Secondhand Charm Review

352 pages

In a secluded village, magic sparkles on the edges of the forest. There, a young girl named Evie possesses unusually strong powers as a healer. A gypsy's charms—no more than trinkets when worn by others—are remarkably potent when Evie ties them around her neck. Her talents, and charms, have not escaped the notice of the shy stonemason's apprentice. But Evie wants more than a quiet village and the boy next-door. When the young king's carriage arrives one day, and his footman has fallen ill, Evie might just get her chance after all . . .

Review:
This was a nice fantasy novel with a middle age feel to it. I like the mystical world that Evie suddenly finds herself thrust into. It was actually completely different and unexpected from most magical tales. I wasn't too happy with a lot of Evie's decisions at times. I wasn't too fond of her romantic choice at the end as well but I guess when you compare her love interest's personalities he was the better fit. I like that you could see the changes that Evie went through as a person and I appreciate her bravery and ability to think for herself. The characters that Evie meets along her journey are mostly not memorable, but a few do stand out at times. There is a lot of action which partially ties into Evie's newfound magical abilities and adventure in Evie' s travels to becoming a healer. I did like this novel although I didn't love it, so I'd recommend it for a quick and fun read.