Written in Red

This one definitely deserves 5 stars. The characters were consistent, distinctive and I loved reading the multiple POVs because as whole it gave the reader a bigger scope to see the world through. I'm very picky when it comes to books with more than one POV but this one I just couldn't put down. I gulped down the chapters like they were the very air I breathe.

Despite the horror stories that surround the Courtyards where the Others reside within human cities, it's easy to get lost in the playfulness that Meg introduces to the Lakeside Courtyard and its many wild inhabitants. I wasn't expecting Meg's character to be so innocent in some ways but experienced in others. It is welcoming to read a community of characters that strive to survive in a habitant that didn't need them but recognized–tolerated–their existence.
The humans are not the natives in this story and that, more than anything else, was refreshing to read a story about.

The connection that sprouted between Meg and everyone in the Courtyard was so pleasant and unexpected that it was fun to read how it developed. The Others are known for not going out of their way to encourage relationships with beings they consider prey but in the Lakeside Courtyard it was clear to see how kindness inspired more kindness. The playful relationship between Meg and the little pup was adorable and the budding romance with Simon is just barely there but no less adorable.

Written in Red is the first book I have read in a while that inspired daydreams about different aspects in the story. I love the feeling of when I'm reading a book and I can pause for a moment and just speculate about the characters' lives and how they would react to different situations. These types of wondrous daydreams are only possible when the characters are so amazingly carved out and detailed that it is easy to imagine their reactions. I love when authors can illicit this feeling within me.

Grade: A