May 13, 2011

REVIEW: FATE BY JENNIFER LYNN BARNES



Paperback: 355 pages
Published: March 10, 2009
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Series: Tattoo #2

For the past two years, Bailey Morgan has lived a double life: high school student by day, ancient mystical being by night. As the third Fate, Bailey literally controls the fate of the world, but as Plain Old Bailey, her life is falling apart. She’s got a tattoo that was supposed to be temporary (but isn’t), friendships that were supposed to last forever (but might not), and no idea what her future holds after high school graduation.

Then Bailey meets the rest of the Sidhe, an ancient race defined by their power, beauty, and a sinister habit of getting what they want at any cost. Before Bailey knows it, she’s being drawn into an otherworldly web more complicated than anything she weaves as a mortal Fate.


*WARNING: Do not read this review if you have any interest in reading Tattoo*

Fate is the second (last?) book in a series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. The first novel was Tattoo, which you can read my review of here. I have to say that this book was so much better than the first! Although the great characters were still there – Zo, Delia, Annabelle and of course, Bailey – this time, we were brought more into the mystical/magical side of the story. There was more suspense, romance, story-telling, and less explaining which made the book flow better and more enjoyable.

Fate basically starts exactly where Tattoo left off. Bailey is a third fate now – weaving life for humans while also being half-human herself. She’s trying so hard to have a normal senior year when her magical parents tell her that she needs to be “reckoned” – meaning, she will have to choose between her human life or her Sidhe one. But how could she possibly choose? She loves her 3 friends as if they were her sisters, but she has also grown to love the magical world she visits each night. Well, in comes Morgan, a character we first met in Tattoo. She gives Bailey a few hints here and there on how to get herself out of her predicament, but never fully tells her what to do. Morgan is hardly ever seen in the novel, but she is definitely my favorite character. She is confidence, powerful and fiercely protective of the four girls. I love her!

The romance in Fate is pretty decent, but not spectacular. I love the male characters in the story – they definitely provide the humor in the story. But I wish we could’ve spent more time with them. If you’re going to include romance in your story, I (as a reader) want to fall in love too…with this novel, I only kind of liked the guys.

All in all, Fate was a major step-up for Jennifer Lynn Barnes and I highly recommend it for everyone. If you want more of the background story, read Tattoo first, but I think just reading Fate is good enough. But LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!!!

4 out of 5 stars



5 comments:

  1. I adore these books. Such fun. JLB has grown immensely as a writer since these books. I adore her.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This sounds like a pretty good book! I have never read this author before. Think I'll probably try to locate Tattoo first. Ty for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love Tattoo! I didn't really like the climax though, I thought it was rushed. I love the Squad books by JLB though. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sounds like a pretty good book. I will have to get a copy. thx!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I loved Tattoo and I love her use of mystical, whimsical, and her use of mythological elements she intertwines in the plot. I also loved Raised by Wolves!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for stopping by! We love reading your comments and we try to reply back to each comment. So make sure to check back with us.