"DESTINED," by Aprilynne Pike, HarperTeen, $17.99, 307 pages (f) (ages 14 and up)
“Destined,” by Aprilynne Pike, brings the Wings series to an action-packed and satisfying conclusion.
This final book in the series picks up where “Illusions” left off.
“Tamani pressed his forehead against the chilly windowpane, fighting back a wave of exhaustion. Sleep wasn’t an option, not while the only thing between him and an angry Winter faerie was a thin line of table salt.”
With the aid of her mentor, Klea, Yuki is freed and chaos ensues. It doesn’t take long for the battle to escalate and move from the reality of Southern California to the enchantment of Avalon, the faerie homeland. David and Chelsea, Laurel’s loyal and trusted human friends, don’t leave her side.
Klea, a bitter and exiled Fall fairy, leads a troll army in a vicious attack against her homeland. It is a fiercely fought battle — full of shootings, stabbings and various methods of poisoning. Pike believably weaves bits of Arthurian myth and lore into the story’s fabric, bringing the legend of Excalibur to life in a new way.
Although there is a lot of violence, it is countered by the love and kindness the main characters and their allies show each other.
Tested by life-threatening circumstances, Laurel, David, Chelsea and Tamani discover strengths, abilities and emotions they didn’t realize they had.
The romantic triangle between Laurel, David and Tamani is resolved. For many fans, the ending will not be too surprising, but the way to that ending is full of unexpected twists and turns.
In an author’s note, Pike explains that the question that drove the story for her is, “How would a regular human react to discovering real magic in the world?”
She goes on to explain, “even more than Chelsea, this question was embodied in David’s character.”
The author includes a short epilogue titled “The Last Word,” giving the reader a glimpse into the future lives of the four main characters from David’s point of view — the real ending of the book.
No offensive language is used and the described romances don't go beyond kissing.
Pike is the author of the New York Times best-selling Wings series: “Wings,” “Spells,” “Illusions” and “Destined.” She lives in Phoenix with her husband and four children.
Rosemarie Howard lives in a 100-year-old house on Main Street in Springville, Utah. She enjoys creating multimedia projects. Her website is at www.dramaticdimensions.com.