Faery Tales & Nightmares

March 19, 2012
Marr fills in some of the gaps between installments of her Wicked Lovely series with this collection of short stories, most previously published in anthologies or online. While the majority of the stories feature fan favorites (such as Niall, Irial, Seth, Keenan, or Donia), vampires, selkies, and shapeshifters also have a chance to shine. All 11 offerings showcase Marr's trademark blend of paranormal romance, folklore, and dark fantasy, with characters placed in complex situations and forced to make hard choices for the sake of love and fulfillment. From vignettes such as "Flesh for Comfort" to novellas like "Old Habits," Marr plays with emotions, mixing desire and danger, focusing on characters' transformative moments with the confidence of a seasoned storyteller. In "Transition," a teen suffering from romantic ennui enters into an undead love triangle after killing a vampire's mate; in "Winter's Kiss," a princess falls in love with an ice bear. Simple but lyrical language, resourceful female protagonists, and a mixed bag of supernatural delights should hold an allure for fans and newcomers alike. Ages 13âup. Agent: Merrilee Heifetz, Writer's House.

March 1, 2012

Gr 8 Up-Marr's many fans will be happy to know that half of the short stories in this collection take place in the world of her "Wicked Lovely" series (HarperCollins). Readers unfamiliar with the books may find the stories confusing because events are out of sequence and little backstory is provided. A number of the selections have appeared in other anthologies, in ebook-only editions, or in special editions of Marr's books. Several of the other tales feature vampires, and "Transition" is particularly violent and bloody. "Winter's Kiss" takes elements from the classic "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" as it portrays a girl who breathes out icy air and can't live in warmth. She heads north in search of a colder climate and befriends an ice-bear who is really a boy from a shape-shifting family. One of the most chilling stories, "Flesh for Comfort," highlights the intensely painful lengths a girl will go to, to lose weight so she can escape the hometown she hates and to avoid ending up married to a local boy and popping out lots of babies. All of the stories are about characters looking for love on their own terms, and that's something any teen can relate to.-Sharon Rawlins, New Jersey State Library, Trenton

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2012
Short stories focusing mainly on Marr's previous novel series crowd out other interesting tales in this uneven collection. Beginning with an intriguing vampire tale and an affecting love story involving seal-people ("selchies"), the author continues by using most of the book for a multi-chaptered novella plus more stories that deal directly with her earlier Wicked Lovely series but never provides any exposition for them. Instead, these stories, comprising about two-thirds of the book, demand knowledge of her already created faerie world. Absent that knowledge, the faerie stories, especially the novella, are virtually incomprehensible. Two or three have tenuous plot lines, but most appear to be filling in possible loose ends from the series. Other, much shorter stories provide better impact, especially "Flesh for Comfort," a nicely creepy tale. However, one wonders why the standalone stories have been included here. Wouldn't a final addition to the series and a separate short-story book have served readers better? Add to that the author's fondness for italicizing emphatic statements and such eccentric sentences as, "The tangles of panic and fear and guilt hit Irial like an unwelcome banquet," and readers will understand another of her statements: "Excess is normalcy." For dedicated fans only. (Fantasy suspense. 12 & up)

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