Lili Wilkinson

Great author that never ceases to amaze me with how diverse her stories are. This time she delves into the fantasy/horror/romance genre with three childhood friends Merry, Teddy and Sol on the brink of adulthood about to decide if they fall for each other and stay in their hometown ( although they swore never to do so as kids) or start new lives at university far away. Set against a backdrop of a magical controlling men only society called the Toadmen who take women who are so-called Witches and use their magic to make mass-produced items ( like glamour patches that when worn accentuate a person's facial features ) to make money, its a love triangle plus one more... Merry is invited to the Toadmen's Ball by Caraway who she is equal dux with of the school and who she hates because he is a rich spoilt brat and (it turns out) son of one of the highest ranking Toadmen. She only agrees to go so she can save Teddy from pledging himself to the Toadmen society but it all gets complicated as Teddy doesn't love her and she starts falling for Caraway's charm. But what is he hiding under his glamour patch? And why do the Toadmen want Merry to play the part of the Fox Bride in the ceremony? (And it is only "play" isn't it? It is not real?).... For fans of Valentine. It has one F word in it but I think kids can cope with that. Horror because they take the high ranking Toad's eyeballs and lots of slime and blood....… (more)

3.5
This was wild. Like, what the hell did I just read? What a roller coaster of “wtf is happening?”
I’m also going to be honest, Maude was a little problematic (she’s obsessed with her former best friend). That being said odette was a trash friend so really the best people in this book are Niamh and Rufus - everyone else is def morally grey at best.
There were fairytale elements in this (swan prince) and some urban paranormal vibes as well - overall it was a little dark.
The book itself felt really random (and a bit too long) so I kept reading because I honestly didn’t know where it was going.
It was entertaining but I’m left feeling a bit confused.

Watch here: https://youtube.com/@starkissedstories… (more)

Three best friends made a pact when they were very young never to fall for one another. Now that they are about to graduate from high school, those lines are pretty fuzzy, and everything in their lives is complicated by magic and a creepy group known as the Toadmen, who dress up in bizarre costumes and go from house to house, trying to scare, then amuse citizens. Merry doesn't trust them, even though her father is a member. Complicating everything is a strict limiting of magic, witches deemed as evil, Merry's belief that a particular witch cursed her mother, resulting in her death years later, and one of her best friends,Teddy's determination to join the Toadmen.
As if this weren't enough to create chaos in Merry's life, she's coerced into going to a super secret Toad event on a gloomy island in a remote swamp by Caraway Boswell, a haughty and wealthy member of her class. What follows is a series of frightening adventures, Merry having to deal with grief, betrayal, and unexpected feelings, coupled with her discovering exactly what the Toadmen are all about. It's a seductive and gripping read, one that's most enjoyable.… (more)

This was wild. Like, what the hell did I just read? What a roller coaster of “wtf is happening?”
I’m also going to be honest, Maude was a little problematic (she’s obsessed with her former best friend). That being said odette was a trash friend so really the best people in this book are Niamh and Rufus - everyone else is def morally grey at best.
There were fairytale elements in this (swan prince) and some urban paranormal vibes as well - overall it was a little dark.
The book itself felt really random (and a bit too long) so I kept reading because I honestly didn’t know where it was going.
It was entertaining but I’m left feeling a bit confused.

Watch here: https://youtube.com/@starkissedstories… (more)