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ws_bookclub's review
3.0
https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.home.blog/2019/05/29/pricked-by-scott-mooney-arc-review/
Briar Pryce has the power to change the emotions of others by handing them a rose. It is a talent that has done surprisingly little for her, besides landing her a dead-end enchantment delivery job and killing any chance she had with her childhood-crush-turned-roommate. Worst of all, her ability might be responsible for getting her best friend transformed into a cat via a cursed muffin basket. Needless to say, Briar is nowhere near happily-ever-after. But that’s just life as a twenty-something in the Poisoned Apple, New York City’s lost borough of fairy-tale wonder and rent-controlled magic.
When Briar reluctantly agrees to help find a princess’s kidnapped boyfriend in exchange for reversing the curse on her friend, she gets the heroic quest she never really wanted. Unfortunately, the life of a noble heroine is not all it’s cracked up to be – the hours blow, and Briar suspect that the Royal family employing her might be evil, Republican, or both. To complete the suckage, a killer smoke magician is stalking Briar as she searches both the Poisoned Apple and Manhattan for the missing boy. As tensions between the Poisoned Apple royalty ignite and civil war looms, Briar must figure out how to write her own happy ending–or she’ll just be ending. (Netgalley)
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review. It will be available on August 13th.
I’m a bit confused, to be honest: the book described above and the book I read are very different. The description made it sound like this book was going to be a a satirical fantasy, one full of puns and witty names. Not so much. Let me write my own description below, and then compare and contrast. That sounds very “middle school book report”, but it’s the best way I can think of to sort my muddled opinions into a coherent post.
Briar Pryce lives in the Poisoned Apple, a fairy-tale version of NYC, with her three roommates. There’s Alice, who didn’t play into this book too much; Cade, her long-time crush that she sort of accidentally be-spelled, causing no end of drama; and Jacqui , her best-friend-turned cat. Briar has an unusual gift: she can enchant roses to change people’s emotions. She’s roped into helping recover a kidnapped boyfriend to a royal, in exchange for a reversal in the whole “my best friend is now a cat” issue. There’s also Antoine, a knight sent with Briar to help her in her quest.
It was much more straightforward storytelling, with less quippiness than I expected, given the description. I still enjoyed it, but I do wish the blurb had been worded differently so that I went into it without expectations of a certain comedic type.
I really liked Antoine. He had a great sense of humor underneath his serious demeanor, and he tried really, really hard to protect and aid Briar, even though at times she really was a brat to him. Of course he ended up having a crush on her, which resulted in a rather annoying love triangle, what with the whole Cade situation (by the way, Cade was incredibly one dimensional. He might as well have been a block of wood). Antoine also adapted to strange situations quickly and kept the story moving at a good pace.
I loved Briar’s magical ability! It was incredibly unique, and the uses the author put it to were incredibly creative. I didn’t love Briar all that much as a character, but she had her moments. Her need to finish a crossword puzzle before she died made me giggle. I’m curious about why her power was so different than any others in the magical kingdom. I’m guessing that will be explored more in the next installment.
The adventure was fun, if a bit predictable, the writing was solid, and it was well set-up for a sequel. All in all, it was pretty darn enjoyable, but expect a YA fantasy, as opposed to a fairy tale satire.
Briar Pryce has the power to change the emotions of others by handing them a rose. It is a talent that has done surprisingly little for her, besides landing her a dead-end enchantment delivery job and killing any chance she had with her childhood-crush-turned-roommate. Worst of all, her ability might be responsible for getting her best friend transformed into a cat via a cursed muffin basket. Needless to say, Briar is nowhere near happily-ever-after. But that’s just life as a twenty-something in the Poisoned Apple, New York City’s lost borough of fairy-tale wonder and rent-controlled magic.
When Briar reluctantly agrees to help find a princess’s kidnapped boyfriend in exchange for reversing the curse on her friend, she gets the heroic quest she never really wanted. Unfortunately, the life of a noble heroine is not all it’s cracked up to be – the hours blow, and Briar suspect that the Royal family employing her might be evil, Republican, or both. To complete the suckage, a killer smoke magician is stalking Briar as she searches both the Poisoned Apple and Manhattan for the missing boy. As tensions between the Poisoned Apple royalty ignite and civil war looms, Briar must figure out how to write her own happy ending–or she’ll just be ending. (Netgalley)
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review. It will be available on August 13th.
I’m a bit confused, to be honest: the book described above and the book I read are very different. The description made it sound like this book was going to be a a satirical fantasy, one full of puns and witty names. Not so much. Let me write my own description below, and then compare and contrast. That sounds very “middle school book report”, but it’s the best way I can think of to sort my muddled opinions into a coherent post.
Briar Pryce lives in the Poisoned Apple, a fairy-tale version of NYC, with her three roommates. There’s Alice, who didn’t play into this book too much; Cade, her long-time crush that she sort of accidentally be-spelled, causing no end of drama; and Jacqui , her best-friend-turned cat. Briar has an unusual gift: she can enchant roses to change people’s emotions. She’s roped into helping recover a kidnapped boyfriend to a royal, in exchange for a reversal in the whole “my best friend is now a cat” issue. There’s also Antoine, a knight sent with Briar to help her in her quest.
It was much more straightforward storytelling, with less quippiness than I expected, given the description. I still enjoyed it, but I do wish the blurb had been worded differently so that I went into it without expectations of a certain comedic type.
I really liked Antoine. He had a great sense of humor underneath his serious demeanor, and he tried really, really hard to protect and aid Briar, even though at times she really was a brat to him. Of course he ended up having a crush on her, which resulted in a rather annoying love triangle, what with the whole Cade situation (by the way, Cade was incredibly one dimensional. He might as well have been a block of wood). Antoine also adapted to strange situations quickly and kept the story moving at a good pace.
I loved Briar’s magical ability! It was incredibly unique, and the uses the author put it to were incredibly creative. I didn’t love Briar all that much as a character, but she had her moments. Her need to finish a crossword puzzle before she died made me giggle. I’m curious about why her power was so different than any others in the magical kingdom. I’m guessing that will be explored more in the next installment.
The adventure was fun, if a bit predictable, the writing was solid, and it was well set-up for a sequel. All in all, it was pretty darn enjoyable, but expect a YA fantasy, as opposed to a fairy tale satire.
ameserole's review
4.0
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Pricked was a really funny and easy book to read. It's set in a fantasy world based off of NYC, aka the Poisoned Apple. In this, you will meet Briar Pryce. She has an interesting job that definitely kept her and myself on my toes. Other than that, she's pretty unique in her own magical way. Think of her has a trusty bloodhound. She's no lapdog kind of person but she can easily sniff you a person's emotions out.
Sounds kind of weird but I was instantly intrigued.
Of course this book had a smidge of mystery shoved into it and Briar just happened to be the best person for the job. I honestly loved and enjoyed meeting every character in this book BUT I really could have gone without the little hints of a possible love triangle. If there is a next book I pray that there is no love triangle. Just squash that dream because I want no part in it.
Pricked was a really funny and easy book to read. It's set in a fantasy world based off of NYC, aka the Poisoned Apple. In this, you will meet Briar Pryce. She has an interesting job that definitely kept her and myself on my toes. Other than that, she's pretty unique in her own magical way. Think of her has a trusty bloodhound. She's no lapdog kind of person but she can easily sniff you a person's emotions out.
Sounds kind of weird but I was instantly intrigued.
Of course this book had a smidge of mystery shoved into it and Briar just happened to be the best person for the job. I honestly loved and enjoyed meeting every character in this book BUT I really could have gone without the little hints of a possible love triangle. If there is a next book I pray that there is no love triangle. Just squash that dream because I want no part in it.
im211's review
3.0
I was quite pumped to read this book sounded right up my alley.
[b:Pricked|40494865|Pricked|Scott Mooney|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1558731621s/40494865.jpg|62808168] had an intriguing premise with creative world building and fleshed out characters, and a good mystery but in a nutshell, I found the story quite underwhelming.
Pros
We get the relevant backstory of the characters and the history they shared, which I really liked about this book. We see their struggle with jobs, life, relationships making us warm up to our MC.
I would have appreciated if the Book came with more info about its content like its not only fantasy category but falls into Queer category as well.
The mystery unravelling was quite entertaining with phrases derived from fairytales for instance (Let down your hair whose counter is Gothel is here) and the interesting layout of Bad Apple with their ambiguous politicals system further adding to the supernatural element.
Cons
The mystery was rather simple, it had the air of complexity at the beginning but it fell to the common mystery-solving pattern towards the end.
_Little bit of continuity problem in the first chapter
_ There were moments were relationship developments were rushed, Antioine developing feeling in less than 12 hours, and that too being a knight? LiL unbelievable.
Thank you NetGAlley and Bleeding Ink Publishing for providing this E-Arc
There was just feeling, lighting the sky like fireworks in the summer night.I felt the roses below and with a beckoning gesture, I called two of them up to me...In my right hand was a slender red rose, its bloom just barely opening at the top. This was a rose with possibilities, its power red and dark...
[b:Pricked|40494865|Pricked|Scott Mooney|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1558731621s/40494865.jpg|62808168] had an intriguing premise with creative world building and fleshed out characters, and a good mystery but in a nutshell, I found the story quite underwhelming.
Pros
We get the relevant backstory of the characters and the history they shared, which I really liked about this book. We see their struggle with jobs, life, relationships making us warm up to our MC.
The mystery unravelling was quite entertaining with phrases derived from fairytales for instance (Let down your hair whose counter is Gothel is here) and the interesting layout of Bad Apple with their ambiguous politicals system further adding to the supernatural element.
Cons
The mystery was rather simple, it had the air of complexity at the beginning but it fell to the common mystery-solving pattern towards the end.
_Little bit of continuity problem in the first chapter
_ There were moments were relationship developments were rushed,
Thank you NetGAlley and Bleeding Ink Publishing for providing this E-Arc
someonetookit's review
5.0
So this was honestly just a fun novel to read.
A new spin on old classics, this novel has everything you could ever need from a tongue in cheek fairytale set in a hidden part of New York.
The main character Briar was the perfect mix of concerned citizen and passive aggressive sass while her supporting cast run the gamut of personalities.
The pace was divine, full off ebbs in the action, but only for so long as to allow the reader to catch their breath before the adventure started again.
For a story that could have well and truly felt 'Disney', Mooney has injected enough action and adventure to well and truly make this a fun read for most ages (don't be giving it to your kids people, that could definitely turn out badly)
Overall it was just a really enjoyable fast paced read, that resurrected my inner child and left me wanting more.
A new spin on old classics, this novel has everything you could ever need from a tongue in cheek fairytale set in a hidden part of New York.
The main character Briar was the perfect mix of concerned citizen and passive aggressive sass while her supporting cast run the gamut of personalities.
The pace was divine, full off ebbs in the action, but only for so long as to allow the reader to catch their breath before the adventure started again.
For a story that could have well and truly felt 'Disney', Mooney has injected enough action and adventure to well and truly make this a fun read for most ages (don't be giving it to your kids people, that could definitely turn out badly)
Overall it was just a really enjoyable fast paced read, that resurrected my inner child and left me wanting more.
stephbookshine's review against another edition
5.0
*I received a free ARC of this book, with thanks to the author, Bleeding Ink Publishing and NetGalley. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
If you love urban fantasy and old-fashioned fairytales then this book is the mashup for you. Personally, having read this book, I would happily read anything Scott Mooney writes!
Briar Rose’s magical talent is one of the most fascinating and versatile I have encountered, with so much plot potential and room for developing characters in so many directions too. I got very excited as she gained greater control and strength and we saw her abilities begin to evolve in unexpected ways!
The plot is a classic PI-style mystery; well-constructed and nicely paced and the supporting characters are funny, flawed, fragile, heroic and complex. The writing style is unobtrusive and immersive – I completely forgot I was reading a book at all as I followed Briar and Antoine in their investigation.
Scott Mooney effortlessly blends the modern world of New York with the fairytale world of the Poisoned Apple; numerous modern pop culture references with a classic detective noir vibe. The worldbuilding is clever and has infinite potential for further stories, even without ending on a teaser (that also functions as a punchline to a running joke AND the clue to a bigger, ongoing mystery)!
In short:
1. I recommend this book wholeheartedly.
2. It’s right up my street, as a firm fan of The Dresden Files, Grimm, Once Upon a Time, Fables and similar.
3. I have set an alert for future books by Scott Mooney and recommend you do the same.
Places like this always have many names. The Lost Borough, Fairyland, Pucktown, The City that Always Dreams. Lately, it’s been going by the Poisoned Apple.
Me? I just call it home.
– Scott Mooney, Pricked
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2019/08/23/pricked-scott-mooney/
If you love urban fantasy and old-fashioned fairytales then this book is the mashup for you. Personally, having read this book, I would happily read anything Scott Mooney writes!
Briar Rose’s magical talent is one of the most fascinating and versatile I have encountered, with so much plot potential and room for developing characters in so many directions too. I got very excited as she gained greater control and strength and we saw her abilities begin to evolve in unexpected ways!
The plot is a classic PI-style mystery; well-constructed and nicely paced and the supporting characters are funny, flawed, fragile, heroic and complex. The writing style is unobtrusive and immersive – I completely forgot I was reading a book at all as I followed Briar and Antoine in their investigation.
Scott Mooney effortlessly blends the modern world of New York with the fairytale world of the Poisoned Apple; numerous modern pop culture references with a classic detective noir vibe. The worldbuilding is clever and has infinite potential for further stories, even without ending on a teaser (that also functions as a punchline to a running joke AND the clue to a bigger, ongoing mystery)!
In short:
1. I recommend this book wholeheartedly.
2. It’s right up my street, as a firm fan of The Dresden Files, Grimm, Once Upon a Time, Fables and similar.
3. I have set an alert for future books by Scott Mooney and recommend you do the same.
Places like this always have many names. The Lost Borough, Fairyland, Pucktown, The City that Always Dreams. Lately, it’s been going by the Poisoned Apple.
Me? I just call it home.
– Scott Mooney, Pricked
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2019/08/23/pricked-scott-mooney/
faerietears's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book. Also, apologies for taking so long. Life got crazy between when I received this book and… well, it’s still crazy but I’m determined to clean up my GR bookshelf!
This was a fun story. Fairy tales for adults! Like the TV show Once Upon a Time, except it didn’t get boring. Honestly, it’s been so long since I read the book that I don’t remember all the details, BUT I do remember liking it and thinking about how unique this story was. There were some twists too.
This was a fun story. Fairy tales for adults! Like the TV show Once Upon a Time, except it didn’t get boring. Honestly, it’s been so long since I read the book that I don’t remember all the details, BUT I do remember liking it and thinking about how unique this story was. There were some twists too.
wittyandsarcasticbookclub's review
3.0
https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.home.blog/2019/05/29/pricked-by-scott-mooney-arc-review/
Briar Pryce has the power to change the emotions of others by handing them a rose. It is a talent that has done surprisingly little for her, besides landing her a dead-end enchantment delivery job and killing any chance she had with her childhood-crush-turned-roommate. Worst of all, her ability might be responsible for getting her best friend transformed into a cat via a cursed muffin basket. Needless to say, Briar is nowhere near happily-ever-after. But that’s just life as a twenty-something in the Poisoned Apple, New York City’s lost borough of fairy-tale wonder and rent-controlled magic.
When Briar reluctantly agrees to help find a princess’s kidnapped boyfriend in exchange for reversing the curse on her friend, she gets the heroic quest she never really wanted. Unfortunately, the life of a noble heroine is not all it’s cracked up to be – the hours blow, and Briar suspect that the Royal family employing her might be evil, Republican, or both. To complete the suckage, a killer smoke magician is stalking Briar as she searches both the Poisoned Apple and Manhattan for the missing boy. As tensions between the Poisoned Apple royalty ignite and civil war looms, Briar must figure out how to write her own happy ending–or she’ll just be ending. (Netgalley)
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review. It will be available on August 13th.
I’m a bit confused, to be honest: the book described above and the book I read are very different. The description made it sound like this book was going to be a a satirical fantasy, one full of puns and witty names. Not so much. Let me write my own description below, and then compare and contrast. That sounds very “middle school book report”, but it’s the best way I can think of to sort my muddled opinions into a coherent post.
Briar Pryce lives in the Poisoned Apple, a fairy-tale version of NYC, with her three roommates. There’s Alice, who didn’t play into this book too much; Cade, her long-time crush that she sort of accidentally be-spelled, causing no end of drama; and Jacqui , her best-friend-turned cat. Briar has an unusual gift: she can enchant roses to change people’s emotions. She’s roped into helping recover a kidnapped boyfriend to a royal, in exchange for a reversal in the whole “my best friend is now a cat” issue. There’s also Antoine, a knight sent with Briar to help her in her quest.
It was much more straightforward storytelling, with less quippiness than I expected, given the description. I still enjoyed it, but I do wish the blurb had been worded differently so that I went into it without expectations of a certain comedic type.
I really liked Antoine. He had a great sense of humor underneath his serious demeanor, and he tried really, really hard to protect and aid Briar, even though at times she really was a brat to him. Of course he ended up having a crush on her, which resulted in a rather annoying love triangle, what with the whole Cade situation (by the way, Cade was incredibly one dimensional. He might as well have been a block of wood). Antoine also adapted to strange situations quickly and kept the story moving at a good pace.
I loved Briar’s magical ability! It was incredibly unique, and the uses the author put it to were incredibly creative. I didn’t love Briar all that much as a character, but she had her moments. Her need to finish a crossword puzzle before she died made me giggle. I’m curious about why her power was so different than any others in the magical kingdom. I’m guessing that will be explored more in the next installment.
The adventure was fun, if a bit predictable, the writing was solid, and it was well set-up for a sequel. All in all, it was pretty darn enjoyable, but expect a YA fantasy, as opposed to a fairy tale satire.
Briar Pryce has the power to change the emotions of others by handing them a rose. It is a talent that has done surprisingly little for her, besides landing her a dead-end enchantment delivery job and killing any chance she had with her childhood-crush-turned-roommate. Worst of all, her ability might be responsible for getting her best friend transformed into a cat via a cursed muffin basket. Needless to say, Briar is nowhere near happily-ever-after. But that’s just life as a twenty-something in the Poisoned Apple, New York City’s lost borough of fairy-tale wonder and rent-controlled magic.
When Briar reluctantly agrees to help find a princess’s kidnapped boyfriend in exchange for reversing the curse on her friend, she gets the heroic quest she never really wanted. Unfortunately, the life of a noble heroine is not all it’s cracked up to be – the hours blow, and Briar suspect that the Royal family employing her might be evil, Republican, or both. To complete the suckage, a killer smoke magician is stalking Briar as she searches both the Poisoned Apple and Manhattan for the missing boy. As tensions between the Poisoned Apple royalty ignite and civil war looms, Briar must figure out how to write her own happy ending–or she’ll just be ending. (Netgalley)
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review. It will be available on August 13th.
I’m a bit confused, to be honest: the book described above and the book I read are very different. The description made it sound like this book was going to be a a satirical fantasy, one full of puns and witty names. Not so much. Let me write my own description below, and then compare and contrast. That sounds very “middle school book report”, but it’s the best way I can think of to sort my muddled opinions into a coherent post.
Briar Pryce lives in the Poisoned Apple, a fairy-tale version of NYC, with her three roommates. There’s Alice, who didn’t play into this book too much; Cade, her long-time crush that she sort of accidentally be-spelled, causing no end of drama; and Jacqui , her best-friend-turned cat. Briar has an unusual gift: she can enchant roses to change people’s emotions. She’s roped into helping recover a kidnapped boyfriend to a royal, in exchange for a reversal in the whole “my best friend is now a cat” issue. There’s also Antoine, a knight sent with Briar to help her in her quest.
It was much more straightforward storytelling, with less quippiness than I expected, given the description. I still enjoyed it, but I do wish the blurb had been worded differently so that I went into it without expectations of a certain comedic type.
I really liked Antoine. He had a great sense of humor underneath his serious demeanor, and he tried really, really hard to protect and aid Briar, even though at times she really was a brat to him. Of course he ended up having a crush on her, which resulted in a rather annoying love triangle, what with the whole Cade situation (by the way, Cade was incredibly one dimensional. He might as well have been a block of wood). Antoine also adapted to strange situations quickly and kept the story moving at a good pace.
I loved Briar’s magical ability! It was incredibly unique, and the uses the author put it to were incredibly creative. I didn’t love Briar all that much as a character, but she had her moments. Her need to finish a crossword puzzle before she died made me giggle. I’m curious about why her power was so different than any others in the magical kingdom. I’m guessing that will be explored more in the next installment.
The adventure was fun, if a bit predictable, the writing was solid, and it was well set-up for a sequel. All in all, it was pretty darn enjoyable, but expect a YA fantasy, as opposed to a fairy tale satire.
diversify_your_shelf's review against another edition
4.0
*4.5 Stars-- I requested this on Net Galley*
I really, really, really enjoyed this book. Based on the synopsis I figured it would be my type of book and, even with thinking that, "Pricked" exceeded my expectations and did such a wonderful job of being more than just a magic story. This is also a story about consent, romantic and platonic relationships, homophobia, blind obedience, sexism, classism and aristocracy, as well as being a really fun adventure/romance story.
Briar is such a fun protagonist and her magic is a very uniquely original twist on the magic associated with fairy tales and roses. Briar can deliver roses to people and imbue the roses with emotions that are then transferred to the intended recipient temporarily. This is such a fun idea and it was so interesting to watch her navigate the journey of her powers and how they define her. I really like how Briar calls out the toxic masculinity around her-- she isn't hostile about it but she has no time for love triangle nonsense and jealousy.
This book revolves around Briar and her assigned bodyguard Antoine searching for the boyfriend of Miranda-- the daughter of a powerful Count. Within this search many secrets are revealed as to how The Poisoned Apple (their magical land) functions and the political intrigues that seek to destabilize it. It was really well-written and the climax is very telling and respectful about the consequences of oppression and ignorance and how the oppressed are not solely at fault when they become oppressors themselves.
I hope for a sequel!
I really, really, really enjoyed this book. Based on the synopsis I figured it would be my type of book and, even with thinking that, "Pricked" exceeded my expectations and did such a wonderful job of being more than just a magic story. This is also a story about consent, romantic and platonic relationships, homophobia, blind obedience, sexism, classism and aristocracy, as well as being a really fun adventure/romance story.
Briar is such a fun protagonist and her magic is a very uniquely original twist on the magic associated with fairy tales and roses. Briar can deliver roses to people and imbue the roses with emotions that are then transferred to the intended recipient temporarily. This is such a fun idea and it was so interesting to watch her navigate the journey of her powers and how they define her. I really like how Briar calls out the toxic masculinity around her-- she isn't hostile about it but she has no time for love triangle nonsense and jealousy.
This book revolves around Briar and her assigned bodyguard Antoine searching for the boyfriend of Miranda-- the daughter of a powerful Count. Within this search many secrets are revealed as to how The Poisoned Apple (their magical land) functions and the political intrigues that seek to destabilize it. It was really well-written and the climax is very telling and respectful about the consequences of oppression and ignorance and how the oppressed are not solely at fault when they become oppressors themselves.
I hope for a sequel!
eternity21's review
5.0
Briar Pryce has a magical talent of being able to change people's emotions by giving them a rose. She takes a job trying to save a princess' boyfriend. There is a magical section in New York called the Apple. This is not available to non magical people. She gets into quite a few scrapes trying to find out who took Rick. There seems to be more to the situation than she was told. I really enjoyed this story and am getting ready to read the next one in the series. It is a well fleshed out world and believable. I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
ciannareider's review
5.0
Briar Pryce is one of my new favorite characters. I'm a fantasy lover. I love the old fairy tales and our new fantasy retellings, and this is no exception. This takes New York as you know it, and gives it a nice poisoned twist, "the Poisoned Apple, New York City’s lost borough of fairy-tale wonder and rent-controlled magic" according to the book, and it was just what I needed. If you're looking for something that can hook you with magic, mystery, and all wrapped in an urban fantasy type setting then you're in for a ride. I love a good, we gotta find a missing person story, and this delivers with a few twists I didn't expect and also, excellent writing. I enjoyed it so much, I was lucky enough to get my hands on book two right away. Bryce has got her unique magic, which kinda reminds me of how in some stories magical creatures like werewolves can sniff your emotions, well that's Bryce too, she can find people kinda like a scenthound, and that's pretty cool! I love the twists on common tales and the lack of "waiting to be rescued" females. This is a smart book, with funny jokes and good pacing that I couldn't recommend more! Bring on many more books!