BOOK REVIEW - WONDROUS STRANGE by LESLEY LIVINGSTONE - WONDROUS STRANGE # 1

By : Lesley Livingston
Published By : Harper Teen
Release Date ; Available Now
Details : Paperback, 327 Pages

RATING: 4 STARS!!!!

Book Blurb : Taken From Goodreads

17 year-old Kelley Winslow doesn’t believe in Faeries. Not unless they’re the kind that you find in a theatre, spouting Shakespeare—the kind that Kelley so desperately wishes she could be: onstage, under lights, with a pair of sparkly wings strapped to her shoulders. But as the understudy in a two-bit, hopelessly off-off-Broadway production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, wishing is probably the closest she’s going to get to becoming a Faerie Queen. At least, that’s what she thinks... In this fun, urban fantasy, Kelley's off-stage life suddenly becomes as complicated as one of Shakespeare’s plot twists when a nighttime trip to Central Park holds more than meets the mortal eye.

BOOK REVIEW:

I have had 'Wondrous Strange' sitting around in my TBR ( to be read) pile for a while waiting on 'Darklight' to be released.  What a lovely YA read is 'Wondrous Strange'.

I must read Midsummer Night's Dream one of these days as it's characters seems to pop up in faerie books these days. Mind you I have learnt about the characters and the Courts from Julie Kagawa's , The Iron King and The Iron Daughter and Lesley Livingstons , Wondrous Strange and Darklight. Not to mention all the faerie courts Kings and Queens in The Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr.
When I first came across Midsummer Night's Dream characters in Julie Kagawa's books I was a bit out of my depth as I didn't know who they were. Now I am quite comfortable with them but maybe a nice afternoon laying on the trampoline in the shade actually reading A Midsummer Night's Dream sounds worth while.

I really liked this book. It was easy to read. Kelley the female lead had a steep learning curb from what she thought was her life. Sonny is just gorgeous as a Janus Guard. It is fast paced and I could really 'see' the characters and scenery.

The more I read about the fey the more I think if I ever came across one I would have to gag myself intentionally so that I didn't get myself in a pickle as the use on word play is incredible.

I thought the carousel scene was brilliant. I could really see it in a movie . This book I could easily see as a movie as visually it would look lovely. A colourful read and not to mention the fey ,Sonny and the other 12 Janus Guards, who by the way aren't all guys. Nice to see Lesley you have made some tough women. Janus Guards are Changelings who have been stolen from the human world and raised by the faerie folk. Sonny was stolen and raised by Auberon King of the Unseelie Court of Faerie. The use of Central Park , New York was wonderful. I knew of the Alice In Wonderful statue from the movie 'Remember Me' with Robert Pattinson. It would make a beautiful movie this series.

Kelley the female lead character doesn't take any rubbish and is fearless to the point of possibly leaping before thinking. I have already read over half of Darklight and it is better than Wondrous Strange. Kelley's character grows nicely.

There are some very likeable characters in this book.
Fenn is gorgeous and Sonny is breathtaking with his need to protect Kelley.
 
I am looking forward to 'Tempestuous' the third and I think final book in the series.
 
 

Michelle