I loved Wicked Lovely and your reviews are spot on why this book is so wonderful.

Both girls are such awesome characters – in some points they may be bound and their destiny seems to be inevitable but they never feel or behave like victims. -Ana

This is so true, and really such an important message for young women, don’t you think?

I adored Seth even though his character was probably the least developed. As amazingly supportive he was of Ash, I also noticed those undercurrents of jealousy and insecurity and can’t wait to delve deeper into his character in the upcoming novels.

I’ve been wanting to try this series. Thanks or the great review!

My favorite YA of all time is still SABRIEL by Garth Nix. Have you read it?

I have Inked and can’t wait to read it!

Great joint review!

Thea – Agree with what you said about Seth being written as a support system for Aislinn. He was possibly the least 3D character in the story for me.

What kept niggling at me though, was how Ash could ignore the faeries. Yes, she has been trained from young not to look at them, etc etc, but surely it is humanly impossible not to react when some jump in front of you or poke you or something!

It is difficult, when you are so used to reading romance to just distance yourself from the romantic aspect altogther, me thinks. This is probably why I fell in love with Seth – because he somehow fits the stereotype of a romance hero? And I have to be honest and say that the glimpse of his jealousy and insecurity in Ink Exchange left me intrigued to learn more but also a bit afraid that he will probably have to come down from the pedestal.

Ciara & Ana–hmm ok here's where my stand is. I don't really see WL or IE as "romance" novels. There is the romantic element to both books, but I like that they don't need the HEA tacked on, and that they explore characters that don't fall within the usual mein of romantic heroes and heroines. For Donia, I want more of her story, how she adjusts as the new Queen, but I certainly don't want her to end up with some dude (Keenan or someone else) in a HEA ending. I think she already has acheived her happy ending–of sorts–in that she no longer has to endure that cruel winter chill as Winter Girl (remember in the book even Beira, the Winter Queen, felt Donia was too cold to be near).

So far as Seth is concerned, he had that sort of feeling as a character of being written as a support system for Ash. He's almost TOO understanding, too acquiescent to Aislinn all the time–but in IE there were some hints towards different emotions (jealousy, insecurity) from him that I have a suspicion will be examined in the next novel! I hope.

And as for Keenan himself–I can understand why Donia loves him, and how Keenan loves her too. It's just that becoming monogamous and living HEA doesn't really apply to his character in my opinion. He is the Summer King and does what he must for his fae, his Queen and his court. It's a tangle of emotions, and I give big props to Melissa Marr for going there and not chickening out (ala Breaking Dawn). The emotions and ties of these four characters–Aislinn, Donia, Keenan and Seth–is a complicated affair of love and duty, but isn't that the way life is?

Did you notice that in the end Donia sounded much more powerful and cold? I think the fact that she became the Winter Queen gives her a more equal standing to Keenan and that may reflect in their relationship.