A review by stephxsu
Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor

3.0

It is my experience that there are far more novels in YA literature than short stories, but Laini Taylor makes you wish there were more stories as exotic, rich, and romantic as hers. LIPS TOUCH: THREE TIMES is an astonishing blend of the magical and the universal, told in elegant prose and accentuated by breathtaking illustrations.

In a genre that one may argue is overpopulated by the supernatural and paranormal, Laini’s worlds stand out because of their complexity. On the surface, things are romantically lush: exotic locales, unique predicaments, beautiful dress and decorations. All described in prose that may not be as jaw-dropping and powerful as Francesca Lia Block’s, but is still beautiful nonetheless, and perhaps more approachably so. Laini’s stories, however, are also deep: they are full of ambiguous gray areas that may cause you to think beyond the stories just being nice to read.

Jim DiBartolo's full-page illustrations are a jaw-dropping addition to this already beautiful, dual-colored book. His drawings precede each each story and tell a story all on their own, and add a sort of mysticism to these already whimsical stories.

Pick up this collection of Laini Taylor’s stories if you want to forget about the real world for a few hours and be swept away to enchanted lands full of mystery and magic.