All about me

If you are looking for a book to read that is gritty and realistic, then don't read it. This book is almost like a fairy story in some ways. It is full of magic, symbolism and a hint of mysticism. I must admit, it took a little while to get into it. I figured out that the key to this book is to completely suspend disbelief. If you can do that, then it all falls into place.

At its heart it is a novel about magic, spells and dreams wrapped up in a love triangle. The tension in the novel is its exploration of when the search for this magic moves into sinister manipulation. Another important theme is the finding of one's place in the world by understanding your past. This is a big part of what drives the characters in the book and determines whether they do find magic in their lives. Interestingly, the characters who are able to embrace their past in all its warts and glory, are the ones who ultimately find their life full of magic.

Once I was into the book, I found it really well paced and easy to read. No dull patches where my mind wandered. While most of the twists in the story were reasonably well telegraphed, the whimsical magic of it coupled with the dread of the manipulation being worked on the characters made me want to see what the author had in store for them.

And yes, it does have a happy ending. So if you want something graphic with a punch, don't pick it up. But if you are ready to suspend your disbelief then by all means pick it up and read it.