Cathrynne M. Valente is perfect. No actually. She can do no wrong. I fell in love with the first Fairyland book. I fell in love with her unique characters, with her twists on fairytale tropes, with her fantastic metaphors, and with her words that make these books so special. It may seem like a novel for young children, but it has so much to offer. The best thing is you can tell Valente is incredibly well read, because her knowledge of history, literature, and various mythologies permeate the entire novel. I could go on forever about why these books are just so goddamn amazing, but I'd rather just include my favorite quotes.

"Teenage hearts are raw and new, fast and fierce, and they do not know their own strength. Neither do they know good reason or restraint, and if you want to know the truth, a goodly number of grown-up hearts never learn it."

"And not the pristine snowy winter, either, but the muddy wet sort that mean spring was coming, spring was right around the corner. Winter is always hungry and lean, and the worst of it comes right before the end."

"It was a strange feeling, like suddenly becoming aware of gravity in a social way, sitting down to tea with it and learning its family history."

"Her skin felt so tight she would surely die of tininess. Her bones groaned with loss, with longing to fly once more."

"If the match is a good one, the coffee will get to know you a little while you drink it, to know you and love you and cheer for your victories, lend you bravery and daring. The tea will want you to do well, will stand guard before your fear and sorrow.

"Her heart was bruised by the kiss, smashed and surprised and unsettled by it. September thought kisses were all nice, sweet things asked for gently and given gladly. It had happened so fast and sharp it had taken her breath. Perhaps she had done it wrong, somehow."

"She did not know yet how sometimes people keep parts of themselves hidden and secret, sometimes wicked and unkind parts, but often brave or wild or colorful parts, cunning or powerful or even marvelous, beautiful parts, just locked up away at the bottom of their hearts. They do this because they are afraid of the world and of being stared at, or relied upon to do feats of bravery or boldness."

"She says History is just a Rule ripe for breaking."

"Hearts are idiots. They're big and squishy and full of daft dreams. They flounce off to write poetry and moon at folk who aren't worth the mooning."

"But some stories sprout bright vines that tendril off beyond our sight, carrying the folk we love best with them, and if I knew how to accept that with grace, I would share the secret."

"Children are natural practitioners of the Queer and Questing, for childhood is nothing but a quest through a queer country. Of course, they have a good deal of trouble with the Quiet."

"She liked poetry, liked how, in a good poem, the words fit together like a puzzle. But she had not, in her estimation, ever managed a good poem. Hers came out fitting together more like a broken faucet and an angry milk-goat."

"I think I shall never be free. I think i traded my freedom for a better story. It was a better story, even if the ending needed work."

This writing gives me all the feels. I'm quite impatient for the next installment.