review; nameless

Nameless
by Lili St. Crow

When Camille was six years old, she was discovered alone in the snow by Enrico Vultusino, godfather of the Seven – the powerful Families that rule magic-ridden New Haven. Papa Vultusino adopted the mute, scarred child, naming her after his dead wife and raising her in luxury on Haven Hill alongside his own son, Nico.

Now Cami is turning sixteen. She’s no longer mute, though she keeps her faded scars hidden under her school uniform, and though she opens up only to her two best friends, Ruby and Ellie, and to Nico, who has become more than a brother to her. But even though Cami is a pampered Vultusino heiress, she knows that she is not really Family. Unlike them, she is a mortal with a past that lies buried in trauma. And it’s not until she meets the mysterious Tor, who reveals scars of his own, that Cami begins to uncover the secrets of her birth… to find out where she comes from and why her past is threatening her now.

Review:

Let me start this of by saying that THIS IS NOT A SPOILER FREE REVIEW. Most of my reviews are not spoiler free, but this one is more so than usual.

I’m going to be perfectly honest here, I largely picked up this book because of the cover. It is so gorgeous. completely lovely, and then you read the synopsis and it’s a fairytale reimagining? A completed series revolving around three princesses? All with beautiful covers, with this completely magical storyline that is interwoven but also individual to each of their strengths and characters? You all already know I’m a sucker for fairytales. Is it any surprise that I picked this up and LOVED it?

Cami’s past is a mystery, even to her. She has a relatively charmed life since being found by the Head of a Family (the capitals are IMPORTANT), but is plagued by nightmares she cannot remember, and this results in her being a shy and reserved person. Her friendship with Ruby and Ellie, two girls who also seemingly lead charmed lives, is a comfortable one, and the three girls balance each other out. They have strengths and weaknesses that are different from one another, but their friendship is one of the things they will protect to the death and I adore it. They are very important to me.

The relationships between the characters are crafted so well. I adore it. As could be told from my tweets while I was reading it.

AND THEN THE TWISTS I DID NOT SEE COMING. (spoilers!)

The intensity of the story between Nico and Cami is gorgeous. And she managed to craft such a wonderful and believable love story, so fully intense and powerful, all without having them ever kiss. No, what this is is something more. God, the fact that the story ends with him giving her his literal heart. Ugh.

The copy of the book I had had some typos, but that did not detract from the story at all. The prose was wonderful, the descriptions weaved such a magical world. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book.