Kingdoms of Elfin

These stories of elfin kingdoms (all ruled by queens) are charming, witty, and dark. The fairies, as Warner writes about them, are thoughtlessly cruel and fickle, and the consequences of their behavior can be disastrous for fellow fairies, as well as for humans and other creatures. At the same time, they are deeply devoted to upholding the social structure of their societies, court traditions, and manners.

Warner's writing is wonderful. At times she writes like a court observer, highlighting the absurdities of fairy society in an understated way. At other times she is more matter of fact, which serves to highlight fairy coldness. These stories are always precise and elegant, which also makes them a bit shocking.

These may not be the fairies you hoped for when you picked up the book, but they are satisfyingly strange and very disconcerting.