plot line to develop. It almost seemed as if the author was trying to hard to show off her vivid imagination.The storyline: September has grown up, and is wor...

Listen to me. Love is a Yeti. It is bigger than you and frightening and terrible. It makes loud and vicious noises. It is hungry all the time. It has horns and teeth and the fore of its fists is more than anymore can bear. It speeds up time and slows it down. And it has its own aims and missions that those who are lucky enough to see it cannot begin to guess. You might see a Yeti once in your life or never. You might live in a village of them. But in the end, no matter how fast you think you can...

I enjoyed this more than the second book because Ell and Saturday were in it for a good chunk. However, I didn't enjoy as many of the new characters as I remember enjoying in the first book. The plot was extra convoluted. Sometimes I didn't understand how we had gotten from one point to another. And that cliffhanger was very cliffy and hangery. I will continue with the series eventually though.

It was fun to be back in Fairyland. I forgot how twisted her writing is at times, I had to read sentences multiple times to understand them fully. I also forgot how much the book questions everything and forces us to rethink everything by changing perspective on it, or just highlighting certain aspects we normally ignore or blindly accept.Needless to say, glad I decided to pick the series back up again.

September and the Model A Ford, Aroostook.Twelve-year-old September has visited Fairyland twice before and longs to return. She misses her friends, the Marid, Saturday, and the Wyverary, affectionately called Ell. Life is sad and monotonous at home, where she helps her invalid father and does odd jobs for neighbours.Anyone for a Taxicrab?But when she finally gets back to her beloved Fairyland, things have changed. For one thing she can't find her friends. The Model A Ford she arrived in is also