Secondhand Charm, by Julie BerryYoung Adult, October 12, 2010
Publisher's description:
In a secluded village, magic sparkles on the edges of the forest. There, a young girl named Evie possesses unusually strong powers as a healer. And a gypsy's charms - no more than trinkets when worn by others - are remarkably potent when Evie ties them around her neck. Her talents and charms have not escaped the notice of the shy stonemason's son. But Evie wants more than a quiet village and the boy-next-door. When the prince's entourage arrives one day, and his footman has fallen ill, Evie might just get her chance after all....But this young girl's destiny is no mere romantic fairytale. Her fate, and the journey she is about to embark upon, will take her far from her tiny village, uncovering serpentine powers and a legacy she never dreamed possible.
From page one I was captured by Evie's sweet personality. So many heroines can seem to overtake a book, but Evie told her story allowing others around her to have theirs too. Part of me was a bit thrown away by Clair, her snake 'familiar' of sorts. I think in retrospect, though, that that must have been how Evie felt - a bit taken aback by a serpent so willingly attaching himself to her. The love story was sweet - you knew what would happen, and yet you worried it wouldn't! I loved some of the cute banter, and I have to share a bit of it with you: (A few parts in between are cut out - I can't type up the whole book!)
I took a deep breath, gathering all my courage. "Aidan," I said, and he turned to look at me. "Will you take me with you?"
He stopped walking. So did I.
"D'you mean, just the two of us, walking?"
I nodded. "I don't see any other way."
He took off his cap and shook dust off the brim, but his eyes never left me. "Well...how's that going to look?"
My words poured out. "Aidan, if I don't get to University on time, I'll never get to..."
"What will we say, when people ask us to give account of ourselves, as we travel?"
I found myself staring at his boots. "We could...we could say that we're married?"
Aidan's eyes opened wide.
"I could say I was your sister,"I stammered, " but isn't that, somehow, less safe? For me? If people thought I was your wife, they would be more inclined to leave me alone."
"Men don't seem to leave you alone, do they." It wasn't a question.
I felt my cheeks grow warm. "Honestly, I don't know what's happened , all of a sudden, it's never been like that before."
Aidna was watching me with an amused look, and I realized in an instant what a vain, coquettish thing that was to say.
"I don't mean...." Oh be quiet, Evie! But I had to go on. "What I mean is that, never in the past..." Oh, help. "It's probably got something to do with the gypsies."
"The gypsies?"
I forced out a laugh. "Their magic trinkets. I bought a few ornaments at the feast day," here I gestured to my charms. "One of them, she said, was a love charm. Ever since then..."
My voice trailed off. Immediately I bit my lip.
"So, you bought a love charm from the gypsies, did you?"
"The point is, will you take me with you, or no?"
"I'll take you, Wife," he said, "as far as Chalcedon, but then I'm seeking an annulment.
Is that the cutest?!
I also noticed a familiar flavor as I read it, and by Chapter 2 I realized what it was - Secondhand Charm feels a lot like a Gail Carson Levine book. I was delighted to discover that it remained so, and fans of Levine should feel free to gobble up this tale as well.
Graded a B.
I'd like to note that I read an ARC, so changes aren't final.
And remember, stay tuned for an interview with Julie!
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