Review: TEMPESTUOUS (By: Lesley Livingston)

Author: Lesley Livingston
Rating: 5/5

HarperCollins Publishers Ltd | December 20, 2010 | Trade Paperback 

"I don't love Sonny Flannery." 

That's the lie Kelley Winslow told to protect the boy she loves from a power he doesn't know he possesses. Devastated, Sonny retreats—to a haven for Lost Fae that's hidden deep underneath New York City. 

But Kelley's not about to let things end in heartbreak. To get Sonny back, she's got to find out who's after his magick—and how to use her own. She's got to uncover who's recruiting Janus Guards to murderously hunt innocent Faerie. She's got to help rebuild the shattered theater company she called family. And she's got to do it all without getting dangerously distracted by the Fennrys Wolf, whose legendary heart of stone seems to melt whenever he's around Kelley.

The intrigue and romance that began with Wondrous strange and Darklight come to a stormy head in Tempestuous, the breathtaking conclusion to Lesley Livingston's ravishing urban Faerie trilogy.

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In Lesley Livingston's third and final installment in the Wondrous Strange series, she takes the reader on another action packed quest for truth, family, and love. Tempestuous starts off exactly where Darklight finished. Kelley has just uttered the words "I don't love Sonny Flannery," and Sonny, jilted by love, has fled his apartment to seek solace in the streets of New York. While Sonny is on his own personal quest of trying to understand Kelley's words, Kelley is battling trying to control her own faerie magic, her fathers ailing health, her protection of Sonny, and trying to figure out what, in the Otherworld, has caused such a mess. 

Our heroine, of course, is not alone in her quest to save both the human and faerie worlds. Along for the ride our some of our favourite Janus guards, Maddox and the controversial Fennrys; Tyff is her same old diva self but her friendship and care for Kelley shine through, and who could forget Bob! Bob is again comic relief as well as the main characters wise friend. He is a lot of help to both Sonny and Kelley as they fight the battle raging in their hearts and the battle raging in the human world. 

The plot of the story –– actually the whole series –– is extremely well done. The novel alone has a terrific build up, to the ultimate climax before the novel takes the reader on the journey to the end.  There is definitely never a dull moment throughout the entirety of Tempestuous. In the fashion of Shakespeare's The Tempest, the characters are put through different tumultuous ordeals, that could ultimately fracture a lot of relationships that have been built up from Wondrous Strange. Will Sonny and Kelley be able to mend their fragile relationship, or will their love crumble? What role will Fennrys play and what are his motives? Will Kelley be able to control her Faerie abilities and embrace her fate? These questions, plus many more are all answered in a superbly written conclusion to a breathtaking Faerie series.

I have loved Sonny from the time we first meet him in Wondrous Strange and nothing changed in this novel. The fact that he is more fragile and slightly broken, makes him all the more realistic. You feel his heart break, his confusion, his anger. You understand why Kelley has done what she has, but you still feel for Sonny's heartbreak. One character who has surprised me is Fennrys Wolf. Although he's the type of character you want to punch, he is also the kind of character you feel complete pity for. He was definitely a character, who with his faults, was someone Kelley was able to count on. Trust me when I say, this book is no exception to Fennrys having faults. Bob has always been a character favourite. He encompasses everything that made Shakespeare's Puck such a fascinating character, but this Puck also has compassion and heart. Overall, all of the characters in the novel will be able to touch the hearts of all those who read the series and enter their world.

Lesley Livingston has created an astonishing world, with well developed and rounded characters. This novel is filled with love, laughter, tears, and anger. The reader will never find a dull moment in this final installment. Lesley's world is one of majestic beauty, truth, lies, and ultimately the idea that with a little hope and a lot of faith, love can conquer all. This is a series that any age group will enjoy reading and find themselves fully invested in the lives of these characters and the world Lesley Livingston has created. 

Also, here is the exquisite book trailer for Tempestuous:

*A special thanks to Melissa at HarperCollins Canada for this copy for review :)

-Ashley