What a beautifully written young adult fantasy book received
from Netgalley for an honest review.
YOUR SISTER IS DEAD-
a jolt to the senses to start a story. Noa has experienced this loss. An
integral part of the family that has now cast the normality of everyday life
asunder. Her mother; a faint silhouette of her former self, her father; throwing
himself into work to ease the pain, and Sasha; her young sister that shines
with her own internal golden light and copes in her own special way. But who is
there for Noa as she tries her best to pick up the pieces and move day by day?
Previously a boarder at Harlow School , she had Olivia and Miles constantly at
her side to help her deal with her ups and downs. Now as a commuter she meets a
new boy at school. There is something very different about him. And not just
because he is gorgeous. He is just, different. As she gets to know him her
world is thrown into turmoil. Callum is fae! Sharing his past and his
banishment with Noa, she learns of another realm where coloured and clear fae
exist with magical abilities. Soon his past intermingles with his present when
he is taken captive. Can Noa even compete with such magical creatures to save
him? And will the tiny piece of Callum's mind that is kept hidden from everyone
alter too many destinies?
The author manages to skilfully capture the complex emotions
of a 16-year-old girl. From the point where she is still a child wanting to be
held and reassured, to taking on the responsibilities of a house and people's
lives without acknowledgment, to that first moment when you know you are in
love and the world becomes a brighter place. The storyline manages to weave in the
characters' guilt about lost family, betrayal, penance and redemption .I enjoyed
the spin on the powers of the different fae-very unlike anything I had read
before. The haunting imagery of the poetry that Noa writes in the story is
deeply moving-it's like taking all the words that eluded you when needing to
express your innermost thoughts and finding them all running together in a
coherent train. The different points of view beginning certain parts of the
book allow you to take a glimpse into another's outlook before moving back to
the main character. Seeing as this is a
YA novel, some of the practicalities of life can be overlooked (even though
they irked me a little)-things like the huge amount of freedom Noa had when
coming and going to places, money always on hand and the amount of classes she
missed without staff looking for her. The end of the book left me hanging-I
went back to reread the last chapter a number of times as I was sure I had
missed something. The end came and WHAM. So much to read into that your mind
starts questioning and making assumptions. I found the epilogue a little
confusing-what exactly was it meant to add to the story?
A wonderful story, written in a clear and
flowing style with interesting characters. Just a minor editing error. Highly
recommended.
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