Wings by Aprilynn Pike

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful--too beautiful for words.

Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.

In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

Jillian’s Review:

This was an okay read. The characters weren't really believable and the story was a bit slow. I can't stand it when the kids get into a mess and go to some boy (or girl) they've barely met instead of their kind, supportive parents. Doesn't make sense except to progress the romance... and the romance factor in this was pretty lame as well.

These kids barely know each other, not to mention the fairy Laurel meets for five minutes and can’t stop thinking about even though I forgot about him the moment I turned the page. He does get better on closer acquaintance, however we don’t get to read enough about him to enjoy his character as I believe Pike wanted us to.

Sadly lacking.

Wings by E. D. Baker

Wings by E.D. Baker

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

There’s always been something a little unusual about Tamisin. Her freckles look more like sparkles, and the full moon makes her want to dance.

But nothing could have prepared her for the day when real, working fairy wings sprout from her back. At school there’s a new guy names Jak, who seems to know something she doesn't. As her world get stranger by the minute Tamisin finds out more about herself and the fairy world.

Jillian’s Review:

This was really a cute story, with great detail, but it became silly (my nice word for stupid) when the fantasy land came into play (e.i. during a battle between goblins and fairies, the fairies throw pixie dust on the goblins which makes then grow really big noses, or shrink, or some such nonsense).  This is a middle grade novel which would explain the silliness, I guess.

That being said, I did enjoy the characters and Baker’s descriptions are wonderfully visual, I especially liked the description of the emerging of Tamisin’s wings.

I do think younger girls would enjoy this one a lot more than I did.