Storybound – Book Review

by Emily McKay

Synopsis:
I’ve lived in nine towns in the past six years. I know my mom feels bad about it, but I don’t mind. Who wants friends anyway?

All I’ve ever needed are my books. I’ve lived a thousand lives, had adventures I couldn’t even begin to imagine. To me, the places I discovered between the pages of a book are as real as the world I live in.

When I walk into my favorite bookstore, the last thing I expect is to walk out onto the pages of the kingdom of Mithres…or that the book boyfriend I’ve loved more than life, Kane the Traveler, really exists. And he has no clue the fate that awaits him in book five…

Now that I know the truth, I have a chance to save Kane. But if I change the story, will I ever find my way home?

Review:
Edie (“Cupcake”) is a relatable girl in that she LOVES books and reading more than just about anything. Her favorite series is coming to an end, and with it – her favorite fictional crush, Kane. But when she discovers it’s all real, her life – as well as the characters she’s grown to love – are all in danger.

I got sucked into this story right away. Though when Edie crosses over into her “fictional” world, I had to suspend a lot of disbelief on how this kid would react. It reminded me of Galaxy Quest when the geeky boy was told his favorite TV show was all real, and he just replies “I knew it!” It’s cute just the same. My biggest hang-up was that everyone calls Edie “Cupcake” – because of the shirt she’s wearing. It was funny for a few pages, when I discovered why they were calling her that. But it got old REALLY quick. In fact, I totally forgot her name halfway through the book. I had to go back and look for it. I just find cutesy nicknames condescending and annoying. Maybe it’s just me.

But the story itself was fun and fast-paced. I enjoyed the unique worldbuilding. And several of the minor characters were enjoyable. Kane grows more likable as the story goes on, though he’s a bit rough around the edges when we first meet him. The book ends with some clever twists and a bit of a cliffhanger. Teens who enjoy a little romance mixed in their fantasy stories should check this out.