Review: The Sugar Queen

No Spoiler Review

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

Upon recommendation of a friend, I downloaded the audio book, The Sugar Queen by Addison Allen. First off, this is not a YA book… It’s important for me to say that because I thought it was. LOL  So it was a complete shocker when the MC got in a car and drove… then half way thru the book it told me she was twenty-six. I think I needed to know that sooner, because I really thought it was a YA book. I’m sure had I found it on the shelves I would have realized it wasn’t but anyway…

The way Sarah Addison Allen wrote the magical tale, she could have totally created a YA book without the sex, language and other innuendos. In fact, it almost would have boded better in my mind, because it was almost a little too “fantastic” for a twenty-six year old.

There were four story lines to follow and she wrote it in the POV of almost all the characters in turn which I found incredibly hard to follow. Who was talking? Who is saying this? What is going on? I had to rewind my audio A LOT and I hardly ever have to do that. I think the issue was each character (Save the Villian) had the same “voice”… and I don’t mean the audible reader either. I mean it was the same writing style, which threw me off.

So following the story lines was a little much. I would have loved it written in just Josie’s POV but I understand why she switched…

I loved LOVED the housekeeper, Helena. She was the comedic relief for me with her inserting crosses into the hems of Josie’s garments and cursing things. She was beautiful little lady. Loved that character.

Loved the names of her chapters… All candy. That was “SWEET”.

So at the end of the novel, her writing was magical and easy to believe (when I thought she was sixteen, a little harder when she was twenty-six). It was fun the way something just came about, however it was never explained. Not that it has to be, just curious.

However, I picked out the “twist” from the moment the people were introduced, both of them!  But I was assured by both my husband and friend that I just have that knack of picking out “what’s going to happen” before it does. In movies too, I good at reading the foreshadow

The ending was very satisfying. I enjoyed the nice bow she put on it… it wasn’t the perfect bow… but it was sooooo sweet and a red curly ribbon bow with one of those strings that just wouldn’t curl (if you catch  my drift)… still beautiful It wasn’t a happily ever after for everyone! Which is just fine with me. I don’t need everything to be perfect for everyone. It’s more realistic that way.

Would I recommend this book to my readers… YES, but only if you are okay with some cursing and sex references with mouth’s “roaming”. It wasn’t gratuitous, but it was shocking, again since I thought it was a YA novel. LOL My perception was off… by about ten years.

So, I gave it 4 stars because of the magic of her writing. Definitely one to pick up for some magical realism.

Related posts:

1. Review: The Sea of Monsters – Percy Jackson & The Olympians This is a spoiler free review… so read on and...
2. Review: Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief A few months ago, a friend of mine was talking...
3. Review: Movie Alice in Wonderland… No Spoilers When the news of this dark tale came...
4. Review: Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev NO SPOILER REVIEW: ONE OF A KIND theater book Book...
5. Review: Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev I belong to a book club for Homeschooling moms and...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.