The Hunter's Moon
Encyclopedia
The Hunter's Moon is a novel
by O.R. Melling about two teenage cousins, one Irish, the other from Canada, that set out to find a magic doorway to the Faraway Country, where humans must bow to the little people. It was published in 2005 by Amulet Books and is the first book in the Chronicles of Faerie.
While they are there, the cousins challenge an ancient law by sleeping in a fairy mound. That night the King of faeries finnavara comes to take them away. Since he is King of Dreams, he comes to them in their sleep and asks them to come with him. Findabhair says yes, but Gwen refuses. Therefore, since he is bound by an ancient law, the King only takes Findabhair, leaving Gwen to wake up wondering about her cousin's safety. Gwen decides to rescue her cousin from her fate, only to find she is happy. Gwen does not want her to stay with the faeries because they are immortal, partying, teenagers. As Gwen tries to continuously find the Faeries, which is hard for the King is hindering her, she meets many good friends, including a middle-aged businessman, a farm girl, a king, who becomes her boyfriend, of an island, called Island Island, and she even befriends the second in command of the Faeries.
When she finally catches up with the faeries fast pace, she learns that either her cousin or her must be the sacrifice to an evil ancient creature sometimes known as the great worm. Her cousin voluntarily chooses to be the sacrifice, upsetting Gwen and the King of Faeries, who has fallen in love with her. In the end, with the help of many friends, Findabhair decides not to be sacrificed, but to be the first person ever to fight the "worm". With their friends by their sides, Findabhair and Gwen attack the worm, but Findabhair gets blasted with poison from the worm and falls unconscious with her life on the edge. The King of Faeries, in a desperate act of love, gives himself up as the sacrifice. He is mourned much, and his 2nd in command becomes king and the friends decide to meet in a year.
A year later, they meet at Island Island and reminisce about the king, when suddenly they here music and dancing. As they go check it out, they find... it's the king! The worm had only taken his immortality instead of his life, and left the faerie mortal and memoryless. His friends rejoice and began to explain things to him.
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
by O.R. Melling about two teenage cousins, one Irish, the other from Canada, that set out to find a magic doorway to the Faraway Country, where humans must bow to the little people. It was published in 2005 by Amulet Books and is the first book in the Chronicles of Faerie.
Plot
Gwen, a Canadian is visiting her cousin, Findabhair (finn-ah-veer), in Ireland. The two, who keep regular correspondance, share a deep love of Irish mythology. Since their youth, they have tried to find a doorway to another world called Faerie. Now sixteen, they travel to Tara, without telling their parents, the ancient seat of the High Kings in Ireland in search of adventure.While they are there, the cousins challenge an ancient law by sleeping in a fairy mound. That night the King of faeries finnavara comes to take them away. Since he is King of Dreams, he comes to them in their sleep and asks them to come with him. Findabhair says yes, but Gwen refuses. Therefore, since he is bound by an ancient law, the King only takes Findabhair, leaving Gwen to wake up wondering about her cousin's safety. Gwen decides to rescue her cousin from her fate, only to find she is happy. Gwen does not want her to stay with the faeries because they are immortal, partying, teenagers. As Gwen tries to continuously find the Faeries, which is hard for the King is hindering her, she meets many good friends, including a middle-aged businessman, a farm girl, a king, who becomes her boyfriend, of an island, called Island Island, and she even befriends the second in command of the Faeries.
When she finally catches up with the faeries fast pace, she learns that either her cousin or her must be the sacrifice to an evil ancient creature sometimes known as the great worm. Her cousin voluntarily chooses to be the sacrifice, upsetting Gwen and the King of Faeries, who has fallen in love with her. In the end, with the help of many friends, Findabhair decides not to be sacrificed, but to be the first person ever to fight the "worm". With their friends by their sides, Findabhair and Gwen attack the worm, but Findabhair gets blasted with poison from the worm and falls unconscious with her life on the edge. The King of Faeries, in a desperate act of love, gives himself up as the sacrifice. He is mourned much, and his 2nd in command becomes king and the friends decide to meet in a year.
A year later, they meet at Island Island and reminisce about the king, when suddenly they here music and dancing. As they go check it out, they find... it's the king! The worm had only taken his immortality instead of his life, and left the faerie mortal and memoryless. His friends rejoice and began to explain things to him.
Cultural references
"The Hunter's Moon" contains numerous literary and culture references, including:- "The Rocky Road to Dublin" by Dropkick MurphysDropkick MurphysDropkick Murphys are an Irish-American punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. The band was initially signed to independent punk record label Hellcat Records, releasing five albums for the label, and making a name for themselves locally through constant playing and yearly St....
- "Something wicked this way comes" from MacbethMacbethThe Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
. - Irish tourist attractions such as the Hill of TaraHill of TaraThe Hill of Tara , located near the River Boyne, is an archaeological complex that runs between Navan and Dunshaughlin in County Meath, Leinster, Ireland...
. - Lord of the Rings posters which hang on Findabhair's walls.