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Otherworld #1
The Girl Who Never Was
THE GIRL WHO NEVER WAS is the story of Selkie Stewart, who thinks she’s a totally normal teenager growing up in Boston. Sure, her father is in an insane asylum, her mother left her on his doorstep—literally—when she was a baby, and she’s being raised by two ancient aunts who spend their time hunting gnomes in their Beacon Hill townhouse. But other than that her life is totally normal! She’s got an adventurous best friend who’s always got her back and an unrequited crush on an older boy named Ben. Just like any other teenager, right?
When Selkie goes in search of the mother she’s never known, she gets more than she bargained for. It turns out that her mother is faerie royalty, which would make Selkie a faerie princess—except for the part where her father is an ogre, which makes her only half of anything. Even more confusing, there’s a prophecy that Selkie is going to destroy the tyrannical Seelie Court, which is why her mother actually wants to kill her. Selkie has been kept hidden all her life by her adoring aunts, with the help of a Salem wizard named Will. And Ben. Because the boy she thinks she’s in love with turns out to be a faerie whose enchantment has kept her alive, but also kept her in the dark about her own life.
Now, with enchantments dissolved and prophecies swinging into action, Selkie finds herself on a series of mad quests to save the people she’s always loved and a life she’s learning to love. But in a supernatural world of increasingly complex alliances and distressingly complicated deceptions, it’s so hard to know who to trust. Does her mother really wish to kill her? Would Will sacrifice her for the sake of the prophecy? And does Ben really love her or is it all an elaborate ruse? In order to survive, Selkie realizes that the key is learning—and accepting—who she really is.
When Selkie goes in search of the mother she’s never known, she gets more than she bargained for. It turns out that her mother is faerie royalty, which would make Selkie a faerie princess—except for the part where her father is an ogre, which makes her only half of anything. Even more confusing, there’s a prophecy that Selkie is going to destroy the tyrannical Seelie Court, which is why her mother actually wants to kill her. Selkie has been kept hidden all her life by her adoring aunts, with the help of a Salem wizard named Will. And Ben. Because the boy she thinks she’s in love with turns out to be a faerie whose enchantment has kept her alive, but also kept her in the dark about her own life.
Now, with enchantments dissolved and prophecies swinging into action, Selkie finds herself on a series of mad quests to save the people she’s always loved and a life she’s learning to love. But in a supernatural world of increasingly complex alliances and distressingly complicated deceptions, it’s so hard to know who to trust. Does her mother really wish to kill her? Would Will sacrifice her for the sake of the prophecy? And does Ben really love her or is it all an elaborate ruse? In order to survive, Selkie realizes that the key is learning—and accepting—who she really is.
304 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2014
165 people are currently reading
4974 people want to read
About the author
Skylar Dorset
7 books203 followersSkylar’s first story was a tale of romantic intrigue involving two feuding factions of squirrels. Think “Romeo & Juliet” but with bushy tails and added espionage. She was seven.
Since that time, Skylar’s head has been filled with lots of characters and lots of drama. She is delighted to be able to share some of it with all of you now, because, honestly, it was getting pretty loud and crowded in there.
Skylar is a born-and-bred New Englander, which is why Boston was a natural setting for her debut novel, THE GIRL WHO NEVER WAS. Skylar shares her home with a cardboard cutout of the Tenth Doctor, lots of Mardi Gras beads from the time she spent living in New Orleans, and a harp she’s supposed to be teaching herself to play. She’d like to get a dog.
Since that time, Skylar’s head has been filled with lots of characters and lots of drama. She is delighted to be able to share some of it with all of you now, because, honestly, it was getting pretty loud and crowded in there.
Skylar is a born-and-bred New Englander, which is why Boston was a natural setting for her debut novel, THE GIRL WHO NEVER WAS. Skylar shares her home with a cardboard cutout of the Tenth Doctor, lots of Mardi Gras beads from the time she spent living in New Orleans, and a harp she’s supposed to be teaching herself to play. She’d like to get a dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 315 reviews
October 21, 2014
Hold on to your magical sweater & get ready for the ride of a lifetime!
This book was fantastically, wonderfully, confusingly perfect. I cannot describe it in any other way but this: reading The Girl Who Never Was is like picking up an apple, biting into it, and discovering that it's actually filled with your favourite ice-cream (for those who are curious, my favourite ice-cream is Gelatissimo's lime gelato. I'd take that over an apple any day!)
Weird. Intriguing. And amazing!
But more importantly, it's filled with 'double take' moments. Times where I had to turn back the page and re-read a section a few times before it fully sunk in. Because let's face it - not all of us were born as faerie princesses/faerie travelers/wizards/ogres.
Some us are utterly (and miserably) mundane.
And for us mundane beings, it's sometimes hard to understand a book whose plot is deeply embedded in many, many riddle-like explanations.
I don't believe that the heroine receives even one straight answer to any of her (a.k.a the reader's) questions during the entire book.
I feel the heroine's frustration. Because hip hip hooray - every other character knows what's going on! Isn't that swell...for them. But hey, I'm here too. And I don't have the faintest clue what the hell is going on.
Does she have a mum? Oh, wait, her mum's trying to kill her? Ok...but hang on, how come when she meets her mother, she doesn't kill her? What's the deal with escaping inescapable places? Do promises count for anything with faeries? Why aren't all debts stitched?
In the words of the King of Siam from The King And I, "Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera."
The list of confusing questions goes on and on. But what remains is a weird sense of understanding.
This may just be the first book ever where being confused has made sense, besides A.G. Howard's Splintered series. It's like...we're never meant to know everything. And that what we know isn't true and is ever-changing. There are no rules.
And we, as readers, have a strict set of rules when it comes to what we expect books to do and/ contain. But the thing is, this world that the author has created has no rules. It takes on a life of its own and even the main characters are left confused as the tables are turned time and time again.
It's part of the weird and wonderful magic this book possesses. I finished the book feeling a mixture of emotions - ranging from "What the hell just happened?" to "I want more!"
That said...I want more!
That cliffhanger had me as angry as a cat dunked into the middle of a pond. Not at the book - but at that lovely character who decided to forget everything they'd gone through and threw everything away for nothing.
I mean, I finished that book at 1am...so perhaps I wasn't totally rational at that point. But I really did think that the character of the character who 'turned', so to speak, really did a 180 spin during that last chapter.
Has that ever happened to you guys - where a character just out of the blue changes dramatically in the course of a few chapters? It reminded me of the drastic change in Adam in Ignite Me. And it annoyed me a little, especially since I was really starting to like that character, too!
Not to mention I just looked up Book #2 on GR to find out it comes out in December! So close and yet so far!
So if you're a fan of Alice-In-Wonderland-ish, fae-inspired stories, I really recommend giving this book a shot. In the meantime, happy reading! <3
This book was fantastically, wonderfully, confusingly perfect. I cannot describe it in any other way but this: reading The Girl Who Never Was is like picking up an apple, biting into it, and discovering that it's actually filled with your favourite ice-cream (for those who are curious, my favourite ice-cream is Gelatissimo's lime gelato. I'd take that over an apple any day!)
Weird. Intriguing. And amazing!
But more importantly, it's filled with 'double take' moments. Times where I had to turn back the page and re-read a section a few times before it fully sunk in. Because let's face it - not all of us were born as faerie princesses/faerie travelers/wizards/ogres.
Some us are utterly (and miserably) mundane.
And for us mundane beings, it's sometimes hard to understand a book whose plot is deeply embedded in many, many riddle-like explanations.
I don't believe that the heroine receives even one straight answer to any of her (a.k.a the reader's) questions during the entire book.
I feel the heroine's frustration. Because hip hip hooray - every other character knows what's going on! Isn't that swell...for them. But hey, I'm here too. And I don't have the faintest clue what the hell is going on.
Does she have a mum? Oh, wait, her mum's trying to kill her? Ok...but hang on, how come when she meets her mother, she doesn't kill her? What's the deal with escaping inescapable places? Do promises count for anything with faeries? Why aren't all debts stitched?
In the words of the King of Siam from The King And I, "Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera."
The list of confusing questions goes on and on. But what remains is a weird sense of understanding.
This may just be the first book ever where being confused has made sense, besides A.G. Howard's Splintered series. It's like...we're never meant to know everything. And that what we know isn't true and is ever-changing. There are no rules.
And we, as readers, have a strict set of rules when it comes to what we expect books to do and/ contain. But the thing is, this world that the author has created has no rules. It takes on a life of its own and even the main characters are left confused as the tables are turned time and time again.
It's part of the weird and wonderful magic this book possesses. I finished the book feeling a mixture of emotions - ranging from "What the hell just happened?" to "I want more!"
That said...I want more!
That cliffhanger had me as angry as a cat dunked into the middle of a pond. Not at the book - but at that lovely character who decided to forget everything they'd gone through and threw everything away for nothing.
I mean, I finished that book at 1am...so perhaps I wasn't totally rational at that point. But I really did think that the character of the character who 'turned', so to speak, really did a 180 spin during that last chapter.
Has that ever happened to you guys - where a character just out of the blue changes dramatically in the course of a few chapters? It reminded me of the drastic change in Adam in Ignite Me. And it annoyed me a little, especially since I was really starting to like that character, too!
Not to mention I just looked up Book #2 on GR to find out it comes out in December! So close and yet so far!
So if you're a fan of Alice-In-Wonderland-ish, fae-inspired stories, I really recommend giving this book a shot. In the meantime, happy reading! <3
June 10, 2015
I stopped reading this book at 11 percent. I have no idea what is going on and honestly don't care enough to push on to figure it out either.
The main character is Selkie who is in high school and is obsessed with a guy named Ben that she meets in Boston Common. There are some secrets regarding Selkie's mother and other things but I don't care enough to continue.
The writing was too painful for me to keep trying to get through. I think the main issue is that a lot of thoughts were tied up in just a single sentence so your brain had no opportunity to untangle what was being said.
And if I am going to read a book based on the fae and other supernatural creatures that have been told before, I need a book that is going to offer up something new.
The main character is Selkie who is in high school and is obsessed with a guy named Ben that she meets in Boston Common. There are some secrets regarding Selkie's mother and other things but I don't care enough to continue.
The writing was too painful for me to keep trying to get through. I think the main issue is that a lot of thoughts were tied up in just a single sentence so your brain had no opportunity to untangle what was being said.
And if I am going to read a book based on the fae and other supernatural creatures that have been told before, I need a book that is going to offer up something new.
July 15, 2015
5 Words: Oh, I'm a fairy princess.
Although I pretty much enjoyed this story overall, it was one hell of a confusing read.
This takes every fantasy/fairy tale trope and puts it on its head and never explains why anything's different. And that whole time thing was rather annoying, even if it did become a little endearing towards the end.
I felt that Selkie was a bit of a moaner, and perhaps even a little bit of a brat. There were times when I really didn't like her. She seemed to take everything a little too well. And so did her best friend, Kelsey. If someone told me I was a fairy princess and all that jazz, I wouldn't simply thing everything was OK and embark on some silly quest.
I liked the subtle romance between Selkie and Benedict, and Ben was a great character. Until we got to the end and it was like a role reversal where Ben was the unreasonable tool and Selkie was talking sense. It was out of character and pretty weird.
Despite my gripes with The Girl Who Never Was, I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for the next one. Because I liked what I read even if I did huff and roll my eyes.
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
Although I pretty much enjoyed this story overall, it was one hell of a confusing read.
This takes every fantasy/fairy tale trope and puts it on its head and never explains why anything's different. And that whole time thing was rather annoying, even if it did become a little endearing towards the end.
I felt that Selkie was a bit of a moaner, and perhaps even a little bit of a brat. There were times when I really didn't like her. She seemed to take everything a little too well. And so did her best friend, Kelsey. If someone told me I was a fairy princess and all that jazz, I wouldn't simply thing everything was OK and embark on some silly quest.
I liked the subtle romance between Selkie and Benedict, and Ben was a great character. Until we got to the end and it was like a role reversal where Ben was the unreasonable tool and Selkie was talking sense. It was out of character and pretty weird.
Despite my gripes with The Girl Who Never Was, I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for the next one. Because I liked what I read even if I did huff and roll my eyes.
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
January 13, 2015
I desperately want to like you, book.
But that's not how it always works.
Killer First Line: One day, my father walked into his Back bay apartment to find a blond woman asleep on his couch.
Selkie Stewart never knew her mother. She lives with her 2 eccentric aunts and it doesn't help that her father's admitted in an asylum. She wants answers and only her family and a mysterious boy from the Boston Commons named "Ben" can help her.
Sulky Selkie Has Mommy Problems. No birth records. Confusing birth date. Missing pieces about her parents' history. Insane dad. Tight-lipped aunts. No wonder Selkie's so stubborn she made a huge effort to find out more about her flighty mother. She found out that her family was old, like literally, old and that she's part-ogre and part-fairy. Selkie's character is too childish. She doesn't sound like her age even if time is basically non-existent in this book. She sounds and acts like a 10 year old for all I care. She's very impulsive and stubborn.
Benedict hates showers. Benedict Le Fay or known as Ben, is the Otherworld's best Traveler. Which means, that he can jump from one place to another. He's also the only one in their world. He sworn to hide Kelsie from the Seelie court by means of an enchantment. Ben is an Ok character. Apparently, he hates water and rain because it drains his powers.
Queen Mother is a Blah. What do you expect from a Seelie Queen? Power? Beauty? Charisma? Evil?
Oh Wow, Selkie's mother might be flighty but she's no Seelie Queen. Her greatest moment in my opinion was leaving Selkie on the doorstep and naming innocent fey children. Other than that, she's like a harmless kitty. Tatiana's still the beast.
Crazy Kelsey is Selkie's bestfriend. Human bestfriend to be exact who accepted the damn mysterious things right away. She's pretty much like Selkie. She sounds juvenile and stubborn. S-E-L-K-I-E is also K-E-L-S-E-Y. Her ballsy rescue of her BFF was note-worthy, however, there's some kind of plot hole on how she managed to enter Mag Mell or Tir Na Nog for that matter. It wasn't mentioned that humans can cross the magical threshold. Maybe it's the silver bough?
Saffron Will Fly Your Balloon. The crossing from Mag Mell to Tir Na Nog was my favorite moment from the entire book. I imagined the Otherworld for what it's supposed to be like. Selkie's convo with the ginger-haired boy was also one of the most mature/sensible one. I will definitely watch out for more of Saffron.
Messy Prophecy is another HUGE PLOT HOLE. It's confusing and everything's too convenient.
The Ending . Hearts are broken and there's the idea of a pseudo-romance. Ben found something about her mother related to the prophecy and he left.
Mai's Judgment : Could have been better. The premise is actually good but the execution's really lacking. This could be the next Iron Fey book but it doesn't even touched the surface.
I hope Book 2 will be better.
June 12, 2018
This was not a piece of amazing litreature, it was a trashy Ya book that I really enjoyed reading!
April 24, 2015
(I received an ARC copy through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review. Since it was an ARC, though, some things may be different in the published version of this book.)
I am sorely late in reading and reviewing this book. My mistake for not keeping track of when which review was due. Apologies to the publisher for this. Unfortunately, I have to admit I didn’t like this book, balancing between “it’s OK” and “this is getting long… are we there yet?”
It had plenty of ideas and themes that I normally would like. Fae, for starters, as well as wizards and ogres. A blue-and-orange-morality take on said fae, as well as a Seelie Court that is all but full of “nice fairies” (they’ll kill someone because they can, and when asked “why”, they’ll answer “why not?”). Boston as a stronghold for the supernaturals, built over the centuries through magic and enchantments. One of the characters has the power to travel between the human world and the fae lands. And so on.
On the other hand, I just couldn’t connect with the characters. Selkie reacted too often like a kid rather than as a 17-year-old girl, acting impetuously and making rash decisions, sometimes to the point of reaching Too Stupid To Live status. Her friend wasn’t so much better. Putting yourself in danger to save someone is a noble thing, even if it means willingly jumping into a trap, but Selkie did it with too little preparation; as a result, her attempt at rescue was pretty much… useless.
Conversely, her tantrums weren’t totally unjustified either, because of all the other characters’ tendency to never tell her anything, never explain, arguing that “it’s not yet time”… and we all know that the “let’s keep you in the dark in order to protect you” trope has a severe tendency to backfire about 99% of the time, all the more in YA novels, because the teenager will just jump into dangerous situations anyway—the only difference being they’ll lack important information that would help them. Moreover, keeping the character sheltered from knowledge for 50% of the story (at least) also means keeping the reader confused. While I managed to make sense of who was doing what at some point, let’s just say it was thanks to my ability to piece things together, not to the novel doling out information in a useful way.
The characters in general felt too flat. Her aunts weren’t indistinguishable from each other, and the Seelie queen could have been so much scarier, be so much more cruel… Instead, she didn’t look like much of a threat, despite her powers and her ability to use Names to weaken or even kill other fae. All in all, it should’ve been a desperate predicament for Selkie, considering what the wizard and her aunts told her, yet I never get a sense of a real threat coming from the Seelie fae. They did harmful things… just not to the extent I expected them to.
Not relating to the characters also meant I couldn’t connect with the romance. It was just there—too one-sided for a long time, before taking a sudden U-turn. I’m not a good audience for romance as a whole, and I know it’s difficult to find a love story that will touch me, but here, it was definitely a miss. I couldn’t bring myself to care about it, and the “stay with me because you love me” part made me roll my eyes.
I still liked the setting, though, both Tir na nOg and Boston/Parsymeon. It just wasn’t enough to keep me interested.
I am sorely late in reading and reviewing this book. My mistake for not keeping track of when which review was due. Apologies to the publisher for this. Unfortunately, I have to admit I didn’t like this book, balancing between “it’s OK” and “this is getting long… are we there yet?”
It had plenty of ideas and themes that I normally would like. Fae, for starters, as well as wizards and ogres. A blue-and-orange-morality take on said fae, as well as a Seelie Court that is all but full of “nice fairies” (they’ll kill someone because they can, and when asked “why”, they’ll answer “why not?”). Boston as a stronghold for the supernaturals, built over the centuries through magic and enchantments. One of the characters has the power to travel between the human world and the fae lands. And so on.
On the other hand, I just couldn’t connect with the characters. Selkie reacted too often like a kid rather than as a 17-year-old girl, acting impetuously and making rash decisions, sometimes to the point of reaching Too Stupid To Live status. Her friend wasn’t so much better. Putting yourself in danger to save someone is a noble thing, even if it means willingly jumping into a trap, but Selkie did it with too little preparation; as a result, her attempt at rescue was pretty much… useless.
Conversely, her tantrums weren’t totally unjustified either, because of all the other characters’ tendency to never tell her anything, never explain, arguing that “it’s not yet time”… and we all know that the “let’s keep you in the dark in order to protect you” trope has a severe tendency to backfire about 99% of the time, all the more in YA novels, because the teenager will just jump into dangerous situations anyway—the only difference being they’ll lack important information that would help them. Moreover, keeping the character sheltered from knowledge for 50% of the story (at least) also means keeping the reader confused. While I managed to make sense of who was doing what at some point, let’s just say it was thanks to my ability to piece things together, not to the novel doling out information in a useful way.
The characters in general felt too flat. Her aunts weren’t indistinguishable from each other, and the Seelie queen could have been so much scarier, be so much more cruel… Instead, she didn’t look like much of a threat, despite her powers and her ability to use Names to weaken or even kill other fae. All in all, it should’ve been a desperate predicament for Selkie, considering what the wizard and her aunts told her, yet I never get a sense of a real threat coming from the Seelie fae. They did harmful things… just not to the extent I expected them to.
Not relating to the characters also meant I couldn’t connect with the romance. It was just there—too one-sided for a long time, before taking a sudden U-turn. I’m not a good audience for romance as a whole, and I know it’s difficult to find a love story that will touch me, but here, it was definitely a miss. I couldn’t bring myself to care about it, and the “stay with me because you love me” part made me roll my eyes.
I still liked the setting, though, both Tir na nOg and Boston/Parsymeon. It just wasn’t enough to keep me interested.
December 16, 2015
I love fairy stories in general, and I just loved this one! This was a nice, quick, fun read. It reminded me a bit of the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa. Very strange world within our own, and very interesting characters!
March 6, 2016
DNF at 40%
For the first time ever, I regret not trusting the reviews.
For the first time ever, I regret not trusting the reviews.
Read
February 6, 2017The constant explanatory repetition (I get it - time moves differently for faeries!) got on my nerves.
Other than that, it was a fast read so I must have enjoyed it somewhat.
Have the next books (#1.5 available free on Wattpad and #2) lined up so let's see what happens.
Other than that, it was a fast read so I must have enjoyed it somewhat.
Have the next books (#1.5 available free on Wattpad and #2) lined up so let's see what happens.
July 7, 2014
You can also find this review at http://girlinthewoodsreviews.blogspot...
Detailed Review: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback
I am in a serious book hangover after reading this book. I really can't get over it. So I figured the best way to move on was to write a well-deserved review.
First, I must say that Skylar Dorset is an enchantress. The book was simply an enchantment but honestly, I loved it.
I first stumbled upon THE GIRL WHO NEVER WAS when I saw that one of my favourite blogs was a tour stop for the book tour. So when I saw it on NetGalley, I couldn't resist the temptation to click on the Request button (this is a common occurrence).
I did not regret that decision. Except the fact that I still can't stop thinking about it. That's not a good thing when you want to move on and read another book.
I haven't read many books on faeries, but the one I remember the most about was the Books of Faerie series by Maggie Stiefvater. They were good too, but... THE GIRL WHO NEVER WAS was better. Much much better.
I think I fell in love with Selkie from the first page. And I probably developed a crush on Ben the moment he was mentioned. The chemistry between them just has me melting on the spot. Ben's humour is definitely not lacking. An example would be:
'I told you the world would end if you kept saying my name.'
Selkie's sarcasm was the best entertainment to be had in the book.
'Are you a special invisibility faerie?'
The arguments and fights that go on between Selkie's great-aunts and Will were just as entertaining.
I found myself laughing through the first half of the book. There were just too many funny parts to not laugh at them.
Selkie's mother scores for being the best villain/evil mother figure. To be frank, she was easy to hate.
One thing I liked the most though, was the strong theme of family recurring in the book. It was Selkie's eagerness to find her mother that landed her in trouble; it was also Selkie's great-aunts who not only made her what she was but also rescued her from the Seelies. It was Ben's mother's enchantment that kept him from dying.
See what I mean? This book really serves as a reminder how important family is to us, except Selkie's mother of course.
The pace was set just right for the book. It was fast most of the time but when Selkie was with Ben, they passed oh-so-slowly, letting you enjoy the moment as much as you can. It was the action that made up the fast parts.
The ending, contributed the most to the book hangover, because of Ben Ben Ben Benedict Le Faye. I would tell you his almost-full name but I don't want anyone to use it against him.
Finally, the writing style was really suitable for the story. It could be repetitive at times, but they made the story easier to connect to and made the funny parts much funnier than it should be.
Brief Review: THE GIRL WHO NEVER WAS is not just a book about faeries, it's also about family and sacrificing yourself for the ones you love. With humour and entertaining characters, the author brings out the best of the book. With an enchantress as good as Dorset, nothing could go wrong!
Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'
Detailed Review: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback
I am in a serious book hangover after reading this book. I really can't get over it. So I figured the best way to move on was to write a well-deserved review.
First, I must say that Skylar Dorset is an enchantress. The book was simply an enchantment but honestly, I loved it.
I first stumbled upon THE GIRL WHO NEVER WAS when I saw that one of my favourite blogs was a tour stop for the book tour. So when I saw it on NetGalley, I couldn't resist the temptation to click on the Request button (this is a common occurrence).
I did not regret that decision. Except the fact that I still can't stop thinking about it. That's not a good thing when you want to move on and read another book.
I haven't read many books on faeries, but the one I remember the most about was the Books of Faerie series by Maggie Stiefvater. They were good too, but... THE GIRL WHO NEVER WAS was better. Much much better.
I think I fell in love with Selkie from the first page. And I probably developed a crush on Ben the moment he was mentioned. The chemistry between them just has me melting on the spot. Ben's humour is definitely not lacking. An example would be:
'I told you the world would end if you kept saying my name.'
Selkie's sarcasm was the best entertainment to be had in the book.
'Are you a special invisibility faerie?'
The arguments and fights that go on between Selkie's great-aunts and Will were just as entertaining.
I found myself laughing through the first half of the book. There were just too many funny parts to not laugh at them.
Selkie's mother scores for being the best villain/evil mother figure. To be frank, she was easy to hate.
One thing I liked the most though, was the strong theme of family recurring in the book. It was Selkie's eagerness to find her mother that landed her in trouble; it was also Selkie's great-aunts who not only made her what she was but also rescued her from the Seelies. It was Ben's mother's enchantment that kept him from dying.
See what I mean? This book really serves as a reminder how important family is to us, except Selkie's mother of course.
The pace was set just right for the book. It was fast most of the time but when Selkie was with Ben, they passed oh-so-slowly, letting you enjoy the moment as much as you can. It was the action that made up the fast parts.
The ending, contributed the most to the book hangover, because of Ben Ben Ben Benedict Le Faye. I would tell you his almost-full name but I don't want anyone to use it against him.
Finally, the writing style was really suitable for the story. It could be repetitive at times, but they made the story easier to connect to and made the funny parts much funnier than it should be.
Brief Review: THE GIRL WHO NEVER WAS is not just a book about faeries, it's also about family and sacrificing yourself for the ones you love. With humour and entertaining characters, the author brings out the best of the book. With an enchantress as good as Dorset, nothing could go wrong!
Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'
October 12, 2015
The Girl Who Never Was
Skylar Dorset
Personal Response-
I found this book like I find most of my books these day, I will raid the shelves of books and whatever I think will be good I read the last page and look at the cover. If I like it I will get it and come around to reading it. This book was tricky to read only because it was in a different time zone involving different things like ogres and fairies. Reading it I came across to it and really liked it for the way everything went and I got attached to the book.
Summary-
In the book there is a girl named Selkie Stewart who lived an ordinary life until her seventeenth birthday. No one is suppose to know birthdays because it could end up killing you. Selkie always hangs out with her friend Ben, she trusts Ben and Ben secretly has to watch over her. Selkie is in trouble. She is a princess that is set up to be killed by her own mother.
Ben is a fairie who is known to be the best, and one of the last fairie traveler in the worlds and his spell on Selkie was strong until she named him with only two of his names. Once the spell was eventually broken her mother sent Green Trains after her and after Ben kissed her memories away, she got on it set to save him.
Ben was allergic to water, it weakened him and Selkie tried to dry him. She told him to name her but her couldn’t do that as he had fallen in love with her. She forced him too and he said all but one. She was weakened but still alive and they made it out alive but they are still in search of Selkie. Selkie is hiding and she tried to ignore her mother's words, but right when everything begins, it all ends.
Recommendation-
If you like romance and mystery than I think that you would really like this book. This book is a book about a girl living a lie and only he knows the truth and he has to help her through it but she started asking the right questions to soon and she wasn’t ready for the truth yet. Things jumped into action and then slid away into betrayal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2014
The Girl Who Never Was had me so captivated I became the girl who couldn't look away! Seriously, I was sucked into this modern fairy tale so hard I craved the next sentence, the next paragraph, the next chapter and now I crave the next book!
Here's why I love this book:
1. The fairy tale princess is clever but not perfect. She's flawed and flaws are good.
2. The fairy tale is twisted but not mangled. Twisted fairy tales are like cotton candy you crave them because you love tearing them apart as much as you love devouring them.
3. The fairy tale world is fascinating and not at all like most of the other fairy tale worlds I've visited. And while we're on the subject of places, let me add that there are not many books placed in Massachusetts and I like very much that this one is.
4. The fairy tale romance isn't neat and tidy and I do like a messy romance.
5. The fairy tale princess has a best friend. A REAL best friend. The once in a life time kind of friend that every girl princess or not fairy or not wants to have.
6. This fairy tale is really an adventure. This is fairy tale is a wild ride and as a reader it felt like as much of a struggle to keep up with the story as the protagonist had keeping up but that didn't stop either of us from racing ahead.
7. This fairy tale was a quick painless read. I felt like it was over all too soon and I just want so much more of this world.
I could go on and on about this book, but I kind of want to read it again right now. So, how about I close with this: this book is awesome! It is lovely! It is the best fairy tale masterpiece I've read from the teen genre in ages (and I've read a lot of them.) Buy it and share it.
Thank you so much Edelweiss for sharing an e-ARC. I can't wait to share it with others.
Here's why I love this book:
1. The fairy tale princess is clever but not perfect. She's flawed and flaws are good.
2. The fairy tale is twisted but not mangled. Twisted fairy tales are like cotton candy you crave them because you love tearing them apart as much as you love devouring them.
3. The fairy tale world is fascinating and not at all like most of the other fairy tale worlds I've visited. And while we're on the subject of places, let me add that there are not many books placed in Massachusetts and I like very much that this one is.
4. The fairy tale romance isn't neat and tidy and I do like a messy romance.
5. The fairy tale princess has a best friend. A REAL best friend. The once in a life time kind of friend that every girl princess or not fairy or not wants to have.
6. This fairy tale is really an adventure. This is fairy tale is a wild ride and as a reader it felt like as much of a struggle to keep up with the story as the protagonist had keeping up but that didn't stop either of us from racing ahead.
7. This fairy tale was a quick painless read. I felt like it was over all too soon and I just want so much more of this world.
I could go on and on about this book, but I kind of want to read it again right now. So, how about I close with this: this book is awesome! It is lovely! It is the best fairy tale masterpiece I've read from the teen genre in ages (and I've read a lot of them.) Buy it and share it.
Thank you so much Edelweiss for sharing an e-ARC. I can't wait to share it with others.
February 18, 2018
Rating: 1/5
***Minor spoilers***
Selkie has never particularly abnormal. She has a bit of a weird family and she doesn't quite know exactly what happened with her parents, but she herself has always been okay. However, it isn't meant to be. She has lived a normal life, but only because everyone has been hiding the truth from her - that she's part faerie and part ogre. And that she's destined to destroy the Seelie court. And that her best friend has been a faerie the whole time. It's a lot to take in, and Selkie isn't about to forget about everything she just discovered. With the people she loves in danger, she's determined to make the prophecy come true, even if she doesn't quite know how.
I will admit that I've waited far too long to write this review, so the story didn't stick in my head. However, I will write about what I remember. When I first went into this book, I had high hopes. I've always been interested in the whole faerie thing, and I enjoy reading different authors' takes on it. However, I will say that this one was pretty confusing, and that's saying something. Most faerie-themed books have the same basis if you dig away all the extra stuff that the author's add. Having read quite a few faerie-themed books myself, I feel that going into another one, I shouldn't be confused because I'm already familiar with the framework of the plot, if that makes sense. The only thing I really have to learn is the original take that the author takes on it, so the fact that that was confusing to me was a bit disconcerting from the get-go.
Putting that aside, I thought the plot was okay at first, but my rating gradually decreased with time. The only thing I can say is that I started getting bored. I feel that if I looked at the plot of this story alone, it would've been interesting, but the way it was delivered bored me. I also found Selkie to be more and more of an annoying character. She's the kind of character who won't listen to anyone else around her, even though she's the person who knows the least out of everyone. While a couple of impulsive decisions usually don't rattle me since I expect them, it became increasingly irritating to watch Selkie make a mess of everything.
Overall, while this book could have been good, I felt that as the book went on, it lost its charm. It became more confusing, more boring, and Selkie became more and more unlikeable. I'm usually a fan of anything that's developed from the whole faerie mythology, but unfortunately, this one wasn't for me, and I can't recommend it to anyone looking for a good faerie-themed novel.
***Minor spoilers***
Selkie has never particularly abnormal. She has a bit of a weird family and she doesn't quite know exactly what happened with her parents, but she herself has always been okay. However, it isn't meant to be. She has lived a normal life, but only because everyone has been hiding the truth from her - that she's part faerie and part ogre. And that she's destined to destroy the Seelie court. And that her best friend has been a faerie the whole time. It's a lot to take in, and Selkie isn't about to forget about everything she just discovered. With the people she loves in danger, she's determined to make the prophecy come true, even if she doesn't quite know how.
I will admit that I've waited far too long to write this review, so the story didn't stick in my head. However, I will write about what I remember. When I first went into this book, I had high hopes. I've always been interested in the whole faerie thing, and I enjoy reading different authors' takes on it. However, I will say that this one was pretty confusing, and that's saying something. Most faerie-themed books have the same basis if you dig away all the extra stuff that the author's add. Having read quite a few faerie-themed books myself, I feel that going into another one, I shouldn't be confused because I'm already familiar with the framework of the plot, if that makes sense. The only thing I really have to learn is the original take that the author takes on it, so the fact that that was confusing to me was a bit disconcerting from the get-go.
Putting that aside, I thought the plot was okay at first, but my rating gradually decreased with time. The only thing I can say is that I started getting bored. I feel that if I looked at the plot of this story alone, it would've been interesting, but the way it was delivered bored me. I also found Selkie to be more and more of an annoying character. She's the kind of character who won't listen to anyone else around her, even though she's the person who knows the least out of everyone. While a couple of impulsive decisions usually don't rattle me since I expect them, it became increasingly irritating to watch Selkie make a mess of everything.
Overall, while this book could have been good, I felt that as the book went on, it lost its charm. It became more confusing, more boring, and Selkie became more and more unlikeable. I'm usually a fan of anything that's developed from the whole faerie mythology, but unfortunately, this one wasn't for me, and I can't recommend it to anyone looking for a good faerie-themed novel.
November 27, 2014
Rating: 3.5 stars
Read review on Tumblr | Buy on Book Depository
I didn’t want to write this review, honestly. I’m just so confused by this book. It’s going to be hard to put this into words, so bear with me. It is very fast-paced, to the point where I had some trouble keeping up with it. Getting from one plot point to another is like being in a time machine with a novice time traveller who lost the manual. The style of writing used was a little repetitive, but I suppose it was appropriate for the story? The characters were mostly likeable, but a bit drab. I liked that the fairies weren’t like other fairies you read about. They weren’t bright and colorful, they were the opposite.
Now, let’s get to the story. Selkie grew up with her two aunts, while her father lives in an insane asylum.The only thing she knows of her mother is what her family has told her. Her aunts always said her mother was “flighty.” On Selkie’s 17th birthday, she finds out that she is half ogre and half Seelie. Oh, and not to mention that her mother’s the Seelie queen, making Selkie a freakin’ princess!After revealing her birthday to Ben (her crush and ‘protector’), naming Ben, and asking the “right questions,” the enchantments around Selkie’s life disintegrate. By telling Ben her birthdate, she sets off one of the life-changing prophecies.
Her life being thrown upside down, she begins to see what it really is. She learns more about the Otherworld, and her place in it. When Ben is being held against his will by the Seelie court, Selkie decides it is time for him to be saved for a change. She sets off on an adventure to save the love of her life. While doing so, she finally meets the mother who wants her dead.
The Girl Who Never Was has honestly left me staring at the wall in confusion. I’ve been trying to write this review for a a couple days now, but I haven’t been able to word it correctly. It doesn’t feel complete , or coherent; like it’s missing something really important. Until I find the right words, this'll be the end of the review.
If you enjoy fantasy or young adult - check out The Girl Who Never Was
Have a great day!
Read review on Tumblr | Buy on Book Depository
I didn’t want to write this review, honestly. I’m just so confused by this book. It’s going to be hard to put this into words, so bear with me. It is very fast-paced, to the point where I had some trouble keeping up with it. Getting from one plot point to another is like being in a time machine with a novice time traveller who lost the manual. The style of writing used was a little repetitive, but I suppose it was appropriate for the story? The characters were mostly likeable, but a bit drab. I liked that the fairies weren’t like other fairies you read about. They weren’t bright and colorful, they were the opposite.
Now, let’s get to the story. Selkie grew up with her two aunts, while her father lives in an insane asylum.The only thing she knows of her mother is what her family has told her. Her aunts always said her mother was “flighty.” On Selkie’s 17th birthday, she finds out that she is half ogre and half Seelie. Oh, and not to mention that her mother’s the Seelie queen, making Selkie a freakin’ princess!After revealing her birthday to Ben (her crush and ‘protector’), naming Ben, and asking the “right questions,” the enchantments around Selkie’s life disintegrate. By telling Ben her birthdate, she sets off one of the life-changing prophecies.
Her life being thrown upside down, she begins to see what it really is. She learns more about the Otherworld, and her place in it. When Ben is being held against his will by the Seelie court, Selkie decides it is time for him to be saved for a change. She sets off on an adventure to save the love of her life. While doing so, she finally meets the mother who wants her dead.
The Girl Who Never Was has honestly left me staring at the wall in confusion. I’ve been trying to write this review for a a couple days now, but I haven’t been able to word it correctly. It doesn’t feel complete , or coherent; like it’s missing something really important. Until I find the right words, this'll be the end of the review.
If you enjoy fantasy or young adult - check out The Girl Who Never Was
Have a great day!
June 7, 2014
Review courtesy All Things Urban Fantasy
Where to start? I’ve been staring at a blinking cursor for a few minutes now, trying to figure out how to put THE GIRL WHO NEVER WAS into some sort of coherent thought, but it’s not easy. It’s a pretty good parallel, now that I think about it, because that’s what I felt the entire time reading it.
The story is simple enough, young girl who thinks she’s normal but isn’t and slowly finds out that the world she thought she lived in isn’t the one she lives in at all. Danger, adventure and romance ensue. For me, this should be slam dunk hit. And maybe it would have been if I could have connected more with the story.
THE GIRL WHO NEVER WAS is told in first person present tense which can be difficult, sometimes jarring, to read, but I’ve seen it work and work well in other books – The Hunger Games comes to mind. In this book, however, it doesn’t. She’s thinking and acting in the present, but the lack of contractions makes it overly formal and less conversational.
I did like Ben almost to distraction. I loved the Threader and Will, and I liked the way the Seelie Court had that casual cruelty I’ve come to expect when dealing with the fae (referred to as “fay” in this world.) There’s just something about that faery (fairy) cruelty that both repels and intrigues me and Mother has it in spades.
There isn’t much more I liked, though. I didn’t connect with Selkie, in part because she came off in both thoughts and actions like she was more thirteen than seventeen. I’m also still trying to figure out the sudden revelation about her romantic feelings because there was almost no indication of anything close to affection before that. I spent a lot of time during the middle Plot Exposition Section trying to piece together the world-building and I’m still not sure I understand it. I get that Selkie is supposed to be confused and that makes sense – the problem is that when the reader is as well, it makes for a klunky story.
I’m still on the fence over whether or not I’ll return for the second book. Ben is a pretty strong pull, because he is delightfully adorable, so that might be enough to draw me back.
Where to start? I’ve been staring at a blinking cursor for a few minutes now, trying to figure out how to put THE GIRL WHO NEVER WAS into some sort of coherent thought, but it’s not easy. It’s a pretty good parallel, now that I think about it, because that’s what I felt the entire time reading it.
The story is simple enough, young girl who thinks she’s normal but isn’t and slowly finds out that the world she thought she lived in isn’t the one she lives in at all. Danger, adventure and romance ensue. For me, this should be slam dunk hit. And maybe it would have been if I could have connected more with the story.
THE GIRL WHO NEVER WAS is told in first person present tense which can be difficult, sometimes jarring, to read, but I’ve seen it work and work well in other books – The Hunger Games comes to mind. In this book, however, it doesn’t. She’s thinking and acting in the present, but the lack of contractions makes it overly formal and less conversational.
I did like Ben almost to distraction. I loved the Threader and Will, and I liked the way the Seelie Court had that casual cruelty I’ve come to expect when dealing with the fae (referred to as “fay” in this world.) There’s just something about that faery (fairy) cruelty that both repels and intrigues me and Mother has it in spades.
There isn’t much more I liked, though. I didn’t connect with Selkie, in part because she came off in both thoughts and actions like she was more thirteen than seventeen. I’m also still trying to figure out the sudden revelation about her romantic feelings because there was almost no indication of anything close to affection before that. I spent a lot of time during the middle Plot Exposition Section trying to piece together the world-building and I’m still not sure I understand it. I get that Selkie is supposed to be confused and that makes sense – the problem is that when the reader is as well, it makes for a klunky story.
I’m still on the fence over whether or not I’ll return for the second book. Ben is a pretty strong pull, because he is delightfully adorable, so that might be enough to draw me back.
December 2, 2014
This author loves Boston. I mean reallyreally loves Boston. There is a good part of this book that is about the history of Boston, streets in Boston, facts about Boston, and then a false history of Boston. So, if you are from Boston, or really want to learn about it, for some reason, this is your book. Unfortunately, that's not me. I felt a bit like my son when he was 10 years old and caught me trying to teach him during summer vacation - betrayed and a bit offended! "Mom, it's vacation! I don't have to learn anything!"
Anyway... Boston... you really get hit in the head with it in this book.
Well, at least I don't...
But, maybe I could have put up with the Boston thing if the story was really great. It just wasn't. It was disjointed and boring at the same time. There were a lot of magical creatures, and real hints of malice. But, at the same time, the story dragged. When anything happened, it happened quickly, while most of the pages were filled with monotony. You could feel the boredom of the Seelie court. No wonder they went crazy and killed for fun!
Finally, the ending: Selkie has to be the hypocritalist hypocrite to ever live. Enough said.
Anyway... Boston... you really get hit in the head with it in this book.
Well, at least I don't...
But, maybe I could have put up with the Boston thing if the story was really great. It just wasn't. It was disjointed and boring at the same time. There were a lot of magical creatures, and real hints of malice. But, at the same time, the story dragged. When anything happened, it happened quickly, while most of the pages were filled with monotony. You could feel the boredom of the Seelie court. No wonder they went crazy and killed for fun!
Finally, the ending: Selkie has to be the hypocritalist hypocrite to ever live. Enough said.
December 16, 2014
There is now a longer review of this on My Blog.
It was a bit slow at the start but it soon turned into a whole mess of stuff. I do want to continue on to the second one and did notice that the next one is already out so yay no waiting there. This book will really make you think about a point of view. And how all points matter yet none matter and everything makes sense in a no non-sense kind of way. It really makes your brain hurt when they are talking about time in this book, and how they answer but not really, faeries doing what they do best. My favorite character would have to be Ben and I can't wait to see more of him, I am already getting ideas on who his mother really is and whats going to happend but we will see. I love how this cover also matches kind of with the second cover except flipped. I'm not sure how many books are going to be in this series but I am definitely wondering how the third cover will look if there is going to be a third book. They better not change the covers.
It was a bit slow at the start but it soon turned into a whole mess of stuff. I do want to continue on to the second one and did notice that the next one is already out so yay no waiting there. This book will really make you think about a point of view. And how all points matter yet none matter and everything makes sense in a no non-sense kind of way. It really makes your brain hurt when they are talking about time in this book, and how they answer but not really, faeries doing what they do best. My favorite character would have to be Ben and I can't wait to see more of him, I am already getting ideas on who his mother really is and whats going to happend but we will see. I love how this cover also matches kind of with the second cover except flipped. I'm not sure how many books are going to be in this series but I am definitely wondering how the third cover will look if there is going to be a third book. They better not change the covers.
July 6, 2014
Thank you Sourcebooks for giving me this book for review. I loved this book and am so happy I choose this as my first read for Fairy Month. This was a great start. This book was so original. I loved the world on top of worlds. Ben is my favorite character. The more the story developed the more depth came to his character. While the story was about Selkie I felt in the end I wanted more on Ben. This book does not have just Fairies which was so refreshing. Another great thing was the power of ones name which was funny because while I was reading this my husband looked at me and said my full name and I started to laugh. Read this book to know what I mean.
I am giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. This is a must read. The only thing I did not like was how quickly Selkie felt she was in love. I did however love the fact of time and age and from the very beginning she wonders why she feels young and then old. Her aunts and her house has this creepy quality which is so great. The hero of this book however is her best friend who loves her and is there for her. Sourcebooks I need book 2.
I am giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. This is a must read. The only thing I did not like was how quickly Selkie felt she was in love. I did however love the fact of time and age and from the very beginning she wonders why she feels young and then old. Her aunts and her house has this creepy quality which is so great. The hero of this book however is her best friend who loves her and is there for her. Sourcebooks I need book 2.
April 22, 2014
Just started and had to stop by and say how I am instantly in love with this book! The language and the writing style is just beautiful. So happy right now.
Update:
I am so in love with this book! I've huge passages highlighted on my ARC. Its beautifully written and readers will love Selkirk and all the cast (although if you threw me in a room with that super sexy goblin with the crown and the cape I would not complain!). Its often difficult for me to fall for a faerie novel- they are so petty and the rules are nonsensical- but this defied all my biases and prejudices by being a dammed good story.
Update:
I am so in love with this book! I've huge passages highlighted on my ARC. Its beautifully written and readers will love Selkirk and all the cast (although if you threw me in a room with that super sexy goblin with the crown and the cape I would not complain!). Its often difficult for me to fall for a faerie novel- they are so petty and the rules are nonsensical- but this defied all my biases and prejudices by being a dammed good story.
July 23, 2014
A totally unique and often surreal YA fantasy. Selkie – half-faerie, half-ogre – goes in search of her parentage with her crush (and faerie), Ben. The story is fun and imaginative, with a fast pace and plenty of action. It’s almost too much sometimes, with events following one another in a dizzying fashion leaving little room to breathe, and the narration sometimes felt a bit distant and made it hard to connect to Selkie.
But this tale is both simple and complex, original and often bizarre, with clichéd ideas like prophecies turned completely on their heads. I loved the details about the world of the faeries and the intriguing cast of characters.
But this tale is both simple and complex, original and often bizarre, with clichéd ideas like prophecies turned completely on their heads. I loved the details about the world of the faeries and the intriguing cast of characters.
March 2, 2015
Short review:
Eh. The cover was more intriguing then the book. Nothing major happened and i was bored in the middle. The MC was a bit weird but well written. Supporting characters didn't bring much to the table. The plot was nice thou, but the author didn't explore it much. The last 30 pages or so weren't really necessary either. Overall, i wasn't impressed with this book, but when read book 2 just to see where it goes.
Full Review To Appeal On My Blog Later :]
Eh. The cover was more intriguing then the book. Nothing major happened and i was bored in the middle. The MC was a bit weird but well written. Supporting characters didn't bring much to the table. The plot was nice thou, but the author didn't explore it much. The last 30 pages or so weren't really necessary either. Overall, i wasn't impressed with this book, but when read book 2 just to see where it goes.
Full Review To Appeal On My Blog Later :]
May 31, 2021
Fabulous!!!!! So glad didn’t take all the bad reviews to heart as quite loved this story!!!! The characters are nicely done & loved how the storyline immediately draws you into that (fictional) world!! Is a on par to great works of literature like Shakespeare or Jane Austen of course not, but I did love it for its quirky charm!!!! Can’t wait for the sequel!!!!!! Highly recommended! Clean/sweet action/love story! It’s confusing as it is simple lol brilliant really!!!!
May 2, 2014
3? 3.5?
The first half was brilliant but then the book started to drag. Loved the ending and I hope because I love witnessing home-wreckings. Not terribly noteworthy protagonist and the love interest but I loved Kelsey, the Threader and the aunts. Extensive and redundant use of italics.
Full review later on.
The first half was brilliant but then the book started to drag. Loved the ending and I hope because I love witnessing home-wreckings. Not terribly noteworthy protagonist and the love interest but I loved Kelsey, the Threader and the aunts. Extensive and redundant use of italics.
Full review later on.
June 1, 2014
Nope, DNF just by a couple of chapters in.
June 3, 2021
This is a good book, but the COVER IS COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED form the actual story! Seriously, the cover gives a VERY wrong impression, and it is annoying. Let me list some examples:
- Romance: you think this is some steamy, melodramatic, petty, angsty romance based on the cover. Not true! Yes, the main character has a crush on her good friend throughout the entire book, and there are two cheek kisses (gasp!) and one proper kiss at the end, but this is NOT a romance story. Romance is part of it and the relationship between the boy and the girl is a central one, but it isn't so much about the romance as it is about the friendships and adventures.
- The rose: where did the rose come from? I don't know if they mentioned flowers once. Seriously?
- The pool: it looks like a portal, or the two characters connected from two different worlds. Not true! Yes, the guy spends some time surrounded by a moat of water, but there is no *pool* and there is certainly no talking through water portals. I'm so confused!?!
- The boy: this is a little nitpicky, but the guy is described MULTIPLE times as being older and having black curls. Hmmm?
- The girl: she's the wonderful type of protagonist that describes herself (briefly and not smugly) once in the first chapter (blond and tall), and then takes up ZERO page space thinking about or describing her looks. There is no worrying about her hair, fidgeting with her dress (she spends like 90% of the novel in a hoodie), worrying about makeup, etc. Also, the characters around her do not spend time fawning over how beautiful she is. Not once. IT IS AMAZING! :D So why does the girl on the cover look pouty and fancy and awfully self-obsessed? Maybe I'm projecting here, but the girl on the cover does not reflect the girl in the book at all.
Alright, so other than the cover, the rest of the story is decent. I had pretty high expectations, as I really love some of the author's other works, and so this was a bit disappointing in comparison, but it was still a good story.
- The world building was BY FAR the best aspect of the story. I loved the Boston created as a magical refuge community for magical folk. I loved the culture and the interconnected relationships and the sense of ancient history. Beautifully done.
- The family dynamics were lovely! Or, rather, complicated and realistic, but with redeeming qualities. No one has a perfect family in the story (someone's dad is mentally unstable; the mums have either left or are murderous; the aunts are absent-minded and fearful, but adoring; someone else's dad prefers the form of a rat; some characters are orphans; there are doomed romances, etc.), but it is lovely to see how they love and care for each other despite the challenges.
Certain things I loved about the author's other works were hardly present here, like the long meandering descriptions, the slow pace, the complete security in relationships, and the surety of being adored and adoring in return. And I understand why: this is an adventure novel and it makes a better publishable NOVEL to have a quick pace, some tension and uncertainty in relationships, etc. So I understand, though it was a bit disappointing.
The story did feel a little hollow at times; like it could have benefited from a BIT of a slower pace, more time to flesh out the characters and settings and relationships. They are rich in potential, and I KNOW the author can fill them out, but there simply wasn't time in the book. That said, the pacing was consistent throughout, and it never felt unbalanced within itself.
Also, not many aspects of the story or world felt fully unique. Most of the components can be found in other fantasy stories for teenagers, for example:
- magical and non-magical worlds blended using obstruction spells (recalls the "Fantastic Beasts" movies in particular).
- secret child who has massive world-changing prophecies about them.
- daughter of the fairy queen having special and super-powerful abilities (like every one ever).
- forbidden fairy children being hidden in the human world to protect them. Discovering their identity in a traumatic and upsetting way while being running away from people who are trying to kill them (Harry Potter? Percy Jackson? SO MANY).
- best friend who is unquestioningly loyal and saves the day (actually, I did love that it was the best friend who saved the day during the climax, not just the heroine on her own).
- evil fairy court that needs to be destroyed, or at least have a major reform/make-over.
With all that, something I DID appreciate was that even though our main character is the prophesied child and daughter of the fairy queen, etc. etc. etc., she is NOT to "change the world" on her own. She wants to go raging off and fulfill the prophecy and rescue her friends etc., and those around her remind her that she has a team to work with! One of my favourite parts of the novel is when she is like: well, why can't I do that? Aren't I supposed to bring about the downfall of the evil fairy court? And they say to her: “You’re not going to be the downfall by yourself... Did you think you were all alone in this? None of us is ever as special as we think” (Dorset 196). AMAZING! :D I think we should see that kind of message more often in these magical-hero-who-is-better-than-everyone-else-saves-the-day-singlehandedly-without-the-help-of-anyone-while-disregarding-the-advice-of-every-adult-in-their-acquaintance. In this book, the girl does go off and do what she thinks is best, but with the advice of adults, and then she must ask for help and rely on trusted adults, and CERTAINLY couldn't have saved the day without the help of her aunts and other people. They are directly involved in the climax too, which is good to see. :)
So anyway, good book - not amazing or anything - but a good, interesting modern fairy story.
- Romance: you think this is some steamy, melodramatic, petty, angsty romance based on the cover. Not true! Yes, the main character has a crush on her good friend throughout the entire book, and there are two cheek kisses (gasp!) and one proper kiss at the end, but this is NOT a romance story. Romance is part of it and the relationship between the boy and the girl is a central one, but it isn't so much about the romance as it is about the friendships and adventures.
- The rose: where did the rose come from? I don't know if they mentioned flowers once. Seriously?
- The pool: it looks like a portal, or the two characters connected from two different worlds. Not true! Yes, the guy spends some time surrounded by a moat of water, but there is no *pool* and there is certainly no talking through water portals. I'm so confused!?!
- The boy: this is a little nitpicky, but the guy is described MULTIPLE times as being older and having black curls. Hmmm?
- The girl: she's the wonderful type of protagonist that describes herself (briefly and not smugly) once in the first chapter (blond and tall), and then takes up ZERO page space thinking about or describing her looks. There is no worrying about her hair, fidgeting with her dress (she spends like 90% of the novel in a hoodie), worrying about makeup, etc. Also, the characters around her do not spend time fawning over how beautiful she is. Not once. IT IS AMAZING! :D So why does the girl on the cover look pouty and fancy and awfully self-obsessed? Maybe I'm projecting here, but the girl on the cover does not reflect the girl in the book at all.
Alright, so other than the cover, the rest of the story is decent. I had pretty high expectations, as I really love some of the author's other works, and so this was a bit disappointing in comparison, but it was still a good story.
- The world building was BY FAR the best aspect of the story. I loved the Boston created as a magical refuge community for magical folk. I loved the culture and the interconnected relationships and the sense of ancient history. Beautifully done.
- The family dynamics were lovely! Or, rather, complicated and realistic, but with redeeming qualities. No one has a perfect family in the story (someone's dad is mentally unstable; the mums have either left or are murderous; the aunts are absent-minded and fearful, but adoring; someone else's dad prefers the form of a rat; some characters are orphans; there are doomed romances, etc.), but it is lovely to see how they love and care for each other despite the challenges.
Certain things I loved about the author's other works were hardly present here, like the long meandering descriptions, the slow pace, the complete security in relationships, and the surety of being adored and adoring in return. And I understand why: this is an adventure novel and it makes a better publishable NOVEL to have a quick pace, some tension and uncertainty in relationships, etc. So I understand, though it was a bit disappointing.
The story did feel a little hollow at times; like it could have benefited from a BIT of a slower pace, more time to flesh out the characters and settings and relationships. They are rich in potential, and I KNOW the author can fill them out, but there simply wasn't time in the book. That said, the pacing was consistent throughout, and it never felt unbalanced within itself.
Also, not many aspects of the story or world felt fully unique. Most of the components can be found in other fantasy stories for teenagers, for example:
- magical and non-magical worlds blended using obstruction spells (recalls the "Fantastic Beasts" movies in particular).
- secret child who has massive world-changing prophecies about them.
- daughter of the fairy queen having special and super-powerful abilities (like every one ever).
- forbidden fairy children being hidden in the human world to protect them. Discovering their identity in a traumatic and upsetting way while being running away from people who are trying to kill them (Harry Potter? Percy Jackson? SO MANY).
- best friend who is unquestioningly loyal and saves the day (actually, I did love that it was the best friend who saved the day during the climax, not just the heroine on her own).
- evil fairy court that needs to be destroyed, or at least have a major reform/make-over.
With all that, something I DID appreciate was that even though our main character is the prophesied child and daughter of the fairy queen, etc. etc. etc., she is NOT to "change the world" on her own. She wants to go raging off and fulfill the prophecy and rescue her friends etc., and those around her remind her that she has a team to work with! One of my favourite parts of the novel is when she is like: well, why can't I do that? Aren't I supposed to bring about the downfall of the evil fairy court? And they say to her: “You’re not going to be the downfall by yourself... Did you think you were all alone in this? None of us is ever as special as we think” (Dorset 196). AMAZING! :D I think we should see that kind of message more often in these magical-hero-who-is-better-than-everyone-else-saves-the-day-singlehandedly-without-the-help-of-anyone-while-disregarding-the-advice-of-every-adult-in-their-acquaintance. In this book, the girl does go off and do what she thinks is best, but with the advice of adults, and then she must ask for help and rely on trusted adults, and CERTAINLY couldn't have saved the day without the help of her aunts and other people. They are directly involved in the climax too, which is good to see. :)
So anyway, good book - not amazing or anything - but a good, interesting modern fairy story.
January 13, 2020
Loved both books in series. Do wish it had left out the 4-5 cuss words and one scene to allow it on a younger age shelf since it is very much cheesy like a preteen text. They do not fit in the text whatsoever.
April 6, 2020
This book was complex for me to understand. The plot itself is confusing. The characters were kinda hard to see their actions as something normal. It have good potential on the making of the plot and characters but it needs more descriptive writing. It was heavy to imagine for my taste.
November 17, 2023
2.5⭐️ this book felt a strange fever dream to me. There were some cute moments between Benedict and Selkie, but overall wasn’t for me. Didn’t really understand what was going on with the whole enchantments and magic systems between the two worlds, but I guess that was sort of the point in a way. Super fast-paced read though!
February 6, 2017
UGH i regretted selling away this book akfsdjkfsjkd i need a copy.
May 8, 2019
This book was so good.
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