Book Review: Wicked Lovely

Title: Wicked Lovely
Author: Melissa Marr
Publication Date: June 12, 2007
Publisher: HarperTeen & HarperCollins
Pages: 328
Genre: Faeries, Romance, Young Adult, Urban Fantasy


SUMMARY: Seventeen year old Aislinn, who was gifted with the ability to see faeries around her, is drawn against her will into the centuries-old battle between the Summer King and the Winter Queen when Keenan, the Summer King, enters her life and takes an interest in her- to be the Summer Queen. Her love, life, and mortality all hang in balance depending on the choice she makes.



***
"Wicked Lovely" by Melissa Marr caught my eye at the local library when I was searching for my next victim- aka, my next book. The cover was intriguing and pretty, and due to my personality, I, as was the case with "Hush, Hush", picked up the book without a second thought. I read the summary in the car ride back home, and was very afraid. After my last enconter with faery books and having a bad experience with "Wings" by Aprilynn Pike, I was much too afraid to read this one. I let it sit on my shelf for days, but couldn't bring myself to return it. Finally, I opened the book and started to read.

And, to my surprise, the book was quite enjoyable. It's one of my favorites now. I did find the Winter Queen a bit too "over the top" and exaggerated to be as threatening and serious as she should have appeared to me, and as I think the author was trying to make her. She was one of those characters that are just so...well, I don't have a word for it. But, do you know when you're writing a story, and you say, "I'm going to make this character girly," and she turns out to be over the top, real walking definition of girly? You know, everything she does is girly, and over exaggerated to get the point across that she's, well, girly? I found this to be the case for the Winter Queen. I guess her tea-party attire was supposed to add on to the fact that she acts innocent and dresses so but is actually deadly, but it only made me laugh rather than tremble with horror. Aislinn, I liked her, but I believe she's just another one of the many Mary-Sues out there. I didn't see any redeeming qualities in her.


I also loved the take on the faery world the author did. The faeries were much more human-like than in "The Iron King", but there was something otherworldly and disturbing about them that made them non-human. I loved how Donia, the winter faery, was bitter at Keenan, but still cared about doing the right thing. I loved how she wanted to protect other girls from her fate, and her overall attitude towards Keenan. It was so realistic, and I was cheering for her the whole time. One thing I didn't like about the plot was the fact that it, was so...well, we didn't go into too much depth. All we knew was that there was a battle between winter and summer, and Aislinn could try to stop it by becoming Summer Queen.

The best part for me was probably the relationship between Aislinn and Seth. I think this book was more romance centered than anything else. I mean, take a way anything but the romance, and its still fantastic. But the whole faery thing and Keenan and war between Summer and Winter was there to complicate Aislinn, Seth's life, and their relationship. I think that was the main point- to add some spice to the story so that it wasn't all smooth sailing for the pair. And it helped, to have that. Iit really made the difference between an okay book and a great book, which I think this is. ALSO: Beware. The romance can be really cheesy and cringe-worthy sometimes, but I didn't think it was that bad. Don't read if you can't stand cheesy ness or lots of romance, because thats practically the core of this book. 

Their chemistry was unbelievable. I mean, the two were just on fire. Their personalities complimented eachother, and you could just tell that they were meant to be together. When they interacted they were untouchable, and with a bedrock certainity i knew that Keenan would never sway me or Aislinn. Seth....is strange. I loved how the author wasn't afraid to not make him the typical, hot, perfect boy that most boys in YA are today. I like how she gave him a special style and swagger. He is just something, and he seems like someone you wouldn't want to approach on the street, but when he's with Aislinn, it's like he turns into mush or something. I can't put the chemistry between those two into words, I really can't, but it was so realistic i could almost touch it.

Overall, Wicked Lovely was a great book. I am so glad I finally picked it up! Melissa Marr has created a dark, haunting, romantic, lovely story that I can't wait to watch unfold as I read the rest of the series. I am really excited and hope to see the characters develop as well as the plot. I definitely would, and am, going to read it again. If you don't already know, I am Team Seth all the way ;) Though I can hardly call it a competition. Aislinn never wanted to be with Keenan, not ever. I agree with her. Keenan was too soft for my liking, a little...weak. It was like his entire world and existence was to be with Aislinn, but when she didn't want to be with him, he didn't care- was just a little sad. I liked his character a lot better when he interacted with Donia. She made him come alive, and it is clear they still have feelings for each other.

-Astrid