Book Review: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication date: May 2011
ISBN: 9780312649616
Source: Review copy provided by publicist

When September decides to leave behind her dull life of cleaning teacups and a boring dog to fly with the Green Wind on a Leopard of Small Breezes, she is ready for adventure.  Landing in fairyland, things don't quite go as she expected, though she makes friends in a wyvern that's half-library and a water djinn.  On a reluctant quest to get back a spoon from the Marquess, she little expects all of the strange beasts she meets or the growing up she does.

Things I Liked:
This was such a fun, quirky, odd little story of Fairyland as you've never seen it before.  The strangeness and the humor are the greatest draw for the story.  I liked how nothing was expected and everything was new - it just has that unique charm that many classic fairy stories have, but seems indefinable to me.  For those who love the oddity of Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz, this will be an instant winner.  It also had a depth to the story that I wasn't expecting in such silly trappings.  Some fun quotes (I really love the second one):

One: There is a department in Fairyland entirely devoted to spiriting off young boys and girls (mostly orphans, but we have become more liberal in this late age), so that we may  have a ready supply of a certain kind of story to tell when winter comes and there is nothing to do but drink fennel beer and peer at the hearth.  Two: See above.  Three: Dry, brown places are prime real estate for children who want to escape them.  It's much harder to find wastrels in New York City to fly about on a Leopard.  After all, they have the Metropolitan Museum to occupy them.  Four: I am not being very nice at all.  See how I lie to you and make you do things my way?  That is so you will be ready to live in Fairyland, where this sort of thing is considered the height of manners. p 13-14

Stories have a way of changing faces.  They are unruling things, undisciplined, given to delinquency and the throwing of erasers.  That is why we must close them up into thick, solid books, so they cannot get out and cause trouble. p 36

Things I Didn't Like:
I didn't much care for the narrator, but I fell in love with September and especially Ell and Saturday.  At times, I thought things were a little too random and a lot of minor characters came and went (rather like a story with a quest where the main character meets people who help them along the way and then disappear).  Still, it was sweet, a bit creepy, and lots of fun to read.

Read-alikes:
The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none 

mrg-factor: none 

v-factor: -> 
some serious injuries and such

Overall rating: ****

Would you have loved this as a child? I think I prefered quirky books more as a kid than I do now.

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in 4 stars , fairy stories , Fantasy , middle grade , review copy , tween tuesday

Book Review: Under the Green Hill by Laura L. Sullivan

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

Under the Green Hill by Laura L. Sullivan
Publisher: Henry Hold
Publication date: October 2010
ISBN: 9780805089844
Source: Review copy provided by publisher

When Rowan, Meg, Silly, and James are all sent from their home in America to visit a distant relative, they do not expect to have any adventures.  Phyllida, their great-aunt, lives in an isolated but enormous house that happens to be surrounded by fairies.  Rowan is immediately drawn into the fairy war, swearing to fight for the queen of the Seelie court, and Meg must fight with everything she can to keep him alive.  Will she be able to protect him, and at what cost?

Things I Liked:
This book had a really rich and detailed atmosphere.  I loved how I was drawn into the mythology and the setting immediately - just as quickly as Rowan is sucked into the fairy war.  The changeable and unearthly personalities of the fairies was really well done - most fairy stories talk about how they are so amoral, but this one really felt that way.  Meg was a character that you love and that you might get annoyed with at the same time.  I really enjoyed the writing too, which was quite lovely and detailed.  A rich and beautiful book.  Here are some favorite parts:

She was a dairymaid and sometime hog-tender, pretty enough, no doubt, though certainly no more exceptional than any other cheerful, hardworking farm girl.  But under the glow of so many admiring eyes, she became spectacular.  Each worshipful gaze served (more than any charm she herself possessed) to heighten her beauty, so that the more people looked at her expecting to see beauty, the more beautiful she became.  It was the children's first encounter with that thing called a glamour, and even then, Meg saw through it more readily than the rest.  p 54

Dickie could tell it was extraordinary just from the smell.  An odor of knowledge permeated the air, ghosts of arcane secrets wafted about by the breeze the children made when they opened the door.  Here were books more rare than any first editions.  Many were bound in calfskin, and not a few had solid metal covers, so that they seemed more like treasure chests than proper books.  Some were locked, and some placed so inconveniently high on the shelves it was obvious they were not meant to be disturbed very often. p 119

Somehow, this evidence that the beast was learned comforted Dickie.  A snake that could speak English was a terror, but a snake that spoke Latin must be civilized.  p 160

Things I Didn't Like:
I have to admit that the story is very slow.  Occasionally, I would lost interest because not much seemed to be happening.  Describing fairies and other magical creatures is only fun for so long.  I'm wondering if it will have much kid appeal too, since it seems a very mature story in places and though the characters are young, they are dealing with more adult situations and rather grim details.  Still, it was an enjoyable read and probably a very advanced reader would adore it.

Read-alikes:
Reminded me of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Also a bit like the Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
perhaps one or two

mrg-factor: none
some implied stuff, but very vague

v-factor: ->
there is a war :)

Overall rating: ****

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in 4 stars , fairy stories , Fantasy , middle grade , review copy , tween tuesday

Book Review: The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication date: January 2011
ISBN: 9780373210183
Source: e-copy of ARC provided by NetGalley

Definitely spoilers for the first two books ahead:
Meghan and Ash have been banished from the Nevernever.  But, when Meghan tries to head home, she realizes there isn't anything there for her either.  She sets off on a quest to find her mortal father, the one who raised her as a child.  The fey, however, have other needs for her.  Oberon and Mab offer a plea for Meghan's assistance in fighting against the false Iron King, who is taking over the Nevernever and destroying all of Faery with their iron influence.  Meghan is the only one who has the power to destroy the false king, and so she sets herself on the impossible quest, with the help of Ash and Puck.  But, will she survive the battle with the Iron King herself?

Things I Liked:
Kagawa wrote a fabulous story, again.  I really love the faery mythology and especially the iron fey.  I liked how there were surprises, even if the story seemed like it couldn't go anywhere else.  She's created a realistic and well-developed world that seems to fit neatly with our own world.  Interesting characters making difficult choices kept me reading the book.  Puck continues to be my favorite, even though he isn't Meghan's choice and even though Meghan was so angry at him (which kinda made me roll my eyes a bit).  Also Grimalkin was interesting and snarky throughout, much to my enjoyment.  And I have to admit the ending was pretty gutsy.  But, I suppose if there is going to be another book, then it makes more sense.  

Things I Didn't Like:
I kept getting a bit annoyed by the plot - it seemed like an endless cycle of prepare for battle, last night before battle, battle, and then more of the same.  There were so many "last nights" in this book I started to wonder how many times they could almost die.  Also, while the ending, as I mentioned was gutsy, I thought Ash's motivations were odd.  *SPOILER MOMENT* Didn't he say how he would do anything and everything in his power to be with Meghan?  So why did he not hang out with her when she left the Iron lands occasionally?  Why didn't they meet and mingle every chance they got?  Why watch her from afar, because he can't keep away and yet manages to keep away?  I just thought it was quite out of character.  I'm willing to be convinced if someone can explain this to me, but it seemed more like it simply led to the next book.  *END SPOILER MOMENT*  I'm probably one of the only people out there that didn't adore this book, but I did like it.  Be sure to check out some other reviews, too.

Read-alikes:
Read the first two books in the Iron Fey series
Wicked Lovely books by Melissa Marr
Lament and Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
here and there a few

mrg-factor: X
some implied stuff, nothing on page

v-factor: ->->
there are an awful lot of battles, but not a lot of gore

Overall rating: ***

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in 3 stars , e-book , fairy stories , Fantasy , iron fey , review copy , Young Adult

Book Review: Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

Ballad: A Gathering of Faerie by Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Flux
Publication date: October 2009
ISBN: 9780738714844
Source: Library

 

James and Deidre continue their adventures with fey at a musical conservatory where they hope to deepen their musical abilities.  James is being stalked by Nuala, a faerie who expands a human's musical skills in exchange for a heavy price.  Their relationship takes some interesting turns as they give and take from each other in surprising ways.  But, things get much more dangerous when James realizes both Deidre and Nuala are in danger from a very powerful faery.

Things I Liked:
The writing, as always, was just gorgeous.  Stiefvater is so careful with each sentence and phrase that it seems like it must take years to write these books.  I also really loved the interesting twists and turns to the story.  It wasn't really at all what I expected of a sequel to Lament.  I'd call it more of a companion book.  I just adore James, the sarcastic little sweetheart, and I realized I don't really care at all for Deidre (whose story was really a side plot).  James was the life of the story and everything else just kind of decorated the background behind his vibrant personality.  Here are some parts I just had to share:

The first week - all coy introductions in class and fluffy assignments - was over, and the second week was showing its teeth.  Out came the giant homework assignments, the writing-upon of boards, and the general rending of garments that go with high school  It was funny - I'd really thought in the back of my head that a school filled with music geeks would be different from a regular high school, but really the only thing that was different was that we played our roles according to where we sat in the orchestra.  Brass players: jerks.  Woodwinds: snobby cliques.  Strings: overachievers with their hands up all the time.  Percussion: class clowns. p 15

The humble practice chanter is a slender plastic version of the chanter on the full-sized pipes, and its primary virtue is that it's one thousand times quieter than the actual pipes - making you one thousand times less likely to be stoned to death while practicing indoors.  It's also a heck of a lot easier to play, physically - none of that huffing-puffing-blow-your-bag-in thing.  It also sounds like a dying goose; for sheer impressiveness, you need the actual pipes. p 24

I got tired of watching her boohoo-ness really fast, and decided to go to the movie theater instead.  If I was going to be witness to that amount of melodrama, I wanted it to be delivered by a highly paid and beautiful head on a big screen.  p 73

Things I Didn't Like:
It felt like very slow reading.  Things didn't seem to happen so much as glide by in slow-motion.  It also felt a bit melodramatic throughout the whole thing, like being a teenager feels, actually.  If it weren't for the redeeming sarcastic humor of James, it would have been over the top.

Read-alikes:
Read Lament by Maggie Stiefvater
These books might tide you over while you wait for next Iron Fey book by Julie Kagaway
Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@#$
almost too much for me

mrg-factor: XX
several incidents and plenty of innuendo

v-factor: ->
some parts, but not a lot

Overall rating: ****

I'd read a cereal box written by Stiefvater. Do you have an author like that?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in 4 stars , fairy stories , Fantasy , paranormal , Young Adult

Book Review: Darklight by Lesley Livingston

Darklight by Lesley Livingston
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication date: December 2009
ISBN: 9780061575426
Source: Library

 

Kelley's life has not been the same since she faced the Wild Hunt after Samhain Gate opened.  And ever since she learned she was a faerie princess, daughter of the Winter King and the Autumn Queen.  Now Sonny, her changeling Janus boyfriend, has been sent to faerie to defeat the rest of the Wild Hunt and she is left in the mortal world.  Despite missing him all the time, she manages to get into all kinds of tricky situations involving fae and other frightening creatures who are out to get her.  But, when she ends up back in Faerie, she and Sonny must face a deadly foe who is seeking to destroy them both.

Things I Liked:
I do like the beautiful setting Livingston has created for her Faerie and human worlds.  I love the descriptions and the way she sets up scenes and places so realistically.  Often, I felt and saw and smelled exactly what the characters experienced.  I am a big fan of some of the minor characters like Bob and Jack and Tyff.  I find them interesting and entertaining - admittedly more so than Kelley and Sonny.  They are kind of what kept me reading (well, and there was some pretty good action).  Here's a taste of the setting:

The late April breeze sifting through the cracked-open window bared sharp, chilly teeth, but in spite of that, Kelley's sheets were soaked with sweat, and she felt almost feverish. p 38

Things I Didn't Like:
I wasn't really interested in the story.  Mostly, this was because I felt like it wasn't going anywhere in particular - there seemed to be an awful lot of scenes of Kelley being stupid and chased by bad guys.  Maybe I wasn't paying enough attention, but I just couldn't follow the plot of this one.  It did pick up at the end, but by then I didn't care as much, so I skimmed through it.  Definitely not as satisfying as the first installment.  I know there are lots of fans who enjoyed it, so be sure to check what others said about it.  It was just cliff-hanger-y enough for me to probably pick up (or read a spoilery review of) the last one. 

Read-alikes:
Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr
Lament and Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
quite a few uses, but mostly milder words

mrg-factor: X
really only kissing and longing to kiss

v-factor: ->->->
there was a lot of fighting and action, not too gory

Overall rating: **

Do plots and characters from multiple books sometimes start to run together in your head?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in 2 stars , fairy stories , Fantasy , Young Adult

Book Review: The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication date: August 2010
ISBN: 9780373210138
Source: e-book provided through NetGalley

Meghan must return to the winter court, according to her promise with Ash.  Once there, she is essentially a prisoner and cannot leave to return home or to the summer court.  But, when a powerful talisman is stolen from winter court and summer is immediately blamed, Meghan must find a way to escape and prove that it was not summer but the iron fey that stole it.  A new king of the iron fey has emerged and he is determined that summer and winter will kill each other off and he will rule in their places.  Can she find the stolen scepter before it is too late?

Things I Liked:
I'm still intrigued by the unique twist on faerie stories Kagawa has created.  Introducing iron fey?  Just so awesome.  I love the idea of having an entire kingdom of fey that are counter to the regular fey.  Meghan is an interesting heroine - strong and resilient, but also weak and foolish.  She seems to know what she wants most of the time, but not always.  It was a fun, fast-paced faerie story for those looking for something a little different than the usual fare.  And I would just like to say - I'd pick Puck any day.  I definitely prefer humor to Ash's icy coldness.  Here are some good quotes:

Dark, wild music echoed throughout the chamber, played by a group of humans on a corner stage.  The musicians' eyes were glazed over as they sawed and beat at their instruments, their bodies frighteningly thin.  Their hair hung long and lank, as if they hadn't cut it for years.  Yet, they didn't seem to be distressed or unhappy, playing their instruments with zombielike fervor, seemingly blind to their inhuman audience. p 21 of ARC

No matter how much I wanted a normal life, there would be a part of me that longed for this world, for the magic and wonder of it.  It had seeped into my soul and shown me things I'd never thought existed.  I couldn't be normal and ignorant ever again, knowing what was out there.  Faery was a part of me now. p 125 of ARC

"I would kiss you, cat," Puck said as we crowded through the doorway, "if we weren't in such a hurry.  Also the hairballs could be unpleasant." p 238 of ARC

Things I Didn't Like:
I was not as impressed with the story in this one.  It seemed a bit tenuous that Meghan would be involved in wanting to save Faerie again.  Her reasons didn't strike me as believable.  Also, it just wasn't as interesting. I got a bit tired of the extremely in love teenagers, especially when Meghan would talk about how much she loved Ash.  I think I need to read something without romance. :) Still kept me intrigued enough to keep reading though.  I'll be interested to know where she takes the next book, since things didn't seem very clearly explained in this one. 

Read-alikes:
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa (read it first)
Wicked Lovely books by Melissa Marr

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
some throughout, nothing too strong

mrg-factor: X
mostly kissing and longing to be kissed

v-factor: ->->
there is some fighting and violence

Overall rating: ****

Do you find yourself getting tired of a favorite genre after a while?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in 4 stars , e-book , fairy stories , Fantasy , iron fey , review copy , Young Adult

Book Review: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

As I'm sure you've figured out by now, I've been celebrating fairy tales with NotNessie of Today's Adventure.  Which may leave you wondering why I'm posting a review of a book that doesn't scream 'fairy tale' at you.  Well, it just so happens, that I subscribe to the definition of fairy-story or fairy-tale that Tolkien explains in his essay "On Fairy-stories."  While talking about what exactly fairy-stories are for about ten pages, he finally gets to this little tidbit: 

A "fairy-story" is one which touches on or uses Faerie, whatever its own main purpose may be: satire, adventure, morality, fantasy... Tales about fairies, about the fair family in any of its houses, or even about dwarfs and goblins, are only a small part of their content. p 39 of The Tolkien Reader

Thus, as you will note from my labeled reviews of fairy tales, I refer both to the traditional idea of a fairy tale - like Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty - and to the types of stories that are about fairies/faeries/fae in any form.  Which can be a lot of stories.  I say, the more then merrier.  And on that note, here's the review:

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication date: February 2010
ISBN: 9780373210084
Source: Library

 

Meghan Chase does not have an easy life.  Her father disappeared when she was four.  Her mother remarried a nice guy, but one who hardly notices her.  She lives in the backwoods of New Orleans and has to put up with everyone at school teasing her for it.  But things are about to get a lot worse.  When her brother is apparently stolen by faeries, she must find a way into faeryland and then face hostile courts and a deadly enemy that could destroy them all.

Things I Liked:
While at first it seemed kind of like every other recent faery book I've read, I was pleasantly surprised at the interesting turn it took.  I liked the idea of a different court, one that no one knew about, but that was so destructive to the others.  The plot took a while for me to really enjoy, but when it took those interesting turns near the end, I found myself quite caught up in it.  I'll be interested to see where Kagawa takes the story next.  Here are some good quotes:

The wine filled my mouth, flooding my senses.  It tasted of nothing and everything.  It tasted of twilight and mist, moonlight and frost, emptiness and longing. p 55

And then, like an explosion of light on the inside of my eyes, I felt it.  It was like color given emotion: orange passion, vermilion lust, crimson anger, blue sorrow, a swirling hypnotic play of sensations in my mind. p190

Things I Didn't Like:
I have to admit, for the first half or so, I was really annoyed by Meghan.  Seriously, she just seemed like such an idiot - running into danger, needing to be saved at every turn, completely ignoring anyone who told her to run away from evil.  I wanted to slap her and tell her to get smart.  I think she managed it in the end.  Also, with all the fabulous reviews, I was expecting it to be more awesome, so I felt just a little let down.  It was still enjoyable but not the most amazing book I've read ever.  

Read-alikes:
Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr
Wings by Aprilynne Pike
Lament by Maggie Stiefvater
Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@#
fairly regularly throughout

mrg-factor: X
there were several rather sensual parts, but not a lot

v-factor: ->->
some fighting, nothing too gory

Overall rating: ****

What do you think of as fairy tales?  Does it include stories about fairies?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in 4 stars , fairy stories , Fantasy , iron fey , once upon a week , Young Adult

Book Review: Whistle Bright Magic by Barb Bentler Ullman

Whistle Bright Magic: A Nutfolk Tale by Barb Bentler Ullman
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (HarperCollins)
Publication date: February 2010
ISBN: 978-0061882869
Source: Review copy provided by author

Willa and her daughter are returning to Plunkit after being gone twenty years.  While Willa can't see or even remember the fairies, Zelly is just discovering their presence; in particular, the last young fairy Whistle Bright.  The fairies have been leaving Plunkit, ever since the city began to expand, cutting down more trees, but Whistle is determined to stay where he is.  Zelly makes a few friends, and decides she wants to remain in Plunkit, especially when she realizes she just might learn more about her father who disappeared when she was three.  But, Willa is in a hurry to return to her life in the city.  Can Zelly and Whistle Bright both get what they want if they help one another?

Things I Liked:
I liked the sweet, yet serious feel of the book.  The story of Zelly managed to be both light and serious at the same time.  Instead of being silly or fluffy, since it's about fairies, it managed to have a depth that I hadn't expected.  I liked Zelly as well.  She would sometimes initially have opinions of people or things that she didn't particularly like, but she didn't have a problem changing them when she learned she was wrong.

Sometimes I wondered which would be better: peace and quiet but no father in my life or a dad who wanted me but brought lots of stress.  I wished I could have had something in between. p 15

Through layers of green branches, the sun speckled the pretty scene, and the air was filled with something sweet like tree sap or old blackberries, warm and dripping in the brambles.  The beauty of this place floated in the atmosphere like humidity.  Closing my eyes, I recorded the feeling and wondered how my mother had ever left. p 40

"I put all my worry and hope in a box, and I closed the lid."
Funny.  She put her feelings in boxes, and I organized mine in drawers. p 133

Things I Didn't Like:
While I enjoyed the depth and sweetness of the story, I wish there had been more about the fairies, since it didn't seem like they had much to do with the plot.  It was more about what Zelly was experiencing, trying to come to terms with her unknown father and making new friends.  I would like to read the first book about Zelly's mother to read more about the fairies.  A good choice for tweens who like fairy stories.

Read-alikes:
Probably should read The Fairies of Nutfolk Wood, though it isn't necessary in order to follow this one
Fairy books by Gail Carson Levine

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: ***

What kind of fairy books did you like when you were younger?

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in fairy stories , Fantasy , middle grade , review copy , tween tuesday

Book Review: Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr

Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: April 2010
ISBN: 9780061659225
Source: Library

 

Ani is caught between two worlds - Faerie and mortal.  She's neither one nor the other, and even for a halfling, she's quite different.  This attracts attention from many dangerous and powerful Faeries - all clamoring for her blood.  Devlin, assassin of the High Queen is sent to the mortal world for Ani, but finds he would rather keep her safe, both from the High Queen and her twin Bananach.  Soon, he must decide whether to keep Ani safe or to keep all of Faerie safe. 

Things I Liked:
Marr really has a way of sucking you into her world.  Even as I know in my head all of this is imaginary, I still can picture some of the faeries - Ani, Devlin, Irial, Niall, Seth.  They seem so real and full of personality, it's hard to remember they aren't real.  Her writing is gorgeous and the details are rich and vivid, see below for some of my favorite descriptions.  But, it's the story that makes you want more.  The decisions characters must make and the twisting path they take to get there are intense.  I had a  hard time putting this one down, particularly near the end.  Some loved tidbits:

"Like chaos in a glass cage." p 70 (Don't you just wish you'd made that phrase up?)

"Slowly, as if he were spun glass she could break, she leaned in and brushed her lips over his.  It wasn't even really a kiss, just a butterfly brush, but it felt like the sort of kiss that made the world stop turning - which made her even less able to speak." p 199

Things I Didn't Like:
I kind of have a love-hate relationship with these books.  I am not entirely sure what nameless thing is keeping me from outright adoring these, but I don't.  Sometimes, I would get distracted by the repeated use of a character's name.  I really wanted her to use some more personal pronouns, but I suppose it might have become confusing then.  Speaking of confusing, I also found that there were explanations and reasoning that really didn't make sense to me.  Ani, Devlin, and Seth in particular do not make complete sense to me.  Their abilities and power were not clear in my head.  Maybe it's just me, though.

Read-alikes:
Read the first three books in the Wicked Lovely series
Still reminds me of the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare
Lament by Maggie Stiefvater

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@#
plenty

mrg-factor: X
mostly "off the page," but the whole book feels very sensual

v-factor: -> 
a couple of incidents

Overall rating: ****

Any books or series you have a love-hate relationship with?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in fairy stories , paranormal , Wicked Lovely , Young Adult