Review: WARPED by Maurissa Guibord + Giveaway

WARPED
by Maurissa Guibord
pub: 1/11 Today!
Teen Fiction
WEBSITE / BUY IT

Tessa doesn't believe in magic. Or Fate. But there's something weird about the dusty unicorn tapestry she discovers in a box of old books. She finds the creature woven within it compelling and frightening. After the tapestry comes into her possession, Tessa experiences dreams of the past and scenes from a brutal hunt that she herself participated in. When she accidentally pulls a thread from the tapestry, Tessa releases a terrible centuries old secret. She also meets William de Chaucy, an irresistible 16th-century nobleman. His fate is as inextricably tied to the tapestry as Tessa's own. Together, they must correct the wrongs of the past. But then the Fates step in, making a tangled mess of Tessa's life. Now everyone she loves will be destroyed unless Tessa does their bidding and defeats a cruel and crafty ancient enemy.

Time travel can be tricky but in her debut novel, WARPED, Maurissa Guibord pulls it off beautifully!


Where to start? Tessa is a normal girl who's spunky, funny, smart and loyal. She's lost her mom but adores her dad and (refreshingly) they have a close, loving relationship. I adored that! There are many great secondary characters including dastardly villains, and some surprising character reveals. Tessa's best friend is loyal and true, and then there's hunky Will. 

Hunky nobleman hidden here!

Can we say dashing?! Oooooo, he's a handsome English nobleman transported from the early 1500's into current time. His delicious presence gives WARPED that sweeping Gothic romance feel. He's an yummy mix of polite, slightly arrogant, chivalrous, courageous, courtly, gallant. Okay, so I'm going a bit overboard on the adjectives but he's dreamy!


Their romance roams into the fringes of sexy but he's a gentleman after all so it mostly stays sweet. Will and Tessa have their share of misunderstandings so you get a fun mix of hot and cold as they work things out. Tessa's strength shines throughout - she's not some damsel in distress - and her character grows over the course of the book. 

Dashing nobleman's humble abode

Lots of fun, unexpected twists kept me turning pages at a fever pitch. The back and forth to different worlds and times never gets confusing. I loved how the ending wrapped up all the loose ends in creative, satisfying ways. 


Written with a lyrical beauty, WARPED is a luscious adventure you don't want to miss. An enchanting blend of myth, magic, action and romance woven with originality and memorable characters. A fantastic debut and a great pick for all ages! 


This is my first review for The Story Siren's Debut Author Challenge and it was a winner. I hope my future debut reads are this much fun! 


WARPED is released today! For a chance to win a copy from us fill out the form below. And for more great 2011 YA debuts go to The Elevensies and Class of 2k11.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Before beginning her writing career Maurissa Guibord worked slinging pizzas, alphabetizing things and practicing medicine. Now she writes teen fiction for people who love the same kind of stories she does: mysterious, romantic and with a touch of humor. Her short mystery fiction, published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine has been nominated for the Agatha Award. She lives on the coast of Maine with her mysterious cat, romantic husband and three kids who make her laugh.

Contest Details:

• Must be 13 years or older
• Fill Out the Form Below
• Open to US & Canadian Addresses
• Deadline 1/28/11