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The Girl Who Never Was
(Otherworld #1)
by
THE GIRL WHO NEVER WAS is the story of Selkie Stewart, who thinks she’s a totally normal teenager growing up in Boston. Sure, her father is in an insane asylum, her mother left her on his doorstep—literally—when she was a baby, and she’s being raised by two ancient aunts who spend their time hunting gnomes in their Beacon Hill townhouse. But other than that her life is tot
...more
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
June 1st 2014
by Sourcebooks Fire
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Start your review of The Girl Who Never Was (Otherworld, #1)

Hold on to your magical sweater & get ready for the ride of a lifetime!
This book was fantastically, wonderfully, confusingly perfect. I cannot describe it in any other way but this: reading The Girl Who Never Was is like picking up an apple, biting into it, and discovering that it's actually filled with your favourite ice-cream (for those who are curious, my favourite ice-cream is Gelatissimo's lime gelato. I'd take that over an apple any day!)
Weird. Intriguing. And amazing!
But more importantly ...more
This book was fantastically, wonderfully, confusingly perfect. I cannot describe it in any other way but this: reading The Girl Who Never Was is like picking up an apple, biting into it, and discovering that it's actually filled with your favourite ice-cream (for those who are curious, my favourite ice-cream is Gelatissimo's lime gelato. I'd take that over an apple any day!)
Weird. Intriguing. And amazing!
But more importantly ...more

I stopped reading this book at 11 percent. I have no idea what is going on and honestly don't care enough to push on to figure it out either.
The main character is Selkie who is in high school and is obsessed with a guy named Ben that she meets in Boston Common. There are some secrets regarding Selkie's mother and other things but I don't care enough to continue.
The writing was too painful for me to keep trying to get through. I think the main issue is that a lot of thoughts were tied up in ju ...more
The main character is Selkie who is in high school and is obsessed with a guy named Ben that she meets in Boston Common. There are some secrets regarding Selkie's mother and other things but I don't care enough to continue.
The writing was too painful for me to keep trying to get through. I think the main issue is that a lot of thoughts were tied up in ju ...more

5 Words: Oh, I'm a fairy princess.
Although I pretty much enjoyed this story overall, it was one hell of a confusing read.
This takes every fantasy/fairy tale trope and puts it on its head and never explains why anything's different. And that whole time thing was rather annoying, even if it did become a little endearing towards the end.
I felt that Selkie was a bit of a moaner, and perhaps even a little bit of a brat. There were times when I really didn't like her. She seemed to take everything a l ...more
Although I pretty much enjoyed this story overall, it was one hell of a confusing read.
This takes every fantasy/fairy tale trope and puts it on its head and never explains why anything's different. And that whole time thing was rather annoying, even if it did become a little endearing towards the end.
I felt that Selkie was a bit of a moaner, and perhaps even a little bit of a brat. There were times when I really didn't like her. She seemed to take everything a l ...more

(I received an ARC copy through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review. Since it was an ARC, though, some things may be different in the published version of this book.)
I am sorely late in reading and reviewing this book. My mistake for not keeping track of when which review was due. Apologies to the publisher for this. Unfortunately, I have to admit I didn’t like this book, balancing between “it’s OK” and “this is getting long… are we there yet?”
It had plenty of ideas and themes that I no ...more
I am sorely late in reading and reviewing this book. My mistake for not keeping track of when which review was due. Apologies to the publisher for this. Unfortunately, I have to admit I didn’t like this book, balancing between “it’s OK” and “this is getting long… are we there yet?”
It had plenty of ideas and themes that I no ...more

I desperately want to like you, book.

But that's not how it always works.
Killer First Line: One day, my father walked into his Back bay apartment to find a blond woman asleep on his couch.
Selkie Stewart never knew her mother. She lives with her 2 eccentric aunts and it doesn't help that her father's admitted in an asylum. She wants answers and only her family and a mysterious boy from the Boston Commons named "Ben" can help her.
Sulky Selkie Has Mommy Problems. No birth records. Confusing b ...more

Jan 22, 2017
Anna Kuhl
added it
The constant explanatory repetition (I get it - time moves differently for faeries!) got on my nerves.
Other than that, it was a fast read so I must have enjoyed it somewhat.
Have the next books (#1.5 available free on Wattpad and #2) lined up so let's see what happens. ...more
Other than that, it was a fast read so I must have enjoyed it somewhat.
Have the next books (#1.5 available free on Wattpad and #2) lined up so let's see what happens. ...more

You can also find this review at http://girlinthewoodsreviews.blogspot...
Detailed Review: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback
I am in a serious book hangover after reading this book. I really can't get over it. So I figured the best way to move on was to write a well-deserved review.
First, I must say that Skylar Dorset is an enchantress. The book was simply an enchantment but honestly, I loved it.
I first stumbled upon THE GIRL WHO NEVER WAS when I saw ...more
Detailed Review: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback
I am in a serious book hangover after reading this book. I really can't get over it. So I figured the best way to move on was to write a well-deserved review.
First, I must say that Skylar Dorset is an enchantress. The book was simply an enchantment but honestly, I loved it.
I first stumbled upon THE GIRL WHO NEVER WAS when I saw ...more

Rating: 1/5
***Minor spoilers***
Selkie has never particularly abnormal. She has a bit of a weird family and she doesn't quite know exactly what happened with her parents, but she herself has always been okay. However, it isn't meant to be. She has lived a normal life, but only because everyone has been hiding the truth from her - that she's part faerie and part ogre. And that she's destined to destroy the Seelie court. And that her best friend has been a faerie the whole time. It's a lot to take ...more
***Minor spoilers***
Selkie has never particularly abnormal. She has a bit of a weird family and she doesn't quite know exactly what happened with her parents, but she herself has always been okay. However, it isn't meant to be. She has lived a normal life, but only because everyone has been hiding the truth from her - that she's part faerie and part ogre. And that she's destined to destroy the Seelie court. And that her best friend has been a faerie the whole time. It's a lot to take ...more

Rating: 3.5 stars
Read review on Tumblr | Buy on Book Depository
I didn’t want to write this review, honestly. I’m just so confused by this book. It’s going to be hard to put this into words, so bear with me. It is very fast-paced, to the point where I had some trouble keeping up with it. Getting from one plot point to another is like being in a time machine with a novice time traveller who lost the manual. The style of writing used was a little repetitive, but I suppose it was appropriate for th ...more
Read review on Tumblr | Buy on Book Depository
I didn’t want to write this review, honestly. I’m just so confused by this book. It’s going to be hard to put this into words, so bear with me. It is very fast-paced, to the point where I had some trouble keeping up with it. Getting from one plot point to another is like being in a time machine with a novice time traveller who lost the manual. The style of writing used was a little repetitive, but I suppose it was appropriate for th ...more

Review courtesy All Things Urban Fantasy
Where to start? I’ve been staring at a blinking cursor for a few minutes now, trying to figure out how to put THE GIRL WHO NEVER WAS into some sort of coherent thought, but it’s not easy. It’s a pretty good parallel, now that I think about it, because that’s what I felt the entire time reading it.
The story is simple enough, young girl who thinks she’s normal but isn’t and slowly finds out that the world she thought she lived in isn’t the one she lives in a ...more
Where to start? I’ve been staring at a blinking cursor for a few minutes now, trying to figure out how to put THE GIRL WHO NEVER WAS into some sort of coherent thought, but it’s not easy. It’s a pretty good parallel, now that I think about it, because that’s what I felt the entire time reading it.
The story is simple enough, young girl who thinks she’s normal but isn’t and slowly finds out that the world she thought she lived in isn’t the one she lives in a ...more

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

The Girl Who Never Was had me so captivated I became the girl who couldn't look away! Seriously, I was sucked into this modern fairy tale so hard I craved the next sentence, the next paragraph, the next chapter and now I crave the next book!
Here's why I love this book:
1. The fairy tale princess is clever but not perfect. She's flawed and flaws are good.
2. The fairy tale is twisted but not mangled. Twisted fairy tales are like cotton candy you crave them because you love tearing them apart as ...more
Here's why I love this book:
1. The fairy tale princess is clever but not perfect. She's flawed and flaws are good.
2. The fairy tale is twisted but not mangled. Twisted fairy tales are like cotton candy you crave them because you love tearing them apart as ...more

This author loves Boston. I mean reallyreally loves Boston. There is a good part of this book that is about the history of Boston, streets in Boston, facts about Boston, and then a false history of Boston. So, if you are from Boston, or really want to learn about it, for some reason, this is your book. Unfortunately, that's not me. I felt a bit like my son when he was 10 years old and caught me trying to teach him during summer vacation - betrayed and a bit offended! "Mom, it's vacation! I don't
...more

There is now a longer review of this on My Blog.
It was a bit slow at the start but it soon turned into a whole mess of stuff. I do want to continue on to the second one and did notice that the next one is already out so yay no waiting there. This book will really make you think about a point of view. And how all points matter yet none matter and everything makes sense in a no non-sense kind of way. It really makes your brain hurt when they are talking about time in this book, and how they answ ...more
It was a bit slow at the start but it soon turned into a whole mess of stuff. I do want to continue on to the second one and did notice that the next one is already out so yay no waiting there. This book will really make you think about a point of view. And how all points matter yet none matter and everything makes sense in a no non-sense kind of way. It really makes your brain hurt when they are talking about time in this book, and how they answ ...more

Thank you Sourcebooks for giving me this book for review. I loved this book and am so happy I choose this as my first read for Fairy Month. This was a great start. This book was so original. I loved the world on top of worlds. Ben is my favorite character. The more the story developed the more depth came to his character. While the story was about Selkie I felt in the end I wanted more on Ben. This book does not have just Fairies which was so refreshing. Another great thing was the power of ones
...more

Just started and had to stop by and say how I am instantly in love with this book! The language and the writing style is just beautiful. So happy right now.
Update:
I am so in love with this book! I've huge passages highlighted on my ARC. Its beautifully written and readers will love Selkirk and all the cast (although if you threw me in a room with that super sexy goblin with the crown and the cape I would not complain!). Its often difficult for me to fall for a faerie novel- they are so petty and ...more
Update:
I am so in love with this book! I've huge passages highlighted on my ARC. Its beautifully written and readers will love Selkirk and all the cast (although if you threw me in a room with that super sexy goblin with the crown and the cape I would not complain!). Its often difficult for me to fall for a faerie novel- they are so petty and ...more

A totally unique and often surreal YA fantasy. Selkie – half-faerie, half-ogre – goes in search of her parentage with her crush (and faerie), Ben. The story is fun and imaginative, with a fast pace and plenty of action. It’s almost too much sometimes, with events following one another in a dizzying fashion leaving little room to breathe, and the narration sometimes felt a bit distant and made it hard to connect to Selkie.
But this tale is both simple and complex, original and often bizarre, with ...more
But this tale is both simple and complex, original and often bizarre, with ...more

Jan 13, 2015
Brooke ♥booklife4life♥
rated it
liked it
Shelves:
compeleted-series,
library-book,
girl-pov,
read-in-a-day,
read-in-2015,
meh,
witches-wizards,
fae
Short review:
Eh. The cover was more intriguing then the book. Nothing major happened and i was bored in the middle. The MC was a bit weird but well written. Supporting characters didn't bring much to the table. The plot was nice thou, but the author didn't explore it much. The last 30 pages or so weren't really necessary either. Overall, i wasn't impressed with this book, but when read book 2 just to see where it goes.
Full Review To Appeal On My Blog Later :] ...more
Eh. The cover was more intriguing then the book. Nothing major happened and i was bored in the middle. The MC was a bit weird but well written. Supporting characters didn't bring much to the table. The plot was nice thou, but the author didn't explore it much. The last 30 pages or so weren't really necessary either. Overall, i wasn't impressed with this book, but when read book 2 just to see where it goes.
Full Review To Appeal On My Blog Later :] ...more

3? 3.5?
The first half was brilliant but then the book started to drag. Loved the ending and I hope because I love witnessing home-wreckings. Not terribly noteworthy protagonist and the love interest but I loved Kelsey, the Threader and the aunts. Extensive and redundant use of italics.
Full review later on.
The first half was brilliant but then the book started to drag. Loved the ending and I hope because I love witnessing home-wreckings. Not terribly noteworthy protagonist and the love interest but I loved Kelsey, the Threader and the aunts. Extensive and redundant use of italics.
Full review later on.

I'm always on the look out for new books in the YA genre that are unique and stand out from the crowd, The Girl Who Never Was fits the bill, and the synopsis was intriguing, so I dived in excitedly.
Selkie was the kind of heroine that I love. She was tough, loyal, and she just got tougher as the books went on. I love heroine's who are stronger than everyone gives them credit for and totally badass, I loved her.
The romance was the perfect kind, so sweet you may just get a cavity. Their feelings ...more
Selkie was the kind of heroine that I love. She was tough, loyal, and she just got tougher as the books went on. I love heroine's who are stronger than everyone gives them credit for and totally badass, I loved her.
The romance was the perfect kind, so sweet you may just get a cavity. Their feelings ...more

I first saw this one sitting at the Sourcebooks booth at BEA and after seeing the pretty cover and finding out it involved the fae, I knew I was in. I love books about the fae and even more so when they incorporate the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. The two Courts are fascinating to me, so I was looking forward to seeing how Dorset would put her own spin on the lore. Despite my issues with this one, I did end up liking it overall and am interested in the sequel.
I wasn't wowed by this book. In fact ...more
I wasn't wowed by this book. In fact ...more

For the most part I felt this book toed the line between being cleverly amusing and a hot mess. I think it depends on the author’s intent.
The story is told in Selkie’s 1st person POV. Selkie has recently discovered she’s half ogre, half faerie royalty, and 100% confused. As Selkie’s aunts, protector, and wizard extraordinaire try to explain her life and the differences between Thisworld and Otherworld, Selkie’s head is spinning. Nothing makes sense. Is her whole life an enchanted false reality? ...more
The story is told in Selkie’s 1st person POV. Selkie has recently discovered she’s half ogre, half faerie royalty, and 100% confused. As Selkie’s aunts, protector, and wizard extraordinaire try to explain her life and the differences between Thisworld and Otherworld, Selkie’s head is spinning. Nothing makes sense. Is her whole life an enchanted false reality? ...more
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Skylar’s first story was a tale of romantic intrigue involving two feuding factions of squirrels. Think “Romeo & Juliet” but with bushy tails and added espionage. She was seven.
Since that time, Skylar’s head has been filled with lots of characters and lots of drama. She is delighted to be able to share some of it with all of you now, because, honestly, it was getting pretty loud and crowded in the ...more
Since that time, Skylar’s head has been filled with lots of characters and lots of drama. She is delighted to be able to share some of it with all of you now, because, honestly, it was getting pretty loud and crowded in the ...more
Other books in the series
Otherworld
(2 books)
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