The Falconer by Elizabeth May

Title: The Falconer (Falconer #1)
Author: Elizabeth May 
Publication Date: September 26th 2013 
Publisher: Chronicle Books

Rating: 4 out of 5 

Goodreads Blurb:

Edinburgh, Scotland, 1844
Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, was destined for a life carefully planned around Edinburgh’s social events – right up until a faery killed her mother.
Now it’s the 1844 winter season and Aileana slaughters faeries in secret, in between the endless round of parties, tea and balls. Armed with modified percussion pistols and explosives, she sheds her aristocratic facade every night to go hunting. She’s determined to track down the faery who murdered her mother, and to destroy any who prey on humans in the city’s many dark alleyways.
But the balance between high society and her private war is a delicate one, and as the fae infiltrate the ballroom and Aileana’s father returns home, she has decisions to make. How much is she willing to lose – and just how far will Aileana go for revenge?

The only problem I had with this book was that it was too violent. But without the violence, this book probably wouldn't have been nearly as interesting. So my feelings are extremely contradictory (like they often are).

Although this book was too short (only 336... jk, it was just extremely fast paced), I enjoyed how we got to piece together the back story part by part. The plot was interesting and Gavin was an unexpected addition. The cliffhanger ending was also unexpected. For a second I though it was merely the end of the chapter, similar to how TV shows break right before the advertisements- suspenseful enough to ensure that viewers don't switch channel, but don't feel like the end. The ending of The Falconer definitely didn't feel like an ending, cliffhanger or not.

The main character, Aileana, is plagued by her mother's death. Unable to handle her grief, she forges a deep hatred for all faery kind (the correct term is sithichean) and decides that it is up to her to protect innocents and kill all sithichean. Little does she know that that has always been her destiny, as all the females before her were Falconers, fated to kill sithichean.

I actually don't know what to think about Kiaran. His intentions were never clear and although I understand that was entirely purposeful, it was just adding to his mysterious, shadowy, secretive stereotype (which is kinda just waaay to cliche). But he was still an awesome faery/sithichean, and an interesting plot complication- who exactly is Kiaran and whose side is he on? SPOILER. When Aileana met with the sithichean that killed her mother, Kiaran stopped Aileana from killing her. He later reveals that their lives are connected, so if the evil sithichean (extremely redundant) is killed, he also dies. Also Kiaran taught Aileana how to kill faery kind... and Kiaran is a faery... THIS is what I meant by plot complication.

This book is ideal for faery lovers who enjoy an unforgiving heroine and a unique plot.