Unbreakable by Kami Garcia

Series: The Legion (bk. 1)

Genera(s): Paranormal Romance/Horror

Subjects: supernatural, ghosts, ghost hunters, secret societies, demons, demonology, love

Setting: Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia

POV/Tense: 1^st person POV, past tense: Kennedy Waters

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 305 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover and in Paperback

List Price: $18.00/$9.99

Publisher: Hachette: Little, Brown

Summary/ product description: “Supernatural meets The Da Vinci Code in this action-packed paranormal thriller, the first book in a new series from New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia.

I never believed in ghosts. Until one tried to kill me.

When Kennedy Waters finds her mother dead, her world begins to unravel. She doesn’t know that paranormal forces in a much darker world are the ones pulling the strings. Not until identical twins Jared and Lukas Lockhart break into Kennedy’s room and destroy a dangerous spirit sent to kill her. The brothers reveal that her mother was part of an ancient secret society responsible for protecting the world from a vengeful demon — a society whose five members were all murdered on the same night.

Now Kennedy has to take her mother’s place in the Legion if she wants to uncover the truth and stay alive. Along with new Legion members Priest and Alara, the teens race to find the only weapon that might be able to destroy the demon — battling the deadly spirits he controls every step of the way.

Suspense, romance, and the paranormal meet in this chilling urban fantasy, the first book in a new series from Kami Garcia, bestselling coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures novels.”

My Review:  What if the Winchesters from Supernatural were teenage twin brothers and part of a secret society called the Legion and the story was told from the perspective of a teen girl? That’s basically what this book is like. I like the main character. Kennedy has a unique combination of talents. She’s not only a really talented artist, but she also has a photographic memory. After her mother dies, she’s devastated. A few weeks later she plans to go to a boarding school, but plans change when a spirit attacks her in her house and two guys show up and shoot the spirit. Jared and Lukas hunt the paranormal and are part of the Legion.

Kennedy travels with them to meet the other two Legion members, Alara and Priest.  These teens all recently suffered the loss of their mentors, which are a family member, so now the Legion is made up of these teens. Alara is really interesting. He grandma taught her some voodoo spells and portions to ward off evil. She hates the color pink. Priest is goofy and invents weapons to destroy evil spirits. Jared fights and Lukas searches for paranormal activity. They believe Kennedy is the 5^th member of Legion, but she doesn’t believe it.

The plot is mainly about the teens visiting haunted places in search for pieces of a weapon that can supposedly destroy a demon. Some of the spirit they meet along the way a vengeance spirits and evil, while others are innocent and benign. They destroy or help. Some creepy stuff happens, but it’s pretty thrilling and exciting. This book is a perfect Halloween read or dark-and-stormy-night read. It’s not so creepy you’ll get the chills, but creepy enough.

This book and Anna Dressed in Blood are the only YA books I can truly say are similar to my favorite TV show, Supernatural. So what’s with all the bad reviews on Goodreads? This is a good book! I recommend it to those who love YA paranormal and Supernatural. There’s evil spirits and demons and symbols and devil’s traps! Also, recommend it to fans of shows like Ghost Adventures, Ghost Hunters, Constantine, Grimm and other paranormal shows and horror movies. Also if you liked the Ghost Huntress series.

Cover Art Review: The cover is great with the big gothic U and the face and colors, but I’m still kind of jelous of this UK edition with Kennedy on the front:

Illusive by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Series: Illusive (bk. 1)

Genera(s): Near-Future/Dystopian Sci-fi/Thriller

Subjects: crime, criminals, thieves, abilities, superpowers, government agencies

Setting: Baltimore, Maryland, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, New York

POV/Tense: 3^rd person POV, present tense, rotating between Ciere and Daniel

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 406 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $18.00

Publisher: Hachette: Little, Brown

Summary/ product description: “The X-Men meets Ocean's Eleven in this edge-of-your-seat sci-fi adventure about a band of "super" criminals.

When the MK virus swept across the planet, a vaccine was created to stop the epidemic, but it came with some unexpected side effects. A small percentage of the population developed superhero-like powers. Seventeen-year-old Ciere Giba has the handy ability to change her appearance at will. She's what's known as an illusionist...She's also a thief.

After a robbery goes awry, Ciere must team up with a group of fellow super-powered criminals on another job that most would consider too reckless. The formula for the vaccine that gave them their abilities was supposedly destroyed years ago. But what if it wasn't?

The lines between good and bad, us and them, and freedom and entrapment are blurred as Ciere and the rest of her crew become embroiled in a deadly race against the government that could cost them their lives.”

My Review:  I liked this way better than I thought it would. I’ve read bad reviews about it.  And the book just seemed so thick (but 406 pages is only half the length of the longest book I’ve read). It’s written in 3^rd person, present tense which seemed awkward. But you what? Niel Schusterman’s Unwind series in in 3^rd person present tense too and that series is a real page turner. Illusive it like other books I’ve read and loved and also unique in it’s own way.

This is not a super hero book. The main characters are criminals. Not killers, but thieves. Ciere (pronounced See-Air) is an illusionist. She can make you see what’s not there and not see what s actually there. Her power are not as strong as they were when she was a kid, but she’s still pretty awesome. She’s not that smart. A bit naïve despite her criminal actives, but ambitious. She’s got a friend named Devon who’s British and an eidos. He can memorize and recall anything. Daniel is another friend and he has the ability to elude danger. Kit, who’s Ciere’s mentor and handler can levitate himself.

There are also people who control their senses and body function, control other people, and read minds. They call the abilities immunities and the government considers these to be adverse effect since the abilities originated from a vaccine intended for a deadly virus. This epic world building is similar to Black Out by Robison Wells and Transparent by Natalie Whipple.

The plot was thrilling and non-stop action. The characters have to steal something. They work together. There’s other character they meet. The supposed good guys may not be that great and you can’t help but root for the antagonistic protagonists. Whether these criminals are just motivated by money or by the chance at freedom, they aren’t all bad. Ciere thinks of Kit, Devon and the others in her crew as family.

You may enjoy Illusive if you enjoy books about super powered teens or supervillains like: Steelheart by Brander Sanderson, Black Out by Robison Wells, Transparent by Natalie Whipple, V is for Villan by Peter Moore, The Curse Workers Series (White Cat) by Holly Black, The Broken Hearted by Amelia Kahaney, Mind Games by Kiersten White, or books about thieves like The Heist Society by Ally Carter. Also, if you liked X-men and other superhero comics and movies and TV.

Cover Art Review:  I love the 3D title and the shadow on it. The helicopter and the city. It’s a dynamic cover.

Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready

Publication Date: Came out in May 2012

Series: Shade (bk. 3)

Genera(s): Paranormal Romance/Sci-fi

Subjects: ghosts, supernatural, government agencies, love

Setting: Baltimore, Maryland and Ireland near New Grange

POV/Tense: 1^st person POV past tense: Aura

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 399 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover and now in Paperback

List Price: $17.99/$9.99

Publisher: Simon & Schuster: Simon Pulse

Summary/ product description: “In this dramatic conclusion to the Shade trilogy, Aura and Zachary’s relationship sizzles as the secrets of the Shift are revealed.

Life can change in an instant, and no one understands that better than Aura. It’s been almost a year since her boyfriend tragically died. She’s finally letting go of Logan’s violet-hued ghost, but not her search to uncover the truth about her past.

As the first in a generation that can see ghosts, Aura is convinced she has a connection to the Shift. She’s trusted Zachary, ever patient and ever by her side, with all that she knows. But when the government threatens his life in an attempt to learn Aura’s secrets, she will stop at nothing to protect herself and the one she loves...even if that means betraying her own heart.”

My Review:  I waited about 2 years and 2 months to read this book. It sat in my room for so long. So it’s been about 3 years since I read shift. I can remember about half of what happened, but that doesn’t matter because Shine was such an awesome, well-written finale.

Aura and Zachary are totally shippable and amazing main characters. There was just so much rolled into this book. The romance and travel and ghosts. Just so much to love. Zachary gets taken by the DMP and Aura is seeking a way to get him out. Logan’s gone, but we see his brother Dylan a lot, as well as his other sibling. Megan is also in the book a lot. All the characters are so interesting. I love the travel aspect to this finale. We get to see Ireland and various megaliths and ancient sites. Also, visit Glasgow, Zachary’s hometown.

Another thing I loved about this series was that it wasn’t just Paranormal Romance. It was sci-fi and semi-dystopian/alternate history. It takes place in old world in contemporary times, but the Shift happened about 17 years ago and that changed history, as we know it. Every one younger than Aura can see ghosts, and everyone older can’t. The DMP (The Department of Metaphysical Purity) is a government agency, like the FBI, but only for protection against ghosts. There’s Securilabs that made the blackboxes that ward off ghosts. Obsidian and the color red also ward off ghosts. The world building is awesome.

I can’t believe I waited so long to read this last book. It was one of the best finales I’ve read. I swear, if you have never read Shade, buy it or download it now. Any fan of paranormal or sci-fi YA books with female leads will love it. You’ll have to binge read the whole trilogy!

Cover Art Review: Bad cover. Sulfur yellow? Ick. I only bought this book because I love this series.  I’m not a fan of cover models with their faces being the main subject of the cover. She looks like Aura, but the blue eye shadow is too much.