Wicked Lovely

In this urban fantasy 21st-century American high school meets faerie world, and within the supernatural world there is hostility between the Winter Queen, Beira, and her son, the Summer King, Keenan. Attractive and gorgeous looking, Keenan has sought a queen for centuries, but the girls he has chosen have not been possessed of the right powers, and if they fail to materialise these they are doomed to become part of the faerie world, but outcast in it.

Aislinn is human but is one of a few mortals who can see faeries, sprites and a whole host of other-world creatures. She attracts the attention of Keenan who wishes to make her his Queen but she is interested in Seth, a close friend with a reputation as a good one-night stand; he, however, is not keen to establish a romantic relationship with any of the girls he attracts.

The action hinges around Keenan’s pursuit of Aislinn, Beira’s interference, Donia the last would-be Summer Queen’s love for Keenan, Aislinn’s growing feeling for Seth and her fears as she is drawn more and more into the faerie world.

Bringing a hip contemporary world and an ancient one together in a clash like this is a clever notion, but unfortunately it fails to fulfil its potential, partly due to some indifferent writing and also to some poor characterization. At heart this is an old-fashioned love story with a modern twist that doesn’t really work.