Author: Lesley Livingston
Pages: 352
Source: Purchased from Barnes and Noble
Series or Standalone?: 1st in series
17 year-old Kelley Winslow doesn’t believe in Faeries. Not unless they’re the kind that you find in a theatre, spouting Shakespeare—the kind that Kelley so desperately wishes she could be: onstage, under lights, with a pair of sparkly wings strapped to her shoulders. But as the understudy in a two-bit, hopelessly off-off-Broadway production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, wishing is probably the closest she’s going to get to becoming a Faerie Queen. At least, that’s what she thinks... In this fun, urban fantasy, Kelley's off-stage life suddenly becomes as complicated as one of Shakespeare’s plot twists when a nighttime trip to Central Park holds more than meets the mortal eye.
* * *
Yet another dual perspective novel, Wondrous Strange is told from the points of views of Kelley, a struggling actress, and Sonny, a changeling human who was kidnapped by fey when he was a child and now guards the Samhain Gate in Central Park. The story is told in third-person, but the alternation between voices was done amazingly. The words flowed so seamlessly, and Livingston's descriptions were so vivid.
Have I ever mentioned that I’m a major theatre geek? (*Ahem*) Well, I am. So of course each time any of the characters so much as stepped into a theater, I did an internal squeeeeee! But that aside, the concept of this novel was so well thought out, as well as the characters. I love a novel that will have me gasping when a startling revelation happens, or wanting to throw it against the wall when unfortunate events befall our heroes. And this book did just that. The writing is so vivid that, as a reader, you really feel what’s going on. I especially loved the more tender moments between Kelley and Sonny.
The relationship between Sonny and Kelley was my favorite aspect of the whole novel. Sonny was absolutely my favorite character. He was such a gentleman. The enitre novel, he was trying to protect her, trying to keep her away from harm, and all the while being charming. I definitely fell for him. That's why the ending almost broke my heart.
The relationship between Sonny and Kelley was my favorite aspect of the whole novel. Sonny was absolutely my favorite character. He was such a gentleman. The enitre novel, he was trying to protect her, trying to keep her away from harm, and all the while being charming. I definitely fell for him. That's why the ending almost broke my heart.
Bravo to the art department, because that cover is mesmerizing. The entire book as a whole is stunning.
I'm so anxious to read Darklight! I have to get on that soon.
Other books in this series:
Darklight (2nd)
Tempestuous (3rd) {UNRELEASED}
Plot: 5/5
Cover: 6/5!
Writing: 4/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Overall:
Glad you enjoyed it! I picked this book up because of the cover and managed to fall in love with the characters even though I'm not wild about 3rd person. I loved this book and the second in the series. Thanks for the review!
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