Wren Handman

"There are people who claim that when you die while Diving something stays behind."

I dove into this novel expecting technology and mystery. I did not expect to resurface with a creative retelling of the Persephone and Hades myth in AI fashion. Is my inner nerd and mythology guru excited? Well, do cats meow! The novel is much more than just a retelling though. Coping with the loss of a friend, finding who you are, shedding masks and reality verse virtual reality is the tip of the neatly hidden iceberg.

Handman takes the possibility of artificial intelligence being more than just machine and code. The possibility it can be truly human and then adds a dash of romance. A lot of the novel is centered around the mystery of the AI. Though I did figure out a few things early on I will say that I did not see the ending coming. I would have preferred less of the buildup and more of the "after" on a personal level but if there isn't a sequel, I can't really complain. There are areas that dragged a bit for me but I think it's more so my age as a reader. The characters are easy to connect with (especially lovable Khaiam) and I like the support system that grows around Graciela as she finds her footing after her loss. I can't really say much else without spoilers though.

Thank you to Parliament Press and Wren Handman for the opportunity to read and review for an honest and unbiased opinion.… (plus d'informations)

I had a slightly difficult time rating this book. On one hand I read through this in 2 days and didn't want to stop but on the other hand the characters, their actions, and the social scene were just too over the top to embrace. I've never been a huge fan of novels that overdo the stereotypes of society either.

In this story Sylvia is thrust from the simple life in Nevada to the rich and mighty high school world of Upper New York. Through her own bad decisions she creates issues and scenes that should paint her as a unique character but for me she just came off as a teen not handling herself well. Seriously bad judgement calls. However, the dynamic between her and her brother Eric was something I loved every bit of and I wished that version of Sylvia was portrayed more. Protective, cunning, witty, brave and reflecting a normal teenager.

Once we are introduced to Fairy and start meeting the characters of this parallel world the story picks up pace and you get sucked in. The character descriptions,world creativity and backstory were exactly what my readerish mind looks for in a good young adult fantasy. I wanted more. I understood the plot, the conflict between courts and needed to know the outcome. The only Fairy drawback was our two "lovers."

For the most part everyone likes a little romance in their story. But I could not figure out why it needed to be in this one. Though I see the appeal of having two guys from separate courts vying for the attention of the MC and bringing out that conflicting triangle of lovers, it did not move smoothly in this book. I even considered the aspect of the knight in shining armor rescuing the damsel in distress aspect of fairy tales for this and it helped. I'd probably still remove the random kissing everyone seems to be doing and stick to the evolving connection between Stranger and Sylvia.

Overall I would definitely recommend this for the plot of the battling Courts and Fairy. Like I said I read this in 2 days and did not want to put it down. If you can look past the stereotypes and see the fairy tale dream in the pages I think you'll like this as much as I did.

Reader warnings: suicide, drugs, some violence

Thank you to Parliament Press, NetGalley and the author for the ability to review this work for an unbiased opinion.… (plus d'informations)

Fans of Fairy, the Unseelie and Seelie Courts, and those who love a bit of unsure romance will enjoy this one.

Sylvia is a very usual high school student with a normal life in a small town out West. That is, until her mother tries to commit suicide. While her mother undergoes very necessary therapy, Sylvia and her younger brother move to their father in New York, who happens to be one of the richest and most well-known men in the city. The culture shock isn't an easy one to master as Sylvia is suddenly thrust into a private school with the elite's of the high class, especially when they decide to bully her. Tricked into taking drugs, Sylvia is meets two very strange men while she's high, ones no one but her can see...and even afterwards, she still sees them. Just as she's sure she's going crazy, she stumbles into Fairy and discovers that so much more awaits her. And most of those things are anything but nice and safe. They're down right deadly.

I could give two very separate reviews on this book if it were divided somewhere about a third of the way through. In the first third, we meet sixteen-year-old Sylvia as she's dumped by her boyfriend and immediately are drawn in as her life flips upside down. The writing is pretty well done (with only a few stumbles here and there), and it was fairly easy to fall into the scenes. I was a bit thrown by Sylvia's snark and found her a little unkind at times. The side characters also didn't have the depth I would have hoped for, but still, the entire thing was interesting enough to keep me reading. So, I'd give that section three stars.

It takes over one third of the book before the fantasy really gets going. During the first pages, the Stranger does pop in with his own section every now and then, but it's always very short and doesn't meld into the happenings with Sylvia...making it almost possible to forget magic is supposed to be involved at all. When Sylvia finally does see Fairy, her talents hit suddenly and without a real explanation (unless the accidental drug use was the cause?). The reasoning behind her being born with such powers is never neared upon, which I found a little disappointing.

Once Sylvia is hooked in with the Fairy, the adventure truly begins. Everything she faced with her private school fades away, making the entire drama between new friends and such meaningless...and made me wonder why much of it was necessary.

Anyway, the fairy side is simply a fun read. The author develops the two fae men well done as their two very different personalities add amazing tension and bring even more secrets into play. Sylvia has a lot to figure out and deal with, and none of it is crystal clear. This kept me guessing until the last pages and made every twist and turn fun.

The scenes and imagery are a treat. The world is packed with fantastical details and each set is vivid. The emotions run high in a mix of black and white as the two opposing worlds of Fairy collide. Even the background history, which the author has created, melds in wonderfully and makes for an exciting and unique predicament. So much happens during this latter section of the book, and it's packed with danger, action, mystery and adventure. The romance adds even extra spice.

All in all, I enjoyed the read and will meld the rating together to form four stars. I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed it quite a bit. So, I'm leaving my honest thoughts.… (plus d'informations)