Faery Rebels
| Company type | Book series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Founder | R. J. Anderson |
| Products | Fantasy novels |
Faery Rebels, alternatively titled No Ordinary Fairy Tale, is a fantasy trilogy authored by Canadian writer R. J. Anderson. Each installment centers on a faery protagonist who must leave their island homeland to protect their kind.
The debut novel, Knife, was first published in the United Kingdom by Orchard Books on 8 January 2009. The series progressed with the releases of Rebel (2009) and Arrow (2011). In the United States, Knife appeared under the title Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter through HarperCollins, while Rebel was renamed Wayfarer in 2010. Subsequently, Enclave Publishing reissued the trilogy in the US using the original UK titles and retitled the series as No Ordinary Fairy Tale in 2015.
Additionally, Anderson created a companion series set within the same fictional world called Ivy of the Delve, consisting of two novels: Swift and Nomad.
Knife
Knife is a young faery hunter confronting the gradual disappearance of her species’ magic. Defying her Queen’s strict prohibition against contact with humans, she believes that humans may hold the secret to her people's survival and forms an unlikely friendship with Paul McCormick, a paraplegic artist.
Rebel
Linden, a faery teenager familiar with human culture, embarks on a journey to rescue her race. Along the way, she meets Timothy, a talented guitarist under the guardianship of Paul McCormick and his wife Peri. After rescuing Timothy from faeries who covet his abilities, both become pursued targets.
Arrow
Rhosmari is a young faery from an island untainted by human presence. While most of her community shun mainland faeries and their intrigues, Rhosmari sets out alone to recover the Stone of Naming, aiming to prevent her people’s involvement in larger conflicts. Experiencing profound cultural shock on the mainland, she must also confront a malevolent Empress intent on enslaving her race.
Critical reception
The trilogy has been met with largely favorable critiques. Knife received commendation for its inventive narrative; for instance, Strange Horizons highlighted the genuine and relatable relationship between Paul and Knife. NATE Classroom remarked that although detailed world-building was limited, the strength of character interactions effectively captured reader interest.
The novel Rebel earned positive feedback from School Librarian, which praised its narrative depth and described it as captivating for fans of fairy tales. Similar acclaim came from both The Horn Book Guide and School Library Journal, though the latter noted that certain readers might find its Christian themes somewhat distracting. Overall, the series resonates well with enthusiasts of fantasy literature.
Awards and nominations
- CLA Book of the Year for Children Award (2010, nominee – Knife)
- Concorde Book Award (2010, winner – Knife)
- Carnegie Medal (2010, nominee – Knife)
- Christy Award (2015, Young Adult Category finalist – "Rebel")
Flight and Flame Trilogy
Anderson released Swift in 2012 through Orchard Books, followed by its sequel Nomad in 2014 and concluding with Torch in 2021. Although this trilogy shares its universe with the Faery Rebels series, it is regarded as a distinct narrative arc.
Swift
Swift follows Ivy, a wingless Cornish piskey. After her mother disappears during the crucial clan event known as the Lighting ceremony, Ivy's father withdraws emotionally, leaving her responsible for her younger siblings. When another faery goes missing, the blame shifts toward spriggans. Ivy encounters Martin, a man harboring secrets who might be connected to the abductions.
Nomad
Banished because of Queen Betony's envy, Ivy and Martin—a hybrid of spriggan and faery—work together to reveal a poisoning plot threatening their community while deciphering the meaning behind Ivy’s disturbing visions.
Torch
Confronted with betrayal and deceit, Ivy must rally Cornwall’s magical beings to thwart the piskey queen’s lethal scheme aimed at destroying her, Martin, and their supporters.