Title:  Wicked Lovely

Author:  Melissa Marr

No. of Pages:  328

First Released:  2007

Synopsis (Courtesy of Joseph-Beth Booksellers):  “Rule #3: Don’t stare at invisible faeries.

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty–especially if they learn of her Sight–and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don’t speak to invisible faeries.

Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don’t ever attract their attention.

But it’s too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost–regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; ‘everything.'”

Comments and Critique:  This was my first major foray into the Fae mythology.  While I am still a bit hazy on some of the details, I found the Fae a fascinating subject matter.  Wicked Lovely was a fantastic way to get to know the stories behind faeries.

Ms. Marr does an amazing job of setting the tone from the first sentence and keeps up the tension throughout the story.  A reader senses the danger the Fae imply to Aislinn, a danger that continues unabated to the very last page and is implied in future stories.  One becomes scared for Ash, even as she struggles with her own fear.  They may appear pretty, but make no mistake that the Fae are definitely not your Disney fairies. 

Not only was I intrigued with these entities, but the unexpected love square was a welcome addition to the story.  Ash v. Seth v. Keenan – Ms. Marr delves into the idea of first love versus everlasting love.  Are they one and the same?  Are they different?  Do they have to be?

The writing is impeccable.  Easily pictured, I became part of Ash’s and Keenan’s worlds.  I felt Ash’s fear and Keenan’s desperation, Seth’s constancy, and the Winter Queen’s driving need to control.  Wicked Lovely is a breathtaking novel that would be an excellent stand-alone novel but is even better as part of the series.  Consider how emotionally involved a reader becomes, the more one can learn of Ash’s, Seth’s and Keenan’s fates, the better the story.  I cannot wait to pick up the second novel.  Considering Ms. Marr just released the fourth book in the series, I need to start reading!

I purchased this lovely book with my own funds.  This book meets the requirements for the 100+ Reading Challenge, the Read ‘n Review Challenge, and the Random Reading Challenge (my daughter selected it for me).