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.

Faerie intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning 21^st century faery tale.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 3.5 based on 119 reviews)

Enjoyed it - 4 1/2 stars

I enjoyed this book! After over 100 reviews, there's not much more to say other than that.
October 08, 2008

Flawed and Loving it

I was really excited about this novel when it first came out, but the hardback was too much money. So I waited for it in paperback, and became uninterested. The more I learned about the novel the more it sounded like a rip-off of Black's Tithe. After reading it I'm so glad I did.

Ok. First off I have to address the complaints about how dark the fairies are. For hardcore fairy fans that have done tons of research it's not shocking that the fairies are dark and gritty. For those who haven't here's the heads up. This is based off of fairy folklore not modern sugar pop fairies. This book, though, isn't any darker then Black's Tithe. It might even be a bit lighter.

The characters descriptions in this book are mainly left to the imagination. Hair colors are given and that's pretty much it. Clothing, piercings, and tattoos are also given. For me that really didn't take away from the tale. The author gave more details to the characters appearance as the story continued. This added to the writing style and the story. Revealing little things about the character and their appearance as you go. Details on the fairies are not lacking, and are quite rich.

The writing is ruff, but this is a first time writer so that has to pan in. The writing style has a really unique feel. As if it's revealing itself. The points of views are switched and it's fun finding out how they all feel and look at each other. Coming to gritty points about our fairy prince, almost even stepping into the realm of evil. While the main character is brave in the eyes of those seeing her, she's fearful and afraid. The switching of characters may be bumpy at times but it only adds to the tale. Someone told me that Seth (the main character's love interest) should have been added to the views. I thought it was perfect keeping the views to royalty.

This has some of the most interesting cast of characters, but that doesn't mean that there aren't some stereotypical either. Donia is a girl still in love with the man who betrayed her, making other girls fall in love with him as she has to endure her punishment for making that ultimate sacrifice for him. Though I was a little disappointed about the lack of depth on her. The main character isn't to original, but she stands out. The fairy prince is the perfect dreamy guy, with a hidden agenda and an evil side he almost indulges in. The other love interest Seth is the perfect bad boy, quite smart guy that may make some girls swoon. The side characters are typical but have a wit to them. The evil villain is just what you expect, and nothing more.

The plot is simple, but in a way vastly more original then some out there. Having the main character trapped in a situation that has all the outcomes being nothing she desires, and instead has to except and make things good. This simple plot also allows for the book to seem more raw and fulfilled. Showing the characters strong and then weak, so that they seem human. Though the evil villains demise is weak and left me thinking did she even get defeated? The novel goes on, and the way the love triangles are solved at the end are perfect, all but making up for the hacked demise of the villain.

This book is more mature. Dealing with virginity, thoughts of sex (very mild), drugs, and drinking, but none of that's really over the top. Though a couple reviewers said that the novel had sex in it the characters only ever dabble in making out and heavy hints of sexual activities.

**** This novel is refreshing in many aspects and Urban Fantasy fans will find it in vast relief with other books. Though it is riddled with flaws for a first time writer it does deliver. For fairy fans and Urban Fantasy fans you can't miss this. I give it
3.5
stars.

October 07, 2008

Disappointing.

It had potential, but flopped at the end. Also, it started slow and lame. There's little to no character development. It's not very well written. I would be really bothered if I knew my teenager was reading this book. There is good deal of inappropriate content that doesn't add to the story in any way and is not romantic despite its intention.
September 28, 2008

A huge relief after the horror of reading Twilight

Although not perfect, Wicked Lovely was everything I ever wanted from Twilight and never got. Deliciously dark, it makes use of fairies as they exist in folklore. I was in love with fairies long before vampires. And we're not talking cutesy, pastel-colored, wish fulfilling tinkerbelles with wings and trailing pixie dust. We're talking fairies like Melissa Marr imagines them. Fey who use glamour to hide, seduce, torment and disguise their inhumanity.

The thing that I loved the best about Wicked Lovely is the tightening noose of inevitability. As stars align and events unfold, Aislinn, although presented with three viable options, is forced to make the only real choice that she can. I liked that Aislinn had guts and a will of her own, that she was battling her own shifting desires as well as the events that are changing her entire life.

The Winter Queen is a bit of a caricature of a bad guy and there's no where near enough Gram in the story. She has all the makings of an interesting character but gets reduced to a plot device.

Although a wonderfully engaging read, Wicked Lovely falls prey to a very pat ending in which everyone manages to live mostly happily ever after. There are hints that the shift in the power balance between the Summer and Winter courts will have ramifications in the other fairy courts but generally everything ends up right with the world.

Dark, sexy and tense, Wicked Lovely grabbed me and kept me. Definitely an enjoyable read.
September 23, 2008

Dark, Ugly and No Good. No stars deserved

I picked this book up at the bookstore on the recommendation of my teen aged clerk, who said that if I liked "Twilight" I would love this. Since I enjoyed Twilight and was looking forward to a good read. There are so many flaws in this book, you just need to read the other critical reviews posted here on Amazon. The writing is just awful. Where was the editor to catch all the grammatical errors? Where was the editor to tell the author that her characters were awkwardly constructed, story line inconsistent and the writing unintelligible?
The heroine's monologues are fake, phony and unbelieveable. Seth is a robot, no real human boy would act, talk or live like that.
The ending was really not connected to the whole book. Grandma's speeches or all her actions in the book were completely nonsensical. I think I finished the book solely so that I could write a review to warn people from wasting their money on this book.
September 22, 2008

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