Wings, by Aprilynne Pike

I have had Wings on my wishlist for a long time now, but my B&N book club recently added the third in this series to our upcoming reads list, so I figured I better hurry and at least read the first one!  I had read the sample a long time ago, so technically I had already started this book, but untechnically I read it in one sitting.  I read The Tail of Emily Windsnap, grabbed a key lime muffin from the kitchen and returned to the bedroom to start and finish Wings.  I had just started Spells (the second in this series) when I decided to take a break from all my reading and do something else for awhile (or I would probably be posting my review for Spells immediately after this review, just as this one comes mere minutes after the review for Emily Windsnap).  This series seemed to give me everything the Need series didn't.  They're very similar in their unique perspective on faeries (oops I was just reminded by my friend Lexa that they were pixies in Need, so oops on that, but they were similar enough in my mind haha), but the lighthearted atmosphere and parallels between being a faery and being a green-loving vegan made me enjoy this book so much more than Need.  I loved the characters Aprilynne Pike created and the vivid descriptions of grass, trees, wind, sun, water and nature in general made me feel as if I was right there, in the midst of a beautiful forest or walking barefoot across thick, lush, dew-laden grass and it was amazing.  I've been longing for spring and summer to return to me and I felt as if I got to visit my favorite seasons through these words.  I finished the book and went to take my dogs out, just in time to be greeted by early morning fog, birds chirping and the sun peeking through clouds that had just watered everything in fresh rain.  I felt the breeze and the sun as if I was a flower, craving the outdoors just as Laurel does.  Laurel is your typical teenager except she only eats vegetables and fruit (and in very small amounts) and she loves the sun and the breeze more than humanly possible and she has this strange bump growing on her back and she can hold her breath forever and... well, I guess she's not your typical teenager after all...  I loved reading about Laurel and the strange characteristics that start to make her question herself and her past before her adoption.  I didn't want to stop reading and if my dogs didn't need to go out, I would probably be in my bedroom now reading Spells.  I made myself put it down, because I had a feeling I wouldn't want to stop reading that book either and my dogs would have an accident in the house haha.  Thankfully for all involved I mustered up some self control and plugged in my NookColor to charge while I took care of my responsibilities like a good dog-mom.  I'm still thinking about Laurel's world though and I am looking forward to finding out what happens next.  I might get back to reading it after this post...  I would recommend this book to any fans of YA, fantasy, chick lit, paranormal or faeries. 

Favorite things:  Aprilynne Pike's writing that transported me to a beautiful summer day in the middle of my gray winter, the characters who were easy to care about and get to know, the concept and the unique twist on an old idea and even the romance (normally not something I care much about in a book).

Criticisms:  the willingness of two guys to be part of a love triangle is a bit unrealistic and the feelings of guilt or confusion about these two loves for Laurel were slow to actualize as well.  By the end of the book the love triangle seemed a bit more realistic and believable, so I think that aspect will be more interesting in the second book. 

Overall:  5 out of 5 stars!  This is the best paranormal romance I've read in a long time.