"Wicked Lovely"

[redbrunja]

 Amazon's review:

"Melissa Marr adds elegantly to the sub-genre of Urban Faery with this enticing, well-researched fantasy for teens. Wicked Lovely takes place in modern-day Huntsdale, a small city south of Pittsburgh whose name evokes the Wild Hunt of mythology. High school junior Aislinn and her grandmother have followed strict rules all their lives to hide their ability to see faeries because faeries don't like it when mortals can see them, and faeries can be very cruel. Only the strongest faeries can withstand iron, however, so Aislinn prefers the city with its steel girders and bridges. She takes refuge with Seth, her would-be lover, who lives in a set of old train carriages.
But now Aislinn is being stalked by two of the faeries who are able to take on human form and are not deterred by steel. What do they want from her?

One is Keenan, the Summer King, who has been looking for his Queen for nine centuries, bound by the rules and rituals that govern his quest. The other is Donia, a victim of those rules, consigned to the role of Winter Girl when she failed Keenan's test, yet still in love with him. Certain that Aislinn is the woman he must marry, Keenan shows up as a charismatic new student at her high school, unaware that she sees his true form. He's determined to court her and is puzzled by her rebuffs. Suddenly, none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe is working anymore, but things aren't going as Keenan expects either. Both will have to change, make startling compromises and enlist surprising allies if they want to break free from the wicked game that has ensnared them."

My thoughts:

This book has been on my to-read shelf for months, waiting until I had the time to sink my teeth into it. It was well worth the weight. Having Aislinn know immediately who Keenan is subverts the cliches of the urban fairy genre. Furthermore, every character in this book is smart. Their fears and actions all make sense.To be honest, the characters who stole the book for me was Donia. She was like Rue, only more so. Stoic, tragic, and so very strong. I was DELIGHTED that she didn't die (which I was half expecting when the ending rolled around). She will make a wicked awesome Winter Queen.

However, I was incredibly displeased with her and Keenan screwing at the end. Frankly, a large part of my enjoyment of the book came from everyone running rings about Keenan, who despite his good intentions, pinged every 'user' instinct I have. He's the so disliked Nice Guy, who thinks his niceness entitles him to drag centuries of women into his problems because he's 'good.'

I wanted Donia to realize that the dick who lied to her wasn't worth still being hung up on and go make it with the hot rowan-man Evan.

Comments

[digthenym.livejournal.com]

I think that was my main problem with the book too. I couldn't STAND Keenan, and not in a 'he's fun to dislike' sort of way. It's been a while since I've read it, but I remember growing so frustrated at Donia's relationship with him. It seemed...almost forced. I couldn't really buy into why she was so attracted to him :/

[digthenym.livejournal.com]

Also! Have you read Valiant by Holly Black? :3

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

*nods*

I buy Donia's relationship with him because she WAS the girl he successfully wooed; it made sense. But I didn't like them getting together both because I hate Keenan and because I think it made the ending of the book too happy.

I haven't read Valiant; I hated Tithe so much that I did not read the seque.

[digthenym.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I thought that ending to the book clearly didn't match the tone. It was tied together way too nicely for my tastes :/ and this is coming from someone who really digs Happily Ever Afters.

I hated Tithe too actually XD But Valiant was amazing, muchmuchMUCH better than the first one and had none of the same characters.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Really? Well, in that case it might be worth it to give Valiant a try.

[hungrytiger11.livejournal.com]

I sort of thought that Keenan and Donia's relationship was sort of a one time thing or possibly something that will only happy ritually (like every whatever that day was...)

The intelligence of the characters made me enjoy it much more than other books of similar type and target audience. I will be interested to see what you think of the next two books though too when you get a chance to read them...

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

It was the equanox. And even though I got the feeling that it was not something that was going to happen a LOT I didn't want it to happen AT ALL.

And I picked up the next book and am forcing myself to pace myself. I DO have other readings to get done, after all.

[topaquity.livejournal.com]

I've read all the books in this series. xD After that is Ink Exchange, and Fragile Eternity.

Don't worry... Keenan's not as nice as he looks... and Donia gets smart.

They're good reads. :3 READ THEEEEM. And tell us your thoughts.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Oh, I can't wait for Donia to smarten up!

And I'm in the middle of the second one; my thoughts will be posted when I finish.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Keenan doesn't deserve Donia, but given that she spent centuries suffering because of him, I think Marr looked at it as giving her what she wanted.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I think so too. Still, I wish she had ended the book not wanting him, if that makes sense? Even though it's in character for her to still be in love with Keenan.

[despairinbeauty.livejournal.com]

-has come back from days of writing nonstop- ^^;

This book sounds sharp in so many ways that I probably should get into it as soon as I can find the means to get my hands on it...though, I might have to wait until sometime later in January. -has so much to write still- :-(

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I'd very much say it's worth it.