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Glister: The Faerie Host 

By Andi Watson

Categories: Graphic NovelPublication details:Format: Paperback ISBN: 9781406320503 Published: 04 Jan 2010 Price: £4.99  Size: 185 x 135 mmPages: 80

For readers aged: 8+

The third book in a delightfully quirky and funny series for girls told in comic-strip and featuring Glister Butterworth – girl-magnet for the weird and unusual. It is coming up to Halloween and already Glister’s father is bustling around getting ready for Christmas! The Butterworths are putting up decorations for the tree and making preparations for the big day, but Glister is sad – her mother is missing and Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without her. She is determined to find her mum and solve the mystery of her disappearance. However, boundary changes in the area mean Faerieland and Whixleyshire’s borders now meet right outside Glister’s front door. Once Glister has ventured into Faerieland in search of her beloved lost mum, very strange things start to happen and her biggest challenge will be finding her way home again. 

This is a  nice book with some very neat artwork –a quite “innocent” style,in fact.  It works well and the use of greytones is effective.  As for story,well,I liked it:the idea that your house and county can border faerieland is neat.  I’ll not give too much away or it will spoil things.  There is the matter of Glister’s missing mother –things get very weird,sad and even a little scarey,when her mother’s grave suddenly appears out of nowhere but then Poldie is found in the grave.  Who or what is Poldie?  You’ll need to buy the book to find out!

The journey into faerieland is very perilous but at least Glister knows the rules about the place:don’t eat anything,don’t eat anything and don’t touch anyone there [those are actually the rules you’ll find in any book on faerylore].  I think the best rule is “Don’t go there”…but if Glister doesn’t her mother will be lost but the King of the Faerie Host is not too pleasant!

Of course,I thought this was the first book so I thought things might be a bit confusing for new readers but it’s actually book three.  Book one,The Haunted Teapot and Book Two,The House Hunt,are still available.  

I do like the guide to making your own faerie heads –I’ve not seen this since I was a child [a very,very long time ago!].  Neato.

Though it says age 6+ I think some adults ought to get some enjoyment out of this book!