Throne by Philip Tucker REVIEW

Throne by Philip Tucker 

review request


Synopsis from Goodreads
With talking foxes and golden owls, with paths that lead into the land the dead and others into faerie, with battles raging down Fifth Avenue and impossible labyrinths hidden in the depths of the city, Throne is as much a tale of wonder and dread as it is of the trials of the heart.

Maribel thought she had it all: a professional career in modelling, a burgeoning one in photography, and a world famous diplomat for a husband. Yet it all turns to ashes when her newborn baby is stolen away by an impossible being nobody else can see. Against all reason and advice she pursues it, even though the path leads her perilously close to the realms of madness.

Maya thought she had nothing left to lose: an illegal immigrant, an orphan, and a life of slavery in the sweat shops of New York City, all she had to look forward to was working in strip clubs when she came of age. Then a beguiling stranger kisses her and gifts her with magic, giving her access to a hidden world she had never imagined lurked beneath the grim facade of the City.

For the Fae govern the crossroads of our lives, and Maya and Maribel’s crises attract their attention. Both Seelie and Unseelie Courts seek a human to assume the mantle of Queen, to fulfil a potential that will draw their forces from across the skeins of time to New York, and there continue their ages old battle for dominance.

Each woman will have to make a choice--how far are they willing to pursue their desires before they risk losing themselves to something beyond their comprehension?

 Amazon kindle  | Amazon UK kindle

* * *

This is a fairy tale the way I like them, dark, disturbing, ancient in its battle between Good and Evil and gripping. This is also not a YA to my relief despite one of the characters being a 16-year old girl. I am tired of Holly Black and Julie Kagawa, give me War for the Oaks and Pan's Labyrinth, pretty please.



If you like the latter, this book is for you.


Both the main protagonists, or shall I say, antagonists? are women forged in tragedy and pain.


Maribel is a model and a talented photographer who followed her diplomat husband around the war conflicts of the world taking beautiful pictures of women and children caught in the conflict. Heavily pregnant she flies to a gallery in New York only to give birth to her daughter and see a weird transparent figure take her daughter away and replace her with a husk which everyone thinks is the dead baby. 


Crazed with grief Maribel employs help of a psychic and a phooka to find her baby and bring her back. Only the creature leading her on her quest has other much darker goal in mind, - the Unseelie Court is ready for a new Queen of Air and Darkness.


Maya is a 16-year old illegal immigrant working her butt off for miserly $2 an hour in a Chinese restaurant during the day and crafting fake brand belts in a crowded factory during the night. Fighting her way through sexual harassment and prejudice she is determined to save enough money to find a lawyer and get her parents out of prison, while one evening kiss from a beautiful man with fiery green eyes renders her mute and able to see through fae Glamour on the streets of New York.


Maya is asked by Seelie Court to try and stop the Unseelie Queen ascension and with nothing to lose, led by her courage and determination, Maya can only go forward.


This is a fast read, beautifully structured and written. The language describes the fae world as wise, ancient, dark and very much unhinged. 

Maya, look. I understand your frustration. But you’re asking me questions akin to what is love, or heart break. I can describe them as simply as I can, and still not convey their essence to you. They need to be experienced. No matter what I tell you about Jack, or this land, or myself, you will still not understand. Perhaps you might delude yourself into believing you do, but that would be even more dangerous than ignorance. So please. Pick up your left foot, and step forward. Repeat with your right, and let’s keep going until we reach whatever place is invoked by your heart’s desire.”

Fans of War for The Oaks and Pan's Labyrinth will certainly love this story just as much as I did.

* * *

Такая вышла тёмная, горькая и немного безумная сказка о мире Светлого и Тёмного Дворов и их борьбе с друг другом посреди Нью-Йорка.


Два чемпиона, два рыцаря, по одному от тёмных и Светлых.


Марибель, модель и талантливый фотограф, побывавшая вместе с мужем-дипломатом во всех горячих точках мира и запечатлевшая в своих фотографиях женщин и детей, застрявших посреди войны. 


На последних месяцах беременности Марибель прилетает на открытие галереи в Нью-Йорк и теряет ребёнка в больнице. Только её дочь не умерла как все её убеждают. В родильной горячке Марибель видит как странное полупрозрачное существо подменяет её дочь на труп подкидыша фэйри и исчезает.


Полная отчаяния и безумной решимости найти существо, забравшее дочь, Марибель находит медиума и злого духа - пуку, которые указывают ей путь к дочери.


Майя - шестнадцатилетняя нелегальная иммигрантка из Бразилии, работающая днём в китайском ресторане за жалкие 2 доллара в час, а ночью в нелегальной фабрике, кроящей фальшивые пояса для модных магазинов, пытаясь накопить денег на адвоката, что поможет вытащить её родителей из тюрьмы.


Только вот всё меняется когда прекрасный незнакомец с горящими зелёными глазами дарит ей поцелуй, что лишает её голоса и дарит способность видеть сквозь гламур. 


Пока Тёмный двор пытается создать из Марибель свою Королеву Воздуха и Тьмы, Светлый Двор просит Майю помочь им её остановить...


Безумные схватки, волшебство, отчаяние и надежда, и тёмная-тёмная сказка, что придётся по вкусу фанам Войны за Дубы и Лабиринта Фавна.

9/10