Review: The Girl Who Never Was by Skylar Dorset

The Girl Who Never Was by Skylar Dorset
304 Pages
Release Date: June 1st, 2014
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy
Level: YA
Rating: 4.6 STARS

Goodreads Summary:

THE GIRL WHO NEVER WAS is the story of Selkie Stewart, who thinks she’s a totally normal teenager growing up in Boston. Sure, her father is in an insane asylum, her mother left her on his doorstep—literally—when she was a baby, and she’s being raised by two ancient aunts who spend their time hunting gnomes in their Beacon Hill townhouse. But other than that her life is totally normal! She’s got an adventurous best friend who’s always got her back and an unrequited crush on an older boy named Ben. Just like any other teenager, right?

When Selkie goes in search of the mother she’s never known, she gets more than she bargained for. It turns out that her mother is faerie royalty, which would make Selkie a faerie princess—except for the part where her father is an ogre, which makes her only half of anything. Even more confusing, there’s a prophecy that Selkie is going to destroy the tyrannical Seelie Court, which is why her mother actually wants to kill her. Selkie has been kept hidden all her life by her adoring aunts, with the help of a Salem wizard named Will. And Ben. Because the boy she thinks she’s in love with turns out to be a faerie whose enchantment has kept her alive, but also kept her in the dark about her own life.

Now, with enchantments dissolved and prophecies swinging into action, Selkie finds herself on a series of mad quests to save the people she’s always loved and a life she’s learning to love. But in a supernatural world of increasingly complex alliances and distressingly complicated deceptions, it’s so hard to know who to trust. Does her mother really wish to kill her? Would Will sacrifice her for the sake of the prophecy? And does Ben really love her or is it all an elaborate ruse? In order to survive, Selkie realizes that the key is learning—and accepting—who she really is.

So. The Girl Who Never Was has been on my to-read list for a while now and I had remember thinking it looked really good but then I got distracted with other books and pretty soon it was so long since I had marked it to-read I almost forgot it was there. Don't forget it was there! It might just be me but I think this book is really, really good. Its super fast passed and just...really unique. And its a faerie book. I tend to not like those books because they're all kinda the same plot but this one is so so different from any other faerie book I've read. Basically what I'm saying is you should try it out even if you don't particularly enjoy those types of books. Its super confusing and wonderful and great. (its not like an irritating confusing...its more like it connects you better with Selkie because you can really clearly see how she feels.

I really like Selkie. I love how even though she's virtually useless she's so persistent and always tries to keep her promises. And she always wants to save the people she says she'll come back for. Even if it suicide. Over and over and over. (Actually the useless part might be a lie...I don't EXACTLY remember) And I love her relationships with people. That sounds weird but I'm not really sure how else to put it. Its just that the way she interacts with others is always really fun and interesting. Like Ben. But we'll get to him in a minute. Because of her situation no one would begrudge her if she decided to never trust anyone again but instead she tries to see the good in people and be friends with everyone she meets. She only stops when it becomes absolutely clear that the person is a terrible being.

BEN!!!!! Benbenbenbenbenbenben. *smiles* I love him. At first I thought he was a creepy older guy because I'm stupid sometimes but then I realized! Ben is a gorgeous, amazing, wonderful older guy not older man. AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP IS SO GREAT! Its not like the usual snarky banter thing, its kinda like he's her crutch and he exists to be that. Thats an over exaggeration but its true to a lesser extent. And he's just great and I can't explain it because honestly even I don't really know why. I just love him. That's it.

Oh, and if you do read this book, be warned IT ENDS ON THIS CLIFF HANGER! AAAAHHH! Sorry, I had to get that out of the way. But honestly The Girl Who Never Was is really cool, and fast, and just such a unique spin on faeries. Hope you enjoy! Byyeeeeeee