4 out of 4 stars
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When Wilder’s grandfather, Willy, dies along with her mother in a tragic accident, she isn’t sure she’ll ever feel safe again. Grandpa Willy leaves one last gift to her in his will – the knowledge that the man she believes is her father actually isn’t.
Upon meeting her real dad, Hawker, Wilder’s life takes an unexpected turn. She learns about a heritage she never thought possible. Gaining friends and family she didn’t know she had, past secrets are uncovered along the way. It isn’t long before Wilder realizes she must fight to keep her newly found loved ones and world safe from destruction.
North’s writing style was enjoyable, though it went back and forth between past tense and present in some places. Over all, the narrative was mostly clear, but there were times I felt North’s character over explained in the first couple of chapters. Wilder often reiterated what she already established, sometimes in the same paragraph. The novel, Wilder, could have used another proof read. There was an occasional missing word in a couple sentences, but the story was fast paced so I almost missed the mistake myself.
Young Adult is one of my top favorite genres and I was stuck between reading this title and another. Even with its small hiccups, I’m so glad I picked Wilder. The plot is great. It’s a unique twist of fantasy, but doesn't overindulge in it. Without giving anything away, I loved how North’s storytelling teetered on realism and paranormal. Wilder reads mostly as a contemporary, with enough mystery surrounding the folks of Norton that allows the reader to know there’s more going on than mere family drama.
North introduces a lot of interesting characters as Wilder travels with her best friend, Mickey, to Norton to catch a glimpse of her “dead beat” dad. Upon arriving, she learns he’s anything but. She meets a close knit group of family and friends, realizing she has more relatives than she ever knew. Of the people she meets is Mac. She immediately finds him handsome, but catches on he’s aware of how much of a looker he is. They’re interactions from there forward are quite enjoyable.
Wilder is a well-developed character. She’s strong, independent, and takes no sh*t. The only time she backs down is when she doesn’t want to argue in circles with Hawker, Mickey, or Mac. She’s smart, friendly, and sporty, but has occasional burst where she’d simply like to do “girly” things. Her behavior is something to admire when she interacts with the people of Norton. When it comes to Mac, she doesn’t forget who she is or allow him to whisk her off her feet. The same for Mickey or Hawker. They’re always a team, no matter how much they disagree. On many occasions, Wilder successfully tackles dangerous situations on her own.
Wilder is a spin off to The Dreughan series. What makes it so amazing is that it can be read without having to read the prior series. There were some scenes that referred to the The Dreughan series, but the overall story of Wilder doesn’t rely on it to be read or enjoyed. North establishes a great ensemble of characters with a plot full of mystery, love, drama, and deceit. By the end, I felt connected to the people of Norton and their Birds.
I rate the first installment of the Birds of a Feather series 4 out of 4 stars. While I know there were a few bumps with the writing, it was nothing painful or discouraging. Both the characters and plot were refreshing and went deeper than most young adult novels I've ever read before. North’s story, characters, and twist of fantasy left me interested in reading the rest of the Birds of a Feather series and picking up The Dreughan series to learn more about the world Wilder is a part of.
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Wilder
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