Brilliant Debut

 

The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann

Greenwillow Books, HarperCollins, September 2012

Bartholomew is a Peculiar, a changeling, not fairy nor human, and therefore must spend his days hidden in his mother's dirty flat. It's dangerous to be a changeling, especially since the murders began. But when his sister goes missing, Bartholomew knows she'll end up dead, too, if he doesn't do something. Mr. Jelliby lives a posh, comfortable life, with a job in government. But when he accidentally sees something he shouldn't in a fairy's house, he must go out and right a wrong. Each trying to solve the murder of the Peculiars, these two unlikely heroes (and even more unlikely friends) end up in places they never dreamed of doing things they never wished to imagine. A beautifully written debut novel, The Peculiar combines steampunk, fairies, and dark magic, creating something wholly original. Most notable is Bachman's ability to weave the tales of both a young boy and that of a middle-aged man together, and have them both be intriguing.

The fairies in this book remind me of those in Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell-- a book I adore.