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Synopsis (from Goodreads):
Many years ago, the magical Kingdom of Avalon was left desolate and encased in ice when the evil Snow Queen waged war on the powerful country. Its former citizens are now refugees in a world mostly devoid of magic. Which is why the crown prince and his protectors are stuck in…Arizona.
Prince Alexei, the sole survivor of the Avalon royal family, is in hiding in a town so boring, magic doesn’t even work there. Few know his secret identity, but his friend Tala is one of them. Tala doesn’t mind—she has secrets of her own. Namely, that she’s a spellbreaker, someone who negates magic.
Then hope for their abandoned homeland reignites when a famous creature of legend, and Avalon’s most powerful weapon, the Firebird, appears for the first time in decades. Alex and Tala unite with a ragtag group of new friends to journey back to Avalon for a showdown that will change the world as they know it.
Review:
I have been a huge fan of author Rin Chupeco since reading The Bone Witch series. I hadn't heard much about Wicked As You Wish before I read it, so I was bowled over by how wonderful it was! With a wonderful blend of fantasy, and realistic settings, endearing characters, and an action packed plot, this is just the sort of book escape we need!
What I Liked:
World-Building:This book has an alternate reality setting. Most details of the world are the same. There is still the Internet, Twitter, and (sadly) ICE agents hassling minorities in America. But, also, there is a King who rules The Royal States of America, magic, and fairy-tale kingdoms. It was a wonderful mix of reality and whimsy.
I also like how the author shows how magic would be commercialized in this world. One of the main conflicts in this universe is over who gets to control magic. Should magical kingdoms share their magic? Should non-magical countries be afraid of those who have magic? Fear seems to rule over everyone.
Characters:
I absolutely loved the characters in this book. Not only were Tala and Alex fantastic main characters, but they were supported by a cadre of the most wonderful teens and adults.
The teens were a delightful mix of diversity with characters of varying genders, and orientations. They also each had strengths and insecurities that made each person very relatable. I also liked that romance was not the only thing these teens were thinking about. They were more interested in their main objective: Saving the Kingdom of Avalon!
The adults were all fully developed characters, with their own share of problems. These people had complicated pasts that would be hard for their kids to understand. Which made the relationships between parents and children challenging, at times.
Filipino Culture:
Filipino culture was well represented in this book. Everything from the food (Chicken Adobo, anyone?), and the clothing, to the beloved older generation was celebrated in this book. I loved, loved, loved all the aunts, uncles, grannies, and granddads. They all had opinions and were not shy about stating them. And they each contributed greatly to the cause.
Plot:
The plot was very fast-paced, with plenty of fights, and strange situations. The novel, once it gets going, essentially became an action-packed road trip. As the teens journey toward their destination, they met with all sorts of fairy-tale creatures and legends. And with all the prophesies mentioned for each character, a sense of foreboding carried the story to a thrilling conclusion.
Ending:
Usually when a book series starts, the ending of the first book can be less than satisfying. I really dislike it when there are huge parts of the plot that are unresolved in an attempt to force the reader to read the next book. Not so with this novel. All the main plot points are resolved with a few small dangling bits that I know will be answered in later books.
Rating:
Release Date: March 3rd, 2020
Author: Rin Chupeco
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: YA Fantasy
Page Length: 432 Pages
Source: Public Library
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: A fun, fast-paced YA fantasy. The perfect escape.
I've been seeing this one around a lot, but I was hesitant to read it. Your review definitely changed my mind.
ReplyDeleteLove the cover of this book, glad you enjoyed!
ReplyDelete