Violet Wings by Victoria Hanley

The youngest among her class of fairies and genies, Zaria can’t wait to turn twelve. That’s when she can finally exit Galena, the sheltered region in Feyland for children. It also marks the time when she will receive her crystal watch and wand, a sign that she’s ready to become a full-fledged member of Feyland. Sneaking off with a friend to the human world leaves Zaria Earth-struck—and jeopardizes her eligibility for her watch and wand when she is sighted by humans. But that rule infringement quickly fades to the background in the midst of new events such as the discovery of the extent of Zaria’s power and her guardian’s cryptic warnings about Zaria’s new mentor for magic. There’s so much more at risk than just one fairy’s exposure to humans. Zaria’s life has been in turmoil since recent events have dredged up questions about the disappearance of her family three years prior, and with each new sinister disaster than occurs, it becomes apparent that something evil and corrupt is at work in Feyland—and Zaria may be the only one who knows how to stop it.

Violet Wings is a sweet and thoroughly enchanting fairy tale for younger readers. Hanley weaves magic and mysticism so well into life in Feyland that it feels quite real to the reader. Though I generally take a while to get used to the lingo in every fantasy story I read, the new wording used in this novel was surprisingly easy to accustom to. It greatly helped that every chapter opened with a brief segment on Feyland’s history or its inhabitants’ customs, and that these lessons were appropriately interspaced within Zaria’s own adventures. Hanley has created a very likable fairy preteen in Zaria; she’s spunky, modest, and has a good heart. She’s also very believable within her circumstances, although I can’t say the same for any of the other characters. The plot started out a little slow but quickly sped up into an exciting and magical ride. Overall, I feel Hanley was extremely successful in creating a fun, cute, and innocent tale about magic and fairies that is appropriate for the middle grade audience but will still be enjoyed by older readers.

Violet Wings is sure to be enjoyed by fans of Wings by Aprilynne Pike, The Faerie Path by Frewin Jones, and The Otherworldies by Jennifer Anne Kogler. I seriously hope this novel will have a sequel because I can’t wait to see what adventures Zaria embarks on next.

Rating: 4.0

Review copy from publisher EgmontUSA