Destined by Aprilynne Pike

Destined (Wings #4) by Aprilynne Pike
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Library

Summary

Tamani looked at her gravely, and reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear.

He hesitated for an instant, then his hands found the sides of her face, pulling her to him. He didn't kiss her, just held her face close to his, their foreheads resting together, their noses almost touching.

She hated how much it felt like good-bye.

Laurel now knows the truth: Yuki is a rare Winter faerie, the most powerful--and deadly--of all, and Klea plans to use her to help conquer and destroy Avalon. But Klea's reach extends far beyond one wild Winter faerie. With Tamani, David, and Chelsea by her side, Laurel prepares to face what may be Avalon's final days, in the stunning conclusion to the Wings series.(courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

I am computer-less for the next week. My hard drive decided to take an undeserved vacation, so it is on its way to Salt Lake City where it will get a brand new hard drive. I'll pick it up when I fly to Utah this weekend (going to the Libba Bray event!!!!). I'll still be able to update the blog through my husband's computer at night but my comments will probably be limited. Boo. :-(

Wings - the first book in the series - was one of the best fairy books I've read. It drew from traditional fairy lore but with a unique botanical twist. Add to that compelling characters and sweet romance and you have a great book. The subsequent books in the series have failed to achieve quite the level of magic I discovered in Wings, but have still been good in their own right. I particularly love the rich world building that pervades the books.

Destined, the final book in the Wings series, is perhaps the best book aside from Wings. The previous book ended on a cliffhanger: the group discovered that Yuki was a dangerous winter fairy. At the beginning of Destined, Yuki is trapped. But her imprisonment is short lived. Soon Avalon itself is in the thick of an epic battle featuring Klea, Yuki, and lots of trolls.

Almost the entire book is action. There is rarely a dull moment. If anything, there's almost too much action. But I certainly wasn't bored. The plot is twisting constantly and no character is safe. Some of my favorite characters die tragically, but such loss makes the story feel more real.

Despite most of the action taking place in Avalon, all the main characters are present. Tamani and Laurel of course, but also David and Chelsea. David really shines in this novel. I particularly liked the fact that with so much conflict, the story didn't focus on the love triangle. David and Tamani were a team trying to save Avalon. Luckily, romance isn't entirely absent. We definitely get some satisfying moments between Laurel and the guy who wins her heart (you'll have to read it to know who).

My favorite part of this book is the ending. Or rather, the alternate ending. Aprilynne offers us a glimpse into the future, but warns us that we may not want to read it. I chose to do so and thought it transformed the book into a simple fairy romance into a much more thoughtful story about human/fairy nature.

Destined doesn't entirely recapture the magic of Wings, but it is still a thrilling ride. It ties up the series in a very satisfying manner. If you haven't read the Wings series yet, I highly recommend it for the plot but especially for the vivid depiction of Avalon and fairy culture.

Rating: 4 / 5