LitPick Review
Fairytale Apocalypse by Jacqueline Patricks is a fantasy book that merges the mortal world with a magical realm known as The Verge. One day the magic binding the magical realm together began to collapse, spilling weird creatures and magic into the mortal world. Kagan, a fae guarding The Verge, tries to hold the realm together while the twins, Lauren and Tessa, characters in the mortal world, have their lives shattered when they notice the destruction of The Verge slowly entering their world. It all began when Lauren escaped on their sixteenth birthday after deciding that she was meant to marry Kagan, the fae guardian. She believed that she was the chosen one and that it was the path destined for her to become the “Lady of the Verge.” However, Tessa did not agree to it and thought marrying Kagan was not the right thing for Lauren to do, so she followed her in an attempt to stop her. Unfortunately, her interference led to something worse than the marriage; there was a magical backlash, leading to the collapse of The Verge. Now, the two worlds were slowly crashing, binding the trio only by survival and secrets. As the three journeyed across landscapes in search of a solution, they were faced with a hidden truth, making a choice between duty and desire, and the threat that could bring the human and fae existence to an end.
Opinion:
The book is one that is emotionally charged, as I experienced feelings such as jealousy, resentment, love, and longing emanating from the characters. Kagan and the twins, Lauren and Tessa, all formed a close relationship and their feelings made the book tense because at some point it felt nice and normal, and occasionally, it was destructive. When it comes to the twins, their bond was not a soft one as expected; their relationship was uncertain, and it carried an heartfelt weight filled with love and misunderstanding of each other. This made the plot rough and gave it power.
The setting in the story stood out with its dual-world structure. There was the mortal world where Lauren and Tessa lived, which ended up like a wasteland due to the collapse of The Verge, followed by the fae realm, which was a magical place filled with elemental forces that made it look enchanting and, at the same time, dangerous. When The Verge began to fall, it affected the world, leading to unstable weather, ruins, and a moody appearance that no longer exuded a fairytale vibe like before.
One of the main themes I came across in the book was the survival of both worlds. Unlike most fantasy books, the magical realm did not welcome the characters or allow them to admire the magic; instead, they were trapped in The Verge, putting them in a situation where their choices were faced with consequences. Since the mortal world was dying, every decision centered on the current state of the situation, one of which was the magic that was gradually escaping into the mortal world, thereby creating a sense of urgency between worlds to act before it was too late to do so.
When it comes to characters, Kagan, the fae guardian, is considered one who had the weight of his world on his shoulders. He had a sense of responsibility and a feeling of love and care while carrying out his duty. While he was not seen as a hero, I see him as a strong character who had been too used to his position as a guardian that he did not know how to ease himself from the duties that come with protecting the realm. Another character, one of the twins, Tessa, is a calm and compassionate character who tries to listen and understand the world. Her quality made her stand out, and though she is not perfect due to self-doubts, she still has a place in the heart of the book. Lastly, there is Lauren, Tessa's sister, who is jealous and desperate. She is not the soft sister you would expect Tessa to have, but she was surely the best sister Tessa could have asked for, even though most of her choices were unpredictable. Overall, the characters are not perfect; they have their troubles and challenges. Even their reaction to certain things, such as the downfall of The Verge, was relatable; it was filled with fear, bad decisions, and a rollercoaster of feelings.
In conclusion, the book was gripping with flawed characters and tension that keeps you pinned to the story. I recommend this book to readers of fantasy books and also to fans of character-driven plots, as they would definitely enjoy this one.
