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Is The Falconer Worth Reading? Review

2026-03-10 00:35:16

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3 Answers

Arthur

I just finished reading ‘The Falconer’ by Kiersten White (published as May under her real name). Oh, Aileana’s story is just fabulous. It’s kind of like Pride and Prejudice with lots of fighting against monsters in the streets. The first part of the book is set in some very elegant ballrooms, and the second part is covered in blood in some of the darker alleys. White does a great job of writing. Many times the very gritty world that she’s created can be very harsh, but White always manages to add in these very touching moments of Aileana’s, usually when she’s thinking about her mother or feeling grief. The faerie lore was very original as well. Many of the creatures were inspired by the Scottish myths, but they were twisted in very unique ways. My only problem with the book was that I felt that the world-building needed a bit more explanation at the beginning. But overall, I thought that it was a fantastic book. If you’re looking for a heroine who is going to more likely stab a faerie than lose her heart to one, then this book is for you.

2026-03-11

Braxton

I was sold on 'The Falconer' by a friend who knows that I've been looking for more 'imperfect' heroine roles in the fantasy world. Aileana's rage at being hurt is so real and so full of hurt that I felt it in the pit of my stomach while reading. But where the book truly succeeds is in its rapid pacing, particularly the fight scenes which had me feeling the electrification of the air between the violent scenes. None of the faeries in the novel are cute, cartoonish creatures such as Tinkerbell. They are stark, evil, cruel creatures and their malevolence is described by author Kiersten May in such way that I actually felt fear while reading. One of the few things that I would have liked to see more of is the steampunk element of the story - it seems to be a large part of the novel, but the 'gears' and such of it are all sort of tacked on to the otherwise dark and gothic novel. That being said, I found the relationship between Aileana and Kiaran to be very alive - it walks a fine line between their uneasy alliance and the clear feelings of obsession that exist between them. I only wish that the novel hadn't ended on such a jarring cliffhanger. As it stands, though, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes their fantasy a little bloody and rough around the edges. I know I'll be picking up the next book in a hurry.

2026-03-13

Benjamin

The ‘The Falconer‘ by Elizabeth May is a wonderful, darkish read set in historic Edinburgh, with a smattering of Steampunk and vengeful faeries. At its heart, though, ‘The Falconer‘ is a beautifully-written (and fiercely-proved) read of one young woman’s disgusting fight for revenge, in a world where she feels let down by almost everyone. I found it to be a searing and cruel read at times – but magnificent in its purging of emotions. Aileana K Mondays Aswell (or Kottage, of which I suppose one of them is the short form of the other) is a snappily wonderful young aristocrat with a truly foul mouth, (some readers might even call her ‘coarse’) but I found her emotionally to be one of the deepest reads of the lot. Yes, yes – yes! She is also a victorious and wicked ‘monster hunter‘ by night, fighting faeries. Yes – a total deal-breaker of a typical ‘faerie-romance’ for most of the readers out there – but it was what made ‘The Falconer‘ all the more glorious for me. Yes! Some of the supporting characters could be explored in more detail. Though I suppose that’s just part of becoming a well-read novel over time. Most notably the romantic interest of Aileana’s – Kadalack oxy-roll. Okay, I lied. Though all three of K Mondays names do just keep getting better! After this, I hastened to go looking for the sequel on my own shelves.

A great read for fans of morally ambiguous heroines and faeries with attitude. Cautioned reading – “The Falconer” is one of those rare books which throws you into the deep end of Scottish brogue, 19th century settings and steam-punk gadgets. But trust me, it is a wild and wonderful ride.

2026-03-13

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