iRelle

Obvious things first: I’ve changed the look of the blog. Love it? Hate it? Let me know what you think. I’m not sure myself, but I know it’s disorienting when I apply drastic changes like this. I promise, I’ll keep this one til the end of the month (unless is fatally errors up my blog for some reason) and keep the changes to just a few tweaks here and there to make it more … ’Rellefied.

I was killing some time at the library on Wednesday while I waited for my bus home. On one of the little tables that are usually piled high with themed sets of books (same author, similar theme, same genre, etc.) were just a few skinny volumes scattered around almost aimlessly. I’m not sure what drew me to them – the cover art isn’t that great, and it’s not normally what I look for at the library! Maybe my brain knew I needed a break. Without thinking too hard, I grabbed two of the books, zipped through the self-check station and limped back to the bus stop in my new shoes.

I settled myself onto the (freezing, metal) seat, pulled my sleeves up over my fingers and pulled a book out of my bag. It just happened to be neither the Agatha Christie or the murder mystery that had suitably grown-up, sombre looking covers ideal for reading in public, but the rather less dignified, paperbacked Enchanted, Inc. This made me smile a little bit, because who wants to look stuffy and dignified in public, anyway? I wriggled into a more comfortable place, and opened the front cover.

By the time I’d finished the first two chapters, the bus had arrived and departed (with me on board). When I remembered where I was and pulled my nose out of the book, I was only a couple stops away from home! As the first book in the series of four, Enchanted, Inc. dragged me in and did a few barrel rolls until I stopped kicking. I spent all my free time Wednesday afternoon reading the book, and by the time I blew out my candle turned out my light that night I had finished it.

The plot follows the life of a young woman who moved to New York from a small town in Texas twelve months ago. During her morning commute to the office where she works as personal secretary to the world’s worst mood-swinging, incompetent boss, she notices strange things that none of the seasoned New-Yorkers seem to bat an eyelid at. Eventually, she is contacted by the personnel officer for a strange company known only as MSI, falls in love at first sight with a handsome, incredibly shy man who seems to know said personnel officer, and has a conversation with a security gargoyle called Sam.

The book (written by Sheena  Swendson, incidentally) is kind of in the vein of Harry Potter – with the idea that Magic exists in the world, but ordinary people can’t see it, and that there are good and bad forces that could potentially tear the world apart if not kept in check. These books are aimed at a little older, possibly girlier, target audience, though, and feature fairies, wizards, elves, sprites (boy fairies don’t like to be called boy fairies. Because ‘sprite’ sounds so much less… yeah.) and a few gargoyles, skeletons and a really big harpy thrown in.

I found it was an entertaining, quick, easy read that was perfect for relaxing as the pressures of week fourteen at uni built up. It is by no means a masterpiece of writing, but next time you’re looking for something that won’t break your brain or tax your mind too much, try Enchanted, Inc.

(wow, okay. Long blog. See you all tomorrow for the SVR Saga!)

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