Dreamdark series by Laini Taylor

Blackbringer. Firebird, 2007. ISBN 9780142411681.
Silksinger. G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2009. ISBN 9780399246319.
(Ages 10+) Recommended. The first two books in the Dreamdark series are an absolute delight. Once I started Blackbringer, I was unable to put it down, as I followed the adventures of Magpie Windwitch, a tiny feisty fairy, who rides on the backs of a clan of cigar smoking crows. She is on a quest to rid the world of devils that have escaped back into the world and are threatening the fairy world. When the Blackbringer kills Talon Rathersting's father and brothers, he too joins the hunt to rid the world of darkness. After finishing Blackbringer I immediately picked up the sequel Silksinger. In Silksinger, Whisper is a tiny fairy with a magical voice, who has to protect the Azazel, one of the creators of the world. Joined by Hirik, and aided by Magpie Windwitch, Talon and the crows, she faces a dangerous adversary in her quest to keep the Azazel and the world safe.
Taylor has created a unique but totally believable world peopled with spunky fairies and evil villains. This world is vividly brought alive by beautiful descriptive writing and splendid dialogue, including slang especially created to suit Magpie.
Her characters are really well developed, each with their own strengths and weakness, and having a wonderful range of skills. Magpie can weave the Tapestry that keeps the world together. Talon, a non stereotypical Prince, is able to knit himself a wondrous pair of wings so that he too can travel the skies on adventures with Magpie and the crows. Whisper Silksinger can translate glyphs into song and Tirik wields a magical sword. Individuals in the crow clan provide a source of laugh out loud humour, with their cigar-smoking habits and play acting antics.
I found myself flicking through the books to look at Jim Di Bartolo's gorgeous illustrations of the little fairies with their soaring wings, tattooed faces, pointed ears and wind swept hair. They perfectly complemented the characters of the fairies and added greatly to the enjoyment of the book.
This is an original and highly enjoyable series with plenty of edge of the seat adventures to hold the reader's interest. I can't wait for the next book to be published.
Pat Pledger