Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher/Year: Harlequin Teen / 2010
Source/Format: Bought / Print
Date Finished: 14 Sept. 2012
Book # 41
Series Reviews: This is the first....
Buy | Borrow | Accept | Avoid
The Short and Sweet of It
Meghan Chase journeys into the Faery land of Nevernever to rescue her kidnapped brother with the help of her funny friend, Puck, who turns out to be more than he appears and an icy prince, Ash, who can't decide if he wants to kiss her or kill her.
A Bit of a Ramble
I needed something quick and easy, entertaining and engrossing, so I could plow through with minimal thought and maximum fun: this did it for me. Yay for reading (finally. Seriously, I hadn't read a single book in like a month. I mean if you discount the Dr. Seuss collection, And Tango Makes Three, Goodnight Moon, and Hello Bugs.)
What I absolutely love about this book is its references to other literary faeries. The comic relief is none other than Robin Goodfellow, the Puck. And the king and queen of Summer are Oberon and Titiana themselves. Who doesn't love that? The wizened guide is Grimalkin, a vanishing cat who speaks in riddles (hello Cheshire Cat). The allusions just keep coming, and I love this sense of familiarity, which I also think lends a sort of validity to the story; like I can believe it's all real, this world, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Alice and the whole wonderland situation, all of it...
The characters are all quite lovable and interesting. I particularly enjoyed their little distinguishing differences. Ash and Puck both are excellent fighters and seem to enjoy the challenge of mortal combat (then again, who doesn't?). But while Ash goes into a fight all cool and collected and somber, Puck goes in fast and furious and smiling. Both intense, but different. They were also complex enough to be believable. While Puck is the quintessential prankster, he has his intense and serious moments; and while Ash is all cold and indifferent, he has his emotional moments. As for Meghan, well, honestly she paled in this book compared to the boys in my opinion. We'll see what the future holds for her.
My only complaint: clearly Kagawa is setting up a love triangle here between Meghan, Ash, and Puck. But like so many literary love triangles, there is really no question of who will end up together. I really wish Meghan and Puck were just friends and happy being just friends, but it appears that YA authors do not believe it is possible for a straight teen boy and a straight teen girl to not want to jump each other.
And it is. Possible. I swear it is.
But on to the next in the series.....
Glad you got to read a book just for you!
ReplyDeleteI have yet to read this series and as I organize my book room and see them all lined up waiting for me... I need to :)
ReplyDeleteI need to read this series even though I know who'll she'll end up with already. I think it's pretty sad when you know who she ends up with BEFORE you even pick up a single book in the series. Ah well.
ReplyDelete