Foiled by Jane Yolen & Mike Cavallaro [Review]

Info: Title: Foiled Author: Jane Yolen Artist: Mike Cavallaro Publisher: :01 ISBN: 9781596432796 Rating: [xrrgroup][xrr label="Characters:" rating="5/6" group="s1" ] [xrr label="Plot:" rating="4/6" group="s1"] [xrr label="Writing:" rating="4/6" group="s1"] [xrr label="Artwork:" rating="5.5/6" group="s1"] [xrr label="Just One More Page:" rating="4.5/6" group="s1"] [xrr label="Overall:" overall=true group="s1" ][/xrrgroup]

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Chris’ fault this one!. I quite enjoyed The Young Merlin Trilogy by Jane Yolen when I read it way back in 2008 (Really, I’ve been book blogging that long?! *blinks*) and of course I love a good graphic novel, so this would have likely made it on to the wishlist at some point. But yeah, still, Chris’ fault!

Chris, mentioned in his review that the story in Foiled by Jane Yolen, is… somewhat odd… You think you have an idea about what is going on between Aliera and Avery, but then Jane Yolen takes it off in a totally unexpected direction. I actually flipped back a page or two to re-read them, to see I had missed something. But no. It really is unexpected. Not in a bad way though!

Each section or chapters is titled with (and themed around) a fencing move. Taking us from Aliera’s feeling of isolation, though to her developing feelings for the cute, but slightly weird boy, Avery Castle, though to the change to an urban fantasy, when Aliera becomes suddenly aware of a very different world around her. (Shown really nicely by the introduction of a much wider colour pallet, in Mike Cavallaro’s artwork.)

Where the writing isn’t quite as strong as it could be (it’s more than serviceable though, and has it’s moments, and it’s more to do with what’s missing than what’s there). But Mike Cavallaro’s artwork I loved! He really captures the characters well, especially the nuances in Aliera’s moods.

I did really enjoy Foiled and I’ll be keeping my eye out for the sequel, Curses! Foiled Again, when it comes out next year.

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A quirky, fast-paced urban fantasy by esteemed author Jane Yolen

Aliera Carstairs just doesn’t fit in. She’s always front and center at the fencing studio, but at school she’s invisible. And she’s fine with that

. . . until Avery Castle walks into her first period biology class. Avery may seem perfect now, but will he end up becoming her Prince Charming or just a toad?

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Buy: Foiled by Jane Yolen