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Betrothed #1
Betrothed
Book 1 of the Betrothed Series
Harry Potter's magic, Twilight's heartache... with a message that love and confidence make everything possible – a faery fantasy with a reality check.
Faeries, forbidden love, enchantment, belonging and unforgiveable betrayal. A truly romantic fantasy series set in two worlds, sure to be loved by adults as much as by its young adult readers.
Amy Smith has always known she was different. Severe allergies, fragile health and taunts at school have made life an endurance test for the adopted seventeen year old.
When Amy starts having strange dreams, everything changes. Night after night, she becomes trapped in a shroud of black - a void of silence but for a male voice calling for a girl named 'Marla'.
One night, the darkness clears, Leif is revealed and Amy discovers that she is the girl he has been searching for.
Immediately the two are swept up in a passionate yet forbidden love. Leif isn't like the other boys Amy knows. Breathtakingly gorgeous, he speaks with her telepathically … not to mention, he can fly …
Desperate to find a way to be with her, Leif tells Amy of the terrifying threat to his Fae homeland, the danger to the people, and of an unforgivable betrayal to his King. He urges her to seek her true identity…. But Amy is confused... isn't it all just a dream?
Harry Potter's magic, Twilight's heartache... with a message that love and confidence make everything possible – a faery fantasy with a reality check.
Faeries, forbidden love, enchantment, belonging and unforgiveable betrayal. A truly romantic fantasy series set in two worlds, sure to be loved by adults as much as by its young adult readers.
Amy Smith has always known she was different. Severe allergies, fragile health and taunts at school have made life an endurance test for the adopted seventeen year old.
When Amy starts having strange dreams, everything changes. Night after night, she becomes trapped in a shroud of black - a void of silence but for a male voice calling for a girl named 'Marla'.
One night, the darkness clears, Leif is revealed and Amy discovers that she is the girl he has been searching for.
Immediately the two are swept up in a passionate yet forbidden love. Leif isn't like the other boys Amy knows. Breathtakingly gorgeous, he speaks with her telepathically … not to mention, he can fly …
Desperate to find a way to be with her, Leif tells Amy of the terrifying threat to his Fae homeland, the danger to the people, and of an unforgivable betrayal to his King. He urges her to seek her true identity…. But Amy is confused... isn't it all just a dream?
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2013
23 people are currently reading
1224 people want to read
About the author
Wanda Wiltshire
9 books122 followersWanda Wiltshire has long been a lover of reading and writing.
As a child she was often found spellbound with a novel stashed beneath her desk or tucked between the pages of her geography book. Alternatively she could be found sketching or penning poetry during maths and science lessons.
Wanda has also always been an incurable dreamer, her school reports a testament to her pastime of staring out of classroom windows.
But now she is long grown and finally found her passion for writing novels, Wanda puts her daydreaming to good use, spending many long and satisfying moments gazing across the sea cavorting with fairies and other magical creatures as she develops scenes and storylines for her latest work.
Betrothed is the first in Wanda’s young adult fantasy series.
It is the exciting story of a girl caught between two worlds — Earth and the enchanting land of Faera.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
June 14, 2017
Amy Smith starts having strange dreams where a man named Leif starts calling to her as Marla and tells her to look for herself. She starts to investigate into the birth parents and continues to meet Leif in her dreams, all the while fearful of going insane. I don't know I found the writing kind of juvenile, like Amy/Marla is supposed to be seventeen but it seems like she's fourteen. Also the whole soulmates thing in YA books is kind of wearing thin on me, I think I've just read one too many of these so now I'm just eh about them. Like Amy is ~special~ and all the boys want her and Leif is a hot other mystical being who has come to protect her and of course he's prince. I'm sure if I was younger I may have enjoyed this more, I think I've just outgrown the whole thing.
August 15, 2015
This book made me super angry and I wrote this review and then I accidentally deleted it and that made me more angry so maybe my anger has blown out of proportion, so here's the list of problems I took note of while reading it.
1. The heroines entire existence is defined by her soul mate. Because in the fairy world when Special Snowflake Fairy Boys are born a part of their soul is torn away and flies around until it's born as a Special Snowflake Fairy Girl and they are soulmates who can communicate through dreams and whatever. INSTA-LOVIN'. Get it away from me.
2. So her best friend in the human world is called Jack and he has a classic case of NGS (Nice Guy Syndrome). NGS can be characterised by traits including but not limited to; being in love with the heroine, being passive-aggressively in love with the heroine and disapproving of every male who shows an interest in her but never actually makes a move.
3. On that note... all the boys want her because she is a Special Snowflake but when I say 'want' I don't just mean 'want to sex' I mean 'want to own'. The women are primarily viewed as possessions in this book.
4. The fairies wear jeans, and no shirt, and they're just visiting. This bothered me more than it should have maybe, but where did they get the jeans? Why couldn't they just wear their own clothes? It's not like they were trying to disguise themselves they have magical hiding from humans powers.
5. Every woman wants to be with the king, and the prince, because of a genetic dictation. I'm not kidding, I wish I was, but the way is written means that every fairy woman automatically wants to get with the fairy king because it is genetically wired into them.
6. The king is so great but he abuses his wife and threatens his son and holds a petty grudge for more than 18 years but he's super great just listen to his subjects they think he's a great thing it's not like they have a magical bond of allegiance to him that forces them to like him oh wait they do. Because he's apparently the only one who can protect them from the GREAT EVIL.
7. The heroine is insipid, self-pitying and infantile. But it's okay because she has a fairy prince boyfriend who came to her in a dream and doesn't wear a shirt most of the time and they make out a lot she's such a special snowflake did I mention that all of the boys want her?
8. The fairies have a god of some sort that they pray to? And they refuse to engage in sexual practises before marriage? But they're not identified with a specific faith system and their beliefs are never actually explained in any way? It's super confusing and very sloppy world building.
9. The heroine goes to church sometimes for no apparent reason. Is it to illustrate that she's pure and virtuous? She's constantly trying to jump her insta-boyfriends bones. But he wants to wait until marriage because he's such a great guy.
10. The fairy prince hides dangerous things that could potentially kill her from her while they are in fairyland but it's okay because they're betrothed (because his soul caused her soul to exist not because he asked or anything).
11. The fairies have access to Shakespeare and are well versed in that particular canon but have no other human literature because she has to explain beaches and surnames and colloquial language to them? Despite which their speech patterns are very 21st century. Sloppy world building, again.
12. The fairies are immortal and they don't age so they have grandparents all over the place and they're only allowed to be pregnant once or something but everyone is immortal anyway. Population issue anyone?
13. She has a friend who is a girl who is nice to people and according to her fairy boyfriend this friend might be part angel because they exist, they've never been mentioned until this point and they don't get mentioned in any other context. But she's probably part angel, it's 100% plausible, probably. She also has a sister who is her sister and likes boys. This is all we ever know about these female supporting characters, aside from their names.
14. Okay, so, here's a thing that I thought was promising until I realised that it was awful. She has all of these allergies connected to food and her skin and they're bad enough to put her in the hospital and it's because she's a fairy (so I was like, great! She's allergic to the human world! Nope.) but it's okay because she'll turn 18 and become immortal and she'll be allergic to nothing in the human world (she's not allergic to anything in the fairy world).
15. On that note, why is 18 when she becomes immortal? What is that connected to? Women reach sexual maturity and begin developing at age 12. It's the official age of legality according to Australian law but why does that dictate fairy maturity? This really bothers me.
Enraged!Elspeth Out.
1. The heroines entire existence is defined by her soul mate. Because in the fairy world when Special Snowflake Fairy Boys are born a part of their soul is torn away and flies around until it's born as a Special Snowflake Fairy Girl and they are soulmates who can communicate through dreams and whatever. INSTA-LOVIN'. Get it away from me.
2. So her best friend in the human world is called Jack and he has a classic case of NGS (Nice Guy Syndrome). NGS can be characterised by traits including but not limited to; being in love with the heroine, being passive-aggressively in love with the heroine and disapproving of every male who shows an interest in her but never actually makes a move.
3. On that note... all the boys want her because she is a Special Snowflake but when I say 'want' I don't just mean 'want to sex' I mean 'want to own'. The women are primarily viewed as possessions in this book.
4. The fairies wear jeans, and no shirt, and they're just visiting. This bothered me more than it should have maybe, but where did they get the jeans? Why couldn't they just wear their own clothes? It's not like they were trying to disguise themselves they have magical hiding from humans powers.
5. Every woman wants to be with the king, and the prince, because of a genetic dictation. I'm not kidding, I wish I was, but the way is written means that every fairy woman automatically wants to get with the fairy king because it is genetically wired into them.
6. The king is so great but he abuses his wife and threatens his son and holds a petty grudge for more than 18 years but he's super great just listen to his subjects they think he's a great thing it's not like they have a magical bond of allegiance to him that forces them to like him oh wait they do. Because he's apparently the only one who can protect them from the GREAT EVIL.
7. The heroine is insipid, self-pitying and infantile. But it's okay because she has a fairy prince boyfriend who came to her in a dream and doesn't wear a shirt most of the time and they make out a lot she's such a special snowflake did I mention that all of the boys want her?
8. The fairies have a god of some sort that they pray to? And they refuse to engage in sexual practises before marriage? But they're not identified with a specific faith system and their beliefs are never actually explained in any way? It's super confusing and very sloppy world building.
9. The heroine goes to church sometimes for no apparent reason. Is it to illustrate that she's pure and virtuous? She's constantly trying to jump her insta-boyfriends bones. But he wants to wait until marriage because he's such a great guy.
10. The fairy prince hides dangerous things that could potentially kill her from her while they are in fairyland but it's okay because they're betrothed (because his soul caused her soul to exist not because he asked or anything).
11. The fairies have access to Shakespeare and are well versed in that particular canon but have no other human literature because she has to explain beaches and surnames and colloquial language to them? Despite which their speech patterns are very 21st century. Sloppy world building, again.
12. The fairies are immortal and they don't age so they have grandparents all over the place and they're only allowed to be pregnant once or something but everyone is immortal anyway. Population issue anyone?
13. She has a friend who is a girl who is nice to people and according to her fairy boyfriend this friend might be part angel because they exist, they've never been mentioned until this point and they don't get mentioned in any other context. But she's probably part angel, it's 100% plausible, probably. She also has a sister who is her sister and likes boys. This is all we ever know about these female supporting characters, aside from their names.
14. Okay, so, here's a thing that I thought was promising until I realised that it was awful. She has all of these allergies connected to food and her skin and they're bad enough to put her in the hospital and it's because she's a fairy (so I was like, great! She's allergic to the human world! Nope.) but it's okay because she'll turn 18 and become immortal and she'll be allergic to nothing in the human world (she's not allergic to anything in the fairy world).
15. On that note, why is 18 when she becomes immortal? What is that connected to? Women reach sexual maturity and begin developing at age 12. It's the official age of legality according to Australian law but why does that dictate fairy maturity? This really bothers me.
Enraged!Elspeth Out.
June 26, 2013
'Betrothed' is a gorgeous debut novel by Wanda Wiltshire. It’s a YA fantasy that has all of the toppings I love with none of the usual YA pitfalls.
'Betrothed' plunges readers into the world of Amy Smith, a girl haunted by strange dreams and searching for her true identity. Wiltshire has a real talent for capturing emotion. The whole time I was reading I felt like I WAS Amy and when I finally put the book down (once I’d finished the entire thing and not a minute before) I was WISHING I was Amy and telepathically screaming at the author to HURRY UP AND FINISH THE NEXT BOOK!
I adored the characters and the fact that the story is firmly rooted in reality. Nothing seemed unbelievable – in fact as we speak I’m packing my bags - so I can move to Faera. I was also amazed at the beauty of the writing, filled with enchanting imagery - as delicious as Leif himself - but which, definitely did not get in the way of the story. The story! Oh my! It’s really unpredictable, with so many twists and turns, I couldn’t tear myself away, my eyes super glued to the pages.
The thing I love about this book is that while romance is a huge part of it (because let’s face it, what seventeen year old isn’t looking for love?) it's really a story about finding oneself, a story of friendship and belonging.
Saying that, I’m not sure who I’ll be dreaming of tonight – Jack? Leif? Or both…. Now there’s a thought.
'Betrothed' plunges readers into the world of Amy Smith, a girl haunted by strange dreams and searching for her true identity. Wiltshire has a real talent for capturing emotion. The whole time I was reading I felt like I WAS Amy and when I finally put the book down (once I’d finished the entire thing and not a minute before) I was WISHING I was Amy and telepathically screaming at the author to HURRY UP AND FINISH THE NEXT BOOK!
I adored the characters and the fact that the story is firmly rooted in reality. Nothing seemed unbelievable – in fact as we speak I’m packing my bags - so I can move to Faera. I was also amazed at the beauty of the writing, filled with enchanting imagery - as delicious as Leif himself - but which, definitely did not get in the way of the story. The story! Oh my! It’s really unpredictable, with so many twists and turns, I couldn’t tear myself away, my eyes super glued to the pages.
The thing I love about this book is that while romance is a huge part of it (because let’s face it, what seventeen year old isn’t looking for love?) it's really a story about finding oneself, a story of friendship and belonging.
Saying that, I’m not sure who I’ll be dreaming of tonight – Jack? Leif? Or both…. Now there’s a thought.
Read
January 27, 2018I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
DNFing at 35%
I was a bit hesitant going into this read. I saw that it has been compared to the Twilight series with touches of Harry Potter. While I didn't come across anything similar to Harry Potter, there were definite resemblances to Twilight with the whole "everyone loves the main character" thing. If anything, this book is more similar to A Court of Thorns and Roses in the essence of the purpose and character functionality.
Unfortunately, there wasn't really anything that pulled me into this plot. I disliked the main character Amy/Marla from the get-go. She constantly tries to feigned popularity and beauty, when she knows she has both. Not only that, but her subtle-no-so-subtle attraction to her best friend Jack is obvious to the reader, (and to Jack) and comes as no surprise that she beings to consider a romantic relationship with him.
In 35% of this book, Amy already had some sort of romantic attachment to three different guys. This isn't over a long span of time either. So, what is the message being portrayed here? It's okay to go from one guy to the next when a more attractive one comes along? Trying people on for size just to see if it'd work towards your benefit doesn't count as being shallow? I think it does.
Amy begins to have dreams about a man named Leif, who naturally, turns out to be a prince to the Fae. In her dreams, Leif calls her "Marla" which she finds out later on is her real name. Leif tells Marla that they are betrothed, and destined to be married since before they were born.
This is where the similarities to A Court of Thorns and Roses come in.
#1 All of the prominent (or, basically all) characters are drop-dead gorgeous.
#2 Leif, next in line to the throne, is the most attractive man in the world, just like Tamlin, and Rhysand both were portrayed. Also, he's always shirtless. (You know--it impedes the wings.)
In other words...
Why, oh why, must each and every character in a position of power be the most attractive person ever? Or should I dare ask the real question here--why are these characters formulated as objects of lust rather than actual characters with feelings and normal character-y things?
#3 Another similarity is the emphasis on "possession" of the female in a relationship. Leif reveals the history of Marla's parents, and how his father--the king--desired her mother for himself. When he discovered that she chose someone else over him, he loses his marbles.
Leif also showcases the same idea when Marla admits that she thinks he is a figment of her imagination. His possessiveness over her drives him to find her in the human world to prove that he is not fake and makes it clear that she is his, and his alone.
While I know this element seems to ensnare a lot of female YA readers, I just don't see how this is a healthy example of a relationship? Possession of a human shouldn't exist. Possession can literally be translated into domination. I don't agree with this formatting for a relationship as it doesn't call for mutual love and/or respect between both parties.
Overall, I don't see this book sending a great message to its readers. Instead of having much depth, it felt like I stepped into an episode of The Bachelor Pad. If you are a fan of the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, this may be more up your alley, but beware: from what I've seen so far, there isn't much to take away from it.
Vulgarity: Minimal. 9 words up until the point of where I stopped.
Sexual Content: Some. There were not any explicit scenes as of yet.
Violence: Minimal.
I am not assigning a star-rating as this is a DNF read.
DNFing at 35%
I was a bit hesitant going into this read. I saw that it has been compared to the Twilight series with touches of Harry Potter. While I didn't come across anything similar to Harry Potter, there were definite resemblances to Twilight with the whole "everyone loves the main character" thing. If anything, this book is more similar to A Court of Thorns and Roses in the essence of the purpose and character functionality.
Unfortunately, there wasn't really anything that pulled me into this plot. I disliked the main character Amy/Marla from the get-go. She constantly tries to feigned popularity and beauty, when she knows she has both. Not only that, but her subtle-no-so-subtle attraction to her best friend Jack is obvious to the reader, (and to Jack) and comes as no surprise that she beings to consider a romantic relationship with him.
Jack pulled me against him and gave me a hug. It felt nice to be all wrapped up in his arms.
In 35% of this book, Amy already had some sort of romantic attachment to three different guys. This isn't over a long span of time either. So, what is the message being portrayed here? It's okay to go from one guy to the next when a more attractive one comes along? Trying people on for size just to see if it'd work towards your benefit doesn't count as being shallow? I think it does.
Amy begins to have dreams about a man named Leif, who naturally, turns out to be a prince to the Fae. In her dreams, Leif calls her "Marla" which she finds out later on is her real name. Leif tells Marla that they are betrothed, and destined to be married since before they were born.
This is where the similarities to A Court of Thorns and Roses come in.
#1 All of the prominent (or, basically all) characters are drop-dead gorgeous.
#2 Leif, next in line to the throne, is the most attractive man in the world, just like Tamlin, and Rhysand both were portrayed. Also, he's always shirtless. (You know--it impedes the wings.)
"There is only one thing that can distract a female from her betrothed--make her question her commitment to him. Two things actually, one is the prince and the other is a king--particularly her own king. There is not a fae woman born, partnered or single, who, when in his presence, can resist the desires of her king."
In other words...
Why, oh why, must each and every character in a position of power be the most attractive person ever? Or should I dare ask the real question here--why are these characters formulated as objects of lust rather than actual characters with feelings and normal character-y things?
#3 Another similarity is the emphasis on "possession" of the female in a relationship. Leif reveals the history of Marla's parents, and how his father--the king--desired her mother for himself. When he discovered that she chose someone else over him, he loses his marbles.
"Your mother was no longer pure in my father's eyes so when she offered to relinquish her husband and return to him, he refused her. And as punishment for choosing your father, he decided that if he couldn't have Finelle, then Finelle couldn't have her child.
Leif also showcases the same idea when Marla admits that she thinks he is a figment of her imagination. His possessiveness over her drives him to find her in the human world to prove that he is not fake and makes it clear that she is his, and his alone.
While I know this element seems to ensnare a lot of female YA readers, I just don't see how this is a healthy example of a relationship? Possession of a human shouldn't exist. Possession can literally be translated into domination. I don't agree with this formatting for a relationship as it doesn't call for mutual love and/or respect between both parties.
Overall, I don't see this book sending a great message to its readers. Instead of having much depth, it felt like I stepped into an episode of The Bachelor Pad. If you are a fan of the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, this may be more up your alley, but beware: from what I've seen so far, there isn't much to take away from it.
Vulgarity: Minimal. 9 words up until the point of where I stopped.
Sexual Content: Some. There were not any explicit scenes as of yet.
Violence: Minimal.
I am not assigning a star-rating as this is a DNF read.
July 15, 2013
Betrothed gives a fresh and exciting new view on the fae. The characters are all we refined and written with precise but easy understanding. I enjoyed this book so much five stars for sure. The realism mixed with the excitement of faires just really got me. Wanda's writing allowed me to feel almost everything Marla was feeling. Her imagery was unbelievable! It was just a really fantastic read, usually i don't approve of such drastic and emotional cliff hangers but this. This made me want to join the party. It's not over yet and I so cannot wait for the next book. Wanda I applaud you at all costs and measures. I love Betrothed and some part of me hopes that somewhere out there in this cruel world we call Earth someone is searching for me as I am searching for them.
(Preferably someone like Jack)
(Preferably someone like Jack)
March 26, 2014
DNF @ page 150.
- - - -
This review also appears on Thoughts By J! Check it out for more reviews.
I don't often DNF books because I believe there's always an off chance that the story will pick up in the middle. If I do DNF a book, I will always read at least 5-10 chapters to get a real gauge of the story - otherwise how else can I write a balanced and honest review? Unfortunately, Betrothed is my first DNF of the year, as I just couldn't get into the story at all. It actually started off so well in its epilogue, which was full of intrigue and mystery. At that point, I was pretty happy and couldn't wait to read more. But that was where the fun stopped for me.
Betrothed follows a girl named Amy, who dreams about a faery prince named Leif that she shares a love-connection with. Amy seems to be allergic to everything except the sun, and as an adopted child, she decides to seek out the truth about her birth parents. She soon finds out her birth name is Marla, and the story quickly falls into a romance-driven plot with Amy/Marla continuously pining over Leif.
I was only 14 pages in when it hit me that this book was turning out to be something completely different to what I was expecting. At the 14 page mark, my eye was already twitching because the author was setting the story up to have a love-triangle. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my fair share of love-triangles - but at page 14, it was a little too much, too quick.
At that stage, I was becoming weary of the book, being a lot more cautious in what was about to occur. And I had a bad feeling I knew where the plot was going...into romance territory. Once again, I love my fair share of romance, but not when it's insta (especially when it's because there's some imaginary 'born-for-each-other' reason), and not when it becomes the only plot of the book. I did manage to read a good 44% of the book, and all that had happened in those 150 pages was Amy/Marla being set up and falling in love with her dream-turned-reality faery prince. All she could think about was Leif this, and Leif that. Finding her real parents was only touched upon a little bit, and after Leif turns up in her world, nothing else really mattered besides how perfect he seems to be.
Leif is a complete Gary-Stu. He is described as perfect in every way, and becomes angry easily when he finds Amy/Marla kissing her boyfriend at the time. Can you blame a girl for kissing someone else when she thinks you're a figment of her imagination? Jeez. He falls quite flat as a character because he's just too flawless to be real.
Amy/Marla started off as a very intriguing character, with her allergies and feisty personality. Unfortunately, when she started slut-shaming a girl at school, I lost all respect for her.
"You'd better make that clear at the assembly tomorrow, or we'll have all the skanks turning up in leather minis and fluffy handcuffs."
"Amy, you shouldn't refer to girls as skanks," Hilary said, her brow creased with disapproval.
"Well, what would you call Simone and Brittany?"
"Um, girls, like us."
"Ew, don't put me in the same category as that pair." (Betrothed, p. 90)
Since when did dressing a certain way make you a skank? I was certainly not impressed by how Amy/Marla behaved here at all.
The thing I enjoyed the most was her relationship with her two friends, Hilary and Jack. However, I can't exactly pinpoint a certain scene I really liked because they don't really share all that many memorable scenes together. The only character that seemed realistic was Jack, who rounds out the love-triangle. (At the point I stopped in the book, he seemed to be happy to let her go, so not sure if the triangle remains...)
Plot wise...I don't think there was one. I kept waiting for this 'terrifying threat' that was supposedly meant to happen from the blurb, but all we get is Leif and Amy/Marla's romance. And how the people in her life reacts when they're introduced to a faery.
I shivered as his heat came into me and a little sigh escaped my lips. He laughed at my weakness for him and I couldn't have cared less. (Betrothed, p. 151)
That was the final sentence I read before deciding I had to put this down. Seriously, he laughed at your weakness for him?! Wow...so romantic. And you couldn't have cared less? Amy/Marla, do you have any self decency?
Overall, I just couldn't bring myself to finish this book. I'm a supporter of Aussie authors, and I tried to read as much as I could, but in the end there were too many points that turned this book from an exciting read to a DNF. I really enjoyed that it was set in Sydney suburbs that I know very well, but there was close to no world-building at all.
This was not the book for me, but I'd definitely like to hear other thoughts on it.
Thank you to Pantera Press Australia for sending a copy in exchange for an honest review.
- - - -
This review also appears on Thoughts By J! Check it out for more reviews.
May 26, 2013
I was totally sucked in by Betrothed. It had all the things I love in a story - wonderful characters, fantasy, magic, romance, enchantment, faeries... all whilst being rooted in reality. Which really placed me as the reader inside the world even more. If that makes sense. I couldn't help but be completely enchanted by Faera (the fae world), yet Marla's life on earth was almost as enjoyable to read. Amy (Marla) was an awesome protagonist. I love her relationship with Jack, but then in comes Leif and blows him right out of the water. Leif. LEIF! Marla is one lucky girl.
*possible spoiler warning*
Also the ending? I did not see it coming. I can't believe it ended like that! I knew this would be a series but still I had hope for a happy(ish) ending. If I don't get my hands on the next book soon I WILL DIE.
This was a spectacular debut novel by Wanda Wiltshire and I was really impressed. Like, really impressed! :D
A proper blog post will be up on http://chimneysandmagic.blogspot.com soon. (hopefully) (I have 4 research essays and 2 exams coming up really soon but I'll probably write it up anyway as a form of procrastination)
P.S. The book cover is gorgeous! Whoever did it deserves all the glory. And I also love the spine too. The colours! The fading! Ugh, I just love it.
*possible spoiler warning*
Also the ending? I did not see it coming. I can't believe it ended like that! I knew this would be a series but still I had hope for a happy(ish) ending. If I don't get my hands on the next book soon I WILL DIE.
This was a spectacular debut novel by Wanda Wiltshire and I was really impressed. Like, really impressed! :D
A proper blog post will be up on http://chimneysandmagic.blogspot.com soon. (hopefully) (I have 4 research essays and 2 exams coming up really soon but I'll probably write it up anyway as a form of procrastination)
P.S. The book cover is gorgeous! Whoever did it deserves all the glory. And I also love the spine too. The colours! The fading! Ugh, I just love it.
November 24, 2015
A beautiful read that speaks to the soul and begs you to read the next instalment
June 30, 2013
*From Publisher for Review*
Betrothed is the debut novel from Australian author Wanda Wiltshire and is the first in an 'enchanting faery series'.
I had the pleasure of meeting Wanda Wiltshire at a Pantera Press Book Launch event in April this year and was immediately impressed by her love of books and writing.
Betrothed is about 17 year old Amy Smith, a sufferer of chronic allergies who's been having weird dreams about the name 'Marla'. Amy finds out that she's been connecting telepathically with the drop dead gorgeous Leif, a Prince from another land with so much to tell her.
Amy asks her friends to call her Marla and her best friend Jack supports her but her feelings for Leif make it hard for Jack and Marla, who seem to mean more to each other than just best friends.
Betrothed is the perfect fantasy romance for young readers and is a very quick and enjoyable read. There are questions about identity, and I thoroughly enjoyed the construction of the Fae world and its inhabitants; my favourite parts of the novel.
I also found it refreshing that Marla told her sister and parents what was happening with Lief straight away. It's so cliche when the main character can't share their news for some reason, or it has to remain a "secret". I was so glad that everyone could see Lief and Wiltshire did not fall into the same narrative traps that plague many other authors in the YA genre.
While romance isn't really my cup of tea, I have to remember the audience Betrothed is written for and I'm confident it'll be popular amongst YA readers. Well written and without a single error - extremely rare in this day and age - the cover of Betrothed is a delight and the storyline is well positioned for the next in the series.
Betrothed is the debut novel from Australian author Wanda Wiltshire and is the first in an 'enchanting faery series'.
I had the pleasure of meeting Wanda Wiltshire at a Pantera Press Book Launch event in April this year and was immediately impressed by her love of books and writing.
Betrothed is about 17 year old Amy Smith, a sufferer of chronic allergies who's been having weird dreams about the name 'Marla'. Amy finds out that she's been connecting telepathically with the drop dead gorgeous Leif, a Prince from another land with so much to tell her.
Amy asks her friends to call her Marla and her best friend Jack supports her but her feelings for Leif make it hard for Jack and Marla, who seem to mean more to each other than just best friends.
Betrothed is the perfect fantasy romance for young readers and is a very quick and enjoyable read. There are questions about identity, and I thoroughly enjoyed the construction of the Fae world and its inhabitants; my favourite parts of the novel.
I also found it refreshing that Marla told her sister and parents what was happening with Lief straight away. It's so cliche when the main character can't share their news for some reason, or it has to remain a "secret". I was so glad that everyone could see Lief and Wiltshire did not fall into the same narrative traps that plague many other authors in the YA genre.
While romance isn't really my cup of tea, I have to remember the audience Betrothed is written for and I'm confident it'll be popular amongst YA readers. Well written and without a single error - extremely rare in this day and age - the cover of Betrothed is a delight and the storyline is well positioned for the next in the series.
August 15, 2013
I found this book in Big W recently and it grabbed my attention immediately, could have been because it was shiny and the light glinted off the cover and got me in the eye but still it got my attention.
I liked this book but 3/4 of the way through I wondered how on earth Wanda was going to resolve all of the issues by the end but then I googled and found out it is the first book in a series. Thank god! because if it had have ended the way it did and it was a stand alone i would have cried. Thankfully its only book one and I now know why most of the book was getting us into the relationship and introducing us to faera. So once I found out that out I went from just liking it to REALLY liking it lol
Amy thinks she is a regular 17 year old girl except that she is allergic to almost everything, but thats ok because she is used to it. She has 2 best friends, mum, dad and sister that she loves. A popular boy likes her. Amy has been dreaming of a guy calling for a girl named Marla and unknown to Amy she is Marla.
Amy/Marla was adopted as an infant and with the advice from this dream stranger Leif whom she is drawn to she tracks down information about her birth parents. She finds out some crazy things what i loved was that she didn't believe any of it was real at first. In some books the hero/heroine just blindly believes in mystical creatures. Amy/Marla believes it to be just a dream until it is proven.
Highly recommend
I liked this book but 3/4 of the way through I wondered how on earth Wanda was going to resolve all of the issues by the end but then I googled and found out it is the first book in a series. Thank god! because if it had have ended the way it did and it was a stand alone i would have cried. Thankfully its only book one and I now know why most of the book was getting us into the relationship and introducing us to faera. So once I found out that out I went from just liking it to REALLY liking it lol
Amy thinks she is a regular 17 year old girl except that she is allergic to almost everything, but thats ok because she is used to it. She has 2 best friends, mum, dad and sister that she loves. A popular boy likes her. Amy has been dreaming of a guy calling for a girl named Marla and unknown to Amy she is Marla.
Amy/Marla was adopted as an infant and with the advice from this dream stranger Leif whom she is drawn to she tracks down information about her birth parents. She finds out some crazy things what i loved was that she didn't believe any of it was real at first. In some books the hero/heroine just blindly believes in mystical creatures. Amy/Marla believes it to be just a dream until it is proven.
Highly recommend
June 18, 2020
REREAD: 15/6/20 -18/6/20
Loved this just as much as the first read 😊
FIRST READ 1/9/13:
I saw this book advertised in a magazine and it caught my eye and I thought-that looks like a good book-so I bought it. When I started reading it I was automatically sucked in and could not put the book down! I loved this book so much I couldn't have read a better story than Marla and Leif's. I cannot wait for the next book! If anyone is hesitating to read this, don't, just read it because you won't regret it.
Loved this just as much as the first read 😊
FIRST READ 1/9/13:
I saw this book advertised in a magazine and it caught my eye and I thought-that looks like a good book-so I bought it. When I started reading it I was automatically sucked in and could not put the book down! I loved this book so much I couldn't have read a better story than Marla and Leif's. I cannot wait for the next book! If anyone is hesitating to read this, don't, just read it because you won't regret it.
September 6, 2013
So I originally only got this book as my friends mum is the author, so I thought I'd check out her novel, and see what it was.
I loved the novel from the first chapter, the characters pulled me in, and I wanted to find out who, and what everything meant. The plot, was amazing, and I found myself captivated by Wanda's amazing imagery and loved how I was able to see everything, and feel as if I was Amy/Marla.
This was a fantastic read and I can hardly believe this is her debut novel.
I loved the novel from the first chapter, the characters pulled me in, and I wanted to find out who, and what everything meant. The plot, was amazing, and I found myself captivated by Wanda's amazing imagery and loved how I was able to see everything, and feel as if I was Amy/Marla.
This was a fantastic read and I can hardly believe this is her debut novel.
May 6, 2014
OMG! I absolutely really, really loved 'Betrothed.' This author is great considering this is her first book. Her ideas ate just amazing I need to know everything that will happen. I need the rest of the books. Now.
As this book says, it is about a forbidden love between Leif and Marla. At first I didn't really like their romance because it was just full-on love in just the snap of her fingers. It took a while for me to get accustomed to it as I didn't really think it was true love. At times in the book I didn't believe it at all but after that ending (*sob*) I can't help but believe it.
Marla/Amy also has a best friend, Jack. She and Jack have always been attracted to each other, (Jack especially) but neither have acted on it so when Leif comes into the picture, Jack loses all hope. I know people are for Leif because him and Marla are meant to be but from the very start I was for Jack. I fell for him since he first appeared. I just couldn't help but really, really like him. I wish he was real. *sigh*
(Man, this author makes male characters irresistible!)
It was so hard to leave this book since it is the kind of book that hooks you from the very start. Sadly, I had to force myself to let go of this book because I have been so exhausted from staying up to read other books. And let me tell you, it was hard. This book glues you to it.
I love this author for making this boom so much. I love this book a lot and I cannot wait for 'Allegiance' to come out. HURRY UP 2014!!!
As this book says, it is about a forbidden love between Leif and Marla. At first I didn't really like their romance because it was just full-on love in just the snap of her fingers. It took a while for me to get accustomed to it as I didn't really think it was true love. At times in the book I didn't believe it at all but after that ending (*sob*) I can't help but believe it.
Marla/Amy also has a best friend, Jack. She and Jack have always been attracted to each other, (Jack especially) but neither have acted on it so when Leif comes into the picture, Jack loses all hope. I know people are for Leif because him and Marla are meant to be but from the very start I was for Jack. I fell for him since he first appeared. I just couldn't help but really, really like him. I wish he was real. *sigh*
(Man, this author makes male characters irresistible!)
It was so hard to leave this book since it is the kind of book that hooks you from the very start. Sadly, I had to force myself to let go of this book because I have been so exhausted from staying up to read other books. And let me tell you, it was hard. This book glues you to it.
I love this author for making this boom so much. I love this book a lot and I cannot wait for 'Allegiance' to come out. HURRY UP 2014!!!
July 2, 2013
Betrothed is Wanda Wiltshire's debut novel, and honestly I thought there would be room for improvement like many new authors. I couldn't have been more wrong. Wanda has a way of putting the words on the page so elegantly like a seasoned professional.
I was hooked from the first page. I couldn't put it down.
Betrothed has everything I look for in a book. Realistic characters you can relate to, romance, fantasy and a bit of reality.
I was taken on a journey to Faera and back again. I can't wait for her second book.
I would recommend this book, to females 11+ but anyone can read it and enjoy.
Well done Wanda.
Happy reading all :)
I was hooked from the first page. I couldn't put it down.
Betrothed has everything I look for in a book. Realistic characters you can relate to, romance, fantasy and a bit of reality.
I was taken on a journey to Faera and back again. I can't wait for her second book.
I would recommend this book, to females 11+ but anyone can read it and enjoy.
Well done Wanda.
Happy reading all :)
October 11, 2013
Ohmygod!! This is one of the best books ever! I loved all of the characters; I loved Wanda Wiltshire's writing and I just loved the whole book!! :)
But why did the end have to be so sad?? I NEED ALLEGIANCE NOWWW
But why did the end have to be so sad?? I NEED ALLEGIANCE NOWWW
November 22, 2015
you can check out my full review on my YouTube channel 'books kay' from the 24th of November
February 22, 2018
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
I found this to be a overly long teen fantasy.
The characters lacked depth and the story dragged on and on.
I did finish it but would have to think long and hard before reading the second in the series.
I found this to be a overly long teen fantasy.
The characters lacked depth and the story dragged on and on.
I did finish it but would have to think long and hard before reading the second in the series.
July 29, 2016
100 reviews and a 4.11 rating? This book looked promising. There's a gorgeous, reflective and eye catching cover. The summary on the back tells of a girl meeting the boy of her dreams, in well, a dream. Yep, beloved Lief appears to Amy only when she is fully relaxed, appearing shirtless and crooning love messages. Then, shocker, Lief shows up on Earth, announces he's a Fae prince, scoops up the newly renamed Marla, and the fun begins! Actually, that's a lie, there is very little fun, as Amy/Marla gets naked and tempts the dashing prince into *gasp* sex before marriage! But Lief controls his raging Fae hormones, so kissing and back touching is about as fun as it gets
There are so many of the stereotypical YA 'twists' here. Best friend in love with heroine? Check. Said friend despite being drop dead gorgeous stands zero chance due to extreme lack of paranormal attributes? Check. Instalove (due to bonding and insta betrothal) check. Lack of parental inflence? Check (missing birth parents, human parents bewitched into accepting things they object to originally) super fantastic gorgeous angelic best girl friend just there to show the main character has relationships that don't revolve around sexy boys? Check! I can go on and on, but you get the idea. A book can have all these things and I just go with the flow, but add the melodramatic heroine who weeps away from her beloved and spends her entire time smooching said boy instead of getting to know the bloke you've got no choice but to spend the rest of your immortal life with? Yeah, nah, just can't relate to that.
I guess I'm just a bit over the whole super special main character, who has always known she's different and then has the super shock of finding out that they are actually an *insert paranormal creature here*. I'm over endless kissing scenes and descriptions of boys, not men, but boys, with super sexy six packs and buttery brown eyes. Even with these things I want depth and bonding and a better reason than fairytale meant to be for the romance. I want a little reality to balance out my fantasy, is that so much to ask?
Sigh. So going against the tide here and giving it two stars. I generally reserve one star for books I can't finish, or that leave me with a gunked up mind and a blazing headache. Since I can just put this book down and mourn the $15 I paid for it, two stars it is. Give it a go and decide for yourself!
There are so many of the stereotypical YA 'twists' here. Best friend in love with heroine? Check. Said friend despite being drop dead gorgeous stands zero chance due to extreme lack of paranormal attributes? Check. Instalove (due to bonding and insta betrothal) check. Lack of parental inflence? Check (missing birth parents, human parents bewitched into accepting things they object to originally) super fantastic gorgeous angelic best girl friend just there to show the main character has relationships that don't revolve around sexy boys? Check! I can go on and on, but you get the idea. A book can have all these things and I just go with the flow, but add the melodramatic heroine who weeps away from her beloved and spends her entire time smooching said boy instead of getting to know the bloke you've got no choice but to spend the rest of your immortal life with? Yeah, nah, just can't relate to that.
I guess I'm just a bit over the whole super special main character, who has always known she's different and then has the super shock of finding out that they are actually an *insert paranormal creature here*. I'm over endless kissing scenes and descriptions of boys, not men, but boys, with super sexy six packs and buttery brown eyes. Even with these things I want depth and bonding and a better reason than fairytale meant to be for the romance. I want a little reality to balance out my fantasy, is that so much to ask?
Sigh. So going against the tide here and giving it two stars. I generally reserve one star for books I can't finish, or that leave me with a gunked up mind and a blazing headache. Since I can just put this book down and mourn the $15 I paid for it, two stars it is. Give it a go and decide for yourself!
September 1, 2015
For Amy things have never been normal, for starters she is extremely allergic to almost everyt.hing, besides the fact that she could never get sunburned and she had slightly pointed years but she never would have guessed what she really was.
When she starts having dreams of a half-dressed boy who claims she is his "Marla", Amy couldn't guess the strange road that lies ahead of her...
This story starts out with a bit of a confuse premise: a girl dreams about a boy. Is it real or is it imagination?
In an inspiring tale you get to know Amy, her family and her friends as well as her daily struggles that don't seem to fit with usual teenager problems. Amy is special and she knows it, she just doesn't know why!
I loved all the characthers in this book and I think they all served the purpose the had in the story and the world building was indeed amazing, combining several aspects of fairy tales and the modern world with an impressive imagination.
This book is inovative and full of "book magic" an amazing work of art that will be appreciated by all book lovers, especially the ones that love powerful and magical love stories, while also having family and friendship elements that make this book extra special and extra beautiful!
If you love any of the aspects I've mentioned you have to read this book and if you feel like reading something new and special you should give this book a try.
On my blog:
http://addictedbookslover.blogspot.pt...
When she starts having dreams of a half-dressed boy who claims she is his "Marla", Amy couldn't guess the strange road that lies ahead of her...
This story starts out with a bit of a confuse premise: a girl dreams about a boy. Is it real or is it imagination?
In an inspiring tale you get to know Amy, her family and her friends as well as her daily struggles that don't seem to fit with usual teenager problems. Amy is special and she knows it, she just doesn't know why!
I loved all the characthers in this book and I think they all served the purpose the had in the story and the world building was indeed amazing, combining several aspects of fairy tales and the modern world with an impressive imagination.
This book is inovative and full of "book magic" an amazing work of art that will be appreciated by all book lovers, especially the ones that love powerful and magical love stories, while also having family and friendship elements that make this book extra special and extra beautiful!
If you love any of the aspects I've mentioned you have to read this book and if you feel like reading something new and special you should give this book a try.
On my blog:
http://addictedbookslover.blogspot.pt...
July 12, 2013
The book cover is gorgeous! Whoever did it deserves all the glory.
Betrothed is Wanda Wiltshire's debut novel, and honestly I thought there would be room for improvement like many new authors. I couldn't have been more wrong. Wanda has a way of putting the words on the page so elegantly like a seasoned professional.
I was totally sucked in by Betrothed. It had all the things I love in a story - wonderful characters, fantasy, magic, romance, enchantment, faeries... all whilst being rooted in reality
I love her relationship with Jack, but then in comes Leif and blows him right out of the water. Leif. LEIF! Amy/Marla is one lucky girl.
The thing I love about this book is that while romance is a huge part of it (because let's face it, what seventeen year old isn't looking for love?) it's really a story about finding oneself, a story of friendship and belonging.
'Betrothed' plunges readers into the world of Amy Smith, a girl haunted by strange dreams and searching for her true identity. Wiltshire has a real talent for capturing emotion. The whole time I was reading I felt like I WAS Amy and when I finally put the book down (once I'd finished the entire thing and not a minute before) I was WISHING I was Amy and telepathically screaming at the author to HURRY UP AND FINISH THE NEXT BOOK!
Congratulations Wanda...
Betrothed is Wanda Wiltshire's debut novel, and honestly I thought there would be room for improvement like many new authors. I couldn't have been more wrong. Wanda has a way of putting the words on the page so elegantly like a seasoned professional.
I was totally sucked in by Betrothed. It had all the things I love in a story - wonderful characters, fantasy, magic, romance, enchantment, faeries... all whilst being rooted in reality
I love her relationship with Jack, but then in comes Leif and blows him right out of the water. Leif. LEIF! Amy/Marla is one lucky girl.
The thing I love about this book is that while romance is a huge part of it (because let's face it, what seventeen year old isn't looking for love?) it's really a story about finding oneself, a story of friendship and belonging.
'Betrothed' plunges readers into the world of Amy Smith, a girl haunted by strange dreams and searching for her true identity. Wiltshire has a real talent for capturing emotion. The whole time I was reading I felt like I WAS Amy and when I finally put the book down (once I'd finished the entire thing and not a minute before) I was WISHING I was Amy and telepathically screaming at the author to HURRY UP AND FINISH THE NEXT BOOK!
Congratulations Wanda...
December 24, 2013
I really enjoyed this! Cleverly crafted storyline, characters I loved or loathed, beautifully written romance and enough action/drama to keep the story flowing nicely. I like the idea that Marla and Lief chose each other before birth, that they hold a piece of each other's self. I adore Jack and hope he continues to play a role in the story as it continues. I loath Lief's father, as the author intended, and I truly hope the daring fae prince finds a way to outsmart him. A sweet and entertaining read, I am eagerly anticipating the release of the next in the series.
June 28, 2015
I have been meaning to blog my review for awhile now.. But wow.. what a great start to what I predict will be an awesome series - it's an interesting story about a girl who is allergic to everything then telepathically discovers she doesn't belong in this world, she's in fact destined for bigger and greater things.. like spending her life in the land of Faera with her Betrothed who somehow reminds me of a footy player with wings.. Great story.. frustrating ending that makes me want to indulge in book II sooner rather than later..
August 28, 2014
Initially, I only picked this book up because of the shiny cover (Yeah I'm a sucker for shiny and sparkly stuff, sue me)but I eventually found the book to be really interesting. Although the start was a bit too slow for my liking, once the book picked up the pace I couldn't put it down. The ending though!!!!! I hate endings like this and to make matter worse, the next book isn't released untill freakin' NEXT YEAR! Ending aside, this book was a great read.
April 7, 2014
I looked at the cover of this book an was immediately interested in reading it as I read more in to the book I was moved to the world of Faera I love this book an amazing debut from wanda Wiltshire I can read this countless times and still be dazzled! It's compelling it just draws you in and I love love love it I highly recommend this to everyone!!
July 21, 2013
amaz-balls OMG i couldnt put the book down i was like WHAT????!!!! at the end like seriously !!! you had to end it there and then i found out the next one doesnt come out till 2014!! like what ! i have to wait that long to find out what happends next
December 6, 2013
I loved it, just what I needed I couldn't out it down I read it in a day which I was really proud of but now I'm sad because I have to wait till the next one comes out next year. Please hurry up and finish it please
September 18, 2014
This is the author's first book! I really enjoyed it. Was convinced to read it after being conned into taking my 15 year old sister to the launch of the second in the series. Definitely worth the read and the schlep to Kings Cross!
September 26, 2013
The story is marvelous but the ending is heart breaking.
July 5, 2017
DNF at 34%
I really liked the writing style for this. The premise was super interesting. I thought it was going to go somewhere and I wanted to wait until halfway but I just found myself not wanting to pick this up and wanting to read something else instead. I didn't want to waste anymore time on something I just wasn't infested in. I might go back to it every now and again and try to make progress but, for now, it's going to be marked as a DNF. I'm not going to bother writing a review for this on my blog just yet because I didn't even read half so, instead, I'll list all the problems I had with this book here.
1. Jack, the love interest, has Nice Guy Syndrome. He clearly likes Amy/Marla, but makes no move and gets visibly stroppy and controlling when he doesn't get his way and when Amy/Marla shows interest in other men. Amy/Marla will pander to this instead of telling him that she is a person and not an object, she is not owned by him and has free will, and will "make it up" to him whenever he strops. This was said by him "I don't like you being with him. I won't pretend I do. I don't trust him and...you're going to think this is weird, but I feel...protective of you"
2. Going off of that point, women in this novel are viewed as objects. Throughout every chapter that I had read, there was a very strong vibe of "women are beneath men" without anyone ever needing to say it or draw attention to it. Women were also not written well in this book. It was so bad that I could have easily been convinced a man had written it. Especially with the constant sexual undertones
3. Amy/Marla says at one point that she didn't have a shortage of men wanting her because she knew she was a beautiful blond young girl. Yet, she decides to date Jason who is very clearly a horrible person and shows no nice side because he's "the best I can get". I thought she had plenty of people wanting her? She also has not one, but TWO, other love interests that she doesn't ignore but she never dedicates herself to one of them. She's constantly cheating on them with another love interest. This would be fine if this was Poly, but all of the love interests have made it clear that they don't want to share her
4. The way Amy/Marla talks about other women is DISGUSTING. She goes to a party at one point and these girls are mean, yes, but instead of talking about how they are clearly not very nice people she says they were wearing the "skankiest fairy outfits". Earlier on in the book, she also comments on another woman's perfectly justified upset by saying "That's all I need, another jealous girl hating on me". Firstly, the world doesn't revolve around her and secondly, this girl had a PERFECTLY VALID REASON to be upset and she was acting like she didn't? She was also going to break up with Jason, because has we have established he is not a nice guy, and a friend of hers asks if she can date him when they break up. Marla replies with "Don't be so desperate". It's not like you're practically dating three guys at the same time or anything and none of them are ok with that. Amy/Marla has made it obvious up until this point that she is incapable of spending a second without feeling loved or admired.
She also said this lovely line "You'd better make that clear at assembly tomorrow, or we'll have all the skanks turning up in leather minis and fluffy handcuffs". Her friend corrected this and said she shouldn't refer to her friends as skanks, in which case Amy's response is "Well, what would you call Simone and Brittnay?". Amy's friend should have clearly been the main character because she is a much better person, and responds with "Um, girls like us". Amy, with her "I'm superior than other girls and superior in general" complex, says this awful line - "Ew, don't put me in the same category as that pair". SHE IS THE WORST.
5. This is probably my least favourite trope in YA, but it's when the MC is a special snowflake. Where all the guys want her, she is desired or people want to be her, and she's really special for some unknown reason. Amy happens to be allergic to the world - literally - and she says "He was right, I was different". Different for having allergies and being really rude? No, honey.
6. Sexual assault happens and not only is it not called out, it's normalized. "Then he slapped me on the bum and strode off with Kype, leaving Hilary blushing". Wtf.
7. Amy's face swells up at the start of the story due to her having allergies and everyone acts like her face is disgusting and it's even called "horrifying" and asking why she would leave the house looking like that, to which Amy agreed, and I think this is incredibly offensive to disfigured people.
So, those are all of the notes I took and from memory of why I am DNF'ing this book. I might return to this purely because I'm curious of where it will go but the characters were just really not my cup of tea and I found them to be really filled with bad tropes and very anti-feminist. Two out of five stars. Two stars instead of one because I did enjoy the writing style and when the plot was going good, it was going great.
I really liked the writing style for this. The premise was super interesting. I thought it was going to go somewhere and I wanted to wait until halfway but I just found myself not wanting to pick this up and wanting to read something else instead. I didn't want to waste anymore time on something I just wasn't infested in. I might go back to it every now and again and try to make progress but, for now, it's going to be marked as a DNF. I'm not going to bother writing a review for this on my blog just yet because I didn't even read half so, instead, I'll list all the problems I had with this book here.
1. Jack, the love interest, has Nice Guy Syndrome. He clearly likes Amy/Marla, but makes no move and gets visibly stroppy and controlling when he doesn't get his way and when Amy/Marla shows interest in other men. Amy/Marla will pander to this instead of telling him that she is a person and not an object, she is not owned by him and has free will, and will "make it up" to him whenever he strops. This was said by him "I don't like you being with him. I won't pretend I do. I don't trust him and...you're going to think this is weird, but I feel...protective of you"
2. Going off of that point, women in this novel are viewed as objects. Throughout every chapter that I had read, there was a very strong vibe of "women are beneath men" without anyone ever needing to say it or draw attention to it. Women were also not written well in this book. It was so bad that I could have easily been convinced a man had written it. Especially with the constant sexual undertones
3. Amy/Marla says at one point that she didn't have a shortage of men wanting her because she knew she was a beautiful blond young girl. Yet, she decides to date Jason who is very clearly a horrible person and shows no nice side because he's "the best I can get". I thought she had plenty of people wanting her? She also has not one, but TWO, other love interests that she doesn't ignore but she never dedicates herself to one of them. She's constantly cheating on them with another love interest. This would be fine if this was Poly, but all of the love interests have made it clear that they don't want to share her
4. The way Amy/Marla talks about other women is DISGUSTING. She goes to a party at one point and these girls are mean, yes, but instead of talking about how they are clearly not very nice people she says they were wearing the "skankiest fairy outfits". Earlier on in the book, she also comments on another woman's perfectly justified upset by saying "That's all I need, another jealous girl hating on me". Firstly, the world doesn't revolve around her and secondly, this girl had a PERFECTLY VALID REASON to be upset and she was acting like she didn't? She was also going to break up with Jason, because has we have established he is not a nice guy, and a friend of hers asks if she can date him when they break up. Marla replies with "Don't be so desperate". It's not like you're practically dating three guys at the same time or anything and none of them are ok with that. Amy/Marla has made it obvious up until this point that she is incapable of spending a second without feeling loved or admired.
She also said this lovely line "You'd better make that clear at assembly tomorrow, or we'll have all the skanks turning up in leather minis and fluffy handcuffs". Her friend corrected this and said she shouldn't refer to her friends as skanks, in which case Amy's response is "Well, what would you call Simone and Brittnay?". Amy's friend should have clearly been the main character because she is a much better person, and responds with "Um, girls like us". Amy, with her "I'm superior than other girls and superior in general" complex, says this awful line - "Ew, don't put me in the same category as that pair". SHE IS THE WORST.
5. This is probably my least favourite trope in YA, but it's when the MC is a special snowflake. Where all the guys want her, she is desired or people want to be her, and she's really special for some unknown reason. Amy happens to be allergic to the world - literally - and she says "He was right, I was different". Different for having allergies and being really rude? No, honey.
6. Sexual assault happens and not only is it not called out, it's normalized. "Then he slapped me on the bum and strode off with Kype, leaving Hilary blushing". Wtf.
7. Amy's face swells up at the start of the story due to her having allergies and everyone acts like her face is disgusting and it's even called "horrifying" and asking why she would leave the house looking like that, to which Amy agreed, and I think this is incredibly offensive to disfigured people.
So, those are all of the notes I took and from memory of why I am DNF'ing this book. I might return to this purely because I'm curious of where it will go but the characters were just really not my cup of tea and I found them to be really filled with bad tropes and very anti-feminist. Two out of five stars. Two stars instead of one because I did enjoy the writing style and when the plot was going good, it was going great.
August 9, 2017
Oh how I love the way Wanda Wiltshire writes! I don’t know if it is because in my head all the characters have an English accent or if her prose is just that great, but I really dig the way she writes. So much in fact, I will probably read the rest of the series and look for more! Betrothed is a young adult fantasy/romance that follows Amy, an adopted loner that spends her days eating bland food and hanging out with her two best friends. Allergic to EVERYTHING, Amy’s life and activities have been pretty restricted her whole life. Naturally, when life becomes boring and dull, Amy retreats to her dreams where she hears the voice of a sad boy, longing for his lost love. Night after night she hears him, until one night she see’s him, and he recognizes her as the love he has spent his days pinning after. Thinking she is half crazy, Amy finds herself falling in love with her dream boy and questioning her own reality. This story follows Amy ( or Marla as he knows her) and Leif. It takes us from meeting in their dreams to their scandalous love affair and back.
The way this book is written is soft, whimsical and romantic. Now, I will mention the pace is much slower than I am used to but waiting for things to happen gave me a small but steady build up of excitement and really set the mood for when the big stuff did occur. I really enjoyed Leif as a love interest. He wasn’t super complex but felt real. Amy (Marla) got on my nerves at times because she is very dependent on Leif and is a huge whiner. The world building is decent, you get an overall picture of how things work but it could honestly use more detail. I enjoyed the way that Leif respects Amy and his dialogue is very sweet. The whole book felt very old-fashioned and I really like that. On to the creepy aspects..this book has a few things that irked me. The idea that the King has all the power and every woman is at his beck and call if wanted disturbs me. It seriously made me throw up in my mouth a bit when the women would just gravel at his feet and beg him. Made me want to crawl through the pages and punch him in the solar plexus.
If you are looking for a series that is sweet and not overly graphic, then this might be for you! I really enjoyed it!
The way this book is written is soft, whimsical and romantic. Now, I will mention the pace is much slower than I am used to but waiting for things to happen gave me a small but steady build up of excitement and really set the mood for when the big stuff did occur. I really enjoyed Leif as a love interest. He wasn’t super complex but felt real. Amy (Marla) got on my nerves at times because she is very dependent on Leif and is a huge whiner. The world building is decent, you get an overall picture of how things work but it could honestly use more detail. I enjoyed the way that Leif respects Amy and his dialogue is very sweet. The whole book felt very old-fashioned and I really like that. On to the creepy aspects..this book has a few things that irked me. The idea that the King has all the power and every woman is at his beck and call if wanted disturbs me. It seriously made me throw up in my mouth a bit when the women would just gravel at his feet and beg him. Made me want to crawl through the pages and punch him in the solar plexus.
If you are looking for a series that is sweet and not overly graphic, then this might be for you! I really enjoyed it!
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