Tris and Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison

(read and written in November 2011)


I love the tragic story of Tristan and Isolde. So I was looking forward to a contemporary retelling, in the vein of Beastly or Falling for Hamlet. I didn't really get that here. Isolde as a protagonist leaves something to be desired,and the characters have very little meat to them. The "love"between Tris and Izzie (and another couple) is utterly unbelievable and shallow. That being said, I did finish the book and it was readable. Normally if a book is just awful I toss it down and pick up the next one. I read this book in 3 hours and I don't feel necessarily like I killed those three hours and I will never get them back. But don't read this book expecting a modern retelling of an epic tragedy. You will be disappointed. It is more like The Hills. With magic. And less money.