Spells (Wings #2) By Aprilynne Pike - Review

I am sure if you follow my blog at all, you know I am NOT what one might call a fairy lover, as far as there usually concerned – I run away! The folklore that surrounds them, for me, is often confusing, for one reason or another.

That being said; I really enjoyed the story that Wings brought to light – and with the continuation in Spells – I fell in love!

It's kinda amazing, Spells did NOT fall "victim" to the 2nd book in a series, disease, I loved it even MORE than I loved Wings, and I don't think I have EVER been able to say that, about a 2nd book!

Synopsis via Goodreads:
Six months have passed since Laurel saved the gateway to the faerie realm of Avalon. Now she must spend her summer there, honing her skills as a Fall faerie. But her human family and friends are still in mortal danger--and the gateway to Avalon is more compromised than ever.

When it comes time to protect those she loves, will she depend on David, her human boyfriend, for help? Or will she turn to Tamani, the electrifying faerie with whom her connection is undeniable?

First off, the love triangle created in Wings – is still ever present in Spells...it was not until the last few pages of Wings that I picked "a side," which is rare, for me. I, up until I read Wings, have never read about a love "triangle" where there was no clear cut "winner" - it might be a story line, but for me – there's always been ONE that stands out, stands above! Wings was different...as was Spells.

Both Laurel's "picks" in there own ways are special, incredible even, and I can now see how one woman might be able to love two people so differently, yet with the same amount of passion as well as love, compassion and understanding. Laurel is still struggling with her choice in Spells...and frankly she's down right selfish about it. I hated seeing what she did, though I totally understand why she did what she did, the choices she makes are very "in character" with who Laurel is. However, it was still hard to read about, having a favorite!

Having grown up "human" being made to forget her fairy life, Laurel is very different from most fairies. Going to Avalon again is tough, it seems everyone “knows her” but she, remembers nothing of her life there. And life in Avalon is so different than the life she's used to, different stations, different rules! Beauty beyond anything she is used to, but for Laurel it seems to come at a price that she's not so sure she's eager to pay. Laurel struggles with her choices, I love how strong she is. She never pushes to hard, but it's always evident that Laurel is going to march to her own drum, even if it's against the beat – EVEN if she's in Avalon!

In Spells, Laurel grapples with the decisions about which life she's going to turn her back on; should she stay in the "human" world, with David, her friends and family? Or run to Avalon, where everything is run so different, where she feels awkward and inadequate but where she would have the ability to be with Tamani? Boiling it down to just that, the choice seems easy, but there's so much more at stake – The trolls are ever present, and making the right choice could mean death to someone she loves, and assuredly will mean that someone's heart will be broken...Is Laurel strong enough to make the right choice? Is there even a "right choice?"

Bottom Line - For me, right now – I can only hope that Enchantments (Wings #3) will bring closer, and Laurel will stop trying to live for everyone else and make the hard, right, choices for HER! The last chapter in Spells had me going a bit nuts, (let's just say it was good that I was alone when I finished) I read it 3 times looking for hidden clues as to what might happen next, what Tamani might be up to, course there's none there, though I don't know what I am looking for either! I know my favorite, and while I love both David and Tamani, I feel even more strongly than I did, that one of them is the right choice, almost the necessary choice. I can not wait to see where the story takes Laurel next, and which way her heart goes. I give Spells 5 mushrooms! Aprilynne is an amazingly talented author with so much creativity and beauty to offer the world, I can only hope that the Wings trilogy will not be her last!

And if you've read it, or when you've read it and want to talk, drop me a line – there's so much I would love to say, but can't!

Spells (Wings #2)
By: Aprilynne Pike
368 Pages
Published: May 4, 2010
Publisher: Harper Teen