Paranormal Book Club: Wicked Lovely

Welcome to another Paranormal Book Club post! The Paranormal Book Club is a casual book club I do with my friends Rachel, Kristin & DJ, and it came into being because we decided we wanted to revisit (or experience for the first time) a few older YA paranormal/fantasy books together. Our second pick for this year was Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr, which I don't think I would ever have ended picking up if not for it being a 2022 PBC pick.

Summary: Aislinn can see the faeries that walk otherwise unseen in the human world. Despite her Sight, faeries have never approached her... until Keenan, the Summer King, has decided that Aislinn is the one who will be his Summer Queen after nine centuries of searching for her. Aislinn will have to figure out how to navigate this new world of faery intrigue without losing everything she values the most.

What were your initial thoughts about the book? Were you excited to read it?

Unlike many of the other Paranormal Book Club picks, I genuinely only knew two things about Wicked Lovely prior to picking it up: 1) the title and 2) that it was about faeries. I wasn't necessarily the most excited to read it since I never know if I'll like an author's approach to fae, but I was at least mildly intrigued. This book ended up surprising me! I do enjoy tricksy terribly behaved faeries, and that's definitely the kind that are in this novel. The set-up and story were compelling enough to hold my attention til the end. It's not a perfect read, by any means; I didn't get invested in the characters as much as I'd like. But even though it's not a new favorite, I can at least confidently say that it entertained me.

What was your favorite quote or passage, and why did it resonate with you?

“She was afraid, but she couldn't just sit around waiting for someone to save her. She had to try to save herself, try to figure it out." I picked these particular lines out because I see myself reflected in them. I've felt this way so many times in my own life, and I'm certain that's going to happen again and again. But I want to be as strong-willed and determined to keep pressing on as the statement implies.

What character did you relate to the most, and what was it about them that you connected with?

I didn't feel like I really related to any of the characters, though I can't help but admire Aislinn's sense of self. She knew what she wanted and what she didn't, and she was willing to fight to make sure she got to do everything on her own terms.

Was there anything you wanted to see more of in the book, like more page time for a secondary character or a plot point you wish was explored more?

I know there are more books in the series, so these things may actually happen later on. But I liked Donia and would be curious to see how her story continues. I also would have appreciated a bit more time with the characters, just getting to know them better and to have more build up in terms of their relationships with one another.

What are your final thoughts? Would you read this book again and/or continue with the series? Would you read another book written by the same author?

Wicked Lovely was a quick, entertaining read that I enjoyed much more than I anticipated I would. I'm mildly curious about the rest of the series but won't be rushing to pick it up anytime soon either.

If you're interested in finding out what the others thought, check out their posts below:

Hello, Chelly

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