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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
Cute story.
A true YA for 10 years and older and also lovely for adults.
A true YA for 10 years and older and also lovely for adults.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Aprilynne Pike’s Wings is a spellbinding tale that weaves together fantasy, romance, and self-discovery, making it a standout in fae literature. Though it’s geared toward young adult readers, this novel has captivated me well into my 30s, and I find myself returning to it time and again. Having read it nearly a dozen times, I can confidently say it holds a permanent and cherished place in my heart.
The story follows Laurel, a seemingly ordinary teenager whose life takes an extraordinary turn when she discovers she’s not entirely human but a faerie. Pike masterfully captures the awe and confusion of Laurel’s journey as she navigates her identity, the mysteries of her past, and the magical world she’s a part of. Laurel is a relatable and compelling protagonist whose struggles and triumphs resonate beyond age, and each time I read the book, I find new ways to connect with her.
What initially drew me to Wings was my lifelong love of fairies and fae, but what keeps me coming back is Pike’s exceptional world-building. She creates a realm of magic and wonder that feels both fresh and timeless, with vivid descriptions and imaginative details that completely transport the reader. Pike’s take on fae mythology is unique, blending elements of fantasy with a touch of science that adds depth and intrigue.
This book’s pacing is perfect, pulling you in from the first page and keeping you hooked until the very end. On more than one occasion, I’ve devoured it in a single day, unable to tear myself away. The romantic tension, the exploration of self-identity, and the richly crafted world combine to create a reading experience that feels as magical as the story itself.
Wings is the kind of book that makes you believe in magic and leaves you longing for more. For fans of fae literature, this series is an absolute must-read. It’s a testament to Pike’s skill as a storyteller that this book continues to enchant me no matter how many times I revisit it.
Just finished Wings and read the last half in one day. Totally a wonderful
world to read about and since I love the era of King Arthur; it was great to
see that the author had woven the life of Camelot into this book. This story
left me smiling from ear to ear with the couriosty of what would come next in
the life of Laurel and David; along with her new life and world. Spells here
I come . . .
world to read about and since I love the era of King Arthur; it was great to
see that the author had woven the life of Camelot into this book. This story
left me smiling from ear to ear with the couriosty of what would come next in
the life of Laurel and David; along with her new life and world. Spells here
I come . . .
I'm not entirely sure how I feel about Wings. I like the idea of the story: girl realizes that she's not like everyone else in an extraordinary way. I like how she finds out ('wings' sprout from her back) and the way she panics in a completely normal way. The way she rationalizes things ("I'll tell my parents if the monster zit hasn't gone away by Monday." When flowery wings appear, she keeps them hidden because really, what are her parents going to do?) is believable.
I even kind of like the fact that the fairies in this book are really plants, although it sounds completely and utterly ridiculous when you explain this to someone who asks what you're reading. It really, really does.
What I don't like is that Laurel is painfully perfect. She's never suffered through puberty (cuz she's a plant. What, plants don't get ugly for a little while there? My garden seriously begs to differ.) and she's absurdly graceful and fantastically gorgeous and above all, she knows this. The way these things slip into the story makes it really easy to resent Laurel instead of simply identifying her as not human, which I think was the intention.
Storywise, if you've already had your fill of the gorgeous girl torn between two guys storyline, you should probably skip Wings. Admittedly it handles that particular hurdle better than most.
I even kind of like the fact that the fairies in this book are really plants, although it sounds completely and utterly ridiculous when you explain this to someone who asks what you're reading. It really, really does.
What I don't like is that Laurel is painfully perfect. She's never suffered through puberty (cuz she's a plant. What, plants don't get ugly for a little while there? My garden seriously begs to differ.) and she's absurdly graceful and fantastically gorgeous and above all, she knows this. The way these things slip into the story makes it really easy to resent Laurel instead of simply identifying her as not human, which I think was the intention.
Storywise, if you've already had your fill of the gorgeous girl torn between two guys storyline, you should probably skip Wings. Admittedly it handles that particular hurdle better than most.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I wasn't expecting to like this book. It's really not "my" genre. I read quite a bit of Young Adult fiction, but probably half the time I regret it; and I almost always regret fantasy-type books (with the exception of Harry Potter, if that even counts as fantasy). Wings is about faeries (are faeries different from plain old fairies? I dunno) and is written for teens. It's been compared to Twilight and lauded by Stephenie Meyer, but I didn't care for Twilight; it dragged on too long and didn't live up to the hype. What possessed me, then, to pick up Wings?
Curiosity, probably. The author's husband is someone *my* husband and I knew from college, and additionally the couple knows a girl from my hometown. It always impresses me when "real-life" people write books that are actually published -- it takes talent and, more than that, it takes nerve. They're putting themselves and their work out there for regular people like me to scrutinize and criticize.
Imagine my surprise when I found myself actually enjoying the story. It reminded me a little more of Harry Potter, not Twilight (as it's been compared to), when Laurel discovers her true identity as a faerie. The imagined mythology is interesting and revealed at just the right pacing -- actually, the pacing of the whole novel was perfect (Stephenie Meyer should take note). The characters are a little flat (how is it that Laurel's got these two perfect guys in love with her? I guess it works for Bella) but they're all definitely likeable. The plot kept me interested throughout, and the open ending left me with closure but still anticipating the rest of the story.
It could be that I enjoyed this book so much simply because I wasn't expecting much. I gave this four stars, and maybe that's inflated. But then again, I had a hard time putting this down -- so maybe, yeah ... "I really liked it" *is* the appropriate phrase.
Curiosity, probably. The author's husband is someone *my* husband and I knew from college, and additionally the couple knows a girl from my hometown. It always impresses me when "real-life" people write books that are actually published -- it takes talent and, more than that, it takes nerve. They're putting themselves and their work out there for regular people like me to scrutinize and criticize.
Imagine my surprise when I found myself actually enjoying the story. It reminded me a little more of Harry Potter, not Twilight (as it's been compared to), when Laurel discovers her true identity as a faerie. The imagined mythology is interesting and revealed at just the right pacing -- actually, the pacing of the whole novel was perfect (Stephenie Meyer should take note). The characters are a little flat (how is it that Laurel's got these two perfect guys in love with her? I guess it works for Bella) but they're all definitely likeable. The plot kept me interested throughout, and the open ending left me with closure but still anticipating the rest of the story.
It could be that I enjoyed this book so much simply because I wasn't expecting much. I gave this four stars, and maybe that's inflated. But then again, I had a hard time putting this down -- so maybe, yeah ... "I really liked it" *is* the appropriate phrase.
Meh. Fantasy :p. This book was not fantastic, but not COMPLETELY terrible either. I like Tamani and Laurel and the fairy-plant aspect (other than the thing about humans needing up stories) but the trolls are a no-go for me. Nothing really stood out other than the fact that the fairies were plants. It really bugged me though that neither Laurel nor her mother could remember Laurel ever bleeding(I mean really, isn't that something you should notice?). The whole story seemed a little copy-catish and not much new. Pretty much everything in it I had read in another book that was better (Twilight, The Hourglass Door, Sarah Dessen books). I guess I try the rest of the series but it is definately not going on my favorites list and I'm not sure about this author (kind of boring for me).
Its a good book. Its easy to read and you can finish this in a day or to. Its fast passed, which I like for this time of book. I have reread the book, and I still enjoy it.
New concept of faeries. Goes on a totally different course than the other books i've read.
This was a very interesting read. It was a whole new world for me and I'm really curious about what's going to happen in the following books. Overall it was a great book even though it took me a while to get into it.