Review: Storybound by Marissa Burt

Storybound (Storybound #1) by Marissa Burt
Harper Collins Childrens, 416 Pages
US Release Date: April 3, 2012
Challenges: Local Library Challenge

In the land of Story, children go to school to learn to be characters: a perfect Hero, a trusty Sidekick, even the most dastardly Villain. They take classes on Outdoor Experiential Questing and Backstory, while adults search for full-time character work in stories written just for them.

In our world, twelve-year-old Una Fairchild has always felt invisible. But all that changes when she stumbles upon a mysterious book buried deep in the basement of her school library, opens the cover, and suddenly finds herself transported to the magical land of Story.

But Story is not a perfect fairy tale. Una’s new friend Peter warns her about the grave danger she could face if anyone discovers her true identity. The devious Tale Keeper watches her every move. And there are whispers of a deadly secret that seems to revolve around Una herself....

With the timeless appeal of books like A Wrinkle in Time and the breathtaking action of Inkheart, Storybound has all the makings of a new classic. Brimming with fantastical creatures, magical adventure, and heart-stopping twists, Storybound will leave readers wishing they too could jump through the pages into this enchanting fairy-tale world.
----------------------Goodreads summary

Notable Quote

Truth is one of the most powerful weapons against evil. And wisdom, which enables us to discern how to apply the truth. Without truth and wisdom, how would we be abel to tell the difference between the evil and the good?

I'm not sure I'll ever see storybooks the same. Storybound is such a wonderful mix of whimsical, serious, thoughtful and fun - a perfect Middle Grade novel. The concept is very original, with a great mix of characters so recognizable to any fairy tale lover - but with much more dimension.

I'll be honest and say that the book was a bit of a slow-goer for me; maybe my head just wasn't in it, but I put it down a few times and started other books. I always liked what I was reading and where the story was headed, but I didn't have any problems setting it aside for a bit. I got a bit confused with all the terms and a bit of the plot; there's a ton packed into this novel! Reworking what we know about storybook worlds, and then throwing shenanigans underfoot...well, it's a teensy bit complicated! But it was completely worth it to continue on; and once the last 100 pages or so hit, I was completely riveted. When everything finally comes together, it's a whirlwind ride.

This is also one of the few books that I didn't quite see the twist coming. I knew where a lot of the story would go, but a few of the points took me completely by surprise. I admit that as soon as I knew, everything fit perfectly into pace to the point where I kept thinking, "How did I not see that before!?" - which is just a testament to how well the story is woven.

Una Fairchild, the main character is quite strong. I love her personality and how she's quite driven and independent - any girl reading this story would do well to look up to her. Una is smart and resourceful, but not without her misgivings and mistakes. I loved Indy as well, no matter how small a part he was in the beginning. My favourite would have to be Sam, because he just rounded out the perfect trio with fun snaps of humor and cattiness (see what I did there?!). Even some of the villains, villainesses, and misguided Ladies are great characters with a lot of heart.

Perhaps the only downfall I had for the novel was Peter - he was not my favourite character. I felt he lacked a bit in personality. While I know it must be quite a hit to learn that everything you knew about your home may not quite be as told, he came across a bit surly and unlikeable for me. He perked up to a Hero towards the end, and I really look forward to Book 2 and seeing where he'll end up.

I want to talk more about the future of the characters, but I can't without spoiling things. I definitely have my hunches what will happen, who will end up with who, and how things will go down - but now I have the sad wait until next year for Book 2, Story's End. I'm quite eager for it. If you're looking for a fun twist on fairy tales and what's really between the bindings, I'd highly recommend Storybound.

3.5 Stars