Brightly Woven Book

[Edit edit: There are great reviewers out there who don't like this book at all. While usually I find myself agreeing with them, on this I disagree. I am smitten, even a second time through. That isn't going to change.

Edit: It's now been months since I read this book, and in the interval I have suggested and given it to several other people, all of whom at least liked it if not loved it. I'm pretty sure we'd all camp out overnight for a movie of this book, and if Wayland North were real... well, let's not get into that. However, looking back over this review and reading a few of the more critical responses, I feel the need to mention a few things.
- First and foremost, I stand by my original response. After all, it was my first reaction and so the most undiluted, utterly unaffected by the opinions of others.
- But... this book isn't perfect. There are flaws, which others have pointed out, and it's important to acknowledge that.
- This doesn't mean it's not a fun read. It is- it's a marvelous read.
- You have to be in the right frame of mind for this book. For me? That happens to be my general state of being: Sleep-deprived school-centric teenage girl who intermittently ignores the guys around her and dismisses them as idiots; at heart a romantic but not able to express it in real life. Introverted, and ready and willing to live vicariously through any decent female character, from Alanna to Signy Mallory to Riza Hawkeye. This book fits me well enough that I can honestly say that I do not care about its flaws.
- No offense to Ms. Bracken, for whom I have a great respect, but this isn't a philosophical book- which is another reason I can ignore its flaws. If I want to ask deep questions I'll go find Arakawa, Cherryh, Sagan, LeGuin. If I want to read a book that leaves me giddy and grinning, I pick up this or Howl's Moving Castle.

Original:
I finished this book last night at 11 pm, and immediately sat down to write my reactions down so I wouldn't forget them in my ARC review. So, here they are, verbatim:

-Tops HMC- same kind of story, but better.
-SEQUEL NAO!
-If this doesn't make the Top Ten, I will be shocked/angry/astounded
-Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful romance
-Would like map, though
-Can has North for own?
-SQUEEEEE!
-PERFECT
-I think I shall buy a zillion copies of this book when it comes out- hardcover- and give them for every occaision to everyone I know.

Note: HMC is Howl's Moving Castle, which I adored and read in one sitting. The Top Ten is the Teen's Top Ten; I got this book through a library teen group which is one of the YALSA nominating groups for this year, and you bet your boots I nominated this one.

I was bouncing up and down with sheer glee when I finished this. BOUNCING. PHYSICALLY BOUNCING. This has never happened before that I can remember. Spastic flailings during the Crowning Moments of Awesome of my favorite books- sure. But bouncing is unheard of.

Alexandra Bracken has written the best book I've read all year. And I've read a lot of books, so that's no small compliment. The only problem?
There's no sequel yet.
I declare this to be a tragedy, and one which Ms. Bracken should swiftly rectify. (Please? Insert pleading puppy dog eyes here.)

The back cover says this was written as a birthday gift for a friend. Well, that is one INCREDIBLY LUCKY FRIEND, in my opinion.

I may not actually give this back to the library group. If no one notices...I could hang on to it until March. But then again, that would be depriving others of the PURE JOY that is reading this book. So I guess I'll give it up anyways. (hide spoiler)]