Review: The Sweetest Spell by Suzanne Selfors

Title:  The Sweetest Spell
Author:  Suzanne Selfors
Genre:  YA, Fairy Tale re-telling
Pages:  416
Published:  August 2012
Publisher:  Walker Childrens
Source:  via Author
Buy Links:  Amazon, Kobo, Book Depository

Synopsis:

Emmeline Thistle, a dirt-scratcher's daughter, has escaped death twice-first, on the night she was born, and second, on the day her entire village was swept away by flood. Left with nothing and no one, Emmeline discovers her rare and mysterious ability-she can churn milk into chocolate, a delicacy more precious than gold.

Suddenly, the most unwanted girl in Anglund finds herself desired by all. But Emmeline only wants one - Owen Oak, a dairyman's son, whose slow smiles and lingering glances once tempted her to believe she might someday be loved for herself. But others will stop at nothing to use her gift for their own gains-no matter what the cost to Emmeline.

Magic and romance entwine in this fantastical world where true love and chocolate conquer all.

Emmeline wants to be life every other girl in her village – Root.  She wants to bid on a husband at the market, she wants to have children, a home and to be loved.  Unfortunately for Emmeline she was born an “unwanted” and was left out in a field by the midwife not long after she was born.  But the fates had other plans for her, she was saved by several cows, who protected the infant until she was discovered the next morning.

Life doesn’t seem to be all that fair for Emmeline.  When her village is destroyed by a fluke flood, she’s washed downstream to Wanderland and the village of Wander.  Again, her life is saved and maybe this time things will be different.  Can she find happiness in Wander, that she couldn’t find in Root?  Will she ever see her family again?

I felt for Emmeline!  So much has happened to this young woman and very little of it good!  Things started to seem up for her, she met Owen and became friends.  With so much prejudice and hatred between the Flatlanders and the rest of the kingdom she fears that she’ll be arrested for being outside of her land.  Can the Oak family see past all that and see the real Emmeline?  A chance visit to the dairy and a butter churn changes Emmeline’s life once again!

I don’t want to give too much away about what happens to Emmeline and the adventure that changes her life forever!  I loved the characters, the setting, and the ‘magic’ that fills the pages of this book.  Be warned – if you love chocolate… this book will make you crave it more!!

Would I recommend this book?  Yes, while it’s a YA and I don’t normally review YA.. I couldn’t resist this story and the cover!  I love fairy tale re-tellings so it was a perfect fit for me!  For anyone who loves YA, fairy tales this is something you should check out.  Would I read more by this author?  Yes, I loved her writing style and the characters.  I will definitely keep an eye out for her books in the future.