Spells (Wings) [Hardcover]

Aprilynne Pike (Author)

Book Description

Series: Wings | Publication Date: May 4, 2010

"I can't just storm in and proclaim my intentions. I can't ‘steal' you away. I just have to wait and hope that, someday, you'll ask," Tamani said.

"And if I don't?" Laurel said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Then I guess I'll be waiting forever."

Although Laurel has come to accept her true identity as a faerie, she refuses to turn her back on her human life—and especially her boyfriend, David—to return to the faerie world.

But when she is summoned to Avalon, Laurel's feelings for the charismatic faerie sentry Tamani are undeniable. She is forced to make a choice—a choice that could break her heart.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 7-10–This sequel to Wings (HarperTeen, 2009) begins with Laurel going to the Academy of Avalon to begin a summer of intensive training as a Fall faerie in order to protect her family from the threat of her troll nemesis, Jeremiah Barnes. The strict faerie social hierarchy begins to wear on her, causing her to question her place in that society. When she goes back to her life in the human world, she constantly feels the strain of wondering when Barnes will make his next move. Her relationship with David, her human boyfriend, has deepened, but she still feels ties to Tamani, her faerie sentry, and she constantly questions where she belongs. In the end, she is forced to choose between her two worlds. Pike develops her world with limited success. While Avalon is slightly interesting, Laurel's time there drags. Pike makes several attempts to explain historical and mythological people and events so they fit into her world–Eve, it seems was a misunderstood faerie–without fully fleshing out the whys or hows. The first part of the book plods and it is only toward the last 50 pages that the action picks up. Fans of the first book likely won't notice the overwrought writing and poor world-building, but others would do well to seek out the many other, better faerie stories.Necia Blundy, Marlborough Public Library, MA
© Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* In this second installment of a series that started with the best-selling Wings (2009), Laurel, who recently discovered she is a faerie, finds herself completely immersed in her new world when she begins studies at the Academy at Avalon. There she can spend more time with Tam, the faerie who is hopelessly in love with her, and also learn about the benefits and burdens her heritage entails. But the action really begins when she returns home. The trolls that stalked her in the previous book are more dangerous than ever, and this time Laurel is not the only one being targeted. Pike astutely mixes these breathtaking events with the real meat of the story: the angst and uncertainty Laurel feels as she tries to combine—and sometimes keep separate—her two lives. At the heart of that conundrum is the affection she feels for both her earthly love, David, and the deliciously different Tam. Mixing a little bit of Harry Potter and a lot of Twilight (Team David! Team Tam!), Pike has hit on a winning combination. Yet it is her own graceful take on life inside Avalon that adds a shimmering patina sure to enthrall readers. This book leaves them wanting more. Grades 7-10. --Ilene Cooper

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen; 1 edition (May 4, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061668060
• ISBN-13: 978-0061668067
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #462,978 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Aprilynne has been spinning faerie stories since she was a child with a hyper-active imagination. When not writing, Aprilynne can usually be found at the gym; she also enjoys singing, acting and reading. Aprilynne currently lives with her husband and three kids in Utah in the USA, and dreams of warmer climates. For more information about Aprilynne, go to www.aprilynnepike.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Aprilynne Pike--I have faith in you that you'll eventually give us the conclusion we're all cheering for!, June 22, 2010

By 

Sunny Books (Palo Alto, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spells (Wings) (Hardcover)

I was looking for a quick, escapist read a few weeks ago and picked up "Wings." I had heard great things about it, and while it wasn't quite as amazing as everyone had said, it was enjoyable. I was intrigued enough by the character Tamani to want to find out more.

"Spells" was a decent read. I debated between 3 and 4 stars, and decided on 4 stars because of Tamani. Girls, say it with me: "TEAM TAMANI ALL THE WAY." "Spells" wore a little thin in a few parts, and here's why: Laurel cries. A lot. Laurel is needy. A lot. Laurel and David make out. A lot. Honestly, it felt like every few pages Laurel and David were making out, and it got pretty nauseating after awhile. I liked David just fine after reading "Wings," but after "Spells," I don't know how anyone could be Team David. All of the Laurel/David chemistry from "Wings" vanished, so every time they spewed lovey words and kissed, it felt really strange and forced. I like a good romance as much as the next girl, but I was SO tired of the make out sessions by the end of the book. I have hope that making David annoying in this book is all part of a big plan to eventually bring Laurel and Tamani together. I don't know how ANYONE could be cheering for David at this point.

And poor Tamani. Laurel's treatment of him was completely appalling. She toyed with him and strung him along to the point where I really couldn't stand her by the end. Let's hope Laurel was acting like this so we can see the process of her maturing and growing as a character in later books. Go Shar for finally putting Laurel in her place regarding her deplorable treatment of Tamani. Poor Tamani seemed a little defeated for a lot of the book, as he wasn't quite as confident and flirtatious as he is in "Wings." Pining for Laurel is just sucking the soul out of his character. Let's hope he comes back as his charismatic, charming self in Book 3 because I'm weary of selfish Laurel using him and bringing him down!

And the conclusion? Anyone who's read the book knows what I'm talking about. I kind of felt like how I did when I read "Little Women" for the first time and literally threw the book against the wall when Jo refused Laurie. At least there will be two more books for Laurel to mature and make the right choice.

I have faith in you, Aprilynne Pike, that you'll eventually give us readers the conclusion we're all cheering for. I understand that there are two books after this one so you can't exactly resolve the love triangle just yet. All I'm asking is that eventually Laurel will grow up and be with Tamani, and please give us at least one book where she and Tamani are happily together (conflict is okay...just let them face it together). Don't pull a Jane Austen (my favorite author) and make me read 400 pages waiting for the two character to get together, and then I only get to relish five pages where they're finally happy.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fun faerie sequel superior to its original, January 13, 2011

By 

Erin K. Simons "Aspiring writer, voracious re... (Central Indiana) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spells (Aprilynne Pike) (Hardcover)

Spells is an anomoly in books, movies -- heck, almost anything. It is a sequel that is actually better than its story of origin.

In this follow up to series starter Wings, Aprilynne Pike sends newly blossomed faerie Laurel away from her home, her parents and her friends in the our world to study magic in Faerie. As an Autumn faerie, Laurel is a mixer -- one of the rare, talented faeries who can combine elements to create magic through potions, tonics and enchanted elixers. With the trolls continuing to threaten both her human and faerie families, Laurel understands that learning this magic is critical to everyone's safety.

This change of venue allows readers to explore Avalon, the faerie realm from which heroine Laurel was sent years ago to live among humans. This is good for two reasons: first, it lets Pike flex her ample imagination with some serious world-building. From the flashy spun-sugar bubbles and bejewelled marketplace of the Summer fae to the simple gourd homes of the spring folk, this faerie world is gorgeous and beautifully described. It's one of the best things about the book. Pike also develops atmosphere through Tamani's anecdotes and lessons, using faerie vernacular and explaining customs to help readers learn about Avalon along with Laurel.

Second, it allows Laurel -- and readers -- a chance to learn more about Tamani. Tamani, Laurel's childhood friend (and eluded childhood love) is a breath of fresh air in the series. He provides a good perspective of the inner workings of faerie society. In addition, he has undeniable chemistry with Laurel and sets up a believable and properly conflicted love triangle -- almost a prerequisite for YA novels of this genre.

Still waiting at home in the human world is sweet, studious David. David is the perfect man-of-science foil for Tamani's man-of-magic. It's a further example of Laurel straddling both worlds, trying to live in both without committing fully to either.

If you liked Wings, Spells is not to be missed. I'll look forward to continuing Laurel's story in Enchantments.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Ready for Illusions, February 2, 2011

By 

Randa Leonard (Alaska, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spells (Aprilynne Pike) (Hardcover)

It took me all of one day to read Aprilynne Pike's "Spells." I couldn't seem to put it down. However, it was not entirely because it was a great read. Let me start by saying that I did enjoy the book. Again, Pike has done a great job at developing her characters, and creating a plotline that was irresistible. The story flowed in such a way that finding a good stopping point in which to take care of matters outside the book never really presented itself.

What I found to be less that enjoyable was the main character's inability to commit to one love. As a reader, I tend to really get into my books; especially if they are as good as this one. Laurel, the heroine of the story, is torn between her two potential lovers throughout the book. What I found very conflicting storywise, was Laurel's entire love situation. As a character, she seemed to be drawn instinctively to her fellow faerie, Tamani, and he to her. The words and actions that Pike portrayed in Laurel/Tamani scenes would make the reader believe that Tamani was her real love. Throughout the book, she seemed to be constantly drawn to Tamani on a level that was much stronger than that of her "emotion" (or lack therof) for David. Instead, it felt like she was throwing herself at the human, David, for no real reason. This was a problem throughout the book, and I was not very happy with the way Pike presented Laurel's feelings for the two.

To sum myself up: it was a very good story. What I was upset about was the author's choice of words in certain scenes that seemed to make the characters "love situation" seem a bit off. I ended the book feeling completely frustrated, and essentially hating the main character. So I am impatiently waiting for the next installment "Illusions" to hit the shelves, so that I can hopefully make some sense of the main character's unwillingness to fall for the right guy.