Review: Enjoyable yet different to Jen Minkmans other fantastic series
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 12 15, 2013
INITIAL THOUGHTSTo be totally honest I agreed to read this book without even reading the blurb as I have read other books by Jen Minkman and loved them.During reading the book, I did think "where is this book going?" a few times. I also felt a little confused at times too.MY REVIEWSo as I have said before, I have read other books by Jen Minkman so immediately jumped at the chance to read her latest book. Jen sent me a free copy in exchange for my honest review. The title is also on Netgalley so my review will be going there too.I think the cover is very dreamy looking and I'd say you can almost imagine fae and pixies dancing about in the woods near Julia's home. As Julia's favourite place to be is by a tree and I think the cover represents that well. There is quite a lot of strong imagery within the book that could have been used as the cover. I think as Julia is the central character to everything that her being on the cover is a good choice. Would the cover make me pick it up in a book store? Being 100% honest it would be the author's name that would draw me to the book and make me want to now more even though the cover is attractive enough on its own.The main characters in this book are teenagers who have recently graduated from school, yet they also seem to be old enough to go to a pub and drink already. I guess the legal drinking age could be different where the book is set in Austria but I admit the whole "meeting and drinking at the pub" was confusing at times. I also think the use of bad language was really unnecessary in certain parts of the book, it just didn't sit totally right with the characters for me. So Julia made a really bad decision and slept with the guy she had had a crush on whilst at school. The problem was Julia was hoping for a lasting relationship and Michael was not, in fact he was extremely indifferent to her the morning after! So naturally they haven't really spoken since that happened. then Michael is involved in a motorcycle accident near Julia's favourite tree in the woods near her home and when she finds him and calls an ambulance etc, he seems to have undergone a complete character change. Suddenly he loves Julia and wants to date her. Naturally Julia is skeptical as are her friends and family. Her Gran wisely tells her to just "see what happens".Then there's another plot running at the same time which concentrates on Anne, Julia's sister who has suddenly become secretive and obsessed with the woods and forest. Julia see's drawing Anne has done and thinks they are of some imaginary Prince of the Woods her sister has made up from an old story they were told when younger, but things end up taking a much more sinister direction. Michael ends up "saving the day" helping to locate Anne but will she live? and how on earth did Michael find her? He too seems to have become more attached to the woods since his accident.It is quite difficult to explain some of my points without giving away major spoilers or the books plot.The pace of the book kind of goes up and down. It has some really great sections and then some that seem to go off on a tangent that isn't necessarily in line with the story. I did find things a little confusing at times as it felt like there were two different books going on together, Anne's story and Julia & Michael's. Maybe it's because its set in a country I do not know much about. It sometimes felt the really interesting parts, such as Anne being missing were a little rushed over, instead of playing out steadily.I specifically enjoyed the parts when Julia was working at the book store, and quoting and reading from the books. It reminded me a little of when I worked in a book store! Obviously bookstores are universally similar!So did I enjoy the book? I liked it, so yes, but being totally brutally honest, not as much as the other books I've read by Jen Minkman. Would I recommend the book? Yes for the YA age group of readers. Would I read a Bk#2? With the way the book ends I really don't think there will be another book. I think this was a standalone book. Would I read other books by this Author? Yes, I have read other books by Jen Minkman and intend to keep reading her books!I hope the act I have only given three stars to this book doesn't put anyone off ans the three stars means I did like the book but felt I couldn't give more stars in comparison to other books I have read by Jen Minkman.