When Camille was six years old, she was discovered alone in the snow by Enrico Vultusino, godfather of the Seven—the powerful Families that rule magic-ridden New Haven. Papa Vultusino adopted the mute, scarred child, naming her after his dead wife and raising her in luxury on Haven Hill alongside his own son, Nico.Now Cami is turning sixteen. She’s no longer mute, though she keeps her faded scars hidden under her school uniform, and though she opens up only to her two best friends, Ruby and Ellie, and to Nico, who has become more than a brother to her. But even though Cami is a pampered Vultusino heiress, she knows that she is not really Family. Unlike them, she is a mortal with a past that lies buried in trauma. And it’s not until she meets the mysterious Tor, who reveals scars of his own, that Cami begins to uncover the secrets of her birth…to find out where she comes from and why her past is threatening her now. (GoodReads).
Originality: 10. Whoa, alternative history with magic and vampire politics and dystopian cities AND fairy tale retellings. Oh, also there is a private girls school run by nuns. And cults. I am probably forgetting something as well.Also, the language is HARD to follow. This is a complex world and you are not given any help in figuring out what a person's "Potential" is, the different between a "jack" and a "Twist", both magically inclined/mutated persons. If you give it a chance you figure it out, but its not easy.
Absurdity. 9. See above.
Level of Paranormal Romance: 3. For all of the potential swoon with Nico, this books underplays the romance. It is very effective, but more about how Cami feels about the relationship than anything else.
Level of Harry Potterness: 6. At first I could not get into this book, but I read it slowly and gave it a chance, and I am happy I did. This bizarre world (and narrative voice/language) eventually hooked me. I will be reading the next book in the Tales of Beauty & Madness series.
Hmmmmmmmmm.... I may have to read this one.
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