Review: Really fun, short read~! 4.5 star!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 11, 2011
I was completely surprised to read this and like it as much as I did. I really vacillated between a 4-5 star rating and this novella, at 22K words, was short and had pacing to match. I am not used to reading something of this length so the entire feel of the read and what it delivered as far as information and action is decidedly different than say, a typical novel of 80 to 110K.Jensen is a human that finds out she is a faerie by a series of clues and accidents that happen on her short journey of discovery. By far, the simplistic and realistic teen dialogue that is equal parts snappy/comedic/and not *too* contrived made for an enjoyable read that was easy-to-follow (it's not "spot-on" but she has great narrative flow and doesn't use words that smack "adult" and lose the teen flavor of the read). I love all the colors and descriptions of the different characters and feel sure that Spencer will offer more depth to all the different sub-species within the Fae as the continuation of the series progresses. I love the boy, Liam, that she's interested in and he smoldered and protected in a most satisfying way. I am confounded that some reviewers don't get this story(?) It is engaging and clear from the beginning.Third person was very helpful in the telling of this story, without it, and the short length, it may have fallen "flatter" for the reader. Although the love interest is small, the romantic tension runs high and that is key to capturing my continued interest in a series. A bunch of "making-out" will not do and I need to feel that hint of swirling romance in the air like a finely tuned wire, strung taut and unyielding to feel that connection and desire to read more. Spencer also included a minor mystery and I had an "ah-huh," moment at the end with a betrayal and some information that was plopped in my lap at the end.I wish I had just succumbed earlier, paid the $1 to read this when I was first so taken with the cover! (Can I say the cover art is A-MA-ZING!) But I decided to download this for free and now can't wait to get it's sequel, "Limerick." I see from the rankings that the sequel is doing terrific because everyone, like me, got "Shimmerspell" and couldn't wait to get novella #2! Fun with Faeries, definitely!