Fragile Eternity

Aislinn is the new faerie Summer Queen, but she loves the mortal human Seth. Since all of faerie is on the brink of a cataclysmic war, the Summer Queen's infatuation is distracting her and endangering her subjects, not to mention the entire world. Narrator Nick Landrum uses a gentle, whispery voice, and he reads at a leisurely yet deliberate pace. His delivery suits the story, which does not have much action; instead, characters spend a great deal of time intensely conversing. Landrum's lack of vocal variation makes it occasionally difficult to tell which character is speaking. But if listeners enjoy the romance and intrigue, they'll gladly do what it takes to sort out the characters. G.A.D. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

June 1, 2009
Gr 9 Up-Fans of the fey world will devour this sequel to "Wicked Lovely" (HarperTeen, 2007). The groundwork laid in that book makes navigating the world of the Summer Queen, Winter Queen, and Dark Court easier, although determined readers could make it through this book alone. Marr has created a world both harsh and lush, at once urban and natural, with decaying buildings covered with blooming vines, unkempt Victorian mansions, an overgrown park for the Summer Court, with living Rowan people, gazing ravens, and a mysterious fountain. This world exists within the mortal world and yet remains invisible to most. Aislinn moves uneasily between high school life (although she rarely seems to attend class or study) and her "job" as Summer Queen, a role that increasingly pervades every aspect of her life and draws her deeper into Faerie. Chasteness is not a particularly valued faery trait, and descriptions of interactions, while not explicit, have a mature sensuality and desire. Keenan, Seth, and "Ash" are respectful of boundaries, although the longing to be physically close is never far from the surface, and is sometimes acted upon. Tattoos, body piercing, pool halls, and smoking are portrayed as glamorous parts of teen life. "Wicked Lovely, Fragile Eternity", and their companion, "Ink Exchange" (HarperTeen, 2008), would be good suggestions for fans of Maggie Stiefvater's "Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception" (Flux, 2008)."Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2009
Grades 10-1 In this sequel to Wicked Lovely (2007), Marr shifts the focus back to Aislinn, now the Summer Queen, and her mortal lover, Seth. With summer approaching, Aislinn finds herself increasingly attracted to Keenan, the Summer King. Yet Aislinn clings to her love for Seth, refusing to release her connection to the mortal world. A paragon of patience, Seth knows that Aislinns immortality will eventually separate them, and he pursues a dangerous remedy as tensions within Faerie increase and allegiances shift. Slim on plot andheavy withAislinns inner conflict, this will nevertheless be popular with fans of the series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)