Oooh, loved this magical mystery with Lavender and Seth at the center of it. Kept me flipping to know what was happening, learning more, and to see if the love would bloom.***FULL REVIEW***
Lavender watches the Charmings's, of whom she's served as fairy godmother for what feels as forever, house burn. James threatens her as he's pulled away by the Authorities. Lavender's been sober since her promise to Red, in Red, and her magics been harder to control since then too. James being as powerful as he is and the crooks in his pocket, Red figures it's best to send Lavender away to safety. Lavender wants a place to be save but to start over as well. Red suggests The Refuge in Seattle. However, The Refuge is full of Tales having a rough time cooping with the Here and Now, which are here due to Lavender's mistake. Going to a friend Red has there that could help protect her, Lavender has a run-in with a dark creature and finds herself in the hands of a dangerous man known to the Tales, and hell hounds hunting her and him. Along with gruesome deaths of Ordinaries carved with symbols. Magic is involved and it could lead straight to Lavender with what she knows. Seth helps Lavender, but then there is something more to his story as well...what trouble has he got himself into? And Lavender is determined to save him as their friendship grows.
Again I LOVE! the Prologue. Such a personal feeling of Lavender with a quick reminder of how the Tales from Make Believe came to the real world along with who Lavender Seelie is.
I REALLY like that Kate eases us in with Lavenders POV but we are in the presence of Red and Nate, the main POV of Red was Red. We are little over a year after Red solves the murder mystery of Red, where she found Nate. In that book I fell in love with them and to start with them right here with Lavender so very pleased me. And the little things we learn about them as they do show up again later in the book as well. Awww, I still do love them! And now I love Lavender and Seth too!
Lavender made me smile. Not only from the magic she worked on James before the fire, *giggle* but her personality is fun. Also when she takes in the sights...of Seth. She finally gets to step out from her enslaved stature with the Charmings and learns to stand strong again...and maybe with the help of another. We get to see the strong Seth! Ooh, that man... Not only do we get to learn Lavender's story, but we learn Seth's as well. Nothing like you would have thought. Loved it. Both Lavender and Seth are ones that people fear and/or hate ~ prejudice. Both are in need of a friend. They are both a bit stubborn and speak up, which leads to great banter between the two, even flirting.
Questions and Mysteries grow!
Hellhound attacks on Lavender and Seth
A dead Ordinary body all carved and covered in symbols
There's a D (fairy dust) addiction in The Refuge
A mysterious little boy who's to be Bo Peeps 'son' and was never pregnant nor came over with her. He just showed up 1 year ago. And his essence feels different from other Tales.
Amazing story with everything in one place. Once again Kate has given me a tale I couldn't put down! Fairy tale character remix with loads of mystery building to solve and love to bloom. Yep, a MUST read. And a MUST series on my list.