Black, Holly. 2002. TITHE A MODERN FAERIE TALE. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9780689849244
2. Plot Summary
Kaye is a sixteen year old girl who life is very different from a traditional family life. Growing up she has traveled with her mother's rock band to a different city every night. "Go help load up the car," Ellen said voice hoarse from singing" (2). She has never been able to put down roots and live the normal life of a child growing up. Kaye's mother has taught her daughter how to drink, smoke, and not follow the rules. But one night Kaye and her mom run into trouble. "Honey," Ellen said finally, "we're going to have to go to Grandma's" (5). Kaye returns to her childhood home where she used to have imaginary friends. After a late night party she finds a beautiful man with a branch in his chest while walking home. "You're a faerie, aren't you?" she said" (23). She is drawn into a dangerous game between the two faerie courts that may result in her death if she picks the wrong side.
3. Critical Analysis
The story takes place between the poor suburbs of New Jersey and the dark world of the faeries. The author has created a magical world of the fey and mythological creatures that is believable. "A winged boy skipped up to her grinning." "Three woman walked past her, silver gowns trailing like find mist." The low cut of the identical dressed showed off the w omen's hollow backs" (135). The fey court is alive and it can be accessed by a secret entrance in the ground. Many authors have created imaginary worlds beneath our feet. "The cheap hotels they passed were long closed and boarded up, their pools drained and cracked" (7). The modern world is poor and dirty setting a contrast to the world of the magical faerie kingdom. ""Kaye picked up a goblet off a table. It was ornate and very heavy, but it seemed clean" (134). The different between the settings create a dark and dangerous element that fits the personality of the characters in the novel. The author has made perfect backdrop for this twisted faerie tale. "Not only are the descriptions of our world and the world of Faery crisp, delicious, and detailed, but the characters are intriguing and complex also." Annette Curtis Clause
Kaye the protagonist represents every teenagers dark side, enjoying the life of partying and freedom. Even though the main character enjoys doing what she wants their is still a goodness inside of her. She prefers not to go to attend school, but she knows if she did not have to support her family she would. Most of the story is told from the main characters point of view with the voice of a teenage girl telling the story. "Look, I'm only going to be in town for a couple of months at most. The only thing that matters is that he is cross-my-heart-and-hope-to-die beautiful" (55). There are a few chapters in the story that are told from a faeries knight and human male friend of Kaye's. "Corny could feel himself reacting to that, rich, smooth voice, could feel the shame and embarrassment receding until they seemed of only distant importance" (197). This helps the reader gain a perspective from a male point of view and a faerie who has never lived in the human world. It makes the reader see what everyone thinks and feels, even though it is only for a few chapters.
The story begins in normal present day until the protagonist meets the faerie knight and is drawn into the conflict of good versus evil. The antagonist in the tale is the evil faeries and their mythological creatures they rule over. The inhabitants of the realm of the fey are normally not allowed to enter the real world, due to the laws of the rulers. But once Kaye finds the entrance to the faerie court the magic and suspense begins. "She slipped inside the hollow hill" (133). The theme of this tale is good versus evil. The main character is faced with the truth of who she really is and the events that unravel around her to battle evil. Can she accept the world she is really from? How will it effect her humanity. Even though she is a pixie she has been brought up by humans and lives by their rules. Every event that happens in the faerie world has a consequence in the real world. The plot leads the main character are many twists and turns that lead to her growth has a better character. "A gripping tale" (Publisher Weekly). When the story ends their is still more for the protagonist to learn and evil is not vanquished. The plot will continue in two more books.
4. Review Excerpts
FROM PUBLISHER WEEKLY, "Throughout, the author subtly connects Kaye's awakening sexual feelings in the real world and Roiben's sudden appearances. Kaye soon discovers that she is a changeling-and that her one-time "imaginary" faerie playmates want her to pretend to be a human, so they can use her as the Tithe ("the sacrifice of a beautiful and talented mortal") to earn their freedom for seven years. The author's Bosch-like descriptions of the Unseelie Court, with its Rackham-on-acid denizens, and the exquisite faeries haunt as well as charm. When fate intervenes, sudden tragedy teaches Kaye about the high cost of straddling the faerie and human worlds (and sets the stage for a possible sequel)."
Connections:
Other faerie tales:
Black, Jenna. GLIMMERGLASS. ISBN 9780312575939
Jones, Carrie. NEED. ISBN 9781599904535
Kagawa, Julie. THE IRON KING. ISBN 9780373210084
Marr, Melissa. WICKED LOVELY. ISBN 9780061214677
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