Author | Melissa Marr |
---|---|
Cover artist | Mark Tucker (photography) |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Series | Wicked Lovely |
Genre | Young adult fiction Urban fantasy |
Publisher | HarperTeen, HarperCollins imprint (US), HarperCollins (UK) |
Publication date | June 12, 2007 (US) |
Media type | Print (hardback and paperback), audiobook, e-book |
Pages | 328 |
ISBN | 978-0-06-121465-3 |
OCLC | 123118232 |
LC Class | PZ7.M34788 Wi 2007 |
Followed by | Ink Exchange |
Wicked Lovely is a young adult/urban fantasy novel by author Melissa Marr. The story follows protagonist Aislinn, who has the Sight (the ability to see faeries), and whose life begins to unravel when it seems the fey-folk develop a sudden interest in her. The novel intertwines the old rules of fairytales and folklore with the modern expectations of adolescent 21st-century life. [1] [2] It was published by HarperTeen, a division of HarperCollins, in June 2007 in the US. Wicked Lovely was originally written as a short story, ('The Sleeping Girl'), before the author decided to expand on her work in order to further develop the characters. [3] She completed the novel over a period of four months, and submitted it to an agent in January, 2006. By early March of that year, it had been accepted for publication. [4]
The story follows main protagonist, Aislinn, who is attempting to navigate through adolescent life alongside a constant struggle with her life-long ability to see faeries and fey-kind. Though invisible to most mortals, faeries live among them, often playing the trickster, living on the fringes, with only the most prominent faeries possessing the power to reveal themselves to the human world. The court fey, the royalty amongst their kind, do not often concern themselves with human kind, which is why Aislinn is disconcerted when she finds that two such powerful fey have begun following her.
Keenan, King of Summer, and Donia, the Winter Girl, are at odds, as they have been for decades, both trying to win over Aislinn for their own ends; Keenan believes she may be his new Summer Queen and hopes she will take up this mantle and the risks that involves, while Donia is bound by the rules of the Winter Queen to warn Aislinn of the consequences that may befall her, should she choose to take Keenan's hand. Unbeknownst to the two quarrelling fey, Aislinn seeks safety within the protective, iron walls of her friend Seth's transformed-trainyard home, and comfort from the arms of Seth himself, whom she has developed feelings for.
As the story progresses, Aislinn finds it increasingly difficult to stay away from Keenan's allure despite her feelings and the developing relationship with Seth, whose research into faeries and proximity to Aislinn begin to attract unwanted and dangerous attention. What's more, Aislinn's abilities are advancing well beyond just the Sight. When Keenan later informs her that, due to her being chosen, there is no way back to her life as before, and she must make the choice that decides not just her own future, but that of faery-kind.
There are two major recurrent themes within the book; rules and choices. The tagline for the book are the three rules Grams tells Aislinn to follow in order to stay anonymous to faery-kind: [5]
'Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.
Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.
Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.'
The novel begins with these rules being tested almost immediately, as Aislinn already has their attention, for reasons yet unknown to her. As the story goes on, Aislinn has to battle against these ingrained rules set for her safety and challenge, even disregard, what she thinks she knows. Another significant aspect of the story regarding rules is that of those set by the Winter Queen. In order to restore Keenan's full power, both he and Donia are tasked with finding and persuading his suitors for whichever end; take the staff and become either the new Winter Girl or the Summer Queen, or avoid the risk and become a Summer Girl. However, Donia begins to suspect foul-play as Beira changes the rules by which they have played for centuries, and threatens Donia's existence if she does not comply. The importance of this theme revolves around the characters challenging these rules, and that they should not be accepted and followed purely at face value.
This leads onto the other main theme of the book which is choices. In a version of Wicked Lovely containing an extra 'Chatting with Melissa Marr', [6] the author details how she wishes to impart a message of the importance of making one's own choices, and is also referenced in an interview with book bloggers 'The Book Smugglers'. [7] Marr comments how not making choices results in accepting limitations. [6] This is significant, for within the book, when characters challenge the rules and make their own choices, they find new options and solutions.
Marr also comments in interviews and author bios how, due to growing up believing in magical and mythical creatures and ideas, her books are strongly influenced by folklore and fairytales. [2] [7] In the book each new chapter begins with a quote and reference to a book on folklore, magic, myths or legends. [8]
Reviews for the novel have been mostly positive, having received praise and acclaim from several notable names, including Publishers Weekly , The New York Times , The Washington Post , and The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books . [10] Wicked Lovely debuted at #8 on the New York Times children's books bestseller list, and reached as high as #2, and stayed there for 11 weeks. Annette Klause spoke highly of the work in The Washington Post, praising the "fully realized" world and the romance, [11] while other reviewers, such as Charles de Lint, highlight both the tight plotting and the characterization. [12] Nevertheless, there is some concern with the character of the Winter Queen: Klause found her to "a little too over the top to be totally threatening", [11] while de Lint simply describes her as "a bit of a stock villain". [12] The novel is described as being aimed at the Young Adult market, and some reviews chose to emphasize this, noting that the sexual tension and the "underlying darkness" ensure that Wicked Lovely is primarily appropriate for the over 12's. [13] [14] Book reviewer Matt Berman with Common Sense Media comments that, although it begins to tackle some mature themes that arise within young adult fiction, its "strong, fluid, and respectful characters are an asset" as they face both supernatural and adolescent issues, and is rated for ages 13+. [15]
According to Marr's official website, the international translation rights have been sold to 26 different countries: [19]
Within some countries the title has been altered. Some examples include the Swedish version published under the title Mer än ögat ser meaning 'More than the eye sees', in German under the title of Gegen das Sommerlicht meaning 'Against/Towards the Summer Light', in Spanish under Encanto fatal meaning 'Fatal Enchantment'), and in Croatian under the name Opako ljupki.
In 2011 it was announced that Wicked Lovely had been optioned by Universal [20] Mary Harron had been attached as the director and Caroline Thompson was named to write the screenplay, but the movie was abandoned and put into turnaround that same year. [21] In June 2013 Marr announced on Goodreads that the film had been picked up by IM Global along with Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy . [22] Originally set up at Universal by Wild West Picture Show Productions, the project is now freed up and WWPSP has brought in indie production house Pukeko Pictures to produce and oversee special effects, and Weta Workshop for design and physical effects. [23]
Smith of Wootton Major, first published in 1967, is a novella by J. R. R. Tolkien. It tells the tale of a Great Cake, baked for the once in twenty-four year Feast of Good Children. The Master Cook, Nokes, hides some trinkets in the cake for the children to find; one is a star he found in an old spice box. A boy, Smith, swallows the star. On his tenth birthday the star appears on his forehead, and he starts to roam the Land of Faery. After twenty-four years the Feast comes around again, and Smith surrenders the star to Alf, the new Master Cook. Alf bakes the star into a new Great Cake for another child to find.
TamLin is a character in a legendary ballad originating from the Scottish Borders. It is also associated with a reel of the same name, also known as the Glasgow Reel. The story revolves around the rescue of Tam Lin by his true love from the Queen of the Fairies. The motif of winning a person by holding him through all forms of transformation is found throughout Europe in folktales.
Meredith "Merry" Gentry is the protagonist of an eponymous fantasy series by US writer Laurell K. Hamilton, best known for her other fantasy series Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter. The series comprises nine novels and was written between 2000 when the series began with "A Kiss of Shadows" and the final book, "A Shiver of Light", published in June 3, 2014.
War for the Oaks (1987) is a fantasy novel by American writer Emma Bull. The book tells the story of Eddi McCandry, a rock musician who finds herself unwillingly pulled into the supernatural faerie conflict between good and evil. War for the Oaks is one of the first works in the subgenre of urban fantasy: although it involves supernatural characters, the setting (Minneapolis) is decidedly real-world. The novel is considered one of the first examples of the subgenre known as romantasy.
Terri Windling is an American editor, artist, essayist, and the author of books for both children and adults. She has won nine World Fantasy Awards, the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award, and the Bram Stoker Award, and her collection The Armless Maiden appeared on the short-list for the James Tiptree, Jr. Award.
Holly Black is an American writer and editor best known for her children's and young adult fiction. Her most recent work is the New York Times bestselling young adult Folk of the Air series. She is also well known for The Spiderwick Chronicles, a series of children's fantasy books she created with writer and illustrator Tony DiTerlizzi, and her debut trilogy of young adult novels officially called the Modern Faerie Tales. Black has won an Eisner Award, a Lodestar Award, a Nebula Award, and a Newbery Honor.
Ironside: A Modern Faerie Tale is a young adult urban fantasy novel by Holly Black. It was published in 2007 by the Margaret K. McElderry imprint of Simon & Schuster and is recommended for readers aged "14 and above".
A grimalkin, also known as a greymalkin, is an archaic term for a cat. The term stems from "grey" plus "malkin", an archaic term with several meanings derived from a hypocoristic form of the female name Maud. Scottish legend makes reference to the grimalkin as a faery cat that dwells in the highlands.
Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale is a young-adult fantasy novel written by Holly Black. It was published in 2002 by Simon & Schuster, who recommended it for "ages 12 up". Sequels--Valiant (2005) and Ironside (2007)--completed a trilogy that is sometimes called [A] Modern Tale of Faerie, the subtitle of volume two.
Valiant: A Modern Tale of Faerie, is a young adult urban fantasy novel by Holly Black. It was published in 2005 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, who recommended it for ages "14 up". Valiant is a sequel to Black's debut novel Tithe, and the second in a trilogy that is sometimes called [A] Modern Tale of Faerie (2002–2007).
Aisling is an Irish language feminine given name meaning "dream" or "vision". It refers to an aisling, a poetic genre that developed in Irish poetry during the 17th and 18th centuries. There is no evidence that it was used as a given name before the 20th century. The name is included in Reverend Patrick Woulfe's 1923 collection of Irish names, with the comment that the name was in use in Derry and Omeath.
The Faerie Wars Chronicles is a fantasy action young adult novel series written by James Herbert Brennan. The first book in the series, Faerie Wars was published in the United Kingdom in February 2003 by Bloomsbury Publishing. As of 2011, there are five books in the ongoing series.
Ink Exchange is an urban fantasy novel written by Melissa Marr. It is set in the same universe as Marr's previous novel, Wicked Lovely, but is not a sequel; rather, it is a companion novel that focuses on a different set of characters. Despite being a companion novel, its plot elements connect chronologically to Marr's following novel, Fragile Eternity.
Fragile Eternity is the third novel in the young adult series, Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr and was published in 2009. Like the other novels in the series, it is set in the same universe but focuses on different characters.
Melissa Marr is an American author of young adult/urban fantasy novels.
Radiant Shadows is an Urban fantasy novel by Melissa Marr. It is set in the same universe as Marr's previous YA novels, but is not a sequel to Fragile Eternity; rather, it is a companion novel like Ink Exchange was, focusing on a different set of characters.
In folklore and literature, the Fairy Queen or Queen of the Fairies is a female ruler of the fairies, sometimes but not always paired with a king. Depending on the work, she may be named or unnamed; Titania and Mab are two frequently used names. Numerous characters, goddesses or folkloric spirits worldwide have been labeled as Fairy Queens.
The Iron Fey is a book series written by Julie Kagawa, a New York Times bestselling author. This series follows Meghan Chase, a girl who finds herself forced into the world of the Fey, including characters from William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. The books series was published by Harlequin Teen from 2010 to 2012, including several short stories tying into the main four books in the series. There is a spin-off series, The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten Trilogy, as well as the Evenfall Trilogy.
Faery Rebels, also known as No Ordinary Fairy Tale, is a three-book fantasy series by Canadian author R. J. Anderson. Each book of the series centers around a faery who must venture out of their island to save the faery race.
Susan Dennard is an American YA fantasy author. Her debut novel, Something Strange and Deadly, was published in 2012 by HarperCollins.