Enchanted Ivy
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Series: ---
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
How Received: publisher
What Lily Carter wants most in the world is to attend Princeton University just like her grandfather. When she finally visits the campus, Grandpa surprises her: She has been selected to take the top-secret Legacy Test. Passing means automatic acceptance to Princeton. Sweet!Lily's test is to find the Ivy Key. But what is she looking for? Where does she start? As she searches, Lily is joined by Tye, a cute college boy with orange and black hair who says he's her guard. That's weird. But things get seriously strange when a gargoyle talks to her. He tells her that there are two Princetons—the ordinary one and a magical one—and the Key opens the gate between them. But there are more secrets that surround Lily. Worse secrets.When Lily enters the magical Princeton, she uncovers old betrayals and new dangers, and a chance at her dream becomes a fight for her life. Soon Lily is caught in a power struggle between two worlds, with her family at its center. In a place where Knights slay monsters, boys are were-tigers, and dragons might be out for blood, Lily will need all of her ingenuity and courage—and a little magic—to unite the worlds and unlock the secrets of her past and her future.
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It has been a very long time since I sat and devoured a book in one sitting. It's been even longer since I was left hungering for more.
Sarah Beth Durst, with one book, you have made my favorite authors list.
I wish this book was longer. I wish it was a trilogy; it had the potential. My only complaint was that it ended so quickly. We were given a taste of this fantastical world and, right when we really began to see the populace, it ended. I want more.
But besides that? This was fantastic. Lily is a brilliant character. Not only is she realistic, but she reminded me of me - and I was able to connect to her so well. None of the characters fell flat. Even the villains had legitimate reasons for being the way they were.
One of the other reasons I loved it so much was that, though there was romance there, there was no focus on it. The book was about Lily discovering her roots and what happens when she does. Does Tye come along and be sexy and dashing along the way? Yes. Does he call himself her soulmate? Yes. But she doesn't just fall into love with him. In fact, she does what I would do - she scoffs at the idea of falling in love right away, despite her attraction to him.
And the magic! Oh, the magic! I LOVED this alternate Princeton. As I said before, I want Sarah to write more books in this particular world. It's too good not too. If I wasn't already in college (on a campus I adore, with lots of trees) I would want to go to Princeton.
The writing was perfect. It's clever and funny and I loved it. And it's got major quotability factor! I was sure my roommate was going to kill me - I kept stopping her from doing her homework so I could read snippets of it out loud.
Overall Rating & Final Comments: 9/10. Well done, inventive, funny, fantastical. Though it ended too soon, it was just brilliant.
Cover Comments: ... where did her legs go?
PS: Go check out Nyxen's blog - I'm stopping by for Harry Potter month!