Helpful Score: 3
I love books about fairies in the modern day world; so I was eager to read this book. I really enjoyed it; I thought the premise of the book was very interesting and the idea of fairies being plants was fascinating. This is supposed to be the first of four books about Laurel; at least that is what I read according to the author at this time.
This book is full of mystery and danger. Initially Laurel is just in shock when a blossom blooms out of her back. But after going over the evidence with her geeky biology friend they figure out that maybe she really is a plant instead of an animal; she can only eat fruits and veggies, she doesn't bleed, and she always need to have her skin exposed to air. When things start going bad for her family after a mysterious man tries to buy some land from Laurel's mom; land that has been in her family for generations, Laurel finds out that she is more than just a plant and that her mother's land is more than just land.
This book was a very creative take on fairies. I enjoyed the interesting prospective of fairies being plants. I also enjoyed how biology was applied to prove out the theories of Laurel's true nature. It was interesting that there is hinting at more types of mythical races being included in this series (trolls, etc.). The story itself was a fairly complete story; you aren't left in a huge amount of suspense at the end of the book. It was a well-written novel and was easy to read. I enjoyed the book immensley.
The only thing that I think detracted from the book was that some of the characterization was a bit weak. I think sometimes Laurel came across as whiny, helpless, and indecisive; there were times when this got annoying. David sometimes came across as needy and obessed which was also bothersome. Even though I found some of the characters to be a bit sterotypical and slightly annoying; it didn't detract from the story that much and the creativity of the story really outshown any of the faults.
Overall I find myself really looking forward to the next book in the series. This series should be interesting and shows a lot of promise.
This book is full of mystery and danger. Initially Laurel is just in shock when a blossom blooms out of her back. But after going over the evidence with her geeky biology friend they figure out that maybe she really is a plant instead of an animal; she can only eat fruits and veggies, she doesn't bleed, and she always need to have her skin exposed to air. When things start going bad for her family after a mysterious man tries to buy some land from Laurel's mom; land that has been in her family for generations, Laurel finds out that she is more than just a plant and that her mother's land is more than just land.
This book was a very creative take on fairies. I enjoyed the interesting prospective of fairies being plants. I also enjoyed how biology was applied to prove out the theories of Laurel's true nature. It was interesting that there is hinting at more types of mythical races being included in this series (trolls, etc.). The story itself was a fairly complete story; you aren't left in a huge amount of suspense at the end of the book. It was a well-written novel and was easy to read. I enjoyed the book immensley.
The only thing that I think detracted from the book was that some of the characterization was a bit weak. I think sometimes Laurel came across as whiny, helpless, and indecisive; there were times when this got annoying. David sometimes came across as needy and obessed which was also bothersome. Even though I found some of the characters to be a bit sterotypical and slightly annoying; it didn't detract from the story that much and the creativity of the story really outshown any of the faults.
Overall I find myself really looking forward to the next book in the series. This series should be interesting and shows a lot of promise.
Helpful Score: 2
What a disappointment. WINGS garners attention as being similar to Twilight, but let's just say that the over-hyped vampire series is still a lot more interesting than anything this book has to offer.
Where do I even begin? The characters lack personality or appeal. Laurel has not a stitch of mental or physical strength on her. The love triangle between Laurel, David, and Tamani is extremely contrived: I sensed no attraction at all between any of the three, no real reason why the boys would like Laurel the bland "heroine," and no appeal in the caricatures of the boys, David the goody-two-shoes good friend, and Tamani the "dangerously attractive and mysterious" fairy. If you're trying to copy off the popularity of the Twilight love triangle, at least develop the males well enough that readers are encouraged to take sides.
The concept of fairies being similar to plants was fairly interesting; my favorite parts of the book are when David geeks out and begins doing all sorts of scientific experiments on Laurel to prove to her that she is a plant. Unfortunately, the story lacked everything else: engaging dialogue, plot, movement. The word that sprang to mind most when I read this book was "contrived;" it felt like we readers were told how we were supposed to feel about the characters and their predicaments instead of actually letting us feel anything. Anything that readers needed to know about the plot was explained in endless pages of stationary dialogue, which I wouldn't even mind if not for the fact that the dialogue feels forced and the characters are not explaining anything of worth or interest to me anyway.
Alas, it seems like I and other reviewers can blither and blather all we want; the audience (and publishers) clearly know what they want, and that's some more horrible Twilight spin-offs. Seriously, though, if you're looking for some more fantasy love triangles and fairy wars etc., don't check here. In fact, don't read this book at all if you can. It won't be long before you'll be wondering about how you can get a refund on your time.
Where do I even begin? The characters lack personality or appeal. Laurel has not a stitch of mental or physical strength on her. The love triangle between Laurel, David, and Tamani is extremely contrived: I sensed no attraction at all between any of the three, no real reason why the boys would like Laurel the bland "heroine," and no appeal in the caricatures of the boys, David the goody-two-shoes good friend, and Tamani the "dangerously attractive and mysterious" fairy. If you're trying to copy off the popularity of the Twilight love triangle, at least develop the males well enough that readers are encouraged to take sides.
The concept of fairies being similar to plants was fairly interesting; my favorite parts of the book are when David geeks out and begins doing all sorts of scientific experiments on Laurel to prove to her that she is a plant. Unfortunately, the story lacked everything else: engaging dialogue, plot, movement. The word that sprang to mind most when I read this book was "contrived;" it felt like we readers were told how we were supposed to feel about the characters and their predicaments instead of actually letting us feel anything. Anything that readers needed to know about the plot was explained in endless pages of stationary dialogue, which I wouldn't even mind if not for the fact that the dialogue feels forced and the characters are not explaining anything of worth or interest to me anyway.
Alas, it seems like I and other reviewers can blither and blather all we want; the audience (and publishers) clearly know what they want, and that's some more horrible Twilight spin-offs. Seriously, though, if you're looking for some more fantasy love triangles and fairy wars etc., don't check here. In fact, don't read this book at all if you can. It won't be long before you'll be wondering about how you can get a refund on your time.
Helpful Score: 2
I really wasnt planning on reading Wings today, but only because I didnt have the second book in the series yet. And if youve read any of my other book reviews you know I generally wait till Ive got 3 or 4 of the books in a series before I start it. However, I made the mistake of glancing at the first couple of pages. First thing I knew about an hour had past and I was well beyond the point where I could stop. I had heard this book compared to Twilight and Meyer had a nice little blurb on the cover, A Remarkable Debut. Boy was everyone right on the money. This book was so refreshing and though I heard it mentioned that it started slow, I didnt think so. I can see why others have compared it to Twilight as it left me with a feeling of total satisfaction when I finished it (gleefully knowing that there were to be 4 books in this series). While Id have loved it to have been the length of Twilight, I have the satisfaction of knowing that book 2, Spells, is on its way to me as we speak and Illusions is due out May of 2011. Pikes modern mythology of faeries was fascinating and a joy to watch unfold. I do hope we find out more about the faeries history as the next book unfolds but again the characters, the world building and the action within the story was an awesome thing to behold.
Helpful Score: 1
I couldn't finish it. It was very predictable and not unique enough. Try reading Holly Black or Melissa Marr if you like it though, as the storyline was very similar to both of those authors, though it fell short on plot and character development for me.
Helpful Score: 1
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I was expecting it to be an okay read, but something that I wouldn't want to keep. (Also I had no idea it was a series, I thought it was one book in itself when I picked it up) Boy was I wrong. This is one that will be staying on my shelf. The beginning was a tad slow, but not too bad. Then it gets to the point where you don't want to put it down. I think the only reason it was compared to Twilight is because there are 2 guys who both want the girl, so there can be a Team David and a Team Tamani. The chemistry isn't quite as good as the Twilight saga, but it does get close. I got to the last page, and was on my way to the book store to get the next one!
Wings, the debut novel by Aprilynne Pike, grabbed my attention because of its front-cover review by Stephenie Meyer, author of Twilight. While I enjoyed the book overall, it was a veeeeerrrrry slow starter. By page 50, I had thought of giving up on it -- twice. By page 100, I was becoming slowly enticed by the developing story. Luckily, by page 150, I was fully engrossed in the unique faerie mythology Pike has created in this novel.
The story follows 15-year-old Laurel, a beautiful, willowy vegan who has been homeschooled her entire life. She's just been transplanted into public school for the first time, and moved into a new town away from the land her family has owned for generations. Although Laurel quickly makes friends -- including hunky science nerd David -- its obvious that she's very different from the rest of her peers. She hates being cooped up inside, rarely eats and never gets sick. Just how different she truly is, however, isn't obvious until the morning that she awakens with a huge, wing-like flower sprouting out of her back.
The story that emerges is definitely cut from the same cloth as Twilight, only written perhaps for a younger audience. The book is the first of a four book series that will explore further the land of Avalon and Laurel's role as an autumn faerie living in the human world. It's a solid premise and a different take on fairies. Best of all, the book set the stage for a nice love triangle between normal guy David and Laurel's other love interest, Tamani, who is everything David isn't -- including, human. I'm sure this plot point will be revisited in future sequels.
Overall, I liked the book... I just didn't LOVE it. It was engaging, but very predictable. The villian might as well have been wearing a sign that said, "Hi, I'm the bad guy." The parents are very two-dimensional. And it took me quite awhile to care about Laurel and her predicament. I will probably pick up the next book by Pike to see what lies in store for her characters (especially Tamani, the most likeable and colorful of the bunch) but it's not a release I feel the need to add to my calendar. [close]
The story follows 15-year-old Laurel, a beautiful, willowy vegan who has been homeschooled her entire life. She's just been transplanted into public school for the first time, and moved into a new town away from the land her family has owned for generations. Although Laurel quickly makes friends -- including hunky science nerd David -- its obvious that she's very different from the rest of her peers. She hates being cooped up inside, rarely eats and never gets sick. Just how different she truly is, however, isn't obvious until the morning that she awakens with a huge, wing-like flower sprouting out of her back.
The story that emerges is definitely cut from the same cloth as Twilight, only written perhaps for a younger audience. The book is the first of a four book series that will explore further the land of Avalon and Laurel's role as an autumn faerie living in the human world. It's a solid premise and a different take on fairies. Best of all, the book set the stage for a nice love triangle between normal guy David and Laurel's other love interest, Tamani, who is everything David isn't -- including, human. I'm sure this plot point will be revisited in future sequels.
Overall, I liked the book... I just didn't LOVE it. It was engaging, but very predictable. The villian might as well have been wearing a sign that said, "Hi, I'm the bad guy." The parents are very two-dimensional. And it took me quite awhile to care about Laurel and her predicament. I will probably pick up the next book by Pike to see what lies in store for her characters (especially Tamani, the most likeable and colorful of the bunch) but it's not a release I feel the need to add to my calendar. [close]
This is being written by a avid book-reading teen:
Wings was Okay. It was not the best. I'm not happy about people relating it to Twilight. Wings had good characters and a good plot. The only problem was the ending. The second problem was pointless. It should have been made into a separate book or gotten rid of all together. Otherwise, it was good.
Wings was Okay. It was not the best. I'm not happy about people relating it to Twilight. Wings had good characters and a good plot. The only problem was the ending. The second problem was pointless. It should have been made into a separate book or gotten rid of all together. Otherwise, it was good.
This little YA novel was slow moving in the first sixty percent of the book. At that point, I felt that it was simplistic and the characters shallow. Almost, I gave up reading it but I usually finish what I begin to read. The plot picks up and the action begins when Laurel's parents decide to sell the family home which has been owned by her mother's family for generations. And, strange things begin to happen to Laurel. She has a bump on her back that opens into a flower. How can a human develop a blossom? The truth is that she is not human. Instead, she is a plant, a faerie.
Laurel has met a man of her kind in the forest behind the ancestral home who explains these facts to her. He expounds on some of her past but it is David, her best friend, who helps her believe what Tamani has told her. David is a science geek who performs experiments to prove it. Meanwhile, Laurel's father becomes critically ill and Laurel's mother signs papers to sell the land - land that holds a faerie secret that must be preserved at all costs. Too many already know the secret - perhaps even the trolls who once attacked faerie lands. I think that this is an appropriate read for a very young YA audience.
Laurel has met a man of her kind in the forest behind the ancestral home who explains these facts to her. He expounds on some of her past but it is David, her best friend, who helps her believe what Tamani has told her. David is a science geek who performs experiments to prove it. Meanwhile, Laurel's father becomes critically ill and Laurel's mother signs papers to sell the land - land that holds a faerie secret that must be preserved at all costs. Too many already know the secret - perhaps even the trolls who once attacked faerie lands. I think that this is an appropriate read for a very young YA audience.
I have read several "fairy" themed books but felt this is the first one to really keep my interest & wanting to read more. I am anxious to read the next one in the series.
It took me 3 months to get through this book. It was that boring! I found myself many times throughout it nodding to myself and wanting to give up. It just wasn't very believable and yes I know it's a story but I didn't buy in to the fact that Daniel was just ok with Laurel being a fairy and having a flower on her back. I don't understand why this book got so many good reviews.
Good book. Quick read. Young readers will especially enjoy.
This was a good book....very original. Can't wait to read the others in the series.
Loved this book. I'm a big fairy fan so this one is going in my library.
Reviewed by Marta Morrison for TeensReadToo.com
What happens when you find out that you are different. Not just a little different but really DIFFERENT?!
Laurel finds herself in public school for the first time when she is a sophomore. She has been homeschooled in a small cabin in the forest. Her parents moved to Crescent City, in Northern California, about an hour away from her cabin to open a bookstore.
At her high school Laurel meets David, and he invites her to join his group of friends. He also becomes her best friend.
As she is getting settled into her new life, she gets a bump on her back - which grows bigger and bigger until she sprouts a pretty blue blossom. This blossom makes her look like she has wings.
She manages to hide it from her family and the people at school, but she and David begin to investigate. He looks at cells of her blossom and her cheeks and comes to the conclusion that she is made of plant cells.
Laurel goes back to her cabin home in search of answers. There she meets Tamani, a gorgeous young man who tells her that she is a fairy. She has been helping the fairies guard a secret that is by her cabin home.
Later, her dad takes ill and Laurel and David risk their lives fighting trolls, who are trying to acquire Laurel's forest home. These trolls are scary! They are big, strong, and the main one is smart.
WINGS is the first of four books, and it leaves us with Laurel living two different lives. Should she go back to her fairy life with Tamani, or stay and guard her adoptive parents and be with David, who Laurel also has feelings for?
I really loved this book. It had everything: love, chases, close escapes, dramatic choices, and lots of magic. The writing was very good, and at some points I had to put down the book just because I was so nervous for the characters, which for me means that I was totally involved in the story.
Laurel is someone who I would want to be my best friend. David is also fantastic. He is what I would love to meet and have in my life. He is accepting, brave, and extremely helpful. Tamani is strong, intense, and sexy! What a choice!
I highly recommend this series. It is fun and very believable. Go now and buy your copy of WINGS!
What happens when you find out that you are different. Not just a little different but really DIFFERENT?!
Laurel finds herself in public school for the first time when she is a sophomore. She has been homeschooled in a small cabin in the forest. Her parents moved to Crescent City, in Northern California, about an hour away from her cabin to open a bookstore.
At her high school Laurel meets David, and he invites her to join his group of friends. He also becomes her best friend.
As she is getting settled into her new life, she gets a bump on her back - which grows bigger and bigger until she sprouts a pretty blue blossom. This blossom makes her look like she has wings.
She manages to hide it from her family and the people at school, but she and David begin to investigate. He looks at cells of her blossom and her cheeks and comes to the conclusion that she is made of plant cells.
Laurel goes back to her cabin home in search of answers. There she meets Tamani, a gorgeous young man who tells her that she is a fairy. She has been helping the fairies guard a secret that is by her cabin home.
Later, her dad takes ill and Laurel and David risk their lives fighting trolls, who are trying to acquire Laurel's forest home. These trolls are scary! They are big, strong, and the main one is smart.
WINGS is the first of four books, and it leaves us with Laurel living two different lives. Should she go back to her fairy life with Tamani, or stay and guard her adoptive parents and be with David, who Laurel also has feelings for?
I really loved this book. It had everything: love, chases, close escapes, dramatic choices, and lots of magic. The writing was very good, and at some points I had to put down the book just because I was so nervous for the characters, which for me means that I was totally involved in the story.
Laurel is someone who I would want to be my best friend. David is also fantastic. He is what I would love to meet and have in my life. He is accepting, brave, and extremely helpful. Tamani is strong, intense, and sexy! What a choice!
I highly recommend this series. It is fun and very believable. Go now and buy your copy of WINGS!
A wonderful modern Faere tale.
interesting concept and definitely geared to the young adult
