First, I'd like to say that I hate bashing books. I feel very very guilty for not liking Valiant, by Holly Black. I'm extremely easy to please when it comes to reading. I can only think of a two or three books that I sincerely did not like. So keep in mind, this isn't anything against the author. Any author who can write imaginative stories gets 5 stars in my mind. It's just *this* particular book that didn't sit too well with me.

Valiant is book two of the Modern Faerie Tale series. But don't be surprised that it's not a direct sequel of Tithe. I gave this book 2 stars, and really did not like it. I still finished it, but I could have lived without it. That being said, it took me FOREVER to finish it. When I like what I'm reading, I fly through it in 1-2 days, depending on how much sneaking around at work I want to do. When I don't like what I'm reading, it takes me 2 weeks, like Valiant did. (Well, I had the flu for 3 of the 14 days. But still. Ridiculous.) I'm also a bit OCD, so I couldn't finish Tithe, and not read Valiant. I like continuing series and hoping they get better.

The writing style wasn't the problem. I've adjusted since Tithe. It was easy to follow. Holly Black paints a very surreal image of her faeries. It's really quite beautiful in my mind...more so than other YA books I've read. Which leads me to the classification of this book. This book is NOT a young-adult book. I'd say it's appropriate for upper teens, but in no way the middle-school age range. It's very very dark, and has aspects of teen life that I wouldn't want my teenager reading. Drug-use is glorified with no real consequences, other than Val realizing at the end that, "hey, I don't need this!" So that is something that really bothered me. I didn't want to read about these kids (yes, they are kids) shooting up Never and tripping through NYC.

Lolli. Lolli pissed me off. She would have been better jumping in front of the train. The kitten scene really bothered me, too. I don't like how numb and emotionless Lolli was. I'm glad she was "missing" at the end of the book. Good riddance. Luis. I actually liked how his character evolved through the last 30% or so of the book. He showed that he was not a prick like Val had thought all along. I actually really didn't get the whole Val/Ravus relationship thing. I didn't feel the relationship, even though I realize the book ends at a starting point for them. It felt forced, and kind of like Val was so screwed up, she went for the Troll.

There are a few good things I have to say about the book, though. I liked how it tied in with Tithe, and followed the same story line. We see Kaye again at the end of the book, even though she doesn't have a big part. She's basically non-existent, but it lets the reader know that we'll see her again in Ironside. I also like the theme for the book. It really was okay. For me to not like a book, is rare. I usually like everything I pick up, and will read them over and over again. This, I will not be reading again. However, I'm happy I read it, because when I read a series, I like to get the whole picture, including the off-stories.

I'm going to read Ironside, and hope that I'm more taken with Kaye and Roiben again.