Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Review: "Wicked Lovely" by Melissa Marr

Title: Wicked Lovely
Series: Wicked Lovely #1
Author: Melissa Marr
Publisher: HarperTeen
Year: 2007

















"Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.
Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in the mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty - especially if they learn of her Sight - and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.
Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.
But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King, who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost — regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.

Faery intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning twenty-first-century faery tale."



It happens too often that you revisit the book you loved as a kid/teenager and then realize that it was not half as good as you remembered. I am so very relieved that Wicked Lovely did not fall under that category. It was just as brilliant as it was 4 years ago. It is great to have access to my old bookshelf again and this book was first on the list to be reread. And for a good reason.

Melissa Marr has quite a unique style when it comes to writing. Unique in a good way. I can’t really place it under the usual style that I have come to love but it is just as brilliant and 2 days on the countryside is what it took for me to finish the book. 

The “slightly” alternative teenage me loved this book because it had references to the darker style (talking about looks here this time) I was so fond of. It was nice to see it pictured in a book not in a mocking way. And while the grown-up (relatively speaking) me owns a few less corsets then it still warms my heart. 

The story in this book is ridiculously good. I mean we all know the stereotype of a human girl, sometimes blessed/cursed with an unusual gift, becoming the object of interest to a supernatural hunk of a guy. She is reluctant at first but eventually gives in to the charms of the drop-dead-gorgeous eye-candy. Try telling this story to the heroine of the story, Aislinn, and she will gracefully give you the middle finger. "Wicked Lovely" is a sophisticated faery story that is true to the myth with its own original twist. Just when you think you figured out how this is going to end it will have a surprise waiting around the next corner.

The amount of good characters in this book… I have no words. Aislinn is such a great heroine. While she might not be the whoopa-ass kind of a girl that I like from the beginning then she gets there. And boy will she make you listen when she wants to be heard.
So without spoiling the ending I will need to call both Seth (the human) and Keenan (the faery king) the male interests. Seth is the guy all of us girls secretly want. A bad boy who is good just for you. He can be so sweet it melts your bones. Keenan is used to getting what he wants while not getting what he ultimately seeks. It was brilliant seeing him progress and battle for the girl and his future.
The Winter Queen Beira is so twisted it makes you want to smile gleefully and pledge yourself to the demoness of a woman. But it was Donia’s, the Winter Girls point of view that was truly heart-breaking. To know that you are not the One to the guy who is your prince Charming and having to help him find the queen who could be what you aren’t... Just let that sink in, it is sad beyond belief.
There are also quite a few side-characters that were interesting as well and get more attention in the later books, but I will leave exploring them up to you.

Melissa Marr’s writing can really call to all readers, regardless of their age. “Wicked Lovely” is a unique masterpiece that I absolutely loved. It gets five stars and my highest recommendation to all that like (or even dislike) faeries. If you are indifferent towards them then you will love them after this book.


This review has been brought to you by your Book Mistress for the day.

-Linda

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