This is a nice YA book. I'd recommend this for teen girls, as it has some good themes for them. The characters fit the real world, and teens probably can identify with Aislinn and her friends. Has a nice girl power message to the story and pretty strong female characters ( )

Thoroughly enjoyable story. I've already started the sequel. There was practically no sex, per se, in the book. But the implied action made me glad I wasn't listening when my kids were in the car. [Audiobook note: the female narrator was much better than average at doing male characters' voices.] ( )

Aislinn Foy has spent years hiding the fact that she can see the fey - stopping herself from swerving around them, stopping herself from reacting when they're near and doing everything she can to prevent them from noticing her. But then the fey start taking on human appearances and walk straight into her life.

Keenan, the Summer King, has spent centuries looking for his Queen - a mortal girl who can help to release the bindings he's subject to and allow him to overcome the power of the Winter Queen - his mother. When he finds the latest possibility, he thinks she'll for him like all the others - but Aislinn has other ideas.

This was an odd read. It took ages to get to the actual plot. Instead the story waffled on about Aislinn and her fear of the fey for way longer than necessary. The narrative would be stronger for having cut down some of the whining. For all Aislinn decides she wants to take a path other than what her grandmother and mother did, she never actually commits to anything - she just goes on about how scared she is interspersed with how Seth makes her forget everything.

Aislinn was full of bravado rather than actually brave. I don't know. I didn't really like her all that much. I didn't get her relationship with Seth and I seriously didn't understand the attraction to Keenan. She mentions how scared she is of him and the fey but then she makes stupid decisions that put her firmly in the domain of them. If she wants to question them - question them. Subtly or blatant - just do something.

Plus I didn't understand how her family have had the Sight and are terrified of the fey but never bother to actually educate themselves on them. I mean if I could see terrifying creatures I'd want to know everything possible to arm myself against them. Seth was smarter in that regard, going to the library to read up on the enemy.

The only character I really liked was Donia. Her suffering was palpable. Her loneliness and the struggle she's had being the chew toy of two strong beings was sad. I liked that she did her best to help Keenan and Aislinn but I would've liked it better if in addition to that she had given up on Keenan and any romance with him. It would've been stronger had they remained friends rather than pursuing romance. I would've liked to see her take a chance on someone new - the tree dude, Evan who seems to have a bit of a crush perhaps?

A lot of the world building happens at the end but it's too little, too late. By that point I just didn't really care enough about Aislinn or her mother or grandmother to hear the whole story of how Moira got entangled with they fey or how her grandmother knows Keenan. Not that that part was really explained. It was all Moira was chosen, the end. But the point stands. In any case, the world building is thin and is more of a sketch than a full artistic rendering.

A strange read with unlikeable characters, thin world building and terrible paranormal romance. 2 stars. ( )

I severely wanted to read this book when it came out. I stared at this book every time I went into the book store but I never walked out with it. For years, I had hoped I would come across this book on my shopping journeys (because the hunt is half the thrill) but I never did. Finally, this year - time had come. I found the book! I grabbed it, bought it, and decided I would pick it up FINALLY. And, I wasn't disappointed!

This was one of those YA books that I snuggled up with a blanket, a cup of tea, and my cats. I binged the book rather quickly and enjoyed it thoroughly. Add in that this book DOES NOT leave off in a cliffhanger... Yes, Melissa Marr is on my good side. Wicked Lovely was FABULOUS. I am so happy I picked it up and I am screaming from the rooftops for people to give Melissa Marr some love. Fairies, prophecies, love squares AND NO CLIFFHANGERS AT THE END. It's my kind of book.

This book is a little darker than the YA I used to read back in the early 2010s, but it wasn't really all that dark. There are some rougher topics, but it's easily a PG-13 rated book. You know there's drugs and bad people around, but it doesn't linger on those facts for too long. It stays in the realm of mostly lighthearted deviance (since fairies are, ya know, pretty wild).

Aislinn is a fairly relatable character. She has a bit of a rough start in life, but she just wants to be a teenager and hang out with Seth (who may or may not be a good match for her, depending on your viewpoints of him). Seth does seem like quite the nice dude and a good friend to Aislinn. Keenan, fairy king bro, is not all that charming in my opinion, but maybe the YA book crowd will like him. I'm not sold, but hey - that's just my opinion. I did LOVE Donia. She was my favourite character and I will stand proud and say that.

Will I continue reading this series? Maybe. If I'm able to stumble across the books in my journey, sure! But, I'm also severely happy with the ending. I almost don't want to ruin it. Although, I now really want to support Melissa Marr because I loved her writing. Binging a good book and not wanting to stop doesn't always happen with me, and Melissa Marr cracked the code.

Overall, I liked this book! It's a twisted story of fairies who are manipulative and scary, but it also has quite the love story. It's a great read.

Four out of five stars. ( )

perfectly acceptable YA faerie book. It is as it should be. ( )