[Review] Valiant (Modern Faerie Tales #2) by Holly Black

Valiant by Holly Black

Series: Modern Faerie Tales #2

Rating: 4.5 stars

Published: May 31st 2002

Goodreads Synopsis:

When seventeen-year-old Valerie runs away to New York City, she's trying to escape a life that has utterly betrayed her. Sporting a new identity, she takes up with a gang of squatters who live in the city's labyrinthine subway system.

But there's something eerily beguiling about Val's new friends. And when one talks Val into tracking down the lair of a mysterious creature with whom they are all involved, Val finds herself torn between her newfound affection for an honorable monster and her fear of what her new friends are becoming.

Just as good, if not better than Tithe.

I was worried that because this wasn't directly connected to Kaye and Roiben's story that I wouldn't like it as much, but I loved it!


Val is a typical high school girl who has a boyfriend and plays lacrosse. Until she suddenly isn't, and ends up serving the troll Ravus as a delivery girl for a month. However, the fae that Ravus is sending deliveries to keep on dying, and it's up to Val to figure out who is the culprit.

I especially loved how Holly Black portrayed the relationship between Val and her mom, with so much emotion and underlying tension between the two.

Also the romance! Gotta love the romance with Val and Ravus. It's dorky and adorable (and we see the similarities in complicated relationships with their mothers!)

"Hasn't anyone ever kissed you before?" Val wanted to do it again, but she didn't dare.
His voice was cool. "On rare occasions."
"Did you like it?"
"Then or now?"
Val sucked in a breath, let it out with a sigh. "Both. Either."
"I liked it," he said softly. It was then that she remembered he could not lie.

There's more of a focus of NYC fae-world, and that was pretty cool. Definitely enjoyed the lore and transitions between fae vs. modern world. The scenes with the Nevermore were a trip, to the say the least.

As usual, carefully interwoven plot and I enjoyed this so much more than the first for some reason. Probably because we spend a bit more time with Val and Ravus (and Luis!). Val's literally valiant, showing up in the nick of time to defend the innocent.

Holly Black just has a way of dealing really great prose and one-liners.

"The Folk do nothing by halves, we can be capricious. Each emotion is a draught that we must drain to the bottom, but sometimes we love the sour as much as the sweet."

Finally, onto Ironside - review to be up this Wednesday, at 8 am EST!