Wicked Lovely (Wicked Lovely #1)

Reader reviewed by Tasha

Aislinn has always been able to see faeries, but has never let on to it. This is one of the rules that her grandmother instated when Aislinn first mentioned the faeries. She always abides by this rule in fear that if the wrong faerie finds out, there will be grave punishments. Life is good for Aislinn until she begins to be stalked by two faeries, one of whom happens to be the Summer King Keenan. Keenan has been in search of a queen for centuries, but just can't seem to find the right girl. Yes, many girls have been swooned by his looks and attempted to be the prized Summer Queen, but they have all failed either becoming Summer girls, who are sultry faeries, or are filled with winter and become Winter Princesses. When Keenan meets Aislinn though he knows she is the one. Not only because of her ability to resist him, but that his mother, Beira the Winter Queen, is very afraid of her because of her abilities. As for Aislinn she wants nothing to do with the faerie world. She is content being a teenager. The only thing is she can't seem to figure out is her relationship with her best friend Seth. They've been friends for a long time, but she's not sure if she only likes him as a friend anymore. He is constantly flirting with her and seems to be sending out mixed messages. What is a girl to do? Putting her feelings on the back burner for a few days Aislinn enlists Seth's help to deal with the faeries. She wants them to leave her alone, but she seems to have an irking feeling that maybe it wouldn't be so bad to help them out. With the help of Seth Aislinn learns that she can be in control of the situation and starts to see if she can make the best out of the situation and make everyone happy.


This was an absolute gem to read. Everything about it was beyond amazing. Isn't the cover fantastic too? I must admit I have never been keen to read faerie books, but Wicked Lovely left me craving for more of the faerie world. To me the story was completely original and the writing was phenomenal. Melissa Marr slowly reeled me in from the first page and left me dangling throughout most of the book. It wasn't until the very end that everything came together. Also the names used in the book are so original and creative. Aislinn's character was great. I felt like I had a connection with her, not that we seem to be alike, but there was just something there. This was a great debut novel and I cannot wait to read more of Melissa's writing. Ink Exchange comes out at the end of April. I strongly recommend this book to everyone and anyone, whether you like faerie tales or not. This is truly a unique book that I think everyone will love.

Reader reviewed by Allison Fraclose

Like her mother and grandmother, Aislinn was born with the ability to see fairy folk, who cavort in the streets and taunt the mortals who are unaware of their presence. For the past two weeks, shes been followed by two particular ones who seem more powerful than the resta pale girl who rides a wolf and a male with coppery hair and the shine of the sun within his skin&

Keenan, the king of the Summer court, has dreamt about her, and Aislinn is next in a long line of mortal girls who may be the sleeping Summer Queen. His mother, the Winter Queen, had him bound at birth so that his power could never overcome her own&

Donia, the last of Keenans girls to take up the challenge, now holds the chill of the Winter Queen inside her. Bound by the oath she took when she picked up the staff, Donia must make sure that Aislinn will not trust Keenan, no matter if she is the sleeping queen or not&

The fate of the entire Summer courtand humanity itselfrests with the outcome of this game, played over the past nine centuries. But now, with Aislinn as the new player, aided by her Sight and her love for another mortal, the outcome may be different this time. This deliciously written book kept me riveted until the games thrilling end.

Reader reviewed by jocelyn

Wicked Lovely is another one of those books that Id heard so much hype about, I almost didnt want to pick it up, for fear that it would be terribly disappointing. I mean, the blurb on the cover is from Tamora Pierce! It fits, too; though Aislinn is a modern-day heroine, shes much like some of Pierces strong female characters. Aislinn doesnt let anyone else control hershe is very much in charge of her own fate, despite ancient faery curses working against that independence!

Anyway, Wicked Lovely does not disappoint. It is the story of Aislinn, a teenage girl who can see faeries. Shes always lived with the rules her grandmother has set to keep her safe, ignoring the faeries. If they knew she could see them, if the wrong faery found out, shed be in grave danger.

Of course, keeping her secret may not keep her safe after all. Shes being stalked by two faeries. One of whom just happens to be the Summer King, Keenan, who has been searching for his queen for centuries. Those who are chosen as possible queens cannot escape; they either become Summer Girls, slutty faeries without a care in the world, or they try their chances at becoming the Summer Queenand when it is discovered they are not, they are filled with Winters chill, vowing to try and convince other mortal girls not to try and become queen, despite the fact that the current Winter Girl can only escape and be free if another takes her place.

While theres all of that faery drama going on, Aislinn also has some real-world problems. Like, her relationship with Seth. Theyre very, very close friends, but nothing more. Aislinn might like to be more, and Seths always flirting with her, but he doesnt date; he just sleeps around. Aislinn wants to keep their friendship, rather than being used and discarded like she fears.

Melissa Marrs novel is brilliant. Her writing slowly but surely draws you in until you (like me) are reading under your desk in World History to finish it as quickly as possible, to find out what happens to the characters who seem so real! This urban faery tale is remniscent of Holly Black, with faeries who arent at all what we see in those fluffy, pink cartoons and books for little girls. These faeries are beautiful, dangerous, dark, and terrifying, even the so-called good faeries.

This marvelous debut is dark, beautiful, and unputdownable. Luckily for readers who will be aching for more after finishing, the sequel (well, more of a companion book than a sequel; same world, different focus), Ink Exchange, will be out in April.

Reposted from http://teenbookreview.wordpress.com

Reader reviewed by the book muncher

Wicked Lovely has been one of my favorite books for a while. It is the story of a girl, Aislinn, who's ordinary except that she can see faeries. Her best friend is Seth, but Seth is more interested in her than she knows. On the other hand, there's Keenan, a court faery and the Summer King.


Aislinn is propelled deeper into a world involving secrets of her past, a long war between summer and winter, and her own love life. There are a few unexpected twists, which are refreshing from all those predicable books.

My favorite thing about Wicked Lovely is that the characters are so believable even though over half of them aren't supposed to be mortal. It is easy to feel sympathy with a large number of the cast of characters except for those who are just pure evil. I grew so attached with these characters that I was so disappointed when the book was over, because I loved the story and wished it would continue.


Wicked Lovely was one of the best books to be published this year, no doubt. I would recommend it for fans of the Twilight series.

Reader reviewed by Natalie

This book is about your average girl named Aislinn. Except she isn't that average: she can see fairies. Throughout her whole life, she has been told to ignore them and make sure they dont know she can see them. Most of all, never get their attention. Although she does not know why she should ignore them, she does it anyway.

That is until one day, a very attractive fairy , Kennan, happens to ask her out. Auslinn freaks out because she does not know why she is being followed by fairies. Eventually she finds out that she is the future queen of the summer court and she must rule alongside Kennan. But unfortuneatly that means giving up her life and most of all Seth, her hott "best friend".

Who will she chose? Which destiny will she chose?

Reader reviewed by Courtney

I won an ARC of this book because I normally wouldn't have picked it up on my own.I liked it but some of it was so unreal , and I don't just mean the fairies! The relationship between the main characters was so perfect and sweet it was almost hard to read at points. What boyfriend and girlfriend don't EVER fight? Once you get past that though the book is pretty good.I would recommend this book to book lovers that like books like Thithe and Valiant.

Reader reviewed by Jamie

"keep your head down and your mouth shut," Aislinn's grandmother used to tell her. 'focus. control.' she thinks when one approaches her. 'don't run. they love the chase.' she tells herself when all she wants is to run, to reach Seth's house. the safe house. inside the safe steel walls of Seth's railroad car house she can hide. she can hide from the faeries that she sees, invisible to everyone but her and her grandmother. she has been taught to ignore their existence, but she can't quite ignore her faerie stalkers. and these are no ordinary fay, either. oh no, they are court fay. she is soon caught in a dilemma; she has caught the attention of Keenan, one of the fay that are stalking her. she finds out that he is the summer king and has to choose to risk the cold of winter and maybe be the one, or not risk it and become a summer girl. either way, she looses her mortality and she wants that more than anything because she can be with Seth. she also knows that all existence is depending on her.

this is the first book about faeries that i have read. i like it.

Reader reviewed by Stephanie

Aislinn, a fierce and independent girl living in the outskirts of Philadelphia, can see faeries. This is not a good thing. If the faeries find out about her Sight, she and the people she love may be in danger. So Aislinn lives cautiously, fearfully, constantly seeking refuge at her best friend Seths living quarters, a large steel train car.

But Aislinns anonymity is about to be threatened. She has been singled out by Keenan, the Summer King of the faeries, as The One, the mortal girl who has the power to bring back the full power of summer and defeat the icy grip of the Winter Queen, Beira, Keenans mother.

Being the object of Keenans attention is not a good thing, however. Just ask Donia, the last chosen girl who decided to risk mortality for her love for Keenan. Instead, she failed the test and is trapped as the Winter Girl, plagued by cold and pain constantly, until the next girl comes along and agrees to take the test.

Beiras extra-careful attention to Aislinn seems to be a good indication of her fate, though. Aislinn wants nothing to do with the faeries. She would rather stay mortal and be with Seth, who means more than a friend to her, but she has no choice. She must use her brains and courage to accept her fate, while managing to make it as good as possible for herself.

WICKED LOVELY has its moments, but for a debut novel its not impressive enough. The concept of being unable to escape your fate is interesting, but I feel that not enough happened in the book. Nevertheless, I would still encourage any urban fantasy lovers to pick this up.