Wondrous Strange

author: Lesley Livingston

published: December 23rd 2008

series: Wondrous Strange, Book 1 of 3

publisher: HarperTeen

format: hardcover

pages: 327

The following synopsis comes from Goodreads.com

Since the dawn of time, the Faerie have taken. . . .

For seventeen-year-old actress Kelley Winslow, faeries are just something from childhood stories. Then she meets Sonny Flannery, whose steel-gray eyes mask an equally steely determination to protect her.

Sonny guards the Samhain Gate, which connects the mortal realm with the Faerie's enchanted, dangerous Otherworld. Usually kept shut by order of icy King Auberon, the Gate stands open but once a year.

This year, as the time approaches when the Samhain Gate will swing wide and nightmarish Fae will fight their way into an unsuspecting human world, something different is happening . . . something wondrous and strange. And Kelley's eyes are opening not just to the Faerie that surround her but to the heritage that awaits her.

Now Kelley must navigate deadly Faerie treachery—and her growing feelings for Sonny—in this dazzling page-turner filled with luminous romance.

My Thoughts:

The Cover:

I think it's a lovely cover. I absolutely love the font of the title and its placement. It really draws the eye; and with a title like Wondrous Strange it is not likely to be forgotten. It's also a shiny light blue :) The girl on the cover is a good depiction of Kelley. In my head she looks much like this girl. (Probably because I saw the cover :P) It's not the most memorable cover I've ever seen, or my favorite, but I think it looks really good and fits the story.

The Book:

Kelley is a great character. She's living on her own, which is sort of new for me to read about in a YA book. Kelley has an aunt, but she's living elsewhere while Kelley is in New York City. This was a great change for me. It was definitely better that Kelley was alone in NYC. (Well, she has a roommate)

Kelley's reaction to the character Sonny was very realistic to me. Now, I know everyone is different, but she reacted in a way I would expect most people to react. This made it much easier to relate to her and get into the story.

When I started reading it, it was a solid three out of five for me. I liked it, but I wasn't loving it. Once the plot really got started, I got into it and it became a solid 4. Maybe 4.5. It's a great take on faerie lore in the modern day.

I have to admit, I took a break near the beginning to read The Iron Daughter. I wasn't expect it, and I wasn't going to wait. Let's face it, I was waiting for it since I read The Iron King back in February! And Wondrous Strange hadn't really sucked me in yet.

For faerie lovers, this book will definitely be a fun ride. It's similar and different to the other books I've read. (Imagine that...) the differences really make this book a wondrous and strange journey into faerie lands.

Needless to say, I'm going to be reading the sequel, Darklight next. I may even start it right now.