Review by baudrillard_436 -- Art Fairy by Floras Athena

[baudrillard_436]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Art Fairy" by Floras Athena.]

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2 out of 4 stars

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Art Fairy by Floras Athena is a fantasy novel that centers around a poor little mermaid boy’s story growing up in an abusive household. It is not for the faint of heart, and at times the amount of misery in it can be a bit hard to stomach. The themes the book touches upon largely involve the flawed nature of the contemporary education system, specifically the test system, but many other themes are also covered, such as society’s focus on looks. Although the book is set in a fantasy world where the characters speak a strange tongue, it has much relevance to the world of today.

Much of the book can be confusing, because the characters speak in a way that is similar to English, but has a lot of terms relevant to its setting, like “pixie dragon lava bread” and such. There are a lot of fantasy creatures thrown into the book, which makes it entertaining to read at times but bewildering at others. The themes of the book are also very on the nose, as there are a few pages that are simply quotes from famous philosophers about how the education system ought to be, and the characters frequently talk and think about the things that bother them. There is a lot of profanity in the book, so anyone looking to buy a book for their children should not buy this one.

I liked how this book was quite critical of the contemporary education system. While I feel strongly towards the issue personally, the way the author discusses it will probably strike a chord with anyone who has had to go to a public school before. Test-taking and letter grades are denounced, and the author proposes what seems to be a more holistic model that isn’t made clear. The worst part of the book is probably how it is paced. The story has a lot of time jumps that aren’t exactly specified, and events are generally described in a way that doesn’t really give the reader a clear sense of time or space. There is not much information on what kind of world this story actually takes place in, beyond clearly one involving magic of some sort.

This book is a good choice for anyone who really likes fantasy novels or stories with any kind of strong message behind them. Although some flaws hold it back, Art Fairy is an enjoyable read, with plenty of ideas to express.

2 out of 4 stars, good concepts but questionable execution.

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Art Fairy
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