Monday, February 16, 2015

ARC Review: The Boy with the Hidden Name (Otherworld #2) by Skylar Dorset

Title: The Boy With The Hidden Name (Otherworld #2)
Author: Skylar Dorset
Release Date:
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: This is not your average trip to Fairyland...

Selkie Stewart has just saved her quasi-boyfriend, Ben, from a fairy prison run by the Seelie Court. If they weren't the two most-wanted individuals in the Otherworld before, they definitely are now. Along with Ben and the rest of their ragtag group of allies-Selkie's ogre aunts; a wizard named Will; Ben's cousin Safford; and Kelsey, Selkie's best friend-Selkie is ready to embrace her destiny and bring the Court down. Until she hears the rest of her prophecy: Benedict le Fay will betray you, and then he will die.

Detailed Review: I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback.

If you remember, this is the sequel to the book that gave me a book hangover previously, which led to a 1 week reading slump.

It was just that good.

The sequel is even better.

I believe that there is a secret ingredient when it comes to writing good sequels.

You must keep everything the same, but something always has to change, has to seem out of place. Different.

Oh, trust me, there were many things that were different from what I expected. And yet, there were elements that still felt the same: Selkie's aunts' love for her and vice versa, Selkie's feelings for Ben, the fact that her mother was still after her (in fact, the whole Seelie court) and more.

The differences were the twists. So if you want a spoiler-free review, then I shall not list them out for you.

The characters, as usual, were filled with humour and personality that infused this book with life. Ben's mom is introduced in this book, and although I didn't like her at first, I loved her in the end. Not only was she complex, she was a good mother that Selkie's mother could never compare to. The Erlking, king of the goblins was also a mysterious character that piques my interest when the spotlight is on him.
This book isn't just about some age-old prophecy and the need to make it come true, it's about the bond between mother and child, and the strength of the friendship that ties Selkie and her friends together.

The story was unpredictable in so many ways, but entirely delectable in another. Nowadays, I seem to get pleasure from other characters' pain and confusion. It made the book more... entertaining.

I was definitely happy at the way the book turned out in the end. A happily ever after, as it turned to out to be, which means no more book hangovers!

Brief Review: What a beautiful ending to a great story! I would give whatever I could just so I could to relive the story again with these delightful and complex characters. If only I had the time! Is there a time-stopping faerie nearby that I could use?

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'









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