Brandon Jeffery’s summer started out with a bang—as in, a friend crashed his car and now he has to work two jobs to pay it off. It’s at Fascination Street Records that he’s introduced to a beautiful but quiet girl named Marvel. She’s new to Hidden Cove and looking for a summer job, so Brandon secretly strikes a deal with their boss to work for free so she can be hired.
When a classmate is found murdered, however, their summer takes a turn for the mysterious. Brandon’s friend Devon is sure he knows just who’s to blame: the creepy recluse of the town quarry. But the police have few leads, and Brandon has the sneaking suspicion he’s being watched.
That’s not what’s in the forefront of on his mind, though. More than trying to pay off his car to his unemployed, alcoholic father and protecting Seth Belcher from the school bullies, he’s determined to date Marvel. He doesn’t understand why they seem so close and she refuses to date him, but as the mystery behind her tragic past begins to unravel, Marvel finally confesses her reason: God has revealed she’s destined to die saving others—and it’s going to be soon.
Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review.
At the very end of last year I posted a review of Wonder by Travis Thrasher (which you can see by clicking here) and I genuinely enjoyed it, but I felt like something was missing. It made sense, given that I later discovered that it was actually the second book in The Books of Marvella series. After I came upon this information, I immediately requested the first book, Marvelous from Netgalley and I couldn't be happier to review it right now.
I have stated this before, but I'll say it again: I don't usually read Christian fiction, and I'm not a religious person, but I truly appreciate different points of view on the matter and this series is one of the finest examples of what I'm trying to say. The truth is that I didn't know Wonder was Christian fiction, and if I had known, despite what I just said, I probably would have missed a wonderful story (see what I did there). That would have been a shame, as this is quickly becoming one of my favourite series and it makes me sad to see it be underappreciated and sometimes ignored due to its categorization.
First of all, my favourite thing about these books is its different considerations of religion, through the eyes of very different characters, with very distinctive opinions, so it's not necessarily a Christian book to its core. Anyone would be able to appreciate the shapes and perspectives this subject takes throughout this book and also the fact that it's not exactly the core purpose of the book. There are so many layers to Marvel and her story that is actually difficult to describe them to someone who hasn't read it, especially in this first book, where we get to meet her through Brandon's eyes.
Secondly, it's impossible to talk about this story without mentioning the incredible set of characters created by Thrasher and the subplots they create with their mere existence. They are all fantastically rich and the simple ways in which the author demonstrates their character development is a treat to read. His writing style is lovely to read and goes perfectly with the story he is telling, reason why I honestly consider Travis Thrasher to be a fantastic writer that not enough people have had the pleasure to meet.
The humour and the flawed teenage characters make them so very relatable and we find ourselves seeing our own problems and flaws in them, true representations of young doubt, love and growth, a reason to thank Thrasher for writing such a brilliant book.
If you have not yet read this book, especially if you didn't do it because of the Christian label, ignore all skepticism and dive right in. There is no doubt everyone who does is bound to come out changed and touched in the end.
