"Once, there was a girl who vowed she would save everyone in the world, but forgot herself." 
 What is this book about? 
 Deep in the woods, there is a glass coffin, and in that glass coffin lies a boy as beautiful as a dream with horns on his head and pointed ears. He has lain there for centuries, undisturbed and unchanging. 
 Hazel and her brother, Ben, live in Fairfold, a town where humans and fae have learned to coexist throughout the centuries in relative peace. There are rules to follow, and as long as you don't act like a dumb tourist, you ought to be okay. Living alongside the fae is an accepted part of everyday life now for the citizens of Fairfold, in fact, Ben's best friend is a changeling too. 
 Then one day the glass coffin in the woods is found smashed open, and the boy inside is missing. 
 Slowly, strange things start happening in Fairfold; things even stranger than even Hazel and Ben are used to. People start going missing and sticking to the rules no longer guarantees anyone's safety. Hazel needs to get to the bottom of the mystery fast before panic and hysteria threaten to destroy those she cares about most. 
 Why is it boring? 
 I really was intrigued by the fae side of the story and wished that world had been more explored. Granted, the main characters had other things on their plates such as unknown monsters rampaging through their town and a vindictive and a ruthless fae king seeking revenge, but a more intense look at the Other Side would have been interesting. 
 Currently, this is a standalone book, although author Holly Black has stated that she may write more if the inspiration strikes. I really hope it does because I feel like this novel set up an interesting arena with a cast of lovable characters and I would love to know where they go from here. This novel struck me more as an introduction to compelling adventures yet to come and seemed a little anticlimactic as a standalone. 
 Who would you recommend it to? 
 Anyone that never grew out of their love of fairy tales. The combination of the modern day setting with the unknown, inexplicable mystery of the fae was done in a way that never stretched the realm of disbelief too far. You could believe that, in this world, it was a phenomenon to be marveled at and was just accepted as the peculiarity it was. Bonus for LGBTQ+ characters and some pretty cute romancing. 
 Why should I read it if it's boring?! 
 It's definitely a fun read. It's not slow, and there are plenty of mysteries and intrigue to keep your attention rapt from start to finish. The plot twist definitely caught me unawares and the characters were a delight. 
 Rating: 3/5 
 Written by Tharuka Fernando