KILL ME SOFTLY by Sarah Cross

Kill Me Softly
Sarah Cross

Rating: B-
Release Date: 4/10/12
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
Mirabelle's past is shrouded in secrecy, from her parents' tragic deaths to her guardians' half-truths about why she can't return to her birthplace, Beau Rivage. Desperate to see the town, Mira runs away a week before her sixteenth birthday—and discovers a world she never could have imagined.

In Beau Rivage, nothing is what it seems—the strangely pale girl with a morbid interest in apples, the obnoxious playboy who's a beast to everyone he meets, and the chivalrous guy who has a thing for damsels in distress. Here, fairy tales come to life, curses are awakened, and ancient stories are played out again and again.

But fairy tales aren't pretty things, and they don't always end in happily ever after. Mira has a role to play, a fairy tale destiny to embrace or resist. As she struggles to take control of her fate, Mira is drawn into the lives of two brothers with fairy tale curses of their own . . . brothers who share a dark secret. And she'll find that love, just like fairy tales, can have sharp edges and hidden thorns.


My thoughts on the book:
Kill Me Softly is a bit predictable, but it is still a good read. I enjoyed the world that Cross created, and I hope to revisit it again soon in the future. I have no idea if there is a sequel to this book or not, but I feel that some loose ends weren't tied up as neatly as they could have been had this been a standalone novel. However, the ending was satisfying enough that if there is no sequel, I won't feel like the story is lacking an ending. The characters are likable and well-developed, and the plot is intriguing. I'd recommend Kill Me Softly to anyone who likes fantasy novels or would love to read a retelling of fairy tales. 


Mirabelle is a sweet character, and I liked her. She was immature sometimes. Also she was a bit too naive, , and I really wanted to smack her part of the time. Furthermore, every mistake she made was extremely predictable. I knew what she was going to do before she did, I think. Maybe that's because she was so sheltered growing up, but that was a bit annoying at times. Blue and Felix, the two love interests, were both very interesting. They weren't stock characters at all. At first, they seemed like they may be, but as with everything else in Beau Rivage, nothing is what it seems. I don't want to go into more detail because I don't want to spoil the story for anyone. 


My favorite part of the book was the world that Cross created within Beau Rivage. This world is unique and mysterious. The world-building in this novel was fantastic. It wasn't overdone, but I understood everything that was going on. I felt like I'd stepped into the book and entered this strange universe that Cross has created. 


The plot was intriguing, but it was predictable. I had everything figured out long before Mira did. Also, there is a bit of insta-love, and I really hate insta-love. I just feel that the female leads need to be a little more independent and a little less boy crazy in most YA books anymore. This novel focuses a lot on the instant romance, and the plot almost revolves around it. I'm assuming that's the reason for the swoony female, and I'm not sure how it could have been done better. I just wish that the relationship had progressed some. The mysterious parts of the story were well done, but as I stated, I did have them figured out long before the big reveals. That's okay though because I do that with most books. The fairy tales stuck more to the original Grimm's Fairy Tales, which I loved. 


Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy, romance, or fairy-retelling. Cross has created a unique and enthralling world that you'll want to see more of. 


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