Paranormalcy - Kiersten White

This is my first review for the 2011 Debut Author Challenge hosted by The Story Siren. I've wanted to read this book for ages as it was published in the US last year but I decied to wait for it to be published in the UK before getting a copy. I am glad I waited because it was a great book to start my very first challenge with. As the challenge suggests Paranormalcy is the first novel by Kiersten White and she has done a fantastic job.

Paranormalcy is the story of 16 year old Evie. Evie lives in a world of vampires, werewolves, faeries and other paranormal creatures. And while she is not one of these creatures she is something different, she just doesn’t know what yet. Evie, being an orphan, lives at the IPCA an international organisation that attempts to control the paranormal population. Although she is only 16 she also works for them as she has a special talent - she is the only known person who can see all other paranormals, she can see past their glamour to what they truly are. There is a problem however, paranormals are being murdered and the IPCA have no idea who is doing it. Luckily Evie meets Lend an interesting young man who is also, like Evie, unique and it’s up to them to figure out what is going on. Evie’s journey is an interesting, fun ride that I can’t wait to read more of. While the subject matter is quite dark the author manages to find a perfect balance that has you smiling in all the right places and on the edge of your seat in others.

From some of the reviews I had read of this book I got the impression that there was going to be some sort of love triangle involved which had initially put me off this book. I am glad to say however that this is not what you get - well so far at least as it is the first in a trilogy. There is a secondary love interest for Evie in the form of the faerie Reth - but he was so utterly and completely repulsive I didn’t take him as serious competition for Evie’s affection and I hope it stays that way.

I liked the fact that the romance between Evie and Lend felt like a teenage romance, sometimes YA books have a tendency to go to far to fast with characters relationships and can seem completely out of proportion with their age but this was not the case with Paranormalcy. The whole prom scene was very cute and one of my favourite parts of the book.

Overall I loved this book and would recommend it to any YA fantasy lover out there. I am very much looking forward to the other two books in this trilogy the first being Supernaturally which comes out later this year.

That's all for now.

Quick Update

I have finished reading Paranormalcy by Kiersten White, for the 2011 Debut Author Challenge and am currently trying to write a review. As you have seen I have no practice at writing reviews and I am struggling a bit to find my groove so it is taking a little longer than I would like. I find it difficult to know what to include in terms of spoilers and how much to give away, I mean it's easy to say I loved/hated it because of X/Y/Z but I don't want to ruin it for anyone who may stumble over my review. Hopefully I will figure out a balance eventually.

I have also read One Reckless Summer by Toni Blake and when I have read the second novel in her Destiny series, Sugar Creek, I am going to post a quick review of them. This will lead me to my review of Whisper Falls, the third book in the series which I have recently received off of netgalley.

I have also been working on my In My Mailbox post which is taking far to long because I have bought far to many books but should hopefully be up tomorrow.

That's all for now.

What Happens In London - Julia Quinn

This is the second book in Julia Quinn's Bevelstoke Series and again a re-read for me (I told you in the first post I love to re-read). This book is the story of Lady Olivia Bevelstoke (the sister of the hero in The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever) and Sir Harry Valentine.


Harry and Olivia are neighbours, which is basically how they come to meet, Olivia spys on him through her window which looks in to Harry's study. Harry catches her and calls her it when eventually meet. They get to know each other through subsequent quirky meetings.

I like this book better than the first mostly because while at first Olivia and Harry disliked it each other, they soon came quickly to the conclusion that they love each other which makes it easier on the reader to root for them rather than be annoyed that they can't get their act together. The tension throughout the book was created by a third character - a Russian Prince and the mystery surrounding him. But most importantly this book was funny, serious books are just fine but sometimes you just want a book that makes you smile and this one does just that.

The third book in this series is called Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn and centers on Sebastian Grey the best friend of Harry Valentine. I hope to read this book sometime soon but I want to read my first book in the Debut Author Challenge which will be Paranormalcy by Kiersten White.

What Happens In London is recommended to those who liked the first book in this series and to all historical romance lovers.

I am spending a little more time on my review of I, Emma Freke as I am sending it the publisher, through netgalley, as well as posting it here. But hopefully I should have it up soon.

That's all for now.