Secondhand Charm

This has so much potential. It also has need of an editor. A very cute fairy-tale where everything works out to a nice gentle ending, but it sort of straddles the line between Juvenile and Teen fiction, thus making it harder to find an audience for. Too much kissing for JF, but not enough maturity of thought and emotions for TF. However, Berry does have talent. She reminds me very much of Shannon Hale's middle books (River Secrets, Princess Academy). But I hope that she is moving in the opposite direction...

Like the author’s last book, The Amaranth Enchantment, this is full of twists, but it holds together much better. It ain’t deep, but it’s loads of fun. Definitely recommended for your “Yes, I’ve read The Goose Girl… yeah, and the other Bayern books… Ms. Parenthetical, I’ve read everything Shannon Hale’s ever written, what else you got?” kids. (Full review at http://www.parenthetical.net/2010/11/28/review-secondhand-charm-by-julie-berry/)

Maundley is putting on a celebration for the king. As the king comes to the celebration, the town is in a whirlwind. Evie, a young (read: teenage) resident, impresses the king with her academic prowess. Her good luck and skills help land her a full ride scholarship to the university provided by the king. What ensues in Secondhand Charm by Julie Berry, is adventure, as Evie journeys toward the University. As for matters of the heart, Evie is at a crossroads where she must choose between the one who is familiar or the one who is royal and can give her anything she desires.Ultimately, this culminates into an incredibly charming story with mythology, that to me, was reminiscent of Marion Zimmer Bradley. As you know, one of the hallmarks of show more Marion Zimmer Bradley is powerful, magical women. This felt like MZB for YA. That is a huge compliment. Granted, this was only 299 pages (ARC), but it’s a great story. What is examined is luck and charms vs. skills. There is a new magic system called serpentine magic, which I won’t elaborate on because it’s best to discover all this while you read the book.Evie is my favorite kind of female lead character. She’s a bit self-conscious. She’s academic, and cares about her family. she is loyal. Evie also possesses a sense of adventure. I love well-rounded characters. With fantasy, I feel that sometimes characterization gets sacrificed for the great grand plot (this isn’t always the case, but I do run into it from time to time). While Evie wasn’t quite fully realized, I thought on the whole, her characterization was quite magnificent.I very much enjoyed the supporting cast of characters, from feisty town leader Widow Moreau, to a certain character I refuse to name because that would be a spoiler, to sweet and noble Aiden. Also, sidebar, why are most Aidens nice guys? (Think: SATC). I really think the side characters do help make or break a story, and with Secondhand Charm, I loved all of the quirks.Secondhand Charm is a short book. Also, it is comprised of 49 chapters, and as we all know, books with shorter chapters just read faster (or is that just me?). If you are looking for a rare STANDALONE young adult fantasy, look no further than Secondhand charm for an overall pleasant reading experience. show less

I have had this book on my TBR pile for some time and was excited to finally read it. This was a cute and sweet YA fantasy read about a girl who finds out she’s not a girl at all but a Serpentina. When her dreams of education take her to the palace, she ends up embroiled in a plot with a fellow Serpentina.

This is one of those cute "fairy tale princess" type of YA reads with some interesting twists to it. It was a quick and easy read and I enjoyed it. There is a love interest for our heroine as well, but the romance is very light.

This was mostly a coming of age tale about finding out who you are and sticking with your dreams. I enjoyed the idea of the Serpentina race, it introduces some interesting folklore/mythology elements.

Overall show more this was a cute and sweet, fairytale princess type read. It was a quick read and was enjoyable, if not incredibly memorable. I would recommend to those who enjoy princess stories. It’s targeted at the female YA audience but would be fine for middle grade readers as well. show less

I really enjoyed reading this! It is a really quick read (the ARC is just under 300 pages), and I read straight through it in one sitting. Plus, its a stand alone novel. I love finding books that aren't going to be dragged out into a series. Beyond being just a regular fantasy, it has a very fairy tale/mythological feeling. I love the extra innocence and magic that those vibes added to the book. I would definitely recommend this as being appropriate for younger middle grade readers as well as teenagers.

There are creepy sea serpent creatures called leviathans featured in the story, and they aren't evil! I love that. Ever since Harry Potter, I've associated snakes with Slytherin and Nagini and those are not pleasant associations. Having a show more snake being on the good side was a pleasant switch from the norm. Very cool.

Evie's journey from the small town where she grew up, to a disastrous trip to the city and on to a lot of shocking discoveries about herself and her past all make for very entertaining reading, and I was always excited to see where the story would go next. I also loved reading about her relationships with all the characters around her (especially Aiden! Sa-woon). She was a great MC, a very sweet and intelligent girl.

I definitely found this book worth reading. The plot and characters were both entertaining and original. If you get the chance - definitely pick up a copy! show less

SECONDHAND CHARM, by Julie Berry, was an exceptional tale about an ordinary girl who turned out to be anything but. This book really blew me away, from the synopsis I had no idea where this book would take me and I ended up on a fantastic journey full of romance and fantasy.

Evie was the sweetest girl. She was very simple and, in the beginning, full of simple thoughts. She is a great healer and never questioned her abilities. Given the opportunity to study at the University, Evie and a small crew travel together and meet an unsavory character. After the horrific meeting, Evie and Aidan (swoon) travel across the sea to reach their final destination, in this journey Evie discovers who she really is.

I loved (!) the new myth and history of show more the serpentina's and their bond to their leviathan (snake-like creature). Evie definitely matured very quickly when she realized what she was. She had to make tough decisions and ultimately be satisfied with who she was. Aidan was the only real thing in her life, and she was very lucky to have him as a friend. She was naive at times of his feelings for her, but she realized in due time that he really liked her, and she did as well.

Overall, this was a great book, with a fairy tale-esque quality. It was written masterfully with a fantastic plot twist and I am very gratefully for the opportunity to read it. show less

What a charming whirlwind adventure you are taken on in Secondhand Charm. Evie longs to continue her education and become a physician like her parents before her. When she is granted a scholarship, she sets off on a perilous journey along with her best friend and the boy next door. But the journey is not an easy one, for there is all sorts of danger that will have her not only questioning her talents but also her loyalty.

Evie is a lovely protagonist. She's simple, yet curious, intelligent, loyal, loves her family and although she's firm in her healing abilities she is also self-conscious. Aside from our heroine there is also a strong cast of supporting characters - who are all very likeable and a treat to read about.

Secondhand Charm show more has an almost fairytale-esque type quality. I love stories like this. They remind me of the fairy tales I used to read as a kid. The adventure and fantasy, the twist and turns, oh, and of course, the romance, all made for a wonderful page-turner. And could it be? A stand-alone? The story has the perfect ending - no loose ends, no wondering what comes next... I truly found this to be a rare treat.

Overall, Secondhand Charm was imaginative and charming and a an all-around lovely read. For fans of fairytale and/or fantasy, this is one you won't want to miss out on. show less