Secondhand Charm by Julie Berry

Title: Secondhand Charm
Author: Julie Berry
Reviewer: Stephanie
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: Worship
Alerts/Warnings: Some fantasy violence.
Premise: 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 . . . (goodreads.com)

Opinions: I don't like snakes. At all. Period. End of Story.

HOWEVER. I loved this book. And honestly there weren't a ton of snakes in the book. But the few snakes did skeeve me out some. (I'm a bit too squeemish about snakes.)

Okay, moving away from the snakes.

Evie is a great character and I love that we follow her journey. I found myself suprised many times throughout the book. I think that this story was so different and well told and I was suprised by the twists that it took. I love the idea of serpentinas (as long as there was no possible way that I could ever be or run into one). It was so different that I loved it. It was not something I would have ever considered, but I liked it so very much.

This is Julie Berry's 2nd novel. The first, The Amaranth Enchantment, was equally well done. I have nothing but positive things to say about Julie Berry. And I hope she continues to write, because I will be a fan for as long as she does.