Review: Emerald Bound by Teresa Richards



Author: Teresa Richards
27133441Publisher: Evernight Teen
Publication Date: September 29th 2015
Source: ebook (given by Netgalley)
Rate:



Summary:

A princess, a pea, and a tower of mattresses. This is the sliver that survives of a story more nightmare than fairytale... Maggie Rhodes, high school junior and semi-reformed stalker, learns the tale's true roots after a spying attempt goes awry and her best friend Kate ends up as the victim of an ancient curse. At the center of the curse lies an enchanted emerald that has been residing quietly in a museum for the past fifty years. Admirers of the gem have no idea that it feeds on life. Or that it's found its next victim in Kate. Enter Lindy, a school acquaintance who knows more than she's letting on, and Garon, a handsome stranger claiming he knows how to help, and Maggie is left wondering who to trust and how to save her best friend before it's too late. If only Maggie knew her connection to the fairy tale was rooted far deeper than an endangered best friend.

Review:
*The publisher provided this book in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.*
A game of truth or dare ends up badly. When Maggie Rhodes and her friends break into the home of the hottest guy in school they are captured by him and his parents. They want something from them.
The family has to feed the emerald that gave origin to the princess and the pea. Only that the princess isn't a princess but Lindy, who was sold by her father to them. The peas are in truth precious stones obtained by draining young girl's lives. Only Lindy and now Maggie have escaped the emerald's curse. Even though Lindy still finds herself linked to her oppressors.
 Now Maggie has to break the curse in order to save her friend Kate. Luckily she has Lindy's help and also the help of Garon, a handsome and mysterious stranger.
I found that, in the beginning, this book was very very hard to get into. It didn't seem to captivate my attention and curiosity. After a while, I found that the more I dived into it, the more interesting it became. Knowing the characters and their struggles helped me to feel something for them and actually focus on the story itself.
The characters evolved naturally and didn't seem artificial. One thing that stands out in this book is how the story abruptly changes when you least expect it. There are surprises all over the plot and it's amazing.
Never had I read something quite this unique. The fact that the author was able to take a widely known fairy tale and turn it into a whole new story was amazing. You can still see which parts come from the tale itself and the parts that were put in by the author but it actually feels real.
I cannot say that this was an amazing book but I can honestly say that it is a new and original concept that I enjoyed. If you like fantasy with a touch of romance and despair but that isn't mushy and with sprinkles of north European history then this is a book for you.

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