The reason I finished this book was that I don't like leaving ARCs halfway. The reason this isn't just one star is that that rating is reserved for the absolutely worst, borderline offensive books I have the misfortune of reading.

That said, I didn't enjoy this book. Not even a little.

I didn't care about the overly dense worldbuilding or any of the extensive infodumps. I didn't care for the large cast of characters or the magic system. I didn't care about anything that happened. I would constantly zone out while reading and had to get myself back into focus. It made the book feel longer than it was, like it was never going to finally end.

I was afraid this was going to throw me into a reading slump.

I felt like the book was predictable and yet, all over the place. The characters were one dimensional and bland. The world was needlessly complex and hard to get into. The writing was OK at best.

"Many years ago, the magical Kingdom of Avalon was left desolate and encased in ice when the evil Snow Queen waged war on the powerful country. Its former citizens are now refugees in a world mostly devoid of magic. Which is why the crown prince and his protectors are stuck in…Arizona."


DNF alert. story was very slow going. I wanted to love this book because the description pulled me in, however the writing did not. Maybe I will pick it up some day soon,

First of all, let me just say that I am at a loss for words after reading this book. As a Filipino, I have accepted the fact that the chance of being represented in books and films are close to none. This book proved me wrong and gave me so much hope. You might look at this as a slight bias on the way I see the totality of the book, but I actually enjoyed reading this one.

I have 2 books of Rin Chupeco on my TBR mountain that I have not read yet, which means that this is my first time to fully experience her work. As much as fantasy is not my go-to genre, I have to say that I loved this one a lot.

But, before we go ahead, let me say this first: I had a slightly difficult time immersing myself with the world building. I don’t know if this is because I do not have the most active imagination and I always struggle to imagine fantasy-related stories. I felt a little lost with all the political system, magic, and history – so I took down some notes to make things much easier.

I should say, though, that finding pieces of the Filipino culture was still a fun easter-egg-hunting-ish experience for me. (If you are like me, though, I still hope that you give this book a chance because you will miss on something amazing!)

One key point of my loving this story is the characters. I love Tala and I cannot believe that we have a strong Filipina heroine like her! I love her family and the other support characters – especially when there is banter (which feels like the author is a master of!). The characters are very endearing and I find myself rooting more and more for them as the story dives much deeper.

The writing style also deserves all the stars! There is something about Rin’s writing that is easy to read, while being genuine and sincere. It is able to bring up various emotions that made me laugh, made me nervous, and tugged at my heartstrings.

A bonus point to like is the quirky chapter titles, which made reading this definitely much more fun!

Overall, this book made me fall for Rin Chupeco and I am now itching to read her other works! I know this book is the first that she had ever written and I am so happy to see how much she has changed and grown in her writing approach. (I am also very happy that this story was given a chance to be shared to the world!)

This book has all the elements to be a perfect read, but it falls short on execution in that it's hard to understand and the plot is not fast-paced, but rapid to an extent that it was hard for me to read and understand the plot.

It wasn't the right read for me because I love character-heavy Young Adult fantasy, and this one felt more like a string of plot points that should have been cut down on. The book would definitely be a lot more entertaining to a younger audience in the YA subgenre since it reads like a fairy tale adventure that I did like a lot when I was younger. It does also have a very relatable protagonist who seems real and just like any young teenager when faced with issues larger than themselves. So, if that is what you came looking for, then give this book a try!

I wanted to love this book because it had a unique magic system and a protagonist that offered a fresh breath of Asian culture, with a loving family dynamic involved. Those were the strongest points in the story and were the reason I read 3/4 of the book.

But the writing style was rapid and didn't flow as well as I hoped it would. There were too many characters and with most of them I could not identify or relate, their motives seemed too underdeveloped and I believe that if there was a lesser amount of characters with more focus, then this would have been a book I enjoyed.

I have to start by saying most of what I'll say below is going to be a matter of personal preference (as is almost always the case). I don't want to make it seem as though no one will enjoy this book - I think a lot of people really will. My biggest takeaway was that this is a deeply creative and interesting world - but the writing just wasn't for me. So take everything with a hefty pinch of 'this is just Judith's opinion'.

I found it exceedingly difficult to get into this book. I meant to read it in February and ended up relegating it to the March TBR because it was just so difficult. One of the biggest reasons for that was that I felt like it took the book a while to settle into what it was going to be. It throws a whole lot of different stories at you from Arthurian myth to Alice in Wonderland and beyond and it takes someone with a tighter focus than me to keep up. I think it's in part because I couldn't see why these things were being mixed up, was this a world where stories (from another world) all mixed together or was this a take on the real world that happened to include characters from the stories? I don't think I could tell you. 

Which is so frustrating because there were some great ideas within the jumble. I liked the idea of the banders being young heroes who fight creatures and basically kick butt - but I found there wasn't a focus on them - at least in the way I read the book - and I wanted more about how they all got together, how they were selected and so forth. 

I couldn't really relate to the main character Tala, though I think she will probably be an amazing role model for a different reader. I found I got frustrated by a perceived fixation on romance and a particular boy when there were so many other things going on (a problem I often have with YA...). I liked some of the side characters but since this book has so much focus on Tala I wasn't sold. 

As I say, I think this book has a lot of really creative worldbuilding and ideas, and I wish I had enjoyed it. Personally, the ideas and writing were just a bit too jumbled for my liking and I don't think it was for me. I have heard good things about some of this author's other books so I'll maybe check those out and see if they are a better fit!

My rating: 2/5 stars

I received a free digital review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own!

I was really excited about this book because I've been getting into YA books. I couldn't really get into this one though but would recommend for other YA lovers.

I had so much fun with this book ! I'm a fan of Rin Chupeco and i'm alays surprised as how much i love her stories. The world building was a bit confusing but i think it was necessary to build the story for the sequel. Overall i really loved that book

Everything Rin Chupeco discusses thematically, I find very important. Immigration, refugee policies, etc. are all explained well in this novel, you can really tell that effort was put into the worldbuilding. I also like the concept of the novel as a whole - fantasy with real life ideas. It kind of reminded me of the show Supergirl in terms of the political commentary. (Basically, themes that were on the nose but interesting enough to continue binge watching.)

What I didn't like was the flow of the novel. The characters felt aimless. Everything that gets thrown at them is really the only reason they act at all. It just felt very deus ex-machina. Constantly.

I was very excited for this book but was left disappointed as I read, finally ending on a satisfying note. Overall, good concept, ended well, everything in the middle felt like a blurry blob.

No one is more upset about this than I am, trust me.

Wicked As You Wish was one of my most anticipated fantasy releases of 2020, and getting approved for the ARC was a dream come true. Unfortunately this book was simply not for me.

Lets start with the positives, and there are a lot of them. The writing was funny and the characters lovable. The author had incorporated all kinds of fairy tales and myths, which made the book detailed and magical. The book was a lot of fun to read, especially at first.

The main issue? World dumping. About 6 pages in, there was a huge amount of information about the socio-political alliances in the fantasy world. A plethora of names were mentioned, different histories given and explanations of who was right and who was wrong. I tried to wade past it, and keep it all in my mind, but this pattern continued for the first 50 or so pages. I was so confused by all the info that it was impossible to keep track of everything when the story actually began.

I'm very glad I got a chance to read this book, and want to thank Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS fire for this ARC. I'll definitely be reading other books by the author, as I really enjoyed the writing style.

This book started off very slow for me, and I was honestly extremely confused by the magic system. There was so much to take in and wrap my head around at first, and all of the characters and their “magic” was getting confusing to me.

Plus, the writing style wasn’t my favorite- some parts felt awkward, and forced.

I almost DNF’d it multiple times.

However, it took until about 60% in for me to feel like I actually understood what was happening, and I was able to start enjoying the story. I actually really liked the ending, and I’m most likely going to continue on with this series (once it’s actually out).

It was a decent read, especially for a debut book. I have a feeling that the other books following this one will be even stronger, and I look forward to reading them.

Sadly, Wicked As You Wish didn't work for me. In the past, I've found Rin Chupeco's writing to be charming and engaging and I've usually found that I get attached to the characters but Wicked As You Wish held none of that for me. In fact, the farther I made it into the book, the more I wanted to DNF it.

The premise was an extremely interesting concept that blended a bunch of elements that I normally love; the Arthurian mythos, urban fantasy, magical realism. But I found that they really seemed like too much, especially as I continued on in the book. But I think if I had connected with the characters more, I would have been able to overlook the pieces of the story that were clunky or just didn't make sense. Alas, I found the characters lackluster as well.

I'm really disappointed by this but I do look forward to more from Rin Chupeco in the future. I loved the Bone Witch series so I think if she goes back into epic fantasy, I'll enjoy that a lot more.

A fantastic book that incorporated current events happening in America, classic fairy tales, and Filipino mythology.

Wow! This book took me for a ride. I did not know much about it other than everyone wanted to get their hands in it. So when I had the opportunity to read an ARC copy from NetGalley, I jumped on it. After I started this book it made me very intimidated as I am not a fantasy reader and this clearly had a world of it's own. However, it was heavily based in the real world, so it was not too hard to wrap my head around once I was able to really dedicate my mind to this book. There are a lot of cultures represented in this book, which made it fun to read opposed to a white washed cast of characters.

The pacing was fast and furious. The author was able to do a quick time lapses to carry on the story without interrupting the flow, which I greatly appreciate. However, there was just so much going that it wasn't a pleasant read for me. I had to reread certain chapters because I missed some key information and things stopped making sense. A quick reread of a chapter or two got me right back in track. I will be transparent and say that this could be due to my lack of fantasy experience. I am more of a psychological thriller reader.

So all in all, I would give this 4 stars. While it is not a home run of a book for me and can see a lot of people really enjoying this book. The storyline is creative and interesting and I look forward to reading future books in this series. but will wait for it to come out

I took a chance on a Rin Chupeco book (The Bone Witch) a while ago and didn't end up enjoying it. And then I read The Girl From the Well and fell in love with her work! I don't even know how to describe how much I ended up loving Wicked As You Wish. Rin Chupeco has a way of drawing you into the worlds that she has created and doesn't let go until the final page. I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this and count me in for anything Rin Chupeco writes in the future!

Unfortunately I had to DFN the book...I was unable to read any further then Chapter 3. It wasn't what I was expecting and I couldn't get into the story. I might revisit reading it again at later time

Wicked As You Wish was a tale of family, friendship and a fight for freedom that was fun and full of creativity. The start of the book was very full on with a lot of information to process but it really is worth sticking with until the end.

It was set in a world similar to ours only there was the Royal States of America and a few extra countries: Wonderland, Avalon and Neverland, not to mention an entirely different history inspired by fairy tales such as Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood and much more, all cleverly incorporated into a magical world. I also loved the representation as there were characters of many different races, genders and sexualities and I especially loved how Filipino culture was so intricately woven throughout the book. All the detailed descriptions of Filipino food made me hungry!

The magic followed a give-and-take system which I thought was really interesting. For example, if you wanted fire power you’d have to endure a tolerance to cold so low that standing in front of a freezer would be too much. However, that could be overcome through spelltech: objects already imbued with magic by someone else.

Tala Warnock was a Makiling, which meant she negated magic of all forms. Her family were charged with protecting Prince Alexei of Avalon, the sole survivor of his royal family, but they ended up going on an eccentric quest to reclaim their homeland and Alexei’s rightful throne. Tala’s journey was one of understanding herself and her goals. She had to deal with some truths that upended her world, but she always had people around her to support her. That was probably one of the best parts of this book: the tight bonds of family and friendship that held everyone together unconditionally

I found Alex very annoying. I could understand why he was frustrated but I couldn’t understand why he continually took it out on the people who were trying to help him. That being said, I did like how his friendship with Tala was portrayed. It was rocky at times but they were always there for each other when it mattered. I loved Tala’s family especially her titos and titas and Lola Urduja. In terms of the rest of the characters… there were too many for them all to be well developed and likeable. However, I did like Zoe (how could I not like someone who appreciates skirts with pockets?!) and also Loki but quite a few of the characters were easily forgettable.

I generally quite liked the plot although there were some plot twists near the end that needed more explanation. There were lots of ominous prophecies dotted throughout the book foreshadowing a lot more strife to come in the sequel which I am excited to read as I think it has the potential to be better than the first.

This book took me forever to read. The characters fell a little flat, pacing felt off, and the world-building was very confusing. In the end I have to conclude that this book just isn’t for me.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S OVER.

Tala Warnock has never had use for magic. As a Makiling, she's always been able to negate spells, typically by accident. When she meets Alex, the prince in exile of Avalon, they become immediate friends. As the Royal States of America becomes increasingly against magic, an old enemy rises, and a firebird appears, Tala & Alex will have to rely on each other much more than they ever thought they would need to. If they wish to unfreeze Avalon from it's icy imprisonment of 12 years, they'll find new friends and enemies and find out more about themselves and their families than they could've imagined.

Rin Chupeco has done it again. I was sucked into this world immediately. It was intricately built, like Shadowhunters but with fairytales rather than angels. You will recognize so many characters and countries from various fairytales. The magic of the world was fascinating and I loved that everyone had a curse and a doom. There were so many moving pieces to the magic and it almost always came with a price.

Chupeco also brings in her Filipino roots full force. I loved seeing this representation and getting a glimpse into what it's like to have a Filipino family. I absolutely loved Tala's parents and her extended family of titas and titos. Plus the food!! Tala's family has a party in the beginning and the food descriptions made my mouth water. I need some ASAP.

This story was so enchanting. After about the first 50 pages, it was utterly impossible to put this down. One thing that would've helped my overall visualization of the world would've been a map. There are so many new countries and I would've loved to see where they were in respect to countries I do know. Especially Avalon and Wonderland. It sounded like they were near the UK, but I was never 100% sure. Overall, it wasn't enough to take away from my enjoyment of this story.

The ending was amazing, but oh my god!! I can't believe I have to wait over a year for the next book. I NEED ANSWERS.

"To be a hero, you need a bad guy. And when there are no bad guys available, you wind up forcing that role on something or someone people already irrationally fear. If you need a villain, sometimes all you need is a good long look in the mirror--but most people aren't that self-aware."

This book is the best treat to readers who grew up with fairytales, myths and legends as a major part in their childhood. I am so thankful to Sourcebooks Fire for gifting me this e-arc through NetGalley. I will be using the official description because I doubt that I might slip a spoiler or two.

Many years ago, the magical Kingdom of Avalon was left desolate and encased in ice when the evil Snow Queen waged war on the powerful country. Its former citizens are now refugees in a world mostly devoid of magic. Which is why the crown prince and his protectors are stuck in…Arizona.
Prince Alexei, the sole survivor of the Avalon royal family, is in hiding in a town so boring, magic doesn’t even work there. Few know his secret identity, but his friend Tala is one of them. Tala doesn’t mind—she has secrets of her own. Namely, that she’s a spell breaker, someone who negates magic.
Then hope for their abandoned homeland reignites when a famous creature of legend, and Avalon’s most powerful weapon, the Firebird, appears for the first time in decades. Alex and Tala unite with a ragtag group of new friends to journey back to Avalon for a showdown that will change the world as they know it.

As utterly fascinating with a touch of ethereal poetic undertone in the narration, 'Wicked As You Wish' is a whole new blend of the folklore genre with urban fantasy serving to be an exceptional treat to all the fantasy and folklore lovers. Characters, who are culturally and sexually diversified, are drawn from well-known myths, legends, fairytales and adapted into our world perfectly: the world is built with our history, in addition to the adaptation of the mythical and fictional worlds. The plot is explored well and the pace feels realistic as the plot moves on. One can never guess what happens next but I just knew something was about to go down. Whatever that went down was highly unexpected by me!
Chupeco's writing style is applause-worthy: I will not be able to get enough of it. And that just made this whole book for me a 5 star read!

Sadly, this book has a lot of potentials to be underrated. Here are some of them:
1. The transition from the urban fantasy to traditional fantasy and so forth might turn out to be perplexing and tough for readers to get into and keep up with.
2. The world-building will come off confusing due to the lack of understanding created by the adaptation of fairy tales, myths and legends read as kids.
3. Lots of characters will be hard to track along with what is happening in the plot.

But if you are someone who knows your history, myths & legends and fairytales well, this would be an outstanding and mindblowing read for you! It's been a couple of weeks since I read this one and I still cannot believe that Chupeco pulled this off so deftly! It triggered nostalgia for me and it did wonders to my 'mercury retrograde' blues by shooing it away. I fell in love with the main characters and I am currently shipping two of them. The child-like happiness bestowed upon me by this book is appreciated with the whole of my being! I cannot thank Chupeco enough for ending this with a cliffhanger. I am being sarcastic and no, give me the second book RIGHT NOW!

As a kid, I always used to dream about a world in this book (minus the evil) and I am so happy that as an adult I have the opportunity to read this! Dreams do come true and I cannot wait for the books in this series to release... ugh, the only aspect that I hate about this book is that I have to wait for a year or so to read the next one. I hope it is going to be worth all the wait in the world!

This is a hard review to write, because I love Rin Chupeco and her books so dearly, but this book was a miss for me.
The concept was so intriguing. A prince from a magical land sent to Arizona to live in hiding? I was so excited! I loved the inclusion of the Filipino culture-all of the family aspects were so funny and heartwarming, and the food descriptions made me so hungry. I also really loved all of the queer aspects of the book. We love that representation!
However, the world of this book was a big miss for me. I love what Chupeco was going for here, but I felt like it was just too much. Literally every fairy tale and fantasy story you could think of was included in this world, and it was so hard to keep up with all of it. I also just couldn't understand how Avalon, Wonderland, and other worlds were somehow a part of our world.
I will absolutely keep reading Chupeco's works in the future, because like I said, I love her books so much, but unfortunately this one just wasn't for me.