Entertaining, definitely something else: Alice Parker's Metamorphosis by @nicolalpalmer #review

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Alice Parker's Metamorphosis

Book 1 of the new adventure series for children


Written by Nicola Palmer



Genre: Young Adult Fantasy


Book Synopsis

Thirteen-year-old Alice Parker knows something isn't right; mysterious aches and pains, a craving for sugar that’s out of control. Suddenly she is top of the class in every subject.

Baffled by what is happening to her and feeling at odds with the world, Alice can't take much more. Only when she collapses and experiences a life-changing transformation does she discover why she is different.

But this new, incredible identity brings its own challenges and Alice isn't convinced she can rise to them. She just wants to be normal!

The fact is she's anything but...

Sandra Hessels's Rating





Sandra Hessels's Review


Alice Parker's Metamorphosis is a self-labelled adventure book, in which thirteen-year-old Alice suddenly finds herself developing some strange symptoms that lead to an even stranger fate.

When Alice has these sudden cravings for fruit and sugar, has trouble sleeping, but on the plus side aces every test in school without having to study much or at all, she knows that something must be up. Although she couldn't have dreamed of what's happening to her. It's right out of a fairy tale.

It really is. *Spoiler alert* Alice discovers that she is a FINWIP, or 'fully integrated winged person'. (The term Finwip doesn't really do it for me, it sounds too contrived. But that will hardly bother a thirteen-year-old.) Yes, she's basically a human butterfly, since you're not allowed to call them fairies. And as such, a whole new side of the world and a secret community is opened up to her. It wouldn't, however, be much of an adventure series if Alice didn't just so happen to be the one they were all waiting for, someone really really special. Just what every teenager wants.

The story is entertaining, and it's definitely something else - fairies and unicorns and baddies called Sinwips - and it is well-written in the sense that even I can see the secret world come to life with a little imagination. And I am, let's say, slightly older than the target audience.

Still, the story never really packed any surprises for me, apart from what Alice turned into. (Although maybe that Kafka-esque title sort of hinted at that, too.) The metamorphosis happens fairly quickly, and since she has an entire support crew to fall back on, Alice's acceptance of that fate also takes (too) little convincing, and her best friend barely bats an eye. As soon as that's over with, Alice is just sent on a mission that is rather predictable. It's a fun read for girls around Alice's age, and they have a few more installments to look forward to already.

Review Disclaimer: This book was provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review.