Wondrous or Strange?

Hello, readers!

I’m baaaaack, and today we’re talking about author Lesley Livingston’s Wondrous Strange. It’s the first book in a series named after the starting title. This is the cover…

Mysterious redhead and scrolly text. Cool cover. Let's get past that cover. Wondrous Strange— where to start? Unfortunately, we can start at the part where I don’t lie and admit this book is not so much wondrous as it is strange. :/

I’m a fan of faerie stories. Just look at the books I’ve reviewed in the past. However, I will admit, I’m also very picky when it comes to stories with fey in them because— not surprising seeing as I’m interested in the, if you will, supernatural— I eat, sleep, and breathe knowing all there is to know about fairies, vampires, blah, blah,  dragons, etc. I’ve got so many books on fantastical creatures, mythology, and folklore that I could start a fantasy reference library. When I was in classes in college, and people wanted to know about mermaids or the story of Heracles (because, yes, it's spelled that way in the Greek so that's how I say it), they came to dorky old me. I was the one, ten minutes into del Toro’s Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, that said, “Faeries! The things in the basement are faeries! See the circle of clovers on that little hill? That’s a sign of… and now you guys are staring at me like I’m the biggest loser in the world. Shutting up initiated.” Hello, guys. Yeah, I’m THAT GIRL. ;P

END OF TANGENT. BACK TO REVIEW.

I’m a picky reader of faerie fiction. That said, my being a picky reader isn’t what made me— dislike is too strong of a word— disappointed by this beginning series novel. Now, the other books may get better. However, let me tell you, readers, where this one went wrong.

First: the story is told, chapter to chapter, by alternating protagonists. One is named Kelley. She’s an aspiring actress living in New York, trying to, even in a no-name theater (not literally, I mean that in the sense that it’s a crappy playhouse no one would ever actually go and pay money to watch a performance at), make a name for herself. In the midst of rehearsing for a production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Kelley finds herself not only tending to a horse that can somehow climb its way up into her not-first-floor apartment and live in her bathtub, while simultaneously being stalked by a mysterious boy. Enter protagonist number two: Sonny. Sonny is part of an elite force that enforces that the gates keeping faeries in their own realms actually keep faeries in their realms. His life becomes intertwined with Kelley's when she shows up at the park he's stationed at, which is where the gate he guards is, and something about her aura sparks, making her very interesting in addition to beautiful specimen. The title he’s given is: Janus. I’m not sure where this idea stems from unless it's from a Roman god who had two faces and was the god of transitions/doorways/time. To be honest, I didn’t even try to look. Why? It was bogus, and I figured all that would come up were articles on the freaking Jonas brothers. No, but really, why? BECAUSE SONNY IS THE MOST BORING PART OF THIS ENTIRE BOOK.

Okay, that was harsh. Let’s be specific. He’s the most boring part of this book with the exception of the first 100 pages. On my Nook, there's a little over 200. That was nicer. Seriously. The only reason I finished this book was because I paid for it. That’s not saying a lot. Granted, as I mentioned before, it DID get somewhat interesting after the 100 pages. That's because, reveal, faeries exist and Kelley has something in common with them (not so much a spoiler as a reason to potentially read on): she is one. Now then, let’s move onto the second reason this book was just not really jiving with my faerie zen.

Second: the romance between the two protagonists, which is, duh, predictable, is in NO WAY believable. Kelley starts to dig Sonny after he stalks her consistently and then gives her a flower. Oh. And the whole faerie thing. He informs her that the horse in her bathtub, which she previously saved from drowning in a lake (Random much?), is a kelpie. I guess if a guy is hot and willing to throw down some info on faerie secrets, he’s instantly not the creepy stalker in the background that you previously went so far as to threaten with pepper spray and he’s to die for. *Chuckle* Did I mention how much I hate Sonny? Ah, and that’s not even because he calls her his Firecracker— gag— or because, man, I'm sorry if you're named Sonny, has a dumb name. It’s because his character is flat, flat, flaaaaat. He’s just… there. He says some cute words to her, tells her about how faeries exist, and she eats it up, allowing him to even call her “heart.” Ugh. Gag me with a spoon.

This book should have been written solely from Kelley’s perspective. It would have been more interesting, more fiery (because, yes, she is a firecracker, though I hate that cheesy nickname), and the story would have been less about an unconvincing couple and more about a girl searching for her identity in a darker-than-she-thought-it-was world. Now let’s get to that third reason, the reason that’s probably been bugging YOU for a while now, and bugged me even as the book ended.

Third: Kelley keeps a horse in her New York apartment. I don’t think I need to elaborate on this one. You know that “strange” I was talking about? Um, yeah, though entertaining, that, quip intended, enters stage right here. New York apartment. Horse. Living inside. Alright, now that I’ve reiterated that, let me put in a few positive notes, because, yeah, there were some.

Positive Notes:

1.) I like Kelley. She’s spunky AND an actress; that, to me, is unique. You don’t get protagonists in faerie fiction who are in theater that often. I liked it.

2.) Puck, though he’s given a stupid name rather than Puck (What’s with all the lame names?), is in this story. Puck, along with Shakespeare’s play, added a level of background and plot to this story that I genuinely enjoyed. Thank you, Livingston, for the folklore.

3.)  Though the horse was bunk, it was also original. I'd never witnessed a character keep a pet kelpie before, seeing as their liable to rip off your flesh and devour it. Though not believably something that could get into an apartment, I liked how Kelley bonded with the kelpie, the kelpie ALSO given a lame name… Lucky. Oh well; it was original while it lasted.

Kelley finally gets her act together in the end of this book and becomes a stronger character. Notice the "er." I'm not implying she's "strong," just "stronger." Why "er"? Well, we would notice more character growth if she wasn’t, before putting up a fight, crying over the fact that her true love or whatever isn’t there to help her. *Shrug* Try this story out if it seems interesting. I think it was just a “Meh,” maybe even a “Did I really just waste all that time?” I could be wrong, though, or the second book could always make the first book worthwhile. If you do read it and beg to differ, differ. I’m not reading any more of these. I’ll hold onto my cash and read something by Holly Black or Julie Kagawa. To each his or her own.

Rating?

Fiction or Literature?

100% Fiction, 0% Literature

Good or Bad?

25% Good, 75% Bad

Strange… It was all very strange.

Till next time,

Alex