What did you know about fairies before reading the book? Did your opinion of these creatures change by the novel’s end?

What did you know about fairies before reading the book? Did your opinion of these creatures change by the novel’s end?

Fairies yes but that fairies were souls of dead people no. Fairies have the reputation of being either kind and generous or trickster evil entities of a sort different than humans. Souls of dead people idea connects them to humans in an entirely different manner.

I've never thought of fairies being the souls of dead people. I've always read stories and folklore where fairies were their own species. Like humans, there are good/bad, playful/serious, helpful/hurtful individuals.

I thought of fairies as magical beings that existed in their own world that seldom crossed with ours. That is how I prefer to think of them.

I just would like to comment on this question and the others. This is a fantasy-enchanting with spectacular prose. Life is complicated enough, dissecting this book too much would just ruin it. While I read it, I believed in changelings, fairies, and what ever the characters thought. When I finished, like Peter Pan I woke up and back to my reality.

I didn't know anything about fairies and I am still confused.

So a fairy can take over someone's body making them a changling. What happens then to that person? Are they now dead? If the changling is killed, does the person come back?

What was Millie? She had died, but was she now a fairy?

I always thought of fairies as being good, probably thanks to my daughter's love of them.

The fairies portrayed in this book were not what I would have expected, which made them much more interesting. They seemed to me to be similar to gods, observing the human world and sometimes intervening.

Personally, I think loved one's who pass can take many different forms and can "show up" any time and however they want.

When my mother got her unfortunate diagnosis, we knew she didn't have long to live. She and I both have "seen" loved ones visit us, but we always questioned how true it could be.

With the diagnosis, I asked her, "Mom, how will I know it's you when you come to visit me? We have to make it clear."

She promised she would come back as a fairy...perhaps it would be a flicker of light, a giggle in the distance, a shimmer on the water, a flash out of the corner of my eye, a piece of artwork with a fairy image, etc.

The initial description of this book (when I requested it) never mentioned the word fairy....so in this case, even this book is my mother visiting me!

I think most cultures have ideas of magic and visitations that cannot be explained. I only thought of fairies as "good" omens. not bad or mean. That was anew one for me. I'd prefer to think that those who are passed only wish us well and are not evil.

I did know about fairies. I have always believed that those who had gone before us were watching over us in some fashion and can intervene in bad situations. Whether they take the form of ghosts, fairies, visions, dreams seems to depend on the culture.

I had never heard that fairies were the souls of dead people. I also only knew fairies as pretty, twinkling kind beings. I didn’t know they could be mischievous and naughty.

This was definitely a new take on fairies. I always just thought of them as a different species.

I always thought of fairies as light, glowing, airy beings with wings who sound like music when they speak and move like graceful flowers. This book paints them as the souls of dead people who don't necessarily want to help humans and may even harm them. It was a new take, for me, for sure!

Several years ago my husband and I toured Ireland. The tour bus did stop for fairy crossings and the guide was pointing them out on our journey. They help with difficult situations.

We've certainly had a variety of images of fairies, haven't we?!? I grew up with Tinkerbell, thinking they were friendly, magical folk. Then I encountered Lord of the Rings, in which they were mystical but generally helpful. There's Shakespeare's version, too, in which they're somewhat manipulative. Finally, there are several interpretations (Terry Pratchett's, for one) in which they're somewhat sinister & self-interested, helping humans only when it suited them.

What’s bothering me is this: souls of dead people who return to earth (or don’t leave) are called ghosts not fairies. Totally different vibe, yes?

I agree with barrye while reading Evie's wonderful prose, I believe in fairies and other creatures - wherever the story takes me. when done, I return to my cynical self!

I grew up with fairy stories and beliefs. This story felt familiar in those beliefs and I found that comforting.

Years ago, in the 70's I think, there was a popular book called " Fairies" and maybe a second one as well. Somewhere I have a copy of it. The art work was so beautiful. I don't remember much else about it--I will have to find it again. But, I don't believe in fairies as such. As a kid, the tooth fairy was pretty important. What I remember about them was they were pretty, female, had wings and pretty dresses and were kind and sweet. I suppose the closest I come to believing in them is that, though I haven't thought about her in awhile, I have a guardian angel. Probably the Christian or Catholic adoption of folklore--among many adoptions of folklore into religion over the centuries.

But, I really do like Barrye's response!!!

I do not know much about fairies. When I thought of them, the image of Disney's "Tinker Bell" comes to mind. This story about fairies is fascinating.

I never thought much about fairies before this book, never knew much about them, but I am sure after reading this story, I will keep them in the back of my mind whenever I hear something relating to them.

Growing up with a Scots/Irish heritage I knew a lot about fairies and their good and bad sides. Tricksters and pleasant as well. However, I even heard they were the souls of the dead. I was never frightened of them because everyone told me they were the souls of loved ones. That's great, I thought. I'll see Aunty Flo someday.

All I knew about fairies could be found at Disney World - like Tinkerbell. Indeed, I now count fairies among my personal saints and angels.

Tinker Bell, Fairy Godmother in Cinderella….MAGIC! Then, of course, the Green Faerie in the bottle of Absinthe. Shakespeare- A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Mermaids! Nymphs from Greek mythology. And… the Furies from Roman myths. I’ve always loved Greek & Roman mythology which are filled with supernatural beings akin to faeries

I've never thought much about fairies - I like the comments about others' personal encounters with fairies & then there's the butterfly that landed on my mother's hand when we buried my brother's CR...no doubt who that was! My granddaughter changed her name to FAE & fairies are big in her life. Seems I read there is a story/belief about a place where the gay can go but I cannot even be articulate enough to ask for help recalling that...
I don't think the author developed the fairy story enough. There were allusions but not developed. And agreeing with barrye's comments - I just let the story flow & did not try to dissect it. However I will pay closer attention to "FAIRIES" & their visits now.

I felt like I learned things about fairies, my prior experience mostly being the Disney version. There is much more to fairies and fairy lore than I would have imagined.