Review: Warped by Maurissa Guibord

W a r p e d by Maurissa Guibord

Release Date: 1/11/11

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Age Group: Young Adult (14+)

Pages: 352
Challenges: 2011 Debut Author Challenge & YA Historical Fiction Challenge 

Source: Borrowed/school library
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kindle

Word Blurb: Alluring, curious, intriguing!

"Tessa doesn't believe in magic. Or Fate. But there's something weird about the dusty unicorn tapestry she discovers in a box of old books. She finds the creature woven within it compelling and frightening. After the tapestry comes into her possession, Tessa experiences dreams of the past and scenes from a brutal hunt that she herself participated in. When she accidentally pulls a thread from the tapestry, Tessa releases a terrible centuries old secret. She also meets William de Chaucy, an irresistible 16th-century nobleman. His fate is as inextricably tied to the tapestry as Tessa's own. Together, they must correct the wrongs of the past. But then the Fates step in, making a tangled mess of Tessa's life. Now everyone she loves will be destroyed unless Tessa does their bidding and defeats a cruel and crafty ancient enemy."

WARPED, overall, is a pretty unique read. One I couldn't help but expect a little bit more from. Still, I liked it! There were so many engaging aspects! Again, I was engrossed in the time-altering moments, where Tessa and Will revisit certain moments in the 1500s. Not to mention, the obvious mythology surrounding it, in which the Fates were incorporated. Plus, I have a serious thing for unicorns, and I found the whole tapestry thing creepy yet totally cool! There were just so many things to like about this book!

And, while I think it could have been fitted together better - at certain points, it seemed like too many things going on at once - I was pulled into the story right off. Tessa is headstrong and stubborn, though I do wish she had a little more depth, and I enjoyed her character thoroughly. It seemed sort of refreshing, in comparison to some of the other heroines I've read about. Will's another character I wanted to love, but since I didn't completely get to know him, but know his romance with Tessa instead, I just couldn't fall in love with him. I like him, but he hasn't reached that level where I go gaga over him (like Alex Pettyfer or Etienne St. Clair)... Surprisingly, I don't think I enjoyed the romance as much as I'm normally prone to, which was dissatisfying in a way. I think my favorite character turned out to be Opal, Tessa's best friend. She's too cool for words (no, seriously, she is, because words to describe her are eluding me at the moment).

So, the characterization is... eh. The romance, as I mentioned before... pretty good, but not Whoa! The plot I found to be much more engaging then all of the elements within the story combined. I found the weaving of life, the Fates, the tapestry, destiny and so forth, to be much more mesmerizing. And to be honest, I really liked Gray Lily, the villain. She's so unabashedly... bad, evil, whatever. It's like she doesn't see anything wrong in her ways... I have to say, that she, out of all of the characters, pulled at me the most.

The best part for me was probably the ending... and yet, at the same time it wasn't. The book closes exactly how I would normally want it to, but somehow, I feel... less than satiated, less than satisfied. It's funny, considering how I hate it when books end in cliffhangers, but, while the book leaves room for more installments into a potential series... I don't know, I kind of wish it didn't end the way it did. That's what one side of me says at least. The other side, the hopeful romantic side, on the other hand, says very differently.

Still, WARPED is a tremendously entertaining read, one I think every historical fiction lover, romance lover, and even paranormal lover should at least give a shot. I was pleasantly surprised by it, particularly since I was expecting not to like it...

"'I led them right to you. That's why you told me not to use my hands,' she said faintly. She tried to pull away.
But Will didn't release her. 'That is not why,' he said in a low, impatient voice.
HE pulled her to him, lowered his head and kissed her.
With the touch of Will's lips to hers, Tessa's world shrank. There was nothing beyond the small, dark space between them, nothing but the sensations that enveloped her like a wave. Like an ocean. She was sinking and yet weightless as his breath mingled with hers, his mouth molded softly to her own. She twined her arms up and around his neck and felt herself drawn even more tightly" (213 | 352).

Now that's hot. ;)

Thanks for reading! And happy blogging!