Hello my lovely readers, today I have the perfect recommendation not only for The Cruel Prince lovers but also it’s perfect reading to snuggle up this season. This book gave me so many feels and I haven’t felt this way for a series since The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. That’s a big statement I know but it’s so very true. So here is my review of the first in the Wicked Lovely series.
Wicked Lovely (Wicked Lovely, #1) by Melissa Marr Series: Wicked Lovely #1
Published by Harper Fire on November 7, 2024
Genres: Fantasy, Fantasy & Magic
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Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in the mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty - especially if they learn of her Sight - and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.
Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.
Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King, who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost — regardless of her plans or desires.
Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.
Faery intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning twenty-first-century faery tale.
Wicked Lovely first published around the time I was reading Twilight. It was a book that completely passed me by then as I was very much on the vampire kick. Wicked Lovely is a book that was published in a time where the world of fae in fantasy wasn’t that popular. Now 14 years later Harper Fire has rereleased the book series with new covers and not only are they stunning, it’s gives this nostalgic YA a second chance in a new era of YA than what is what 14 years ago.
Aisleen has the Sight, she can see past the glamour that the invisible fairies put on. All her life living and been looked after by her gran she has lived in fear of the fae and lived her life with rules, don’t interact with them, don’t stare and not attract attention. But that’s about to change when Fairies start to follow her home more often than normal. Until one royal Fairy, Keenan has her eye on her. Find yourself on a journey of convincing the chosen one Aisleen that she is the Summer Queen destined by the side of Summer King, Keenan to save the world from Winter…but at what cost?
Wicked Lovely is written in alternate POVs of Aisleen and Keenan. I really loved Aisleen as a character, she is strong, tenacious, and guarded as she has been most of life being surrounded by creatures she can’t tell anyone. If she even mentioned it to her Gran she would have to hide herself away and all she wanted was a normal life. Every day she can’t tell anyone except her very close friend Seth who I adored. I actually would consider Seth the perfect Book Boyfriend material, and also friends-to-lovers is one of my favourite tropes as well. Their friendship was indeed special.
Aisleen stayed true to herself and honoured what she wanted, including Seth who was the rock she needed that lived in a steel train that protected her in so many ways. Keenan wasn’t all he was cracked up to be, which I liked. I mean he tried to be the king that everyone fell for but he’s not to everyone’s taste. He is also tenacious and won’t go down without a fight so Aisleen has . He wants the world when his father was a live and he won’t let the Winter Queen destroy that.
Wicked Lovely is set in the real world with the fae existing under glamour among them. We were also treated to a different perception of fae as well, the world in which Melissa created felt more to folklore of fairies of which I used to read about when I was younger that not all fairies are good. Wicked Lovely feels like a nostalgic YA that’s had a new lease of life. This book has feels and world building of The Cruel Prince and I loved every second of it.
Melissa’s writing is seamless and immersive. It’s the series I needed to feel fully escaped the world which I haven’t felt for a long time not since reading The Folk of the Air series which is high praise. If you love Holly Black, and Sarah J. Maas then you will love Wicked Lovely series. I am currently reading Book 2, Ink Exchange and it’s so gooood.
Thank you so much to Harper Fire for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Great review!