quippe | Entries tagged with leslye walton

The Blurb On The Back:

All Nor Blackburn wants is to live an unremarkable teenage life. But as a descendant of the witch Rona Blackburn, who famously cursed her family over a century ago, Nor is no stranger to suffering. She has reason to hope, however, that she may have escaped the thornier side effects of Rona’s curse.

Then a mysterious book comes out, promising to cast any spell for the right price. The author - Nor’s own mother - is performing magic that should be far beyond her capabilities. And such magic always requires a sacrifice.

A storm is coming. It’s coming for Nor.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Leslye Walton’s YA fantasy novel has some great ideas and vivid and bleak imagery but the plot is filled with holes while characterisation beyond Nor is essentially non-existent. Although self-harm forms a major theme in the book, I didn’t buy into Nor’s psychological state and the inevitable YA love triangle between Nor, Reed and Gage is half-hearted and fails to sizzle. The book ends with the set-up for a sequel but I’m not sure I’d read on.

Thanks to Walker Books for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

A mesmerizing, lyrical tale of longing, desire and the pain of love.

Foolish love appears to be a Roux family birthright, and for Ava Lavender, a girl born with the wings of a bird, it is key to her inheritance. In a quest to understand her peculiar disposition and a growing desire to join her peers, sixteen-year-old Ava ventures away from home, ill-prepared for what awaits her in a world that does not know whether to view her as girl or angel. Ava’s search and her family’s saga build to a devastating crescendo until, on the summer solstice, the skies open up, rain and feathers fill the air and Ava’s fate is revealed.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Leslye Walton’s debut YA novel is a quirky literary tale with a magical realist feel that would appeal to fans of Wes Anderson movies. It’s an engaging read but while I kept turning the pages, I have to say that I wasn’t convinced that it’s actually a YA book. This is mainly because the first 115 pages aren’t about Ava at all, instead going into the family and romantic adventures of her mother and grandmother and even when Ava’s story comes to the floor, it’s told through the prism of her family’s experiences. I can see that as turning off some teenage readers. In addition, I wasn’t comfortable with a rape scene because it seemed solely intended to reinforce the image of the character as first a victim and then a survivor and the perpetrator as a villain and as such, seemed gauche and cliché. Ultimately I can see it as being a Marmite book that readers either love or hate, although I enjoyed it enough to want to read Walton’s next book.

THE STRANGE AND BEAUTIFUL SORROWS OF AVA LAVENDER is released in the United Kingdom on 27th March 2014. Thanks to Walker Books for the ARC of this book.