Written by Mark Jonathan Runte
As a writer, I know the following statement amounts to sacrilege: I am no great fan of William Shakespeare. I do have a love for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which provides much of Faerie Thief’s inspiration, but can take or leave the rest of his works, including Macbeth, which also provides a healthy portion of this book’s inspiration. I am a fan of Mark Jonathan Runte, however, whose Mythos series (click the links for my reviews of Ash, Bound in Blood and Silver and Salt) blend mythology and urban fantasy, and the Midwinter Nights duology (click through for my thoughts about Wolf Prince of Kstovo and Zolushka) present beautiful fairy tales through short stories. Faerie Thief blends the two series beautifully, telling a story set in the Mythos universe, but presenting a beautiful short story that captures beauty.
Before I continue with this review, I’ll add a disclaimer. When opening the advance reader copy the author sent me, I was pleasantly surprised to see my name included in the book’s dedication, thanking me for my reviews. As appreciative as I am of the gesture, it in no way influences my opinion of the book. I’ll say up front that I love Faerie Thief, but that love comes from it being a beautiful story.
If you follow these reviews, you may recall that when I review a short story, the review itself will be shorter than most. At just an estimated 37 pages on Kindle (at the time of writing, it’s the only way to read Faerie Thief), this is a short story, through and through, particularly when you consider part of this length is dedicated to a preview of Runte’s upcoming Sunless. With tales ranging anywhere between short stories and novels, the author has a firm grasp on choosing the right format for the story being told. This book is the perfect length, easily digestible in a relaxed single sitting.
The author wastes absolutely no space throughout Faerie Thief’s pages. This is a book that captures the 1600s and the magic of mythological fairies popularised by Shakespeare while also crafting an entertaining plot. With limited space, there is only so much the author can do with the book’s plot. It isn’t twisty as it endeavours to take the reader out of their comfort zone; instead, it weaves a comfortable story with some mild mystery, as it follows Robin Goodfellow (more popularly known as Puck) on his quest on behalf of Queen Titania.
In basing the story on mythological and historical figures best known for their fictional counterparts, Runte hasn’t needed to create new characters for the reader to follow. Whether fae, like Robin, Titania and King Oberon, human, like Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, or mystical, like the three witches, each of these figures casts a well-known shadow. Each character pays tribute to Shakespeare’s version. They are written in a way that makes them instantly recognisable, but Faerie Thief isn’t so beholden to that representation to stifle the characters or the story.
The prose throughout Faerie Thief is clean, and Runte writes with an inviting tone that guides readers through the story. The prose captures the characters and settings wonderfully, in a way that readers can enjoy while reading at a leisurely pace.
While Faerie Thief is set within Runte’s Mythos world, it stands perfectly alone. While the characters may appear in future stories—something I would love to see—the reader doesn’t need any further knowledge about the world to enjoy this, and this will not change, regardless.
I may not particularly be a fan of Shakespeare, but that doesn’t diminish my enjoyment of Faerie Thief. If you are a fan of Shakespeare, you’ll appreciate the spin Runte has put on his plays. If you’re a fan of the Mythos series, you’ll enjoy the direction of this detour. And if you’re not a Shakespeare fan and have never read a Mythos book, you’ll still find an enjoyable short story.
Favourite Passage
There had to be a way to return the child and bring Titania back to her husband’s bed without sacrificing mother’s love for the foundling. Robin sagged on a fallen tree trunk, burying his face in his hands. “For all the gods.”
This had the taste of an impossible task to him. Something Oberon or Titania would delight in watching him muddle his way through. Even their kindness held a seed of cruelty at its heart. There was little choice now but to go to the witches and pray to any spirit or god bade to listen that he’d find the answer he sought. They were honest women, after a fashion but what they oft spoke of was in riddles he had no patience for.
Faerie Thief: A Mythos Short Story
Faerie Thief: A Mythos Short Story was provided by the author for the purpose of an honest review.
Faerie Thief is available on Kindle, exclusive to Amazon.
Note: I do not post scores for reviews on this website, but do post them on my Amazon and Goodreads reviews:
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Interested in purchasing Faerie Thief?
Please find a link below; please note I do not collect any proceeds from the sale.
Faerie Thief : A Mythos Short Story
wastanley.com 