Unthinkable

July 15, 2013
Held captive by the man who killed her lover, psychologically and sexually abused, forced to watch successive generations of young girls treated similarly and then killed: This sounds more ripped from the headlines than fantasy. Some 400 years ago, Padraig stole Fenella and cursed her family. The curse broken, damaged Fenella wants only to die. But faeries don't play nice, and Fenella's release requires three acts of destruction visited upon her family (known and beloved to readers from Impossible, 2008). She is aided by the faerie queen's brother Ryland (from Extraordinary, 2010), whose wry, amoral observations provide the closest thing to levity here. This should be a rich, nuanced novel: It boasts survivor guilt, impossible situations and the question of what choice means, all set against a backdrop of complex familial relationships and faeries, with the bonus of tying together two previous and well-liked tales. But flat main character Fenella never elicits sympathy, in part because her abuse is talked around more than about, and her awful behavior (arson, attempted murder and kidnapping) will leave readers hard-pressed to root for her. Even the (destined) brewing romance that brings Fenella back to a place of kindness involves Fenella behaving as a sexual predator, and the late-game switch from selfish to selfless motivations can't redeem the character. Unpleasant, unlikable and unbalanced. (Fantasy. 14-18)

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August 1, 2013

Gr 7 Up-Lucy Scarborough has ended the curse that haunted the women of her family for 400 years and is settling into a happy life after the events of Impossible (Dial, 2008). But Fenella, with whom the curse began, isn't at peace. After being trapped in Faerie for centuries, all she wants is to die, so she strikes a deal with the Faerie queen: if she destroys her family, she can end her own life. She shows up on Lucy's doorstep to begin her three tasks of destruction (the inverse of Lucy's three tasks of creation). However, despite her tortured past, it is difficult to sympathize with Fenella's cruel intentions. Readers who rooted for Lucy's success may struggle with this novel, especially since Lucy's spirit and determination, so much a part of her character in Impossible, are largely absent here so that Fenella can take center stage. They will also have a hard time believing Lucy's family's acceptance of Fenella, even after she begins to destroy their security and love. Mention is made of their suspicions, but Fenella is never asked to leave, and while the ending is somewhat open-ended, it's still more hopeful than seems likely. Even with its flaws and heavy reliance on a suspension of disbelief, Unthinkable may still find an audience among fans of Impossible who liked the blending of real-world and fantasy, the focus on family, and the tale of a young woman overcoming what seem like incredible odds.-Gretchen Kolderup, New York Public Library

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from August 1, 2013
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* In this stand-alone sequel to Impossible (2008), Werlin presents a heroic character who has three tasks: to destroy her family's home, their love, and their hope. The destroyer is Fenella, who has been trapped in the faerie realm for hundreds of years. Like Impossible's Lucy, she is a Scarborough; Lucy broke the family curse that killed generations of girls; Fenella was the first to be cursed by the despicable Padraig. The only way for Fenella to find release, according to the Faerie Queen, is to destroy, and she agrees before she's told it is Lucy, her husband, daughter, foster parents, and tormented mother, Miranda, who must be the targets. Werlin pulls off quite a feat, making us care deeply for a character driven by selfish needs, intent on betrayal. The irresistably plotted book, also raises large questions about the nature of security and whether destruction is tied to creation. The tension is palpable as Fenella ponders possibilities for accomplishing her unforgivable tasks, and the reader, though horrified, can't walk away from her, nor can her love interest, Walker. Fenella's feline companion, Ryland, the feisty brother of the Faerie Queen, adds some levity to a unique and unforgettable quest. Though the destruction is handled almost philosophically, at its heart, this is a story about the many different levels of love.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)