Review: Wayfarer by R.J. Anderson

WAYFARER by R.J. Anderson
Pub. Date: June 2010
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Hardcover, 296pp
Age Range: Young Adult

The faeries of the Oak are in danger of extinction, and their only hope for survival rests in fifteen-year-old Linden. Armed with the last of her people's magic, she travels bravely into the modern human world. Along the way she makes a reluctant ally—a human boy named Timothy.

Soon Linden and Timothy discover a danger much worse than the Oakenfolk's loss of magic . . . a potent evil that threatens to enslave faeries and humans alike. In a fevered, desperate chase across the country, Tim and Linden must risk their lives to seek an ancient power before it's too late to save everyone they love.

In WAYFARER, the stakes are even higher as we follow Linden and Timothy on an unforgettable adventure to save the fairies of Oakenwyld.

Linden is appointed for an important task to seek out other faeries in hopes of restoring magic to the faeries of Oakenwyld. Her journey leads her to Timothy, whose suspicions of his cousin Paul’s and Knife’s urgent whispers, leads into an argument that sends him on the run. Linden, then becomes an uninvited guest as Timothy heads to the one place that Linden views as an opportunity to find the help she desperately seeks. Soon, Linden’s and Timothy’s adventures take them deep into dangerous territory. With the weight of Linden’s and Timothy’s lives and Oakenwyld’s future at stake, WAYFARER became a nonstop page turner as these two raced across the country for aide.

As difficult as it was at times for Linden and Timothy, I loved that Linden did not let her fears stop her from keeping her vows. I fell in love with these two. The new faeries (dangerous, exciting, and creepy) and the new places Linden and Timothy visited drew me deeper into this book with its nonstop danger and new discoveries at every turn. Anderson continues to pull me into the world of Oakenwyld. The magical intrigue, mix of delightful characters, and great storytelling makes this series a fantastical read. I was quite surprised with the direction this series took.

I could get lost in Anderson’s world of faeries. It’s magical, enchanting, and so different from other books that I’ve read about fairies, which is why I’m now a big fan of this series. WAYFARER delivers at being just as good as its predecessor. I’m extremely excited that I can continue reading more about Oakenwyld. There are two more installments left in this series. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars