Who Would Like This Book:
If you love modern, gritty urban fantasy with a sharp edge, "Tithe" is a standout! Holly Black creates a dark and dangerous world where faeries aren't all sparkle and sweetness - they're wild, morally ambiguous, and totally captivating. The story features flawed, believable characters, including Kaye, an outsider with street smarts and a heart, and Corny, an unlikely but compelling companion. It's perfect for fans of edgy YA, urban fantasy, or anyone who wants faerie tales with teeth and a real-world vibe. Bonus: The depiction of outsider teens and non-traditional families makes this more layered than your average fantasy.
Who May Not Like This Book:
This book isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Some readers struggled with a slow or confusing start, and others felt the plot wasn’t as fleshed out as it could be. If swearing, underage drinking, and a generally rough-around-the-edges cast put you off - or if you prefer tidier, lighter fantasy - Tithe might not work for you. Also, those looking for a wholesome romance or super clear world-building might find it lacking.
About:
'Tithe' by Holly Black follows the story of Kaye, a rebellious teenager who finds herself entangled in the world of faeries after moving back to her grandmother's house. As Kaye interacts with various faeries, she becomes embroiled in a battle between two factions of the fae. The book explores themes of identity, loyalty, and the blurred lines between good and evil in the faerie realm. The writing style is described as dark and modern, with a focus on urban fantasy elements and intricate world-building that delves into the complexities of faerie politics.
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Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings for Tithe include themes of alcohol abuse, violence, trauma, and sexual situations.
Has Romance?
There is a medium level of romance in Tithe, primarily revolving around Kaye and Roiben's relationship.
From The Publisher:
Discover the dark and seductive realm of faerie in the first book of New York Times bestseller Holly Black's critically acclaimed Modern Faerie Tales series, where one girl must save herself from the sinister magic of the fey courts, and protect her heart in the process.
Sixteen-year-old Kaye is a modern nomad. Fierce and independent, she drifts from place to place with her mother's rock band until an ominous attack forces them back to Kaye's childhood home. But Kaye's life takes another turn when she stumbles upon an injured faerie knight in the woods. Kaye has always been able to see faeries where others could not, and she chooses to save the strange young man instead of leaving him to die.
But this fateful choice will have more dire consequences than she could ever predict, as Kaye soon finds herself the unwilling pawn in an ancient and violent power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms-a struggle that could very well mean her death.
Ratings (69)
Incredible (5) | |
Loved It (24) | |
Liked It (20) | |
It Was OK (11) | |
Did Not Like (4) | |
Hated It (5) |
Reader Stats (166):
Read It (73) | |
Currently Reading (1) | |
Want To Read (69) | |
Did Not Finish (1) | |
Not Interested (22) |
4 comment(s)
While I loved the last half of the book, the beginning was kind of dull. I also felt like the ending was rushed and the characters were not fully explored.
I read this as a teenager and remember very much enjoying it and I sometimes think about reading it and desided to finally do it. It was enjoyable but not as great as I remembered but I'm glad I read it again
I definitely prefer
"very scary fairies", seems more "real" to me.
I really enjoyed the world that Holly Black created for us in [b:Tithe|46777|Tithe (A Modern Faerie Tale, #1)|Holly Black|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255018417s/46777.jpg|1460966]. I also liked that fact the she created characters that aren't run of the mill. Teenagers who have broken homes, troubled parents and are openly gay. There were a lot of references to smoking, drinking and such, but I felt that just made the story more realistic. I understand how it could've offended some readers though, as shown by the wide range of ratings from readers.
I agree with a lot of what DarkHeart, another GR reader wrote in her review:
DarkHeart's Review. She wrote it better than I could, so I share her review here.
It was nice to have a fairy book where the main character wasn't gorgeous, in fact Black never focuses on Kaye's looks other than to say that she's unique - Asian with blonde hair. I liked the relationship between her and the Faerie Knight, Roiben. And ya gotta love a book that represents faeries as mischievous creatures who like to play tricks on humans vs. cute, harmless pixies.
tinged with nostalgia of reading this in high school, i loved kaye and her discovery of the fae. i think cornelious was one of the first gay characters i ever read about
What can you read after
Tithe?
About the Author:
Holly Black is the author of bestselling contemporary fantasy books for kids and teens. Some of her titles include The Spiderwick Chronicles (with Tony DiTerlizzi), the Modern Faerie Tales series, the Curse Workers series, Doll Bones, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, The Darkest Part of the Forest, the Magisterium series (with Cassandra Clare), and the Folk of the Air series. She has been a finalist for the Mythopoeic Award, a finalist for an Eisner Award, and the recipient of both an Andre Norton Award and a Newbery Honor. She lives in New England with her husband and son in a house with a secret door. Visit her at BlackHolly.com.
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