Written by Aprilynne Pike
Goodreads Synopsis: Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful--too beautiful for words.
Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.
In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.
My Confession: I picked this book up mainly because the cover was just so mesmerizing. I loved the simplicity of the title and was intrigued about the notion of faeries and how their seemingly centuries-old folklore could be modernized. The main character, Laurel, discovers that she's a faerie. And not just any ordinary faerie, of course, but a very important one--one who was purposefully planted in the human world for a special mission. The world Pike creates here is new and fresh. It's light, airy, and fun--just like the plant and sunlight-driven characters. There's action, danger (courtesy of the token "bad guys"--trolls), and romance, which, by the end of the novel, looks more like a love triangle than the beginning story allowed. There's sweet human David, who knows all about Laurel's secret, and doesn't care. He even fights the trolls alongside her. And then there's Tamani, the darkly handsome faerie assigned to guard Laurel, whose deep and otherworldly affection dates back to when they were young faeries together. Pike doesn't let the story get bogged down with the typical adolescent angst that usually comes from such triangles. Laurel has a good head on her shoulders, and the action and drama that center around the faerie world take precedence over the romance. As it rightly should.
Goodreads Synopsis: Six months have passed since Laurel saved the gateway to the faerie realm of Avalon. Now she must spend her summer there, honing her skills as a Fall faerie. But her human family and friends are still in mortal danger--and the gateway to Avalon is more compromised than ever.
When it comes time to protect those she loves, will she depend on David, her human boyfriend, for help? Or will she turn to Tamani, the electrifying faerie with whom her connection is undeniable?
My Confession: I enjoyed the first book so much that I didn't hesitate to pick up the sequel when it hit shelves. And let me tell you, it was just as great as the first. This time, we get a closer look into the faerie world of Avalon, where Laurel is called to spend her summer learning how to fulfill her "destiny" as a powerful Fall faerie. Having only attended school in the mortal world, Laurel is charmingly out of place, despite many of the faeries knowing who she is and treating her like a celebrity. The descriptions of this fantastical faerie realm were vivid and breathtaking, the scenes of carnivals and street fairs startlingly realistic for such a made-up world. We also get to see a lot more of Tamani, which is by no means a bad thing (I think you'll discern my Team Tamani leanings--I always side with the tall, dark, and handsome immortal). Laurel's history with and exploration of Avalon doesn't overtake the whole book--there's plenty of action and danger waiting in the human world. More dastardly characters are introduced, and I must say, I'm impressed with the heroine's lack of damsel-in-distress syndrome. Laurel continually comes off as strong, smart, and quick-thinking. The plot here is fresh and interesting. New faerie "rules" come to the forefront often, but their discovery makes sense. Pike makes sure that her audience is never confused and muddled in this world she's created--even better, they believe in it. Spells, unlike Wings, ends on a cliffhanger. Guess we know what I did next....
Goodreads Synopsis: "I don't do patrols, I don't go hunting, I just stick close to you. You live your life. I'll keep you safe," Tamani said, sweeping a lock of hair from her face. "Or die trying."
Laurel hasn't seen Tamani since she begged him to let her go last year. Though her heart still aches, Laurel is confident that David was the right choice.
But just as life returns to normal, Laurel realizes that a hidden enemy lies in wait. Once again, Laurel must turn to Tamani to protect and guide her, for the danger that now threatens Avalon is one that no faerie thought would ever be possible. And for the first time, Laurel cannot be sure that her side will prevail.
My Confession: If you thought Spells left you hanging, just wait until you reach the breathless conclusion of Illusions. I don't know when the fourth and final book is coming, but I hope it's soon. Very, very soon. The energy and action builds slowly in this book, but the undercurrent of what could be going on just smolders. Tamani reenters Laurel's life once again, but this time, it's in a place she least expects--her school. Naturally, this turns David into a smoking pile of jealously and barely-suppressed rage. Not gonna win you points, human boy. Anyway. For the first time, we get to watch the story unfold from someone other than Laurel's perspective. Much of the narrative comes from Tamani's point of view, which sheds a certain light on his character that we hadn't seen before. It was interesting hearing his and Laurel's conversations through his ears. I was so used to having Laurel as my filter, but Tamani was just as interesting, if not more so. I can't help thinking that there's still more to his character. Perhaps that's why I find him so fascinating, as opposed to David, whose shining traits, while undeniable, do seem to work against him this time. The characters are still evolving, the action still pulsing, and the danger still frightening. Nothing is solved at the conclusion of this book; in fact, a whole new can of worms seems to have been opened. Unlike some supernatural series, who beat the same plot point into the ground over four to seven books, this series does not. It continually finds new ways to introduce old problems and build off them.
Recommendation: I can't wait to see what happens next. If you haven't read these books, or read the first and never finished, use this time before the final installment to reacquaint yourself.
Oh, and watch this.
Until book four....
Series Rating: 4.5/5
Published by HarperTeen
