Galley Talk

Joanne R. Fritz, Chester County Book & Music, West Chester, Pa.

By Staff -- Publishers Weekly, 5/14/2007

All booksellers know there are too many galleys and not enough time to read them all. So why would I take the time to read one twice? Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely (HarperCollins, June), a dark and romantic urban fantasy about a girl who can see faeries, offers both an exciting plot and gorgeous writing—the kind of writing that makes you want to reread sentences or entire paragraphs. I raced through it the first time simply to find out what happens. And I can think of no higher praise than that. A few days later, I sat down and reread it, savoring the delicious writing and sighing over Aislinn's predicament. Must she give in to fate and become Keenan's Summer Queen, or can she find a way to keep her mortal life—and Seth? Amazingly, this is Marr's first novel, and it's expertly crafted, alternating effortlessly among four different characters. It's chockful of ancient faery lore while at the same time bringing to life an ultramodern girl. Captivating!