Challenge (Wicked Lovely: Desert Tales, #2)

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Challenge (Wicked Lovely: Desert Tales #2)

by Melissa Marr (Goodreads Author), Xian Nu Studio (Illustrator)

3.85 of 5 stars 3.85 · rating details · 315 ratings · 20 reviews

The stakes are rising, and Rika finds it harder to ignore Faerie politics. As a former mortal and now a solitary faery, she has relished the isolation and freedom of the desert. But new players are seeking power, and old allies are imperiled. As tensions mount, Rika must decide whether--and how--to act to save her independence and her romance with Jayce.

Paperback, 192 pages

Published April 6th 2010 by HarperCollins/TokyoPop

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YA Novels of 2010

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Urban Fantasy Graphic Novels

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Mar 29, 2012 Rain Misoa rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Wicked Lovely fans and anyone who loves cute fox faeries!!!

Recommended to Rain by: Library

Shelves: manga

Man, am I glad I continued on with this series. This volume was a lot better than the first, in my opinion. I thought it was a lot more organized and put together than the last. It seemed more cleaner... more smooth. I know there are times when I am reading manga and it seems to only get worse and worse with each volume. However, with this one, it just went from being okay to something good. I think there are still some areas that needs improvement on but it is nothing compared to the first volu...more Man, am I glad I continued on with this series. This volume was a lot better than the first, in my opinion. I thought it was a lot more organized and put together than the last. It seemed more cleaner... more smooth. I know there are times when I am reading manga and it seems to only get worse and worse with each volume. However, with this one, it just went from being okay to something good. I think there are still some areas that needs improvement on but it is nothing compared to the first volume. I wonder if maybe Melissa Marr took what was lacking and just worked on that more? Or maybe it was because this volume focused a lot more on my favorite character so I'm just being a tad biased. Either way, I really think this volume was good and I just want to let out a sigh of relief because I thought it was going to suck. XP

Melissa Marr did a great job with this volume. But do you see what I meant when I said in my last review that I had a love/hate relationship with her? Sometimes I just can't stand the work that she writes. Other times, like this time, I just love it. It's such a strange relationship to have with an author. I usually love an author's work all the way or hate it all the way. Obviously, that's not the case with Marr. I think she did a lot better with telling the story this time around. Mind you, it still starts off confusing but I think that's the point. Later on in the manga things are revealed to you so you know what's going on. However, you still will need to have read the books to know EXACTLY what's happening. The only thing that I did not like about this volume was that there was a lot of mush towards the beginning of the manga, not enough action. I know some people like having romance in their manga... I'm not one of them. Sure, I can appreciate a good love story, but if that's the only thing that's going on without much else... just proves to be boring after a while. So when all I saw was Rika and Jayce being all lovey-dovey... I wanted to hang myself. There was literally nothing happening between those scenes. All the good stuff starts taking off towards the middle of the book, which is better than no having anything happen at all. I just wish it wasn't so forced down your throat. I'm also not a fan on how Marr portrays women (more on that later). Everything else was pretty good, however. The story started to feel like what Wicked Lovely is all about. I quite enjoyed myself with the manga's plot this time a lot more.

Xian Nu Studio did it again with it's amazing art! I just really like this art style. It's so cute! Despite the main guys looking like girls still, it's just beautiful! I noticed that when they were drawing the henchmen of Maili, they looked a lot like men. Maybe it was just the way they were told to draw the male leads... who knows? Point is, I don't really have any complaints towards the art. I like it. It suits my tastes and I feel it goes well with this type of manga. The scenery is another favorite of mine. I'm like the character designs, especially of the faeries, but the scenery to a lot of the panels are just gorgeous. I might be the only one who thinks so since a lot of it is wasteland so it's plain and barren... but I don't care! I like the simplicity of it all. Just love it! I can't wait to see more art done by this group.

Character time! Rika annoys the hell out of me. She's the main character and I will have to deal with her but sometimes I wish I could just smack the stupid out of her. As I said in my previous review, I love that she can fight. She knows how to hold her own when push comes to shove. The only thing that really gets to me about her is how weak she seems to be with men. (And this is where I have issues with Marr's portrayal of women.) She doesn't seem to know which guy she wants. Sometimes she wants Jayce, others Sion. There are points where she lets Keenan, the one she has no interest in anymore, get the better of her. What? Pathetic much? Girl if you're strong enough to kick some ass, then you are strong enough to not lower yourself to a bloody man. I hate how she seemed to boy hop a lot in this volume. From Jayce to Sion to back again. It was disgusting. -_-" Jayce is not the best character. I find him to be very bland. I thought he might have improved int his volume but he didn't. He's nice and all... but I need a little bit more out of my leading man. There's just something missing from him. Like... a personality. I don't hate him... I just find him boring. Keenan... he's a douche. Moving on. Maili appeared again! Yay! The one with the BEST character design! I just love her look. Her attitude is pretty good, too. She's a bit of a weakling but that's to be expected. She was created like that. *Shrugs* I still like her, though! She has so much fire to her~ My favorite character is Sion! He's just too cute! He's a fox faery for crying out loud! (I don't think that's a spoiler seeing as how you can see his ears on the cover of the book.) I love his personality a lot! He fun, courageous, intelligent, witty, manipulative, strong, hilarious, sweet, cute, he's everything I love in a man! I love how he himself tells people how he's not a nice person and he will deceive you if he had to. Just seeing someone have the balls to say that makes me feel really happy. In fact, he tells Rika that he's not good for her because he's not the type to go for long-term relationships. I respect that in a person. He cared enough to let her know instead of doing what Keenan did and played with her emotions. (It's probably the only reason why Rika hasn't thrown herself completely at Sion in the first place.) In short, he's awesome and I'm glad I was able to see more of him in this volume.

Seriously, guys... if you are a fan of the series, pick this up. You will enjoy yourself a whole lot. You get to see a little bit more between what was going on in the Summer Court as well as the rogue faeries. Mind you, there are still some minor flaws with this manga series but I don't feel they are big enough to hinder you from enjoying your experience with it. Give it a try! I have a feeling you might enjoy it quite a bit. Whoo! I am off to check out the third and final one to this manga. I'm both excited and bummed that this is coming to an end. I was enjoying myself. XP(less)

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Oct 08, 2011 Cyna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: genuinely-fucking-awesome

Volume two of Desert Tales, Challenge, introduces the series conflict, and that's when things get really interesting. The best part of the Wicked Lovely series has always been the faery politics, so I was glad to see that it, not romance, would be the focus of Desert Tales. Rika is unwillingly sucked into a power struggle in the desert that she's spent her entire post-Winter Girl life trying to avoid, and it's rather fascinating to see how she deals with it, to see the choices that she has to ma...more

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Apr 14, 2010 fennie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, graphic-novel

not as good as the first one...some of the story-telling was lacking, but i liked learning more about shy and am definitely interested in what will happen in the next book.

where the first book was more about rika and jayce, jayce spends most of the time in the background in this book. he's there, but a lot of times, he's just sketching rika and shy as they interact. i'm hoping that there's a purpose behind these sketches that we'll learn in the 3rd book - otherwise i feel like it's a waste of re...more

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Aug 06, 2011 Suzie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: melissa-marr, graphic-novels

In this second graphic novel the storyline finally becomes more interesting because we learn tiny scraps of information about Shy. His character has such potential just like Rika's and I want more!! I want to know more about the fox faeries, the little bit we learn is very interesting! I wish more time had been spent on this little spin off because these graphic novels only skim the surface. While I want to know all about the history of the different faerys and faery courts, I especially was esp...more

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Jun 28, 2011 Jessica (BookRockGodess) Bolton rated it 5 of 5 stars

It is safe to say I am a closet graphic novel/anima freak. I love the art of it all and even most of the story lines. Well with that said, this series just gets more addicting as it goes on. I love Rika but I have to say so far my favorite character is Shy. He does what he feels he has to with no remorse. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.

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Jul 28, 2010 Angelia Fransisca Rusli rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, fantasy, comics-graphic-novel

This second book is way better than the first one.

If the first book is way too emo nemo, hard to understand & doesn't seem o go anywhere, well, at least we know where this one is going. I still dislike Jayce's hair & still don't really like the graphic.

But hey, Donia makes an appearance here!

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Jul 12, 2011 Noelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was better the one. More story more action and it leaves you like the other wicked lovely books wanting more. I wish there was a way the artist had shown time or scene changes because parts jumped a head leaving me a little lost. Other wise great and i'm sure i'll finish the 3 rd tomorrow.

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May 24, 2011 Krys rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: short-length-book, manga-graphic-novels, fairy-pixie-themed, young-adult, urban-dark-fantasy-paranormal, read-in-2010, series

I have determined I will pretty much read anything that Melissa Marr writes. Evidenced by this is the manga Wicked Lovely Desert Tales series. Challenge follows Rika, Shy, and Jayce after Shy is stabbed by Maili, a desert fey. Much of the novel is spent during Shy's convalescence, and a visit from Keenan, the King of the Summer Court.

Again, beautifully drawn. There are lots of panels with no dialogue, so the novel goes very fast. I enjoy it. Enough to read the next one, but I'm very glad that I...more

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Mar 16, 2011 Vi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: manga, romance, paranormal, teen

Rika wants to remain a free fairy in the desert, but she and her friends are being challenged. Does she want to remain independent or will she join with the conniving politics of an official Fairy Court.

Great manga and expands the Wicked Lovely universe.

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Jan 05, 2011 Christine rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

Once again, not much actually happens and not much is explained, but it's so easy to read that I'll continue with the series as long as my library keeps getting them in.

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Jul 07, 2011 BCPL Youth Services Librarian added it

Shelves: graphic-novels, fantasy, paranormal

Click to see book in BCPL's online catalog

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Dec 14, 2010 Barbara rated it 1 of 5 stars

This series is kind of crappy, but since it looks like Donia is going to be in the next one, I'll probably read it.

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Jan 07, 2011 stitchnsnitch rated it 2 of 5 stars

This was ok, but I think one read was enough. I guess I'm just not a fan of the choppy Manga style.

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Feb 07, 2010 Selena Garcia marked it as to-read

I think the first manga book was the best ever!!!!!!! CAn't wait for this one!!!!!!!!!

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Sep 17, 2010 Breanna Rose Graham rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 17, 2012 Fairylucyka added it

One of my favorite graphic novel ever

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Aug 05, 2011 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Quick read. It's better than the first one, but still it's almost a waste of time. I don't understand the drawings. Why would Keenan have ear piercings?

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Dec 18, 2010 Cathy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novel, manga, zz-challenge-bcc-fantasy-2010, zz-challenge-library-borrowed-2010, elves-fae, fantasy, paranormal, read-in-2010, romance, series-reminder, urban, young-adult, twitter-author

Good story. Donia's house looks just like I imagined, a nice touch. Good cliffhanger ending, I'm looking forward to the next book.

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Feb 12, 2012 Marina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: manga, fiction

Like the artwork in this series. Nice characters.Wicked plot. Can't wait to read more.

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Feb 06, 2011 Destiny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Loved the whole series.

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May 17, 2013 Kira Eliza marked it as to-read

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May 11, 2013 Porsha rated it 5 of 5 stars

May 11, 2013 Melanie marked it as to-read

May 11, 2013 Rachel marked it as to-read

May 09, 2013 Karren Oconnor marked it as to-read

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About Melissa Marr

5 stars= If I love you, I'll buy you a copy from this list of books. (Pls note, if you are my family or dearest friends, feel free to remind me to do so. I am lousy w remembering birthdays/holidays.)

4 stars= Don't even ask to borrow it. You should prob buy it though.

3= If you borrow it, you better not lose it, mangle it, or keep it too long.

2 or 1 star= I don't use these. If it's not a 3 star or...more

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Quotes from Challenge

“Trust your instincts, trust your judgment.” — 11 people liked it

“Faeries are equally loyal and deceitful.” — 10 people liked it

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