The Weight Of Feathers Review + Blog Tour -- A Rare Gem

The Weight Of Feathers
Author: Anna - Marie McLemore
Release Date: September 15th 2015
Publisher: St.Martin's Griffin
Genre(s): Young Adult, Contemporary
Pages: 320
Edition: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Rating:

For twenty years, the Palomas and the Corbeaus have been rivals and enemies, locked in an escalating feud for over a generation. Both families make their living as traveling performers in competing shows—the Palomas swimming in mermaid exhibitions, the Corbeaus, former tightrope walkers, performing in the tallest trees they can find. Lace Paloma may be new to her family’s show, but she knows as well as anyone that the Corbeaus are pure magia negra, black magic from the devil himself. Simply touching one could mean death, and she's been taught from birth to keep away. But when disaster strikes the small town where both families are performing, it’s a Corbeau boy, Cluck, who saves Lace’s life. And his touch immerses her in the world of the Corbeaus, where falling for him could turn his own family against him, and one misstep can be just as dangerous on the ground as it is in the trees.

Forbidden Fruit

                        Is Always The Sweetest . . .                                     

No words can describe the absolute beauty of this novel, & no expressions will give you a painted picture of what I experienced. The Weight Of Feathers blew me away as if I were nothing but flimsy paper ruffling through the wind. It floated it's way into my heart, leaving it's mark on me forever, and I have no clue how I'll successfully give it the praise it deserves . . . 

What To Expect

Fangirl Breakdown

Incredible Writing	Imaginative Plot
Lyrical, poetic, flowery, however you want to put it, the writing lives up to it and then some. I was swept away by how beautiful it was, how everything just flowed together perfectly.	This story consists of Magical realism, forbidden love, superstitions, secrets, ethnic characters, and rival families, all common concepts weaved and spun creatively.

Fangirl Breakdown

The Weight Of Feathers is a Romeo and Juliet re-telling that has even Shakespeare himself prancing with joy within his grave. This riveting love story follows Lace and Cluck, two strangers from rival travel show families. Lace, a young Spanish girl is a proud Paloma, and Cluck oh my dear Cluck, is a French lad belonging to the Corbeaus. Told in dual perspectives, we get a sense of the lives the characters live separately, we witness the life-altering accident that brings them together, and explore what happens when both go against their beliefs to discover how forbidden love can be the truest love of all.
   

u·nique
yo͞oˈnēk/
adjective
1. Being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else.

"Each feather became ten more. They spread like a thousand red lacewings. They rose like every one was its own bird, full and winged. They turned the trees to autumn, all red-feathered boughs."

If you told me I would read a story about mermaids and love it to pieces, I would've smacked you for predicting my future so horribly, but to my amazement, it . . actually . . happened. As I mentioned, Lace's family is a traveling act of . . you guessed it, mermaids. Known as the Paloma Sirenas, these irresistible young women, grace the waters with their presence. Adorned with sea shells as crowns, and tails intricately hand made crested with scales in every color of the sea, reading about the Sirenas was such a wonderful experience that I felt as if I were there, as if I stood in the crowd with the rest of the townfolk, mouth agape.

Now what's the opposite of water?

I found myself transfixed by the dark act of Ravens, or the Gypsies, as people around town liked to call the Corbeaus. The family were tightrope performers, balancing instead of on wire or rope, but gracefully on branches of trees. Their dark black wings made from feathers, tickled the sky as they pranced in the air along the stars. Mingling a Raven with a Mermaid should've been as equivalent to mixing water and oil, but our main characters were cut from different cloths than their families. Lace of thin, but sturdy scales, Cluck, an old soul, of soft and fragile feathers.

One of the best aspects of this story is the diversity. With two characters with completely different ethnic backgrounds, it was amazing to see how EASILY the author meshed their stories together. I had zero problems following along with the Spanish and French, and I appreciated the fact that the author is serving up AUTHENTICITY, showing us what it means to truly have diverse characters within your novel. Authors TAKE NOTES

""Her hand found the feathers under his hair, soft and thick as river grass, and she kissed him back. She opened her mouth to his and pretended the sky was water."

To pick a favorite between these two characters is beyond difficult, especially because they're equally amazing human beings, however, Cluck completely stole the show for me. I absolutely loved how McLemore created Cluck to be so . . . imperfect. He was the complete opposite of the typical YA male stereotype with his deformed hand resembling the claw of a rooster, and almost mediocre looks. He was beautiful in an unconventional way, making him my favorite book boyfriend to date. Lace also proved to be an ideal heroine. Even after the accident that left her scarred, her personality didn't falter not one bit. She remained strong, sensible, witty, and sharp tongued. The perfect balance Cluck needed in his life.

I will admit that during the first 2 chapters, (which are super short btw) I was confused as hell, but I do encourage everyone who picks it up to be patient and push forward. The writing is just so spectacular, so rich, so breathtakingly magical, that it's mentally impossible not to be captivated by the story. The plot is one full of purpose and meaning, the characters so full of passion. From the start their chemistry is undeniable, turning their romance into a fierce burn, slow and steady like warm honey. The rare concepts and diversity places this novel in a lane of it's own, so if you ask me to for a recommendation, The Weight Of Feathers will be at the top of my list each and every time . . .

because come on, there's something incredibly delicious about forbidden love.

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