Wicked As You Wish by Rin Chupeco

Wicked As You Wish (A Hundred Names for Magic, #1)

by Rin Chupeco

What if every story you'd ever heard was true? Jack killed the giants. Red slayed the wolf. Rapunzel fled the tower. But the greatest one of all, had yet to be told.
Once upon a time, the magical Kingdom of Avalon was left to wither and die after the Snow Queen encased it in ice. Its former citizens are now refugees. Which is why crown prince Alex and his protectors are stuck in… Arizona.
Tala Makiling has lived her life as an outsider. Her family curse, the one that's doomed her to be a spellbreaker, someone who destroys magic, hasn't won her too many friends. Except Alex, who trusts her and her family to keep his royal identity a secret.
And then one night, a famous creature of legend, the Firebird, appears in their tiny town, reigniting hope for their abandoned homeland. Alex and Tala team up with a ragtag group of new friends to journey back to Avalon. Their path is filled with danger—from deadly prophecies, to terrifying ice wolves, a traitor among them, and the Snow Queen herself. But if they succeed… their story would be legendary.
"A great read for fans of fairy tales, myths and legends… Come for the adventure, stay for the sassy jerkwad firebird."—Kendare Blake, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Three Dark Crowns series
Gripping, fantastical, and delightfully funny, Wicked As You Wish is perfect for readers looking for:young adult magic, mythology, and folkloreLGBTQ representationdiverse characterscreative new takes on classic storiesfresh and dazzling world buildingPraise for Wicked As You Wish:
"Glorious."—Shelf Awareness
"Combining legends, myths, fairy tales, and classic children's literature from Oz to Neverland, Chupeco (The Bone Witch) creates an enchanting story that is both a feast for the senses and a unique spin on the hero's journey…A nail-biting quest that introduces a gripping new series."—STARRED review, Publishers Weekly
"…A truly original novel. A deftly executed melding of folklore and reality grounded in contemporary issues."—STARRED review, Kirkus

Reviewed by Nessa Luna on

3 of 5 stars

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I was very interested in the concept of this story - but I just wasn't a huge fan of the way it was executed. I didn't really like Tala much at the beginning, though she grew on me towards the end. Same with Alexei. I liked the Bandersnatchers a lot better and I kind of wished the story had been more from their POV. That being said, I thought the POVs were a bit messy - it was mostly from Tala's POV, but then sometimes it would switch to another person's POV to progress the story I guess.

I may have liked it a bit more had I not chosen the audiobook, because I wasn't a huge fan of the narrator and I Did actually read the last 25% of the book physically. I will definitely continue this series, though, because it got very interesting towards the end.

Also wondering - is there a map in the finished copy? I really hope there is, my ARC didn't have one.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 29 May, 2020: Finished reading
  • 29 May, 2020: Reviewed