I’m going to start off this review by saying that I was unable to finish this book, but I definitely gave it a good try. I was really interested in the characters, but I felt like I kept getting distracted and lost by the amount of information at the very beginning that was making it hard for me to concentrate on it. I feel like I will try to return to this in a couple of months, because it honestly has everything I want in a book, fairytale creatures, political intrigue, as well as diverse representation. Rin Chupeco weaves the Filipino language into the book seamlessly (in my opinion), and I enjoyed the food references so much. This review will talk about the things that I truly enjoyed about the book, because I do believe that this book will definitely make itself a home among readers who enjoy books with a lot of worldbuilding in them.
Okay, so Wicked As You Wish tells us the story of Alex, the sole survivor of the Avalon royal family currently in hiding and Tala, his friend, and one of the few people who know who Alex truly is. Avalon is currently under ice from the war waged by the Snow Queen, and many of the refugees of the country wound up in Arizona of all places. There is hope that Alex and his people may one day return to Avalon, when the most powerful weapon, the Firebird, appears for the first time in decades. Now Alex and Tala must unite with a ragtag group of friends to journey back to Avalon for a showdown that will change the world as they all know it.
I was hooked from that gorgeous summary, and Rin’s writing has a lyrical quality that cannot be denied. I really liked the beginning of this story. I felt invested in Alex and his friendship with Tala, their relationship was very caring and based on a very funny event. It made me laugh out loud kind of funny. I love the insight that Rin provides the reader on how being in hiding has changed how Alex views the world, and the responsibilities that he bears. Readers can also see a well of scars that he is hiding, and I genuinely want to know if his journey will also be one of healing. Tala on the other hand, is experiencing life a little differently. She’s together with her family, but has an important role as a spell breaker. She negates magic, which is very useful when people use magic around her, and to protect Alex from danger.
There’s lots of parallels with what’s happening in this story that could easily be related to real life. Since many Avalonians are refugees, they do suffer from persecution. Readers will be satisfied in the ways that Tala and Alex respond to attacks on them because of their race and sexuality. I found myself relishing those moments and wanting to be like them in real life. I will say that maybe the parallels to what is happening in real life is what lost me a little bit. However, I do think that readers who love political intrigue and parallels will enjoy what’s going on in the book.
There’s definitely romance in this book, and this is one of the reasons I want to return to the book. I feel like it is developing a respectful romance, and I want to know where it is going to lead. It also doesn’t shy away from romantic and complicated relationships, like Tala’s parents. There’s something more about Tala’s father that readers will find out about (and I didn’t/haven’t gotten to), that I think is the cause for a lot of sadness in his character. However what stood out to me was that despite that, Tala’s mother still loves him and supports him, and they parent together without stepping over each other’s boundaries too much.
Genuinely, I wanted to give this book a fair shake, and if this review has inspired you to go out and pick it up, I’m very excited for you! I’m planning on trying this book again in the summer, just to make sure that I’m not just going through a reading slump. That’s what happened when I tried reading A Curse So Dark and Lonely the first time. For the moment, I will give this book a 5/10 because I’m definitely interested in the characters, but for now, this world just isn’t pulling me in.
Will you be picking up Wicked As You Wish? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Many years ago, the magical Kingdom of Avalon was left desolate and encased in ice when the evil Snow Queen waged war on the powerful country. Its former citizens are now refugees in a world mostly devoid of magic. Which is why the crown prince and his protectors are stuck in…Arizona.
Prince Alexei, the sole survivor of the Avalon royal family, is in hiding in a town so boring, magic doesn’t even work there. Few know his secret identity, but his friend Tala is one of them. Tala doesn’t mind—she has secrets of her own. Namely, that she’s a spellbreaker, someone who negates magic.
Then hope for their abandoned homeland reignites when a famous creature of legend, and Avalon’s most powerful weapon, the Firebird, appears for the first time in decades. Alex and Tala unite with a ragtag group of new friends to journey back to Avalon for a showdown that will change the world as they know it.
