Kaye is 16, and is used to traipsing around after her mother's dream to be a rockstar. Over the past few years they have moved around a lot. Her mother loves to sing, but she also likes to smoke and drink to excess. Kaye has spent many a night pulling her mother's head out of a toilet bowl and looking after her.

This even became a full time thing as moving from city to city and moving from school to school was just too hard. It was easier just not to go, and get a job to pay for food and rent for them both.

Kaye hated school anyway. She was always labelled the weird girl, but her insistence from a young age that she could see fairies, definitely didn't help. Kaye had one good friend who didn't believe Kaye but was still her bestie regardless. Kaye hasn't seen her for ages, but after a violent encounter one night, Kaye and her mum return to their home town to stay with Kaye's Grandmother.

Once home again, Kaye catches up with her friends, both human and faerie, but trouble isn't far behind. She is soon drawn deeper into the faerie world, meeting swamp beings, witches and all manner of creatures in an underground faerie cavern.

She learns that two faerie kingdoms are sparring for power, and she finds herself in the centre. But it isn't all bad. When she meets an injured silver haired faerie knight on her way home one night, she is intrigued and enamoured by him.

But Roibin is complicated, along with the faerie queen that controls him. If this isn't enough to contend with, Kaye's faerie friends admit to something they have kept from her, her entire life. This secret explains so much for Kaye, even as she reels from its implications.

Throw in one life threatening situation after another, Kaye's new found skills and a loss that cuts her to the bone, and her life will never be the same.


Tithe is the first in a dark faerie trilogy dubbed a modern faerie tale. There is an interesting lead in to this novel, showing Kaye's back story of upheaval and uncertainty in life. Only when she returns to her home town with her rock star wannabe and alcoholic mother, does the real story begin.

Answers that come with a revelation that blew Kaye sideways (along with me) just bring more questions as Kaye is introduced to the dark world of the faerie and the two distinct factions. There is lust and love, friendship and murder. There are creatures that torture for pure amusement, and trickery everywhere.

Watching Kaye navigate this new world to save herself and her new friends was a little choppy plot wise to begin with, but persevering showed me Kaye's cunning and determination to survive.

(Thank you to Harper Collins and Net Galley for the advance audio version of Tithe.)

Author - Holly Black

Age - 14+

Holly Black’s writing couldn’t disappoint even if she tried her hardest 😮‍💨😮‍💨 Her depictions of fae/humans/their relationship is soooo omnomnom and the romance???? So subtle, so intense, so visceral; THE YEARNING!!! I love her fmcs so so much, fatal flaws, sharp edges, and all their lovely, gentle, deeply buried sides 🥹 The tender moments and the stunning horror of the fae; everything this woman writes is poetry!!!

The audiobook is also fantastic- took me a second to get my head around Roiben being Scottish but I loved it, Lauryn Allman did such a good job, I’ll definitely be looking out for other books by the same narrator !! 🖤🖤🖤

As a fan of many of Holly Blacks books I was disappointed by this one. As usual, I enjoyed her portrayal of faeries which feel generally menacing. However, The human characters were just plain unlikeable, particularly the main character Kaye. I just couldn’t connect with her and the plot failed to hold my attention.

The narration was great and I did find it easy to listen to, if I hadn’t been listening to the audiobook I may not have finished.

I wholly appreciate that I’m probably the wrong demographic for this novel, but I like to try something a bit different every now and then.

The writing is nice, if a little sporadic in places (I confuse easily so don’t quote me on that) the story was intriguing and the faerie world was set out perfectly which allowed me to enjoy it.

My only “complaint” was that I had to check the original publishing date, the language a lot of the way through the book to put it politely is dated.

Nonetheless enjoyable and a bit different.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with a fee audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this reads as one of holly black's weakest titles. Previous works of hers, I have enjoyed the world, the characters and the plot, yet all three aspects are poorly executed in tithe.

Characters are unlikeable and not in a way which made me care for them or their story. Kaye, Cornie and Janet are equally two-dimensional and Roiben offers nothing as a love interest. There were a few moments where the urban fantasy aspect seemed to be really working - for example, the first time they enter The court-however every time we reached something promising the characters or plot fell flat.

The narrator's inexplicable decision to make Roiben Scottish was a poorly made one and detracted from many scenes. While Roiben was going through hell, all I could hear was a university educated version of shrek. As a Scot, this was very disappointing

I don't think this book was for me. Being a big fan of The Cruel Prince, I went into Tithe with expectations and was quickly disappointed. The pace is chaotic and, the reader is completely lost in the narration for 3/4 of the story. Many things don't make sense or are completely overlooked and it's frustrating. I couldn't relate to any of the characters. The only one I liked was the grandmother that we're supposed to hate. I, nevertheless, liked the parallels and references to the world of The Cruel Prince.

I’ve slowly but surely been going through Holly Black’s backlist books because I love her faerie books so much and Tithe was no exception to that.

The narration of audiobook was so entertaining to listen to that I truly felt the characters came to life and had their own distinct voices.

If you’re planning to read Tithe then I highly recommend listening to the audiobook!

Holly Black is without a doubt an incredible writer. I picked up this arc because I adored The Cruel Prince series as well as the The Stolen Heir. The way she writes her iteration of "faerie" stories is delightful, dark and full of depth. Holly also has an incredible knack for writing teenagers and my jaw drops at just how familiar her characters feel when thinking back to my adolescent concerns. The audiobook performance is just was wonderful as those for her other works, I think her stories really lend themselves to being heard aloud, just like poetry. The only reason my rating isn't any higher, is because I am a lover of romance and I could have used more of it. However, the romance that was present in the book was 10/10 and I was so giddy by the end of it? I'm incredibly interested in continuing on with the Modern Faerie Tales series in the future.

I have read random assortments of Holly Black’s books, yet, had never read Modern Fairy Tales. I was really excited to get started on it and the Modern Faerie Tales series. Like many of Holly Black’s Fae books, the audience is placed directly into the story without a lot of preamble, I really like this and that the audience are not patronised and spoon fed the world building. The story intricately weaves a dark fantasy world into a modern urban setting.

I will admit, the narration took a while to warm to me. It was mainly issue with the pacing, the words came out slowly and with a lot of emphasis, as though everything was poignant and profound. After a while though, I enjoyed the clear and precise manner of the narration and found it really helped set the scene and style of the story. There was variety in the tone and pitch, with different emphasis placed for different characters, without any cringey accents (particularly for male characters). Additionally, there was no odd pronunciation of common words that irked me, like I sometimes experience in audiobooks. Overall, the narration was appealing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for giving me the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

DNF, this book was not for me I don't think. I adored The Cruel Prince series. It was quite childlike and there were a lot of words mentioned that didn't sound English to me.

I read this book for the first time in my teens and I absolutely loved it back then! It was nice to do a re-read of it so many years later and I still really loved it. I also really enjoy Audiobooks today so getting it as an ARC audiobook was great! The narrator was great and didn't take away from my previous experience of the book. I love Holly Blacks way of writing dark fairytales and honestly I could relate a lot to Kaye when I was younger. The books is more aimed towards teens and I know that back in the day it was a 5 for me but today it's a 4 but I still really love it!

The books is well written and easy to follow, the plot is great and intriguing and the characters are super well made! I highly recommend this book especially for a younger audience!

I gotta say, it didn't quite hit the mark for me. The story gets a bit tangled up, trying to mix dark fantasy and modern stuff. The narrator does an okay job, but it doesn't always rescue the plot. If you're into clear-cut fantasy or a straightforward storyline, this one might not be your best bet.

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio arc in exchange for an honest review)

I have recently discovered my love for audiobooks and how immersive they let you get into the world, and the narration from Lauryn Allman in this book really did that. They put a lot of effort into each character's voice and it all really helped set the eerie vibe of the book.

However, the narration was probably my favourite part of this book as the rest of it wasn’t anything special. The world building for instance was okay but was a very typical faerie world with a Seelie and Unseelie court and nothing new or different to any other fantasy I’ve read that features fey. And apart from talking about the two courts, there was not much other world-building at all.

I also didn’t get attached to any of the characters and the romance was super rushed (they had met once and all of a sudden Kaye was in love with him and his hair). This book was quite short so I get there isn’t much time to do a whole load of development but I’ve read other books that were shorter than this that still managed to make me feel connected to characters and their relationships.

There was a lot of potential with the plot but it took a long time (a good 20% of the book) to actually get into the main part. This meant the rest of the plot and wrapping it up at the end was kinda rushed.

As always I feel hooked and immersed in the universe of the book with any Holly Black's book. In the audiobook I enjoyed the narration overall.

Venturing into the realm of faeries, the audiobook version of "Tithe" offers a haunting narrative faerie-inspired story, filled with dark magic and ancient conflicts. Narrated by Lauryn Allman, this story brings to life the struggles of sixteen-year-old Kaye, thrust into an intricate power struggle among rival faerie kingdoms.

The audio version, brought to life by Lauryn Allman's adept narration, captures the essence of the characters vividly. Allman's versatile voice adeptly portrays the ages and personalities, making the story immersive and engaging. Her clear, expressive narration adds depth to the Faerie Courts' descriptions, enhancing the overall experience. While the storyline delves into the darker side of faeries, the pacing of the narrative felt swift, and the gaps in the plot left some room for improvement. The novel, although engaging, might lean heavily on violence and coarse language, particularly within the human characters' realm, creating a stark contrast to the Faerie Courts' more formal atmosphere.

The imaginative portrayal of the faerie realms remains a highlight, evoking a sense of both enchantment and unease. Despite some narrative gaps, the intricate worlds, intertwined with themes of self-perception and growing up, resonate strongly throughout the book. However, the protagonist, Kaye, might not appeal universally, given the character’s selfish and flawed nature, occasionally hindering the narrative's progression and depth. On the other hand, Roiben, a compelling character, stands out with his complexities, offering a refreshing contrast.

This audiobook rendition of "Tithe" serves as a captivating introduction to Holly Black's Faerie Trilogy, offering an enchanting yet occasionally turbulent journey through faerie folklore and adolescent turmoil.

Special thanks to NetGalley, @Bolindaaudio , and the editorial team for giving me the opportunity to review the ARC in audiobook format and to you, my reader, for taking the time to read this honest personal book review.

If you are interested in other of my book reviews, make sure to follow me on GoodReads! #Tithe #NetGalley #LifeLongLearning

TITHE is a dark, modern faerie tale, full of vicious faeries in the modern world.

The best way I can think of describing this series is "think Michelle Harrison's THE THIRTEEN TREASURES series (which are particularly dark and creepy considering they're middle grade) and make it teen with more death and blood." It's full of the darkest version of faeries from folklore, all teeth and sharp fingers.

This is, I believe, set in the same general world as Holly Black's The Folk of the Air series (hence this series is getting re-jacketed and re-released.) I couldn't see any direct character overlap between the two, but it's been a while since I read the other series. The general vibes of vicious faeries is there in both though.

I particularly enjoyed how surprising the final act of the book was. What I thought would be the final act/climax was, in fact, the end of act two transition. The books takes its third act to be the set up many series would leave for the next book. I enjoyed being surprised by that, and not able to predict how it would all end.

Lauryn Allman narrates, bring this vicious world to life. The main character talking is Kay, but Corny and Roiben also have some chapters. I enjoyed listening to this in that liminal time between Christmas and New Year.

I might have a look for the other books my local library...

Tithe by Holly Black
Narrated by Lauryn Allman

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Bolinda Audio in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve got to be honest, I didn’t love this book, however the audiobook was engaging and the narration was really spot on. I felt like I was totally enveloped in the story because of the narration specifically.

It’s a very dark, eerie, atmospheric book and I think this was done very well in that respect.

Not my favourite book, but appreciated the audiobook version

Tithe by Holly Black
Narrated by Lauryn Allman

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Bolinda Audio and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Welcome to the realm of very scary faeries!

Sixteen-year-old Kaye is a modern nomad. Fierce and independent, she travels from city to city with her mother's rock band until an ominous attack forces Kaye back to her childhood home. There, amid the industrial, blue-collar New Jersey backdrop, Kaye soon finds herself an unwilling pawn in an ancient power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms - a struggle that could very well mean her death.

My Opinion

I am pretty certain that I have previous read this book before, although it was such a long time ago that to me this was a new story as I couldn't remember the plot. This book shows the darker side of faeries. I have seen a lot of mixed reviews, but for me it was an enjoyable read. I listened to this as an audiobook and I listened to the full book in one sitting. If you enjoy a dark YA with a lot of magic then this is the book for you.

Rating 4/5

My thanks to Bolinda Audio for a review copy via NetGalley of the unabridged audiobook edition of ‘Tithe’ by Holly Black. It was narrated by Lauryn Allman.

This Teen/YA novel was originally published in 2002 and is Book 1 in her A Modern Tale of Faerie Trilogy. While I have read and enjoyed a number of the more recent of Black’s Faerie novels, it was interesting to return to the beginning of her career.

Kaye’s mother, Ellen, is part of a rock band travelling from place to place. When she is attacked in a bar one night, Ellen returns with sixteen-year-old Kaye to her childhood home in New Jersey. When she was young Kaye had three faerie companions and as soon as she arrives at her grandmother’s house on the Jersey Shore, she begins to call for them and leave out bowls of milk. Yet they do not come and Kaye begins to feel that they were always imaginary.

Following a bad experience at a party, Kaye runs off and is making her way home through the woods at night. She stumbles upon Roiben, a faerie knight, who has been gravely wounded. She saves him and gives him shelter. Yet this choice has dire consequences, as she soon finds herself the unwilling pawn in an ancient and violent power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms. Oh and two of her faerie companions do return. No further details in order to avoid spoilers.

This proved quite an easy read though I was a little surprised by its violence and the amount of swearing by its human characters, though this was likely authentic given the setting and it made a contrast with the more formal language and etiquette of the Faerie Courts, even if they are cruel.

I felt that Black did well in her descriptions of the Seelie and Unseelie Courts and the various types of Fae, including the kelpie, which is one of my favourites. However, it was a little strange having these in an American setting.

With respect to the audiobook edition, Lauryn Allman has served as narrator on over forty titles, a number of which I have listened to. She has a light, clear voice that was well suited to portray characters of various ages, bringing them and the story to life.

Overall, I listened to ‘Tithe’ aware that it was written for a Teen/YA readership and so might read somewhat young. Yet I didn’t find it overly so. I had been meaning to read this trilogy for ages and may well continue with the other two books in due course.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

Holly Black is a phenomenal writer, but an even better storyteller. Her words are stunning to read, but even more magical to listen to. Lauryn Allman did an absolutely incredible job of bringing them to life in audio and if I'd had the time spare, I could have easily listened to this whole book in a single sitting.

I have had a physical copy of Tithe on my shelves for a good year or two and I've been meaning to get around to it since I first bought it. But it never felt like the right time - I'd get a chapter or two in and get distracted. This was nothing to do with the writing or the story (I LOVED them both) so much as me just being me. I'd like to think that it was because this story should be listened to; the narration gave it an extra layer of magic.

The book itself is exactly what you expect from Holly Black: messy, broken people in a delightfully twisted magical world. I cannot imagine thinking a single one of these characters are good people, but they make for incredible characters, pushing the plot in so many different directions. And despite not finding goodness in them, I still wanted Kaye to survive, still found myself rooting for things to go her way.

Overall, I absolutely adored this book and I think I loved it that much more for it being narrated so brilliantly.