"The Bone Witch series may have concluded a few years ago, but author Rin Chupeco is nowhere near done weaving colorful stories. Tala is part of a fierce family tasked with protecting the sole heir to the Avalon throne. Her imperviousness to magic makes her the perfect match for Prince Alexei, who can’t help the magical messes he sometimes makes. When a legendary creature appears unexpectedly, the two teens know that something deadly is brewing and they’re likely this world’s only hope."

This is a tale that takes just about every fairy tale under the sun and mashes them into a fantasy adventure unlike any you ever read. With nods to Filipino culture and political intrigue.

This tale takes place in a town that is so boring magic won’t even function their. Sounds like my hometown lets all watch the tumbleweeds fly by. It took me a bit to get into this tale as one i don’t know a lot about Filipino culture and two i kept seeing fairy tales pop up and like how does that work.

Once you get that this is the whole point that your to be drawn in my fairy tales and i one for one really want to try some Filipino food now as the description make it sound so good.

One main thing i like to point out in this novel shows the talent this author in that you can tell the decathlon that she put into this novel as it was one she tried for a very long time to get published. Some stories just need to have the right time for them to see the light. I for one was enthralled with the story all the vast characters and wide variety of characters and she even did an amazing job with Loki. I was not sure how that type of character would work in a novel but i think she pulled it off very well.

If your a fan of fairy tales, and you like seeing them mixed up and mashed together Wicked as You Wish is the perfect tale for you.

This was definitly a unique story but I didn't particularly love it. This was the first time that I read a book that was set up in our real world but there are fictional countries and a different timeline of historical events and leaders. I wished the world was either completely in our world, or our world with an alternate dimension, or a fictional fantasy world because then it would have been easier to picture. Obviously this is a me thing. It's a book that will be forgettable for me in the long run.
Full review to come on YouTube.

“What if every story you’d ever heard was true?” So goes the premise of Rin Chupeco’s new book “Wicked as You Wish.” The Kingdom of Avalon has been frozen for some time after a battle with the Snow Queen. When a legendary firebird appears, the time for Avalon’s heir to the throne to reclaim what’s his is nigh. Tala, our protagonist, sets off on a whirlwind journey with her best friend Alex, the heir in question. With an eclectic group of teen warriors with their own magical lineages and weapons of their own on their side, Tala and Alex are thrown face first into a swirling world of prophecies, political intrigue, and magic galore. As secrets are revealed and more are concealed, Tala must choose time and time again who to trust and what future she hopes to create.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. There are so many references to various fairytales of all cultures, and I love how Chupeco wove them together into one world. As an English teacher nerd, this was probably my favorite element of the story. The action is fast-paced, and there is never a dull moment. Some characters are not who they seem to be, and even more fall into a morally grey area, making their choices all the more interesting. There are definitely some loose threads at the end of the story (especially with THAT epilogue!!), but that certainly sets up interest in the sequel.

That being said, there is a LOT happening in this book. Sometimes it was overwhelming to try and keep track of it all. There’s a lot of backstory to the worlds, countries, and characters involved, and, as a reader, it was hard trying to get a handle on it, especially as there was something new and *important* revealed each chapter.

I would recommend this book for readers who love found family, quests, literary allusions, King Arthur-esque retellings, and lots of action.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

As a thank you to Netgalley and the publisher I write this review of Wicked as you Wish by Rin Chupeco. Coming into this novel I had previously read Rin’s “Bone Witch” novels and enjoyed them immensely. This novel blends contemporary and fantasy elements together to tell the story akin to Once Upon a Time. Elements that made the novel interesting were its world building like Once Upon a Time that borrows from popular fairy tales Chupeco does the same. Chupeco explores the nuance behind each story and expands on its foundation to tell the story of Tala Makilling a spellbreaker, someone who destroys magic. Tala is accompanied with a group of friends who add diversity in this fresh take to fairy tales classic characters ex. Snow Queen, Jack the Giant slayer, Rapunzel,etc. As Tala, is apart of the now vacant Kingdom of Avalon she chooses to take on a quest that takes her to our world namely the state of Arizona. Chupeco utilizes folklore, mythology and diverse characters to comment on refugees and the impact of their trauma. Ratings for this book would be a 3.5 out of 5 stars for myself, and on goodreads would rate the novel a four out of 5 stars.

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It was a typical YA fantasy, but I liked the characters and it didn't feel like a rehash of every other YA fantasy. I didn't love that there were places like Wonderland and the cheshire cat being involved but then I'm not a huge retelling fan so that may be why.

There was so much going on in this book that I don't even know where to begin. All I do know is that you HAVE TO READ IT!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC which I received in return for an honest review.

I really tried hard to like this book....the fairy tale elements and book genre is my niche, so I really expected to enjoy it. However, it was soooooo hard to get through. The worldbuilding is lacking and sporadic because the author tries to throw so many different elements together, but it isn't cohesive. The whole story feels discombobulated and quite frankly, boring. I would not have finished if I hadn't committed to reviewing at the end. I think it could have had some potential if the author had picked one or a few focuses and ran with that, but there was just too much going on and it left the plot and characters feeling really underdeveloped. On the plus side, I really loved that the protagonist was Filipina! It was great to see some ethnic diversity, I just wish it was accompanied by a stellar book as well.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wicked As You Wish opens a new series which envelops many fairy tales in one. There are warrior women, long lost princes, a rag tag group from a magical school, and a world frozen in time by an evil queen. Tala lives in this world's America and has an ability to negate magic. This is not a usual skill and one that can be hunted down when found out. When a mythical firebird appears activating a prophecy about a land lost to a snow queen, Tala and her family and swept up on an adventure. What awaits Tala and her friends both old and new? And what reveals will bring her world crumbling down?

This story can be so great, and was pretty good, once it knew where it was headed. The first half of this novel was like a competition to cram as many fairy tales together as possible while referencing characters from the ones that wouldn't fit in order to squeeze another nod in there. So many characters were introduced at such a breakneck speed it was actually hard to keep them all straight. Further into the book as the story really starts to make progression the characters we were left with and focused on where a wonderful bunch. Sudden reveals added my investment into this story and does leave me interested in the second novel. Perhaps I just have too high of expectations for a first novel, I understand world building takes time and it will overall enrich my reading experience. I do commend the author on including many different ethnicities without alienating others.

Overall, a solid 3 stars for this first novel. I recommend this more for younger readers or those who don't mind ALOT of jumping around. Age range is 10+ and can be quite a fun ride.

Well. That was not good.

Part of me wanted to give this book 2 stars because I was at least into the beginning, but when I think of how hard I had to force myself to pick it back up again, how little I cared about any of the characters, how I kept forgetting what happened as soon as I put the book down, I can't see giving this any higher than a one.

In the beginning, I did like the idea of a little forbidden romance between Tala and Ryker and I was interested in seeing what happened to Alex to hide him away. But little by little, the story became more and more of a slog to get through. I'm a fairytale fanatic. I should have loved the nods in here. However, it seemed more like a way to get people to read your book ("Hey! This book mentions fairytale characters!") instead of actually being about a world that ties these fairytales together.

Definitely won't be going onto the next one.

Fairy tales and folklore come together in epic read about an exiled prince, his fierce best friend, and their ragtag group of magical guardians who go on a quest to save their kingdom from the icy clutches of an evil queen.

An interesting take on happily ever after and how fairy tales intermingle in this young adult novel.

Rin Chupeco's latest novel, Wicked As You Wish, is the first in a new series – A Hundred Names for Magic. First, can I just say that I adore the name of the series? I would absolutely dive in to a series with that name, even knowing nothing about it.

What happens when you combine a girl with secrets (including powers), a prince in hiding, a group of secret soldiers, and a firebird? Well, you get Wicked As You Wish, actually. Prince Alexei is the only surviving member of the Royal family of Avalon, which fell years ago.

Now those loyal to the kingdom help keep him safe and hidden away. That includes Tala and her family. Even though they also have secrets that people would hunt them for, should that information get out.

"People who don't look and act like you is what you hate. Every other excuse is only a pretense."

Let me tell you; I was so excited to dive into Wicked As You Wish (see all my reasons above). This raises the question – did it hold up to my expectations? Honestly? It mostly did, yeah! So I can't really complain.

What I loved the most about Wicked As You Wish because it opened the door for having a frank conversation. Many of the subjects discussed in this novel are heavy: police brutality, colonialism, genocide, and so much more. Yet these subjects need to be talked about, especially as they are an active part of so many people's lives.

Using fantasy as a lens for these subjects is brilliant, and I will always appreciate it when I see it. I also appreciate the way Rin Chupeco handled the discussions, so thank you so much for that! Moving onto what I didn't love as much, we have character development. Many of the characters just came off as flat for me. I struggled to care about them, even while feeling so hard for the situations they were in. It was an odd experience, to say the least.

One that I did find jarring enough to keep me from utterly falling in love with the story if we're being honest. Still, I will likely read the rest of the A Hundred Names for Magic series, given a chance!

RIn Chupeco is absolutely one of the best YA authors in the world today. And Wicked As You Wish is no exception. With each word carefully and lovingly crafted, this tale is spun into a wonderful web that is, as always, so fun for the reader.

Rin Chupeco always brings wonderful diversity and rich characters to their books. The stories are so beautifully thought out and well described, haunting and beautiful, and a little ominous. No perfect happy endings here, even in a world that is based on fairy tales.

There are so many characters, and so much happening. We are plopped down right in the middle of the story and have to get our footing. It took a while, but, soon, I was enjoying the ride. It’s a bit of a chaotic one, with magic, dystopia, fairy tales, alternate dimensions, science fiction, and a little bit of romance, too. I most loved the representation. The book itself was also very well written, consistent even amongst all the goings on, and with beautiful descriptions. I love how steeped in history this book is, and how much weight the author placed on it. It is a bit dense at times, more than a bit. And it was somewhat tiring to come back to, time and again, as I read it. That’s part of what knocks my review down: was how little I enjoyed it, at times. I wanted to enjoy the story all the time because that’s what you’re supposed to do with good stories. And I could tell this was a good story, full of all the stuff I wanted it to be. But it was certainly a slog to get through sometimes.

I would recommend this book for fans of fairy tales, the real ones, not the sugared versions in popular media today.

There was a lot to love about this book - the Filipino culture (I spent two months in the Philippines pre-covid and all the delicious food descriptions in this book made me ACHE to go back), the gruff Scottish dad with a secret, the diverse and hilarious cast of chaotic teenagers sent on a mission to rescue the Prince. Unfortunately, I felt like there was just too much crammed into this book. All the fairytale references were fun at first but they soon started to feel overwhelming, and for me, the most enjoyable part of the book was right at the beginning, when they were still in the "real world" and trying to cover up their magic. Once they got deeper into their quest, the book sadly lost its appeal for me. Still, there were fun moments, and I loved some of the characters, particularly Alex and West.

An interesting retelling of absolutely all the stories!

Seriously, every time I came across a well-known story or some character from my childhood, my heart leapt for joy.

The author does not enter a world where everything has a precise meaning and where each fairy tale character plays an important role.

I just couldn't get into this book. I DNF'd it and I was only on chapter two. There was too much happening and the style just was agreeing with me. I felt it was best to DNF it and move onto the next. Just not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Actual rating: 3.5/5
Wicked As You Wish brings fairy tales to life in the most chaotic way you could imagine: worldwide folklore is real and has shaped the world. I found this fascinating as Chupeco weaves fairy tales into our own familiar history to give us a world that mirrors our own in many ways. One example I found amusing was the USA becoming the Royal States of America, while still maintaining an overzealous border protection policy and a need to be superior technologically as well as magically. Personally, I was sucked in by the geo-political state of this world. While certain aspects and subtleties took some getting used to, Chupeco does their world-building gradually enough that I had a rough idea of how everything worked by the end of the book.

As for the characters, while there’s a lively cast, the story focuses the most on Tala. She’s a firecracker of a character and incredibly impulsive. Her being a teenager doesn’t help things, as her strong emotions raise obstacles in her quest; ones that she spends the book overcoming. I thought her flaws only added to her depth and really how she handled her dilemma regarding her father’s past.

Alex, on the other hand, was a mystery. The first few chapters he’s everything I expected, but once in Avalon he isolates himself from the others more and more. His grief over the state of his kingdom is apparent in most interactions, which are curt at best and explosive at worst. Tala manages to get through owing to their close friendship, but other than that we get few glimpses into his true state of mind for most of the novel.

The rest of the Banders were an interesting and diverse bunch. I enjoyed their interactions, especially how real their history felt when they came into the book as a group. Even Cole added to the story, though his arc was the most predictable. My favourite of the bunch was Loki, whose family backstory I hope to see explored in the sequel. I was delighted to see the LGBTQ+ representation come in the form of a non-binary character. Loki’s identity isn’t the focus of their character, rather something that’s mentioned once and then universally accepted.

As for the adults, it’s obvious they hold a special place for Chupeco. Despite being trained soldiers, they welcome Alex like a son. Their presence infuses a warmth into the story that is largely due to how openly and proudly Filipino they are, and it’s something that is likely to resonate with readers.

My one complaint is that Wicked As You Wish was confusing. There are aspects of the plot that I still have questions about, as well as many on the characters themselves. The worldbuilding was the clearest aspect and even there, it could have been done better.

However, neither of these are enough to detract me from the series! Wicked As You Wish by Rin Chupeco is a refreshing kind of fairy tale retelling, with strong characters and enough intrigue to keep anyone hooked.

*review to be posted on Instagram soon* Thank you to the publishers through Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review! My apologies for taking so long, school and sickness demanded I have higher priorities for a while.

This book is really fun! My favorite part is the band of adventures aspect. One of my absolute favorite tropes is a ragtag group of diverse people who are equal parts hilarious, cool, skilled, and wondering how the heck they pulled off another victory. My favorite among the group is probably Loki, who reminds me of Legolas in all the best ways, although I also have particular soft spots for Ken and Tala. Every member of the group feels well rounded and developed. I had the hardest time liking Alex, though. I know he has an incredible amount of inner turmoil, but I feel like the book didn't completely resolve him being incredibly rude to the rest of the group by the end. Hopefully we see more of his non-stressed personality in the sequel(s), because I really want to like him as much as everyone else.

(Also I ship Zoe and Cole)

Overall, I think Chupeco did an impressive job combining literally all the fairytale and folklore elements they could find from any culture into one alternate Earth. It was really fun to see how the incredible array of tropes and characters inspired her in big ways, with the snow queen being the main villain, and in little ways, with plenty of originality thrown in. Tala's magical ability literally being "anti-magic" is very creative and I look forward to seeing how her abilities expand throughout the series.

Although the world building is very compelling, the only other major criticism I would make is that you are thrown into this alternate Earth very quickly. It doesn't take long for the action to start happening (and then it never really stops, much to my delight), but the other side of this is that the reader doesn't get much of a setup and I felt like I had to run to keep up with the lore as a result. Some of that can be explained by Tala's ignorance of the wider world she's suddenly exploring, but I feel like some more early exposition was needed. Then, I would have been able to swallow larger concepts like the existence of Avalon, Wonderland, and the Royal States of America in what is a very different version of Earth than what I'm used to.

I could go on and on about various points I really enjoyed, like the large cast of likeable side characters; the rich descriptions that make it so easy to visualize the environment, the detail of enemies, and fight scenes, the carefully achieved balance of having super cool protagonists still act like teenagers, the cliffhanger, the beautiful scenes about Filipino culture (I now consider it a life goal to have a lot of Filipino food), the awesomely chilling villains, and the generally incredibly diverse cast the likes of which we need to see more of in fiction.

Really, you should just read the book.