Review of Ballad

·         Reading level: Young Adult

·         Paperback: 360 pages

·         Publisher: Flux; Original edition (October 8, 2009)

·         Language: English

·         ISBN-10: 0738714844

 Summary
James Morgan has an almost unearthly gift for music. And it has attracted Nuala, a soul-snatching faerie muse who fosters and then feeds on the creative energies of exceptional humans until they die. James has plenty of reasons to fear the faeries, but as he and Nuala collaborate on an achingly beautiful musical composition, James finds his feelings towards Nuala deepening. But the rest of the fairies are not as harmless. As Halloween—the day of the dead—draws near, James will have to battle the Faerie Queen and the horned king of the dead to save Nuala's life and his soul.
Review
This is the sequel to Lament. The book pretty much takes place in James Point of view along with this soul-snatching faerie Nuala. James is the best friend of Dee, who the last book was about. James goes to this special music school that was made for people who had any involvement with fairies or special abilities that could make them see fairies. James is like this really talented musician who really doesn’t need that much improvement or help. Nuala wants to help James be the best ever but James must agree to have him help her, not knowing that she will steal his soul and kill him in the end. James doesn’t want her help which makes him such a strong person, but Nuala can’t seem to stay away from him. She becomes more human everyday she spends with James, and starts to develop feelings for her. James has such a hard time trying to feel anything for her because he is in love Dee. But in the end Nuala is the one he truly loves and wants to be with. The ending of the book is really good. James has to choose between his best friend and Nuala. And I think he made the right choice and got rewarded for it. I really loved this book. Maggie writes so well, and the story line was so good, I couldn’t put the book down. The friendship that Dee and James have is really strong and admirable. Even through tough times and decisions they remained friends. That’s something that is very difficult to do. I would definitely recommend this book and the Lament.