Release Date: May 31, 2007

Publisher: HarperTeen

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 328

Description:

Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty-especially if they learn of her Sight-and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.

Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.

But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost-regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.

Faerie intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning 21st century faery tale.

My Review:

From the time of her birth Aislinn has always seen the faeries. For Aislinn it's like a curse which was passed down from her grandmother to her mother to Aislinn. In order to live a relatively normal life Aislinn tries to ignore what she sees but it's difficult when she sees them just about everywhere and let me tell you some of those faeries are evil! In order to try and live with this Aislinn's grandmother has ingrained in her since birth three rules she must follow because she must never reveal that she has the sight to the faeries who knows what they will do. One of the only person who acts as a calming presence in her life is her best friend (and maybe something more) Seth. Suddenly Aislinn's whole life is turned upside down when she notices she is being followed by two faeries, Donia and Keenan who happens to be the Summer King in search for his Summer Queen who Keenan believes is Aislinn. Suddenly Aislinn finds herself talking to the faeries that she has been terrified of her whole life trying desperately to ward off Keenan.

I loved the whole premise of this novel, I haven't read anything like it before. I found Aislinn to be strong character, even though she managed to keep her sight hidden her whole life and was scared of the faeries she still had the courage to confront Keenan (especially when the subject was about Seth) and revealed her sight to both Donia and Keenan. I couldn't warm to Keenan, I don't know what it was and I really didn't want Aislinn to end up with him I really wanted to see her with Seth. Ah Seth, who doesn't like a bad boy with piercings and tattoos, but don't be fooled he may look tough but deep down he is a really great guy who adores Aislinn and would do anything for her. I loved how their relationship developed throughout the novel. The only issue I had (and its small) was how easy Seth believed Aislinn when she told him about her sight, it was like Aislinn: 'I see faeries and they're bad', Seth: 'oh okay that's weird I'll help you and go to the library and read some books about faeries'. I know you'll say but it's a fantasy book what do you expect but I guess I thought it would have taken a bit longer to convince him that's all. Keenan's mother the Winter Queen was a real piece of work I'm glad to say she got what was coming to her! I also thought it was really ingenious how Marr started each chapter with quotes from books written about faries from the 1800s you could see how she woved the faery lore into her book.

I can't wait to get immersed into the faery world again when I read the next chapter in the series 'Ink Exchange'.