Mundie Moms

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Book Review- Warped

By Maurissa Guibord
Published by Delacorte Press
Released on January 11th, 2011
Source- Random House
4.5 stars- I highly recommend picking it up

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 (quoted from Goodreads).

Maurissa Guibord had me completely wrapped up in her debut book, Warped. It's one of those books you sit down for a few moments to read and find you are so invested with the story, that you can't put it down. It's a story the flows well, and blends together elements I enjoy. Maurissa weaves together a story of love, life, loss, fate, destiny, magic, danger, time travel, and action in the form of classic battle of good vs evil that will span centuries. The setting, the characters, and the story itself was one I found myself completely drawn to and gladly welcomed the sleep I lost in staying up to read it.

I enjoyed that fact that Tessa's father owns a book store, which is how they wound up coming home from an auction with boxes full of books and the Unicorn tapestry. The tapestry itself is something I was drawn to as much as Tessa. Things start to happen as soon as Tessa touches it and her dreams have become strange, as they take her back to the 1500's where there's a dashing young knight and her unicorn, which is the one that's in the tapestry. It's not until she pulls a thread from the tapestry does her life turn upside down as William de Chaucy is no longer in the tapestry, but right in front of her.

That's just the start of what Tessa has unraveled. To say that Tessa has to make some hard choices is an understand-statement, as The Sisters of Fate, also called The Norn sisters think Tessa stole 7 threads that have interrupted fate, and Lila Gerome, a centuries old witch wants the Tapestry back. Tessa either protects Will and will lose her father and the way her life has been, or she gives up Will and her life will be restored to how it once was. The problem is, how do you give up someone who's fate is intertwined with yours?

I absolutely loved how this story unravels, both in the modern day and in the 1500's England. The settings are beautiful and the characters are great, as The Norn Sisters, Lila, Tess and Will's stories all connect at some point through out history. Opal, Tessa's best friend is fantastic, as she just goes with the flow and is there for Tessa no matter what strange things Tessa tells her. My favorite characters are Will and Tessa. Maurissa takes her time in unmasking Will's angst, and at times haughty attitude towards Tessa, while at other times you can tell he's falling in love with her. I really enjoyed being able to understand Will more and not having everything unveiled all at once. Tessa is so put out with Will at times and other times she can't help but be drawn to him. Who wouldn't be drawn to a hot knight with a 16th century British ancient? Really, I loved their chemistry and watching them fall in love.

Warped is a debut book I highly recommend picking up. It's a story that's beautifully detailed, perfectly layered and brilliantly told. It's history, lore and magic are unique elements to the story that is about love, sacrifice and believing in fate, as a beautiful centuries old love story unfolds with in it's pages.

You can find out more about Maurissa by visiting her site here-

3 comments:

  1. I have this one on my list, I really really want to read it!! Sounds so romantic and like there's some really good character development. Great review!

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  2. I went to buy this book the other day and they didn't have it in stores. :( I can't wait to read it!!

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  3. Thank you!

    Cynthia- I think you'll like it!

    Jasmine- That totally stinks! I hope your store gets them in soon.

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