Wicked Lovely is another one of those books that I’d heard so much hype about, I almost didn’t want to pick it up, for fear that it would be terribly disappointing. I mean, the blurb on the cover is from Tamora Pierce! It fits, too; though Aislinn is a modern-day heroine, she’s much like some of Pierce’s strong female characters. Aislinn doesn’t let anyone else control her–she is very much in charge of her own fate, despite ancient faery curses working against that independence!
Anyway, Wicked Lovely does not disappoint. It is the story of Aislinn, a teenage girl who can see faeries. She’s always lived with the rules her grandmother has set to keep her safe, ignoring the faeries. If they knew she could see them, if the wrong faery found out, she’d be in grave danger.
Of course, keeping her secret may not keep her safe after all. She’s being stalked by two faeries. One of whom just happens to be the Summer King, Keenan, who has been searching for his queen for centuries. Those who are chosen as possible queens cannot escape; they either become Summer Girls, slutty faeries without a care in the world, or they try their chances at becoming the Summer Queen–and when it is discovered they are not, they are filled with Winter’s chill, vowing to try and convince other mortal girls not to try and become queen, despite the fact that the current Winter Girl can only escape and be free if another takes her place.
While there’s all of that faery drama going on, Aislinn also has some real-world problems. Like, her relationship with Seth. They’re very, very close friends, but nothing more. Aislinn might like to be more, and Seth’s always flirting with her, but he doesn’t date; he just sleeps around. Aislinn wants to keep their friendship, rather than being used and discarded like she fears.
Melissa Marr’s novel is brilliant. Her writing slowly but surely draws you in until you (like me) are reading under your desk in World History to finish it as quickly as possible, to find out what happens to the characters who seem so real! This urban faery tale is remniscent of Holly Black, with faeries who aren’t at all what we see in those fluffy, pink cartoons and books for little girls. These faeries are beautiful, dangerous, dark, and terrifying, even the so-called good faeries.
This marvelous debut is dark, beautiful, and unputdownable. Luckily for readers who will be aching for more after finishing, the sequel (well, more of a companion book than a sequel; same world, different focus), Ink Exchange, will be out in April. I was lucky enough to snag an advance copy, and am in the middle of reading it, so expect a review here soon!
January 20, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Glad you liked this one. I have the ARC for Ink Exchange too, but I haven’t gotten around to reading it yet. I’m thinking about re-reading Wicked Lovely first since it’s been awhile. Let me know if you think they are better read one right after another.
January 21, 2008 at 1:13 am
Oh, come on, world history? But it’s so exciting! (Note sarcasm)
Lucky you for the ARC! Is it being published by HarperCollins too? I always stamp my foot in frustration when something’s done my Harper Collins because I can’t ever seem to get ARCs from them. I have to wait for the books to come out like normal people… :-)
January 21, 2008 at 11:51 pm
I loved this one too! I’m sad that Ink Exchange has different characters. :( Congrats on scoring the ARC though-I’m jealous!
January 30, 2008 at 8:33 pm
[…] I’ve got an exciting treat for you all today: Melissa Marr, author of the fabulous books Wicked Lovely and the forthcoming Ink Exchange (review coming soon)! Melissa was nice enough to answer a few […]
February 25, 2008 at 12:30 am
[…] by C.S. Lewis)81. Becky (Foundation’s Edge AND Foundation and Earth both by Isaac Asimov)82. Jocelyn (Wicked Lovely)83. Moomin Light (Three Terry Pratchett books)84. BookGal (The Book Thief)85. Sandy D. (All the […]
May 6, 2009 at 1:58 am
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May 25, 2009 at 12:23 pm
I loved this book! Can’t wait to read the second one or when i finish this series I can move on to more of Melissa Marr’s select books!
August 9, 2009 at 11:55 am
love this book!
can’t put it down.
i wrote a faerie fanfic back in highschool (i’m in college now) and this world Melissa Marr made is how i picture faeries in my fic to be:
close to human, yet dark, powerful, lusty, exciting, a bit of a “vampire” if you will because they “feed” on humans, not for blood per se, but something humans can provide that faeries need.
love it!
the Muse has struck me again.
will write soon, sequel of my fic.
thanks Melissa Marr, for nudging the inner fires of the writer within me again.
cheeries!
`jeijei
November 27, 2009 at 9:23 am
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June 5, 2011 at 6:43 pm
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September 19, 2011 at 9:46 pm
Too enjoyed the book. Here is my review:
December 20, 2011 at 10:20 am
I cant even finish this book i dont even understand half the words!!!
October 3, 2012 at 9:50 am
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