Wondrous Strange
3.5/5
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About this ebook
Since the dawn of time, the Faerie have taken. . . .
Seventeen-year-old actress Kelley Winslow always thought faeries were just something from childhood stories. Then she meets Sonny Flannery. He's a changeling—a mortal taken as an infant and raised among Faerie—and within short order he's turned Kelley's heart inside out and her life upside down.
For Kelley's beloved Central Park isn't just a park—it's a gateway between her ordinary city and the Faerie's dangerous, bewitching Otherworld. Now Kelley's eyes are opening not just to the Faerie that surround her, but to the heritage that awaits her . . . a destiny both wondrous and strange.
Lesley Livingston
Lesley Livingston is an award-winning author of teen fiction best known for her Wondrous Strange trilogy. Captivated at a young age by stories of the distant past and legendary heroes and warriors, Lesley developed into a full-fledged history buff and mythology geek. Her fascination with ancient Celtic and classical civilizations—spurred on by recently discovered archaeological evidence supporting the existence of female gladiators—inspired Fallon’s story in The Valiant. Lesley holds a master’s degree in English from the University of Toronto and was a principal performer in a Shakespearean theatre company, specializing in performances for teen audiences, for more than a decade. www.lesleylivingston.com. Twitter: @LesLivingston
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Reviews for Wondrous Strange
331 ratings41 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Loved it, but of course! This is the 3rd time reading it and I have enjoyed it every time! This is a book that I love to pass on to everyone I can. The fae, unseelie, seelie courts, mortal and immortal love, Midnight Summer's Dream, kelpies and The Wild Hunt! Got to love it all!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5There is most definetly magic between the author and reader! This is an AMAZING debut.Note: This is not at all professional and I do go a bit overboard with my love for it sometimes (you can't really blame me though). You've been warned!The Good: I could go on and on about the good things about this book. But I'll start with the plotline. Ms. Livingston has woven an unbelievable tale with memorable characters and humor and good ol' fashion awesome on every page. The story keeps you reading until the story is done.Secondly, the characters. They were so well thought out to me and not once did I question their authenticity. Kelley is probably my new best friend. She's just like everyone else and she has flaws just like everyone else. But it's her flaws that make her so lovable. Not to mention the fact that she saves the hot hero from flattening like a pancake (but we'll take about that later).Sonny... I'm not even gonna go there because if I do, I'll probably swoon... again. He's has the likeability of Edward Cullen... but's he's WAY different. Like with Kelley, he has flaws too, maybe more but that just makes him so much more heroic. Not only does he protect his independent, spunky girlfriend, he also protects New York from bloodthirsty magical creatures! What's not to love?The supporting characters, I have never read a book where so many of my favorites are supporting characters. Especially Bob. Oh yeah, read the book and you'll know what I'm talking about.Also, Wondrous Strange brings the excitment of the theater and the relationship between Kelley and Sonny flowed perfectly. Yay for sweet moments!This why I love debut authors so much, they have so much new talent and they bring flavor onto the YA market. Lesley Livingston brings the whole Emril BAM! with her amazing skillls.The Bad: There's not a lot but, I did have a few complaints. The middle is a bit slow and the whole bit with Kelley and her aunt Emma, it just seemed fake to me.Overall: BUY IT NOW!!x100 Seriously, this is an AMAZING book! Every once in awhile, there's a special book that is absolutely a gem. This is it. For me, this is one of the best books I have ever read!Grade: A
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wondrous Strange is the story of Kelley, an actress at a very off-Broadway Shakespearean theatre who is currently playing Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Little does Kelley know that Faeries do exist, and one in particular means her a lot of harm. Enter Sonny, a Janus guard who is responsible for keeping the Fae out of the mortal world. He's instantly drawn to Kelley, and is the first to realize that she isn't at all what she'd always thought she was. Throw in a bit of intrigue from the various Faerie courts (two in particular, but I don't want to spoil!) and combine with a very frightening and dangerous legend, and Kelley's life is about to be completely turned upside down.Intricate plot twists, spectacularly engaging characters, and a wonderful combination of Shakespeare made this an absolutely fantastic book that I pretty much devoured. It hit all of my weaknesses: a feisty, independent heroine, a swoon-worthy male hero, a bright-burning, page-melting romance, and a unique twist on the Faerie plot device. Not only were Kelley and Sonny fully developed and well-written, but the supporting characters were as well. It was such a relief to read a book where there were no flat characters, and for the most part, everyone managed to avoid the cliches that tend to overwhelm YA literature. I can honestly find no fault whatsoever with this book, and am eagerly looking forward to reading the last two. Now to just find the time....
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5All I can say is wow. I tore through this story in only a couple of hours. Love how the author weaves a Central Park love story into fairy mythology and also Shakespeare. *Spoiler* I will say, I should have realized that Kelley's roommate had fairy ties or else she wouldn't have been able to even see Lucky. I like the way she turned this story. It began with Sonny trying to rescue Kelley and ends with Sonny needing rescue by her. To be continued...
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Honestly, I'm getting a little tired of this type of fairy book by now. The various Faerie courts, the main character who finds out there is something special about her, the faerie Love Interest.
The writing style and "feel" of the book seemed exactly like Melissa Marr's. And Holly Black did it before either of them, though I'm reluctant to group her in the same category, because in my opinion she pulled it off better than both of them put together. - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This was the first book in the Wondrous Strange series by Lesley Livingston. The second book Darklight is supposed to be released December of 2009. Supposedly there are going to be three books in this series.Kelley has moved to New York city to pursue her acting dreams. She is employed as an understudy in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and when the actress playing Queen Titania breaks her ankle; Kelley is suddenly thrust into a lead role. This is just what she had always dreamed of. Then one night she goes to Central Park to practice her lines and stumbles into a young man named Sonny. He is mysterious and appears near her a number of times after that. That same fateful night she rescues a horse from a pond, the horse follows her home and proceeds to live in her bathtub. What she doesn't know right away is that the horse is a kelpie and Sonny is a part of the Unseelie King's elite guard, the Janus. From here on out things get stranger and stranger; she needs to figure out how Sonny is involved and how she herself is involved before she is hunted down.I will state right out that I am getting a bit burned out on these "girl is a part of fairy but doesn't know she is" books. I thought everything about this book was okay, but none of it blew me away. I didn't really like any of the characters that much, the plot was pretty predictable, and the book was only kind of engaging. It was a quick read, and I liked it okay. I just think I have read too many of these types of books lately and this one really didn't stand out from any of the others.Sonny fits the stereotype of a conflicted assassin-type perfectly; down to his unexplainable love of Kelley. Things happen much as you would expect them to happen. There were more action scenes than I expected, and they were done okay but they lacked energy and didn't really pull me into the fight. When I finished this book, I was kind of like, "Oh, well that's done. What should I read next?" It didn't really make a lasting impression on me.I recently read Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater and I actually liked that book better than this one. Although this book had a lot more well-developed fairy world and you meet a broader variety of fairy folk than you do in "Lament". I liked the writing style of "Lament" better. The writing style of this book was very straight-forward and easy. Which is okay, it made it a fast read. I would compare the level of this writing to Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series. Although I did enjoy the characters in this book more than the characters in "Wicked Lovely".You could also compare this book to Aprilynne Pike's Wings (Aprilynne Pike (Hardback)); which I liked better than this book because I thought Pike dealt with fairies in a more interesting way. You could also compare this book to Holly Black's Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale series; but I absolutely think that Holly Black's series blows all of the aforementioned ones out of the water.So in summary, if you liked Wicked Lovely, Wings (Aprilynne Pike (Hardback)), Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception, or Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale I think you will probably like this book too. I would recommend "Wings", "Lament" and "Tithe" over this book. I think it is similar to the "Wicked Lovely" series in writing quality. Will I read the next one in the series? Probably. I really love books about the fairy realms and there aren't a ton of them out there. So, yeah I will pick up "Darklight", but I will probably get it from the library.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I liked the story line of this book. I liked the characters. There were some things that were the same in all the fairy books, girl finds out she is a fairy and has to save the world. I did really like the book, and look forward to reading the second one.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5My first encounter with faeries...I liked this book...just didn't love this book. It was exciting to think about Central Park being protected by changelings and others in the Faerie World...so that the park was closed down for the night and New Yorkers were safe.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/517 year old Kelley has moved to New York and got a part as an understudy for a production of Midsummer Night's Dream. All at once, she's playing the part of Titania has a kelpie living in her bathroom and is being stalked by a gorgeous boy who insists he's trying to protect her. I enjoyed this urban fantasy, it was a quick read, none of the characters made much of an impression. Everything tied up too tidily at the end, I felt, and I didn't buy into the romance. But still, I'd give this to urban fantasy fans, people who like theatre stories, or Shakespeare-based fantasy.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5What truly got me interested in the book was the cover and the bio on the back, but after reading it the bio isn't good enough to explains how beautiful and and amazing this book is. I don't think any bio could. The words are smooth and wonderfully described. You feel as if you really there in Paris or London during the French Revolution. The book has everything from Murder, Magic, romances, history.The things I absolutely adored with this book is the characters and how they're developed. I mean Count Kalliovski is truly evil and Marquis De Villeduval is totally oblivious and greedy. My favorite characters were Sido and Yann. For some reason they reminded me a lot of Romeo and Juliet.The words were written with care and love because you feel a lot of emotion towards this book and could see every minute of it in your mind. Some of the plot twists were predicable but that didn't stop the beating in my heart as all the adventure scenes and exciting moments came along.Some of the disappointing things in the book is some chapters are slow to read and that some of things happening in the book are predicable. Also I've seen numerous covers of this book and I must say that this book is aimed at both girls and boys. Don't judge the cover nor the bio by this extraordinary book.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5This was an ok read. I would only recommend this to people who have a huge blind love for Shakespeare and no particular attachment to logic in a story.
I keep wishing author would move beyond the stale old "Midsummer Nights Dream is based on real faeries..." shtick and come up with something more original. When I read the flap copy I didn't get the sense that this would be quite so intertwined with the Puck mythology, etc. Also, who lets their 17 yo move to New York City alone to attempt to be an actress? Especially (spoiler here) if that kid was a kidnapped faery princess? And why didn't she ever need to work? Sure, the main character was nominally employed by a theatre, but since when is that enough to survive in NYC with rent and food? The more I consider it, the more annoyed I get with the whole thing. And holy hannah, the coincidences just kept on piling up. Talk about contrived.
I get that the author wanted to create a new series and riff off old legends, but I didn't really get a sense of why any of the characters were doing anything they were doing. Especially the huge glaring error with the (again, spoiler) beads in the horse's mane. A 1500 yo faery conveniently misses a glamour after spending days and days dealing with said horse? Whether it was on purpose or a mistake is never brought up, let alone resolved.
About 50 pages from the end I realized I didn't need to read the rest because I knew exactly what was going to happen. I finished it (because I can't leave the end of a book unread) and I was right. Very predictable ending, and a weak set up for sequels. - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5VOYA Ratings: 2Q, 3P"Thy words are blunt and so art thou." - Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part IIOf all the things to cross Kelley Winslow's path as she walked through central park, the last thing she expected to encounter was a horse struggling to reach the shore as it floundered in the lake. Diving in, Kelley struggles to aid the animal and recues it only to have it follow her home and magically appear in her bathtub. If that's not strange enough, Kelley's bathtub just happens to be on the third floor!When Kelley is unexpectedly given the role of Titania in her theater company's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream life begins to imitate art when she discovers the hidden secrets that lay beneath the surface of the mortal world. Faeries and mythical creatures are more than just characters in a play but rather they are real and altogether more terrifying than she could imagine. Ancient secrets and truths long hidden begin to be revealed as Kelley discovers a long lost connection to this other realm and the past she thought she knew.I wanted to like this book and it certainly had potential but it just felt too derivative of other, more famous works of fantasy fiction. Using the gimmicks of faeries and the classic Shakespearean play as a foundation sounds good but the driving force behind the narrative - the bland driving force - falls into the teen romance genre in the relationship of Kelley and Sonny. There was nothing new or particularly engaging here and I would recommend several other works in this genre before I would mention this one.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5'Wondrous Strange' was an imaginative twist on Shakespeare's works. Livingston reinvented the idea behind the story of A Midsummer Night's Dream to a modern-day New York City under the influence of the Lost Faeries. I was intrigued by the Lost Fey and how they ended up in the mortal world either by choice or force by Auberon. There were many twists and turns in this novel that kept me guessing until the very end. As an actor myself, I appreciated the occupation that Kelley chose for herself. She was a very strong character and a joy to follow on her journey. She was never deterred from her dream in being an actress and experiencing NYC on her own. The only downfall I felt that Kelley had was the fact that she fell into believing her true identity too easily. I think that she could have fought back a bit in terms of accepting her fate since she was such a determined girl. I adored the character of Sonny Flannery. He was special in the fact that he knew that he was mortal but was determined to fit in where he was, since he did not have a choice. He seemed like he was always searching for more but content to do his work. He ended up finding more when he first encountered Kelley.The joys of young, first love were explored in this story and I thought it was captivating from their first meeting. Even though Sonny knew what Kelley would become he still fought with every last fiber in his body to keep her safe and with him for as long as he could. The nickname 'Firecracker' was the most delightful affection Sonny gave Kelley and it was incredibly sweet.I appreciated learning more about the Faerie Courts and their ongoing battles with each other. The heart-breaking story of Queen Mabh and Herne gave a deeper look into the Autumn shadow court. It was interesting to delve deeper into the complex world of Faerie and their many races and lineages.'Wondrous Strange' was a fun and romantic read. This was not my favorite Fey book but I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Magical, adventurous and romantic! Kelley has always wanted to be an actress, and when the lead in A Midsummer Night's Dream falls ill, she's thrilled to step into the role. Unbeknownst to her, she's a lot closer to the role than she thought!With a very hot Janus guard (humans raised in Faerie, trained to protect the mortal world from faeries) helping her, Kelley may be able to find out who is hunting her, but must find the strength to do so.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Young Kelley is on her own in New York. Having left her aunt's home for the big city, she was able to score a beautiful apartment (mind you living with one of the pickiest women in the world) and even fortuitously lands herself the role of Titania in a very off-Broadway production of A Midsummer's Night Dream after the original actress is injured at the last minute. However, her pretend world of fairies is quickly becoming too real; after she rescues a horse that was drowning in Central Park, she arrives home to find the creature at her apartment and it won't leave. As Kelley finds herself in more strange situations, she also catches the eye of Sonny Flannery, a changeling human who was stolen from his mother as an infant and is now a Janus Guard, charged by Auberon with keeping the evil fae creatures in their own world. Sonny thinks there's more to Kelley than meets the eye- he just doesn't know how right he is.I'm a big fan of fairy books, especially those that explore dark fairy mythology. Wondrous Strange is by no means the most complex of these stories, but it is one of the more accessible ones and can be a great segue from J fairy tales into more adult titles. It's a good introduction into the less well-known aspects of fairy folklore but nice and clean. Thoroughly recommended for fantasy fans, especially our readers in the temperamental 11-14 age range.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lesley Livingston certainly knows how to weave an awesome faerie tale. Ms. Livingston uses a lot of classic faerie elements as well as a TON and a half of classic Shakespeare....some of it being the same thing. These are both very good things. Shakespeare in itself is hard for a young reader to understand and feel. I think in this book Ms. Livingston gives Shakespeare a platform for young readers to understand and comprehend. When your favorite character is standing, acting out a Shakespeare scene, and the author is describing the emotions, the other characters, it clicks in the head and all of a sudden you have a teen who has had their possibly first dose of Shakespeare at his greatest, instead of it being crammed down the throat in high school English.
The characters are strong and willful but I don't think the author gave the reader enough time to truly get to know some of them. I liked Sonny, but by the time the story ended, I didn't know much about him and I wasn't head over heels in love with him, which is something I quite like in my male protagonists.
The plot is quick paced, but I think the the author could have done so much more with it, this book could have been huge; at the same time, if the author made it even larger it might be more difficult for young minds to wrap around. There were also a couple points in the plot that were a bit predictable...the whole deal that Sonny makes, totally saw that coming from a mile away. Faeries are tricky like that.
Overall this book is pretty good, I am really excited to read the next book in this series, Darklight - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5To be honest, I picked Wondrous Strange up because I know some of Leslie's other work, and I was anxious to support her and her projects. The verdict? A decent start out of the gate; not perfect by any means, but a good read nonetheless.The plot, fraught with faeries and actors and such, was fun and fast-paced, but I felt that the story as a whole would have been better served by another 50 pages or so. The end in particular was unfortunately rushed, although it was saved by a number of interesting twists and turns. Most of the background characters feel real and developed, which isn't entirely true for our two protagonists (though goodness knows they have more personality than a certain vampire pairing I could name); I can only hope that they get more development in the sequel.On the plus side, Livingston has said that she gets most of her inspiration from places, and it shows. Leslie is great at setting the scene, and some of the best passages in the book are descriptions of the sights, sounds, and smells of New York. Kelley and Sonny are playing out their story in a very real, very tangible place, which is awesome. Also? Figuring out the logistics of moving a horse around NYC is pretty much the best thing ever.On the whole, while it certainly wasn't the best urban fantasy I've ever read, Wondrous Strange is an honorable addition to the genre. I'll happily wait for the next installment!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This is the first in a YA, fantasy, romance series based on Shakespearean plays. The main character is Kelly, an actor in a Central Park production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," who soon finds out that the "dream," may be a tempestuous and deadly reality. A "meta" book with a story within a story within a story. An ingenious premise. Fun to read.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Kelley goes to New York City. At 17, she already knows that she wants to be an actress, and is lucky enough to have a part in a production of Midsummer Night's Dream. But it is the week before Halloween, and there are strange happenings in Central Park, where she meets the mysterious Sonny Flanagan and rescues what she thinks is a horse out of the lake. Sonny turns out to be a changeling, of Oberon's court and a guard helping maintain the separation between fairie and the human realms. Kelley turns out to have some strong connections to fairie herself.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This book is about a young actress, Kelley, that discovers she is part of the faerie world. In the process of discovering her true heritage, she falls in love with the handsome guard of the otherworld--Sonny. This book was interesting as it had some good twists and there was enough action to keep the reader entertained. However, I thought the chemistry between Sonny and Kelley fell flat. Hopefully the next book in the series will improve.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wondrous Strange followed the same fantastical vein as Eyes Like Stars, but with less theatrical glitter and more faerie emphasis. I cannot even begin to explain how hard it was to summarize without going into too much detail at how wonderful this story is. It might be a little hard to jump into, but Lesley Livingston eases us into the faerie lore to a point where we become engrossed in Kelley's story and how it turns out.Like all things related to faeries, nothing was what it seemed. Kelley's seemingly "normal" life turned to be fraught with underlying magic, and I never knew what to expect. Wondrous Strange gave a modern twist to faerie lore, but still kept the traditional elements at its heart. I really enjoyed Puck's new "secret" name that holds power over him.If you are looking for something to read to satisfy the itch that Eyes Like Stars created, then try Wondrous Strange - I think you'll find another new book friend :)
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I really ended up enjoying this book. I thought the first 3 chapters were a bit slow, but one I got past them the storyline was very entertaining.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wonderous Strange tells bout how Kelley meets and falls in love with Sonny. Kelley is 17 and an actress in New York City, she has been raised by her aunt Em after her parents were killed in a car accident. She is playing the fearie queen in Shakespere's Midsummer"s Night Dream while practicing in Central Park she runs in to Sonny. Alot of strange things start to happen to her then , she saves a horse from drowning and it shows up at her house climbs thru the window and gets in the bath tub. She runs in to Sonny a few more times thing get weirder and weirder so I don't soil anything .. i will stop here .. it is very beautiful written and takes you to where the book goes .
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Wondrous Strange is a debut YA novel in a series by Lesley Livingston. It is a cute and fun story about Kelley, an understudy in an off Broadway production of A Midsummer Night's Dream whose life suddenly begins mirroring her character.
I was not as engaged with the story as I hoped. I think for me it was too young, I would have enjoyed more drama, conflict and romance and less humor. Reading reviews for the sequel, it seems that some of these concerns may have been addressed. So I may check that out to see what happens next in the story.
If you enjoy young YA fantasy stories about faeries you should give this book a try. - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Pretty enjoyable but I did not like it as much as some other fairy books like Wicked Lovely or Lament.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Kelley has moved to New York City to pursue her dreams of acting on stage. While rehearsing for the lead role of the Summer Queen Titana from Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Night's Dream in Central Park, Sonny Flannery, one of 13 members of the elite Janus charged with guarding the gate Samhain in Central Park, comes across her, spellbound. Mesmerized by the hidden explosiveness of her aura, Sonny is addicted to her and being with her leads to complications in the four seasonal Faerie Courts.The characters in Wondrous Strange, except for a few, seem very wooden. Ms. Livingston describes what they do and their interests all at once (like describing what all 13 members of the Janus guards do) instead of slowly revealing the characters. It is almost as if the author is afraid that the reader won't pick up on the character's personality traits unless she spells them out for the readers. Also, very predictive in the romantic aspect. The love interest between the two characters seemed a little forced and unbelievable. However, I did like Bob. I hope Bob is in future books because he made the book somewhat worthwhile to read. I may continue with the series because I'm curious how things pan out, but will be getting it through Interlibrary Loan than buying it.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Upon the recommendation of a book seller, I picked this one up. I am glad that I did. This is a fun tale that twists Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream into a modern romance. The characters are fun, the faeries are wicked and the combination is a good read. I subsequently discovered that this is a Whit Pine selection. I look forward to the next one.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5So as the color scheme and theme of the cover will tell you, as well as the title, this book is (I'm being nice here) kind of a rip-off of Wicked Lovely.I have no idea if the similarity is intentional, or if Livingston's even read Wicked Lovely, but I do know that it's awfully coincidental that these books are so alike (and that this one was released after WL). And ironically, Sonny, the main male in our story, makes quite the point of informing us that he does not believe in coincidences. Still, here's the summary:"Since the dawn of time, the Faerie have taken. . . . For seventeen-year-old actress Kelley Winslow, faeries are just something from childhood stories. Then she meets Sonny Flannery, whose steel-gray eyes mask an equally steely determination to protect her. Sonny guards the Samhain Gate, which connects the mortal realm with the Faerie's enchanted, dangerous Otherworld. Usually kept shut by order of icy King Auberon, the Gate stands open but once a year. This year, as the time approaches when the Samhain Gate will swing wide and nightmarish Fae will fight their way into an unsuspecting human world, something different is happening . . . something wondrous and strange. And Kelley's eyes are opening not just to the Faerie that surround her but to the heritage that awaits her. Now Kelley must navigate deadly Faerie treachery—and her growing feelings for Sonny—in this dazzling page-turner filled with luminous romance."Also, the boring trailer (which mostly focuses on Central Park--the point of most of WS's action):For starters, I absolutely hated their names. I understand trying to emphasize their "normalness" but it was a stretch too far. And Sonny's name didn't seem to be historically accurate for the era of his birth, but perhaps I am mistaken there.The humor in this book was quite cute, though. For instance, a potentially-deadly kelpie is named Lucky for (among other reasons) his love of Lucky Charms (the cereal). Many of the actions of the characters were also fun, such as some of the quirks of the fae. These little glimpses of characters were to be treasured, though, as there wasn't much character development, which kept the plot sort of up in the air, allowing it to jump slightly.Kelley, for example, was a bit of a Mary-Sue, though, thankfully, not quite as detestable as most.Like WL, WS had a good plot ("normal" girls discovers she actually has unlimited fairy powers due to some previously unknown mystical background), but here, as I said, it wasn't cemented well enough.I reached the end, pleased, but also sort of scratching my head. ...Is there a...sequel...question mark??Even after reviewing Livingston's web page, I'm still not sure. Can anyone clear this up for me?So, good points:-Depsite their names and lack of formation, the characters are fun, funny, and mildly worthy of cheering/booing-The cover is gorgeous (and, of course, what convinced me to buy the book. Yes, BUY--not borrow! I know!)-The theatre portions are delicious and deserve points for paralleling the story!Bad points:-Characters, underdeveloped, suddenly switch sides for no apparent reason (as we're not really sure of their motivation until it's carefully explained. Boring).-It's, let's admit it, kind of a rip-off of WL-It's not finished. Maybe??All in all, I recommend it as an easy read when you're looking for something fantasy, to WL fans, and as a bookshelf decorator.Enjoy!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Plot: Kelley has moved to New York and is living her dream of becoming an actress. She’s only an understudy but when the lead breaks her ankle, she is suddenly starring as Titania in a Midsummer Night’s Dream. Soon after getting the role however fairies become far more than Shakespeare’s fancy: she encounters a strange young man in central park, there is a horse in her bathtub and the people around her turn out to be much more than meets the eye. She is much more than she ever knew. And as Samhain approaches and the gates between this world and Fairy grow week, she may be the only one who can save New York.I would have thought that I would be tired of fairy romances by now (just this year I’ve read Radiant Shadows, Tithe, Little (Grrl) Lost and that’s not counting last year’s reading or the ones still sitting on my shelf) but this was another enjoyable adventure. It’s a book full of surprising twists and exciting action. Kelley is a girl who can take care of herself (though she does not always have the confidence to realize it) and I always appreciate that. The romance is promising though I’m not fully committed to it yet. This may not be my favorite fairy story (it has some very stiff competition, to be fair) but I’m glad I read it.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wondrous Strange was a magical mix of fun and adventure. With every faerie story I’ve read, it’s either been strictly intense or dolled up, but I love that Lesley Livingston found a happy medium.Kelley is probably one of my favorite literary characters of all time. She’s snarky, sarcastic and strong, and she doesn’t let the sudden intrusion of powerful faeries into her life get her down. Her stubborn but highly entertaining attitude stayed in check throughout the entire novel, and I loved every minute of it. Her interaction and budding romance with Sonny, a human who guards the faerie Samhain Gate, was hilarious and refreshing - a definite role reversal to the usual “guy is laid back, girl is serious and determined” cliché.I love that I felt so educated afterwards! Prior to reading this book, besides seeing an episode of Suite Life Of Zack And Cody, I knew absolutely nothing about A Midsummer’s Night Dream. I learned enough about the play to actually interest me in finding out more about it. And despite my lack of knowledge on the play, it was adapted wonderfully into the rest of the story, making Kelley’s self-discoveries and adventures a bit more relatable and a lot more ironic.Overall, I really enjoyed Wondrous Strange. I’m a not huge fan of faerie books, but when they’re informative yet enthralling such as this one, I can’t help but be drawn in! Mixing magic, romance, some intense action scenes and a lovable kelpie that lives in Kelley’s bathtub, it’s a fun thrill-ride. I definitely recommend!
Book preview
Wondrous Strange - Lesley Livingston
SAMHAIN
October 31
Up and down, up and down,
I will lead them up and down.
I am feared in field and town.
Goblin, lead them up and down.
Puck’s tortured words rang in Kelley’s ears as she lifted her head, struggling against the darkness that threatened to descend upon her. She stared in horror as the Central Park Carousel shuddered in the cloud-shattered moonlight. Though no one was there to operate the machinery, the platform lurched into motion and the painted horses began to bob up and down. The gilt and jeweled trappings of saddles and bridles glimmered, winking at Kelley like hundreds of wicked, malevolent eyes.
In the sky above the merry-go-round, amid clouds bruised purple and black by the violent winds, a figure appeared, hovering in the air astride a fiery roan horse. Kelley felt the hot sting of tears on her cheeks as she looked up and met the eyes of the Rider. He stared down at her—cold, pitiless, with no hint of recognition in his beautiful, haunted face.
Beneath him, driven to madness by the presence of the Rider on his back, the Roan Horse screamed defiance. Bucking and rearing, it lashed out with hooves of flame.
The carousel began to turn.
In the distance, Kelley heard the sound of the hunting hounds.
The Rider drew his sword, the blade flaring like a firebrand. Kelley’s breath strangled in her throat as the carousel began to spin faster and faster.
Smoky, glittering figures coalesced out of the air to ride the painted mounts. Bloodthirsty and red-eyed, brandishing swords of flame, their joy was a terrible thing to behold. Beneath them the wooden horses transformed, snorting furiously and stamping hooves on the spinning carousel platform.
Then they burst forth. Legs churning, they galloped madly into the night, climbing an unseen path into the heart of the roiling storm.
After centuries spent imprisoned, locked in the chains of uneasy, enchanted sleep, the Wild Hunt was awake.
It was Samhain. Tonight they would ride out. Tonight they would kill. Nothing in the world could stop the Faerie war band—not with the Rider and the Roan Horse at their head….
I am feared in field and town.
Goblin, lead them up and down.
I
"What do you mean, ‘promoted’?" Kelley Winslow felt her pulse quicken.
It was the fifth week of rehearsals for the Avalon Grande’s production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Never mind that the Avalon Players—a third-tier repertory company so far off Broadway it might as well have been in Hoboken—had only hired Kelley as an understudy, which really meant glorified stagehand. It was her first real job as an actress after a disastrous stint in theater school, and, at only seventeen, Kelley had been grateful for the résumé builder. But today, three steps into the theater, Mindi the stage manager had waylaid her.
Kelley was carrying a box of props she’d gone to fetch from the company van parked outside, and she had a pair of fairy wings strapped to her shoulders—the only way she could carry them without crushing the wire frames. Mindi?
she asked again. What do you mean?
I mean, don’t bother taking off the wings, kid.
Mindi took the box of props from her hands. Our darling Diva deWinter just busted her ankle. She is out of commission, and that means you, little understudy, will be stepping into the lead role of Titania, the fairy queen, for the run of this show.
Kelley was speechless. She’d dreamed of this—although however many times she’d sat through rehearsals, watching Barbara deWinter overact and undercharm her way through her scenes, she’d never wished anything bad upon her. But Kelley guiltily felt a rising sense of glee. This is it. This is my big break!
Hey!
Mindi gave her a friendly shove. Enough daydreaming. We open in ten days and Quentin is—well, to put it mildly, our esteemed director is now freaking out. So I suggest you go slip into a rehearsal skirt and haul your understudy butt onstage so that the Mighty Q can run you through your scenes. Good luck.
My scenes. My scenes…
Thoughts in a whirl, Kelley almost ran down the actor playing Puck as he swung himself gracefully off the set scaffolding, singing Am I blue?
Funny, because he was actually green, a pale iridescent shade head to toe—hair, skin, eyes—right down to his leafy tunic. Kelley had been told by one of the other actors that his name was Bob but that he was something of an extreme Method actor and had demanded he be referred to only by his character name while in costume and makeup—on threat of quitting the production otherwise.
Lunatic actors.
Between him and the equally demanding and very English director Quentin St. John Smyth, Kelley was beginning to think she’d fallen in with a real asylumful at the Avalon Grande. She threw open the doors to the wardrobe storage and fumbled with the rack of rehearsal skirts, slipping one over her jeans and buttoning it as best she could with trembling fingers. ‘Fairies, skip hence,’
she muttered aloud. No—that’s wrong….
Oh, God—what’s my first line? Kelley thought frantically.
‘These are the forgeries of jealousy.’ Aw, crap!
She was blanking. "That’s not even the right speech!" Her heart pounded in her chest, and she leaned her head on the door frame.
This is what you’ve wanted your whole life, she told herself sternly. All those years of putting on one-woman shows for the household pets, and all the months of begging Aunt Emma to let her move to Manhattan to try to make a go of it. This is it. Get out there and show them what you’ve got!
Feeling marginally more confident, Kelley took a deep breath and dashed down the hallway and through the backstage area—at the exact moment that Puck
launched a handful of glitter into the air. Kelley gasped, startled, as the cloud of sparkles settled on her hair, face, and shoulders.
"Oh—thanks a lot, Bob, Kelley muttered, brushing at the shimmering dust as the eccentric actor laughed wickedly and darted toward the stage-left wings. It was futile—she was coated in glitter.
That’s just super. I look like a disco ball." At least it matched her vintage My Little Pony Princess glitter T-shirt.
"Is she coming sometime today?" Kelley heard Quentin’s irate tones echo through the theater and felt her nervousness come flooding back as she picked up her skirt and ran toward the stage.
Once there, Kelley discovered that under the lights the fairy dust was shiny to the point of blinding. Distracted, she found herself tripping over both the hem of her skirt and her lines. Her heart began to flutter in her chest as she heard the exaggerated groans and sighs of frustration coming from the darkened rows of seats, where the director sat watching her stumble around like an idiot.
After forty-five minutes they’d progressed only a little over a page into Titania’s first appearance. Kelley had already managed to butcher half her lines, trip over a bench, and step on Oberon’s foot. When she almost toppled off the stage and into the orchestra pit, Quentin called a merciful halt to the proceedings.
Kelley. Your name is Kelley, isn’t it?
He didn’t wait for her confirmation. "Yes. Well. Tell me…that bit just now…was that from Dante’s Inferno?"
Uh…no,
Kelley stammered. Her face felt hot.
Really?
I’m in for it.
"Are you sure? he continued.
Because it most certainly wasn’t from this play. And it bloody well sounded like hell."
I—
"You know…as—well, let’s face it, shall we?—as completely incompetent as our former diva may have been in this part—Quentin sauntered up onto the stage, where he circled Kelley like a shark—
she did still have one tiny advantage over you, luv."
She…she did?
"Of course she did. She knew the bloody lines!"
The entire cast took a step back to avoid the leading edge of Quentin’s immediate blast radius.
"And, while I obviously appreciate all the effort you’ve put into making yourself sparkly… Kelley shot a glance at Bob, who’d found something particularly fascinating to look at under one of his fingernails. Probably a sparkle.
What kind of crap-arse UN-DER-STUDY doesn’t know the bloody LINES?"
But I do know them!
she protested. I mean, I did. A second ago. Backstage…
The Mighty Q’s sneer grew. "Well, that’s marvelous. Perhaps we’ll just invite the audience into your dressing room in twos and threes, and you can deliver your performance from there."
I…
Oh, God, Kelley thought, it’s just like theater school all over again. The blood roared in her ears, and she thought for a moment that she was going to faint. Or maybe barf. Right there in front of the whole cast. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment.
"Assuming your delightful predecessor doesn’t miraculously heal, then you have less than two weeks to learn the part. Less than two weeks. This production opens on the first of November come hell or high water. At this point, I’m betting on both. He turned sharply on his heel and waved one hand in dismissal.
Right. We’re broken for lunch, minions. I can’t see the point of belaboring this any further. Be back here at two for ensemble work. You—he aimed a pointed glare at Kelley—
look at your damned script."
The theater cleared out quickly. No one seemed to want to hang around much after that, and certainly not around her. Kelley stumbled blindly to the courtyard and collapsed onto the steps.
Kelley?
She turned at the sound of her name, spoken by Gentleman Jack Savage, the actor playing the fairy king, Oberon, in the show. He was a veteran of the boards—in his early fifties, with a solid presence and a voice that could melt ice or peel paint, depending on how he chose to employ it.
Hi, Jack,
she said, wiping her eyes in embarrassment.
Gadzooks, my dear,
he chided her gently. I know the Mighty Q howls like a banshee, but really, you mustn’t let the old fart get to you.
He sat down beside her on the steps and unscrewed the top of his battered old thermos, pouring himself a cup of coffee. The scent of dark-roast Colombian was comforting.
Kelley gave him a watery smile. "Jack…you know that people—most people—don’t actually use the word gadzooks in everyday conversation anymore, right?"
"I’m on a one-man crusade to bring it back into fashion. Along with odds my bodkins, ’sblood, and, let us not forget, yoicks. He took a sip of his coffee and patted her knee with fatherly affection.
Everyone has to have a purpose in life, my dear. That is mine—quixotic as it may be."
"What if I don’t?" Kelley stared fiercely at her sneakers, willing away the prick of tears from behind her eyes. She felt—she knew—she’d just blown her big chance. Have a purpose, I mean? A destiny.
Impossible.
Why do you say that?
She looked up at him, desperate for his honest opinion.
Jack raised an elegant gray eyebrow. I’m the king of Fairyland, my dear,
he said, and winked at her. All of that pixie dust has given me extremely potent powers of observation.
Jack, I’m not kidding.
Neither am I.
Jack held her gaze, his face serious. "Kelley…you are seventeen. You are on your own in New York City. And you are chasing a dream that most reasonable people consider either unattainable or a damned-fool waste of time. Believe me, I know. All of which tells me that you are either fearless or just a little bit foolish. I suspect both. I also suspect that you are one of those precious few with enough natural talent to make a go of it."
Kelley scoffed in disbelief. "You saw what I just did in there, right?"
And heard, yes.
Jack chuckled. "You mangled just over fifty percent of your lines. I don’t care what Quentin says, for a first timer that’s not half bad. Well—it was half bad. But that’s the point. It was also half good."
You…really think so?
Kelley asked, trying to gauge whether Jack was being sincere.
I really do.
Jack shrugged and drained his coffee. You’ve got a voice. You’ve got a presence. More importantly, you have the heart and the passion and the sheer mule-headed stubbornness that could very well take you to places most of us scarcely dare to imagine.
He screwed the cup-lid back onto his thermos. Now, call that destiny, call it purpose—whatever ‘it’ is, my dear girl, you have it in good supply.
Kelley was not entirely convinced, but she smiled, grateful for the kindness. Has anyone ever told you that you’ve got a silver tongue, Jack?
Many times. Unfortunately, never the reviewers.
Thank you.
No need for that, my dear.
Standing, Jack tipped an imaginary hat to her as he went back inside the theater.
The second half of rehearsal also ended early, but this time it wasn’t Kelley’s fault—it would have been hard to screw up her lines when she’d been ordered to rehearse script in hand. Although it was humiliating for Kelley to still be on book
so close to opening, the company whipped through the large ensemble scenes at a pace and with a level of competency that even Quentin could only manage a few halfhearted mutters over.
After a couple of hours he released most of the cast, holding back the two girls playing Hermia and Helena so he could work on their monologues—because, he remarked pointedly and well within Kelley’s earshot, they already know their lines.
Lucky them, Kelley thought, as she changed back into her street clothes. She gathered up her stuff and hotfooted it out of there before the Mighty Q could change his mind.
Outside the day was glorious, the October sky deep blue and the air mild. The sun was shining brightly, and it reminded Kelley of fall days at home in the Catskills. She felt a wave of sudden homesickness.
Why am I doing this? she wondered.
In her six months in New York, Kelley had never once questioned her life choices: graduating high school early, dropping out of theater training to move to the city—leaving behind what few friends she’d had, not to mention her aunt, who’d raised her single-handedly since her parents’ death twelve years earlier. Kelley was all Emma had and they adored each other but, instead of continuing on with her studies at a nearby state university, visiting Emma on weekends, here she was. Living in the toughest city in America, chasing a selfish dream that—Let’s face it, she told herself morosely—apparently, she really wasn’t any good at. No matter what Jack said.
She scuffed her feet as she wandered up Eighth Avenue, reluctant to make her way uptown to the fourth-floor walk-up that she now called home. Except that home was something else. It was sky and grass and the trees of the woods outside her old window, and peace.
Kelley came to a stop at the corner of Fifty-fifth Street. Central Park was only a few blocks away. There would be trees and grass, and benches where she could sit quietly, looking over her lines away from the city crowds. Turning right to veer east, she broke into a jog.
II
Sonny Flannery opened the French doors and stepped out onto the stone terrace of his penthouse apartment. With cat-footed lightness, he leaped up to perch on the smooth, wide granite of the railing. Heedless of the nineteen-story drop to the pavement far below, he crouched there like a gargoyle, elbows resting on knees and his long, slender hands hanging in front of him, watching as the afternoon shadows of New York’s countless high-rises began to grow long over Central Park.
It was too early for him to be so keyed up—the Gate wouldn’t open for another several hours. Still…even the thought of what was to come made the adrenaline thrum through Sonny’s veins like siren song. He’d heard actual siren song once, and it had not been a pretty thing. Beguiling, yes. Pretty…no. Beneath the heartbreakingly lovely surface of the Sirens’ melodies, all Sonny had heard were discordant notes of hunger and rage. Need. Madness and nightmares. Compulsion.
The same kind of compulsion that had driven him down into the park every night for almost a year in preparation for what was to come when the Samhain Gate opened and all that would stand between the Otherworld and the mortal realm were thirteen Janus Guards. Including Sonny Flannery, the newest member of that elite rank.
This was his first year of service as a Janus and would be his first time guarding the Gate. He could hardly wait.
The October breeze was brisk that high up but, even shirtless and barefoot, wearing only a pair of jeans, Sonny was unaffected by the chill. Still, when the temperature plummeted in the apartment at his back, he couldn’t help but notice.
My lord,
Sonny called, not turning to look. Welcome.
Sonny.
The greeting floated out to him.
From his perch on the balustrade, Sonny turned to see Auberon, king of the Unseelie Court of Faerie, lounging against the door frame. A mane of charcoal-gray hair, shot through with silver, flowed down his back, and a mantle stitched from the furs of timber wolves fell from his shoulders in rich platinum layers.
Your door,
Auberon said. His voice was low and melodious, with hints of the slow crack and boom of a frozen lake breaking open on a midwinter night. It was unlocked.
I know. Most unwanted visitors never make it past the front-desk security in this place. Either that, or they’re not the kind who come up in the elevator, so I don’t usually bother.
Sonny knew perfectly well that Auberon had not come over the threshold. The Winter King, Lord of the Unseelie, had no need of such trivial things as doors. He was simply being polite—in his own inimitable way.
The Faerie king’s pale lips twitched. Unwanted visitors?
Not you, lord. Of course.
Sonny grinned and jumped down onto the flagstones. His bare feet made no noise as he crossed the terrace.
Of course not.
I only meant that I’ll have enough doors to worry about keeping locked soon enough.
Aye. You will.
Auberon’s cold eyes glittered.
"And, at any rate, this is your apartment. Sonny waved a hand at the expanse of polished floors and sleek furnishings.
I only live here."
It was true. Auberon’s decrees had forbade the Faerie from having any interaction with the mortal realm, and his enchantments had made it virtually impossible to do so. But as king of Winter, the most powerful of the Four Courts of Faerie, Auberon could come and go as he wished. He’d done so through the years, and in the course of dealing with humans, Auberon had—among other things—amassed an impressive portfolio of priceless real estate, including Sonny’s corner penthouse apartment on Central Park West. Lavish couldn’t even begin to describe the young Janus’s accommodations to most people; New Yorkers would sell body parts to get their hands on a place like it. But Sonny had grown up in the unimaginable splendor of Auberon’s palaces.
Sonny was a changeling—a human, stolen as a child from the mortal realm by godlike beings who did not often produce children of their own. Growing to adulthood over the course of a century or more rather than years (for time in the Otherworld moved differently than in the mortal realm), the changelings served as surrogate offspring for the Faerie, walking in the shining halls of bright palaces, resting and feasting in canopied bowers. Mortals made almost immortal, they lived in that timeless, dreaming place, doted on or ignored by their capricious masters, sometimes treasured, sometimes tormented. But always in the thrall of the Faerie.
I trust you find these accommodations adequate?
The king’s voice shook Sonny from his reverie.
It’s not home, if that’s what you’re asking.
It was not.
Of course, lord.
Sonny ducked his head, remembering himself. And who it was he spoke to. The apartment is fine. Thank you.
How fortunate that your predecessor vacated in time for your tenure.
"He had his throat ripped out by a glaistig