Hello there.
I’m Jack and today I’ll be sharing what I thought of the YA (young adult and young author) fantasy novel titled The Peculiar, written by Stefan Bachmann. I read this book around 2021 I think but since some of y’all said you wanted more book reviews, I’m currently rereading the book just for this review. So, let’s get started . . .
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Brief Introduction
So, to give a brief description, The Peculiar is a low fantasy novel written by then-nineteen-year-old author Stefan Bachmann in 2012. It takes place in an alternate version of Britain where mythical creatures have entered the world and now live among humans. The writing style is just amazing in my opinion, and the pacing and intrigue are spot-on. Now, since I’m terrible at synopses, here’s the Amazon summary:
The international bestseller and debut novel by teenage author and classical musician Stefan Bachmann is part murder mystery, part gothic fantasy, part clockwork adventure. Best-selling author Rick Riordan said of The Peculiar, “Stefan Bachmann breathes fresh life into ancient magic.”
Don’t get yourself noticed and you won’t get yourself hanged.
In the faery slums of Bath, Bartholomew and his little sister Hettie live by these words. Bartholomew and Hettie are Peculiars, and neither faeries nor humans want anything to do with them. But when Peculiars start showing up in London murdered and covered with red tattoos, Bartholomew breaks all the rules and gets himself noticed.
Full of magic, dazzling inventions, and intriguing characters such as Mr. Jelliby and Lord Lickerish, this story of friendship, bravery, and nonstop action adventure was hailed by best-selling author Christopher Paolini as “swift, strong, and entertaining. Highly recommended.”
As you can tell from that little description, Bartholomew and Henrietta Kettle (called “Barty” and “Hettie” by each other throughout the book) are Peculiars, a.k.a. changelings: their mother is a human while their father was a faery. The plot (I’m trying not to spoil anything) revolves around Bartholomew and Arthur Jelliby (a human politician who befriends Bartholomew later on) as they investigate the mysterious disappearances of other changeling children. That’s all I’m going to say about that to avoid spoilers. Overall, I found the whole premise and plot of the book very intriguing and it kept my attention the entire time.
Any Iffy Content?
As this book was written in 2012, it’s not that big of a surprise that there is no political content/indoctrination; it’s completely storytelling and fantasy. Regarding violence, there are themes of murder and war, which can be unsettling for some younger readers. Despite being labeled “for ages 9 to 12”, I believe the story may not be fit for some readers younger than ten or eleven. The writing style and pacing may bore younger readers, while teens may find it more intriguing. But overall, the answer is no, there isn’t much iffy content in The Peculiar. The themes of murder and violence and depictions of drinking and smoking are very mild, and it is labeled as a juvenile book, so it is fit for readers of all ages.
My Thoughts
Like I said, this book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time (and I know that’s a really lame overused phrase but I mean it quite literally). I didn’t know what I was getting into when my sister recommended it to me but I am so glad I read it because I found it a really enjoyable read.
I love the mystical aspect of it but also the book’s creepiness and . . . ironically its peculiarity. The characters are extremely lovable—I mean, Bartholomew and Hettie are tiny oppressed British half-orphans so it’s hard not to pity them, and Arthur Jelliby is epic. There’s also some violence toward the end but nothing major. As a whole, I completely adored this book and would highly recommend it to any readers who enjoy fantasy, cyberpunk, or creepily fun novels.
And so, I rate this book:
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
5 out of 5 stars (completely being honest)
I hope you guys will consider reading The Peculiar; if you do, I’d love to hear what you thought of it in the comments. Later this month or the next, I plan on reviewing The Whatnot, the sequel book so stay tuned for that. If you liked this post, I’d greatly appreciate it if you gave this post a like so it can reach more people. I’ll gladly answer any questions you may have over DMs and I’ll see you in my next post!
Have a blessed day! :)