Review: Warped by Maurissa Guibord

Title: Warped
Author: Maurissa Guibord
Publisher: Delacorte BFYR
Pub. Date: 1.11.2011
Genre: YA Fantasy
Keywords: Unicorns, Mythology, Fate, Romance, Time Travel
Pages: 352
Description (from Goodreads):
Tessa doesn't believe in magic. Or Fate. But there's something weird about the dusty unicorn tapestry she discovers in a box of old books. She finds the creature woven within it compelling and frightening. After the tapestry comes into her possession, Tessa experiences dreams of the past and scenes from a brutal hunt that she herself participated in. When she accidentally pulls a thread from the tapestry, Tessa releases a terrible centuries old secret. She also meets William de Chaucy, an irresistible 16th-century nobleman. His fate is as inextricably tied to the tapestry as Tessa's own. Together, they must correct the wrongs of the past. But then the Fates step in, making a tangled mess of Tessa's life. Now everyone she loves will be destroyed unless Tessa does their bidding and defeats a cruel and crafty ancient enemy.


I'll admit, it was the mention of a unicorn that attracted me to WARPED, so I was totally unprepared for the epic storyline that I discovered within the covers of this debut novel.


After reading just a few pages of WARPED, in which the Fates examine and manipulate the threads of life they rule over, I was completely dedicated to finding out what would happen next. The Fates have always fascinated me and Guibord's unique treatment of the related mythology was exceedingly clever. The idea that someone might steal life threads from The Fates for their own nefarious use... ingenious!


To add to the mayhem, Tessa finds herself falling for William de Chaucy, who is as alluring as he is maddening. I enjoyed the push and pull between these characters. They both have strong personalities that don't always mesh and neither controls the other... they're very much equals.


WARPED is one of the most creative YA contemporary fantasy novels I've ever read. Guibord combines magic, time travel, and mythology to create a fantastic story with a convincing villain and a much deserved happily ever after.

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Check out my interview with Maurissa Guibord HERE.

Interview: Maurissa Guibord (Author of Warped)!

Today author Melissa Guibord visits The Hiding Spot to chat about her debut novel, WARPED! Stay tuned for my review and a chance to win a copy of this fantastic novel!

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Give a short statement describing WARPED. 
Warped is the story of a modern-day girl from Maine who discovers the secret woven within an ancient unicorn tapestry. When Tessa pulls a dangling silver thread from the tapestry she begins to unravel a dangerous mystery, hidden for five hundred years. Along the way she meets Will de Chaucy, a handsome (though sometimes irritating) young nobleman from the sixteenth century, an evil sorceress and oh yeah, a vicious hell-hound or two.


Was there a particular story or idea that inspired the writing of WARPED? 
Warped was inspired by the beauty, mystery and lore of the famous unicorn tapestries that are housed in the Cloisters Museum in New York City. The tapestries date back to the early sixteenth century and depict various stages in the hunt for a unicorn. According to legend, a unicorn can only be lured to capture by a young maiden, a virgin. Unicorns are also said to have the mythic quality of immortality. All these elements- the physical nature of weaving, magic, and the capture of a beautiful wild creature came together, nagged at me, and suggested a story.

As you wrote, did you have a specific message in mind, regardless of the message readers ultimately end up taking from the novel? 
 The theme of fate or destiny runs throughout the story. In particular- are we in control of our own? This is a question that my main character is confronted with in a very scary way. Tessa likes to believe (as we all probably do) that she’s in control of her life- that she’s in charge of her future. But soon things start to happen that she has no control over-and she learns in fact, that someone else is pulling the strings.


What are you currently working on? 
I’m working on a story about a girl who comes to an island off the coast of Maine called Trespass Island. On the surface it seems like a quiet, private community but she soon learns that nothing is as it seems. The island is in fact, home to two communities. One is human, the other…not.


Name a novel that had a distinctly influenced you (your life, your writing, your attitudes, or something of that nature) and explain.
I loved the books of Mary Stewart when I was a teen. The combination of romance and gothic mystery was irresistible. I loved in particular This Rough Magic. I think her style definitely influenced me- I was always able to picture the atmosphere and scenery of her settings so distinctly. It made me feel like I had traveled to those exotic places myself. The books also have very witty dialogue.


My blog is dedicated to my personal hiding spot, books. Who, what, or where can be credited as your personal escape from reality? 
I love rereading old favorite books from the classics as an escape. It’s like hearing the voice of an old friend. Agatha Christie is particularly comforting to me, as is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Jane Austen. I enjoy the work of many living writers of course- but I would have to say these great ones of the past are my hiding spot.


Thanks for inviting me Sara!

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Thanks, Maurissa! I'm eagerly awaiting that next novel...! :)