Wicked Lovely (Wicked Lovely, #1)

by Melissa Marr and Alyssa Bresnahan

[nitzan_schwarz]

You can find this review and more on Afterwords

Wicked Lovely is one of those novels I need to re-read ASAP and continue with the series, because I read this one back in 2012, and has owned it for years before that, and while I remember really enjoying this dark fairy-tale I don't remember enough to be able to move on to book two without the re-read.

It's interesting how strongly I remember liking it, when I had an extremely hard time getting into it at first. I started this book three times before finally moving past chapter three. There was just... something there that wasn't clicking at first. This book is lucky that back then I was far more stubborn about leaving books unfinished, because had it happened today I would've never went back to it. Three strikes and you're out and all that jazz. But, that wasn't the case, and I did go back to it. And then scratched my head wondering why on earth did I have so much trouble with it to begin with?

The world Marr creates in Wicked Lovely was breathtaking and beautiful... despite the ugliness of it, if that makes any sense. It's unique and extraordinary. When I think of that looming re-read (I am going to do that sometime in 2018), the thing I am most excited about is re-familiarizing myself with this world.

And in that world exists Aislinn. No idea if I'm pronouncing that one correctly. Aislinn is a normal teenage girl with slightly... unusual... worries. And by "unusual", I mean of the supernatural verity. Specifically, faeries. Even more specifically; seeing faeries. That's not supposed to happen. Honestly, I don't remember much of this character, and my old review speaks of the fact nothing of her really caught my attention since I just said: "I liked her". That doesn't mean I didn't like her, only that I really need that re-read if I want to recall anything about this main character lol.

Seth is Ash's best friend and the only one she feels safe around. Boy, did I adore this guy. He is sweet, caring and protective. And he does all that while looking like a badass in piercings (which are not really my thing, but when a nice guy wears them I'm okay with it haha).

Donia is The Winter Girl, and parts of the story are told of her POV. She is one of the faeries stalking Ash and I remember really liking her and loving watching the story through her eyes.

Keenan is the other fairy stalking Ash, and this is one character I was just kind of... meh about. I didn't hate him, but then I didn't like him. Like Donia, parts of the story are told from his POV.

Now, the main romance in the novel is between Ash and Seth. And it is one sexy romance! I was honestly so happy both with the fact that there wasn't really a love triangle AND that Seth is the romantic interest because this book made me believe he and Ash belong together! And afraid to read the next books because what if Marr does something to my babies???

Another relationship explored in the book is the one between Keenan and Donia. That was intriguing and still full of possibilities...

All of these things accumulate to the ending, which was a mixed bag for me. Some things were darn right underwhelming, considering all the hype the story builds around them. And some things were extremely shocking and subverted any expectation I had! And that makes me very curious to read the next books, even if it seems otherwise considering the 5 years hiatus I put this series on...

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Original Review:
To Read This Review and Others Go to My Blog Drugs Called Books!

Before Reading
This book has been sitting on my bookshelf for what must be years, and I kid you not. My edition had been published in 2008, so from around then. I opened the book the first time the week I bought it, and stopped reading around chapter three. I then picked it up at a later time only to close it again at—wait for it—the first page. And that happened a third time, as well, and by that time I decided to stop completely—something obviously wasn't working.
But I hate leaving things (or rather books) open like this, and I got tired of this book sitting on my bookshelf, taunting me, laughing at my face, challenging me to finish it, whispering remarks at my inability to.
And so, I picked it up again – vowing to finish it once and for all, or die trying. Sounds over dramatic? Well, I'm nothing if not dramatic.
Now, after reading the whole thing, I can't say I understand what made me stop before. This is a pretty great story, and I can only blame sheer stupidity for ever stopping it…

The Plot
Ash had seen faeries all her life – not the sweet little Tinker Bells of our innocent movies, but vicious, cruel, horribly beautiful and beautifully horrible creatures. Faeries she had tried, and mostly succeeded, to avoid all of her life, by following three simple rules: Don't stare at invisible faeries, don't speak to invisible faeries, and most important – never attract their attention.
But suddenly, the rules stop working and all bets are off. Faeries are stalking her wherever she goes, and Ash is no longer content with ignoring them and hoping they'd go away; she wants answers, wants to know what suddenly changed, and to do so she enlists the power of her best friend, the only man capable of stirring her heart and the only person she ever feels safe with; Seth. But is she putting him in danger while doing so?..

The world Marr creates in Wicked Lovely is quite breathtaking and beautiful, despite the ugliness of it, if you can understand what I mean. It's unique, and quite extraordinary. I enjoyed very much reading about it, and the plot, which was different from things I read before, was engaging and fast paced.

The Characters
Aislinn – is the main character of this story, a normal teenage girl with slightly unusual worries; faeries. I was surprised that I liked her, mostly because lately a lot of female main characters of popular books annoyed the heck out of me. I can't exactly pinpoint what I liked, but I did. I don't think there was one time she annoyed me throughout the entire story, though I can't say she's in my top 10.
Seth – Ash's best friend and slightly more than that, the only person she feels safe around. Seth is quite incredible; he is sweet, caring, protective and plainly awesome. I honestly adored him. Piercings really ain't my thing, so in my imagination he has none, but I still love him. In my edition there's an interview with Marr, and in it she says some people say he's too perfect, and I loved her answer that we see him through Ash's eyes, and often we see the radiating parts of those we love, and none the bad.
Donia – The Winter Girl. She is one of the faeries stalking Ash and full parts of this story are from her POV. She's a really good character, as well, and I loved watching the story through her eyes.
Keenan – is the other Fairy stalking Ash, the one who marks her. He's actually a Fairy King looking to make Ash his Fairy Queen. I didn't like or hate him. He was okay. Don't know; nothing special to me.Parts of the story are in his POV.

The Romance
~Fans myself~ is it just me, or did it suddenly turn hot when Ash and Seth were in the same room together? Wow. They are one sexy couple! Though I'm not sure if it's appropriate to say so about a Young Adult book?...
Oh, thank god there wasn't a love triangle! This may present itself as having two love interests, but I never felt Seth's place as Ash's love was ever threatened, and I strongly believe Ash and Seth belong together. May they stay together!
The relationship between Keenan and Donia was also intriguing, and I think there are many possibilities in that area still.

The Ending
Is unique. Mostly because you'd expect Ash would find a way not to change, and remain human, but it doesn't happen. I felt the showdown with the Winter Queen was a bit anti climactic, you know? I mean, throughout the book they talk about how frightening and powerful she is, but then it takes five minutes to beat her?...

In Conclusion
God only knows why I stopped reading this before. This was an excellent read, and I do get what all the hype about it is. What I'm worried about now is the next books, mostly because I felt this worked well as a standalone. I will read the next one before judging, but I pray I'll like it as much as I did this book. Great story, fantastic setting, good characters and a unique world – worth a read!


To Read This Review and Others Go to My Blog Drugs Called Books!