Wicked as You Wish

By: Rin Chupeco

Narrated by: Cassie Simone

Length: 13 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's Summary

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 lame that 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 spell breaker, someone who negates magic. But 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.

©2020 Dreamscape Media, LLC (P)2020 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Interesting world, plot could be better.

This is YA fiction, and if you know that going in, it is a fun read/listen. The setting/world is interesting, but the overall story line (at least in this book so far) is not groundbreaking or anything. Overall, the world building is okay, barring the inexplicable abundance of Carly Rae Jepsen. It was jarring every time it came up, like running into C3PO in Mordor. Also, the subject of sexual orientation could be covered a little more subtly, but that's arguable at best. Parts of the story and dialogue are annoying and cringe, but it makes sense given the characters are all adolescents.

The interactions between characters in the main cast were kind of predictable and largely ineffectual to the plot. There's not as much character development in this book, rather the readers are discovering the characters. I hope the next books, assuming most of the characters will stay, shows the main cast change and grow. Speaking of next book, the last third of the book does a lot of foreshadowing for where the story may be going next.

The narration was fine in general, buy difference in characters wasn't always obvious. With so many different characters taking up sizable amounts of screen time, the voices sometimes bleed over and it is hard to tell who was saying the lines.

Fantastical!

This is fantasy reaching into your childhood core and twisting it into your growing into an adult soul. It is beautiful, quirky, and just wonderful! The characters are relatable yet admirable and the fastest lands are just amazing! I can not wait for the next book!

Wonderful

I can not wait for the next book! Such a thrilling adventure! Absolutely loved it