Running Red by Jack Bates

May 24, 2013 by Leave a Comment

RED
Running Red by Jack Bates
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Young Adult, Horror, Contemporary, Action/Adventure
Length: Short Story (129 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Rebellious teen Robin “Robbie” Willette thinks her life sucks.

Her grades aren’t the greatest. Her dad hates her “older” boyfriend. And her mom keeps Robbie on a short leash after her straight A, perfect, older sister gets pregnant and has a baby. As the tension builds in her family, Robbie runs away with her boyfriend Lane only to wind up sleeping on the sofa of her ostracized sister.

But it’s not all that bad. Robbie has a taste of independence. She’s working on getting her diploma through night school. She has a job–not a great one but it’s legit. And she’s finally beginning to figure out that her relationship with Lane is a dead end. For the first time in a long time, Robbie Willette is getting her life together.

Just as her life is improving, the world around her begins to crumble. Literally. A plague crawls over the planet, mutating humans into blood-lusting zombies that help spread a deadly fungus. It isn’t long before society collapses. In fact, in less than a year, all of society’s norms are gone. Robbie quickly finds herself separated not only from her family, but from all humanity. Hoping to reunite with her sister and niece, Robbie sets off with the most loyal companion she’s ever had: a yellow Labrador she names Yuki.

The road she travels is not easy. She must confront personal fears, untrustworthy humans, and aggressive mutants. Will Robbie fulfill her dream of finding her family, or is the world just too dangerous a place to discover what she needs most–hope?

How do you outrun an enemy that can hide inside your own body?

Running Red has the pacing of an action movie. From the very first paragraph readers are thrust into Robin’s chaotic, dangerous world. Most of the character development and exposition in this tale actually occurs in the flashbacks which made certain plot twists even more unexpected. Everyone who has survived so far is far too busy staying alive to worry about their emotional health, but I was surprised to see how much Robin matured during the year or so she lived on the run.

I never quite understood the logic behind how the disease spreads or why Yuki appears to be immune to it. While the descriptions of this invasion are terrifying the explanation for why some people were more susceptible to it than others would have made more sense had the author described the disease as a virus instead of a fungus.

While I initially harboured a few doubts about a decision Robin makes as the end of this tale grew near the final scene stays true to everything we learn about her personality and moral code. All of the major plot points were resolved satisfactorily, but a few answers were open-ended enough to justify a sequel in the future if the author ever chooses to revisit these characters.

It’s difficult to write a novel about zombies without including a lot of violent scenes. This book is full of graphic descriptions of characters hurting and killing one another, and while it may be appealing to younger audiences it definitely should not be read by anyone under the age of 16.

Anyone in the mood for a fresh twist on the zombie meme should give Running Red a try. It reinvents some of the most common tropes in the genre while paying homage to the expectations of hardcore fans.

Filed Under: Horror, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Shadows On The Lane by Virginia Rose Richter

May 23, 2013 by Leave a Comment

SHADOWS
Shadows On The Lane by Virginia Rose Richter
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Contemporary, YA
Length: Short Story (55 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

A spirited, adventurous twelve-year-old, Jessie Hanson, witnesses a hit-and-run accident in which a young girl is injured. With the help of her best friend, Tina Adams, she uses her detecting skills to cut through the victim’s amnesia and track down the driver of the deadly automobile.

Jessie and Tina are almost thirteen and excited to be treated as the mature nearly ladies they are – allowed to attend the posh afternoon tea opening of a new museum in their home, Willow Lane. Mid-way through, Jessie goes out onto the balcony to get some air. She witnesses an accident involving her crush, Bryce’s little sister. It was all over in an instant – and the hit and run driver escaped. Once again Jessie is drawn into some detective work – to help find the person who hit little Sunny and left her without a care.

This is a fun and interesting book I feel is suitable for young teenagers and mystery-inclined youthful readers. I really enjoyed the main cast of characters, all of whom I found well rounded and realistic. Jessie in particular is a vibrant and interesting heroine, strong and intelligent but still young enough to be swayed by her crush and impulsive in her actions. There’s no swearing or any behavior I felt to be inappropriate within this book. I felt it a clean, fresh mystery with a dash of teenage hormones and girlish fun. While the plot isn’t some throw-away side thought (Tina and Jessie playing detective and trying to solve the crime and discover the perpetrator) it’s written in a light-hearted, good spirited, fun manner that will appeal to pre-teens and shouldn’t appear dumbed-down or too childish.

I would have loved reading this book in my pre-teen years (I was – and still am – a massive Nancy Drew fan) and feel both boys and girls of a similar age and interests will greatly enjoy this story. While the plot is resolved – it’s clear there are many more tales from this small town. I’ll certainly be keeping my eyes open for more!

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Dragon Drop by Jerry Ackerman

May 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Dragon Drop
Dragon Drop by Jerry Ackerman
Publisher: Musa Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, YA
Length: Short Story (130 pages)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Watch the magic that happens when a brave teenage girl helps a dragon grow a heart. (And narrated by …. the dragon!)

A female seventh grader befriends a dragon who transzips himself to Earth, pursued by angry dragons from his planet. He meets Lily, who longs for adventure. She gets adventure and challenges when the dragon taps on her window one night. What offense did Py the dragon commit that exiled him from Dragondrop? And how will Lily hide a dragon in the average suburban neighborhood?

Py doesn’t want to tell Lily his crime and she has a secret she can’t share. Because dragons are solitary, unemotional creatures, they hoard their treasures and rarely share or show their feelings. But something changes inside Py after he meets Lily. He starts to feel emotions, learns about right and wrong, and decides he needs to help her.

But what can a dragon give a human? The answer is unexpected and touching. And the reader learns about true giving and sharing.

Dragons can travel from their home world of Dragon Drop instantly by means of the TransZip interstellar highways and this is just what Pyrolavadon (better known as Py) does when he needs to escape a posse of a hundred dragons. He asked the probe to take him somewhere far away, and he ends up on Earth, the farthest point on the TransZip system. On Earth, Py meets an eleven year old girl named Lily and together they learn about each other.

Jerry Ackerman has written an incredibly wonderful story of love and joy. Ackerman writes this in the first person, narrated by Py himself. Py lands on earth and quickly learns several languages. His world and view of himself begins to change when he meets Lily. Py begins by claiming to be an ambassador sent by the dragons to learn about Earth. Lily knows this to be false, but she doesn’t force Py to tell his secret because she has a secret of her own. Ackerman shows how Py’s heart is opened by Lily. Py, the true hoarding dragon, begins to feel emotions and to learn right from wrong.

Ackerman crafts both Py and Lilly into fully developed and believable characters. The two of them share adventures which are all shown through Py’s eyes with delightful humor and intelligence. Lily is in many ways a typical seventh grader, but with an incredible sensitivity and insight into others. Both Py and Lily change as a result of their friendship, a friendship that grows into such a strong bond that each is able to share their secret with the other.

This is a magical story. I enjoyed seeing the world through Py’s eyes. Py and Lily both have gifts to share, unusual and heartfelt gifts. I highly recommend this novel for any lovers of dragon fantasy.

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Raggedy Chan by Camille Picott

May 10, 2013 by 3 Comments

RC front cover
Raggedy Chan by Camille Picott
Publisher: Pixiu Press
Genre: Fantasy
Length: Short (44 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 6+
Rated: 4 Stars
Review by Rose

Emma Chan-McDougal receives a special gift from her Auntie Gracie: a rag doll named Raggedy Chan. But Raggedy Chan is no ordinary doll. She is a beautiful Chinese princess who lives in a jasper palace on the enchanted isle of Kunlun. The peace of her island home is threatened when Drought Fury steals Winged Dragon, bringer of rain. Without Winged Dragon, Kunlun will wither and die.

To save her stricken homeland, Raggedy Chan sets forth alone. Her quest leads her to America, where she meets people who distrust her because she’s different. Can Raggedy Chan adapt to the strange ways of this new land and rescue her beloved dragon?

In this modern fairy tale, Chinese-American author Camille Picott draws on her heritage to weave a story of magic, adventure, and sacrifice.

Raggedy Chan is a charming fable with a serious message. The author has based this book on her own life–she was that Chinese-American little girl who learned about her history and who was given her very own Raggedy Chan.

The story is actually two stories in one: Auntie Grace comes to take care of Emma and instructs her in her Chinese heritage. At the same time, she tells the fable of the Princess Yao-Chi and how she saved her country and became Raggedy Chan. Through the fable, she also instructs Emma in how sometimes people are unkind to others who are different.

The story teaches without being preachy–and the language, especially as the fable is being told, is absolutely beautiful. It’s short enough for an adult to read it in one sitting. There are several short chapters and some of the terminology (notably in the part of the story that tells about Raggedy Chan) may need explanations to the youngest readers. All in all, though, this was a book I will be buying for my own grandchildren.

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King of the Lake by Jennifer Anderson

May 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment

LAKE
King of the Lake by Jennifer Anderson
Honey Creek Books
Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press
Genre: Contemporary, YA
Length: Short Story (123 Pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Jasmine

Living in a small town, everybody knows your business. Unfortunately for Allison Carver, some people can’t forget.

When a lapse in good judgment lands her in the public eye, her parents force her to seek guidance from the local minister. After several months, she begins to forgive herself while her parents seem to keep her mistakes front and center.

Allison escapes to Honey Creek Lake where she gets a waitressing job at Honey Creek Lodge’s restaurant. Lack of identity among the summer tourists offers relief, allowing her to feel normal. Taking the order of a summer guest launches her into a dilemma. Does she follow her heart and allow her feelings to mature for a guy she just met? Or risk the wrath of her father while he sits on his throne overlooking the lake.

This book marks the end of one of my favorite series in this genre. The fictional town of Honey Creek is a typical, small, mid-western town that is placed not far from where I live. It reminds me so much of a town that I used to live in that I could easily picture everything – it was almost like I was still living there. I’ve become very attached to Honey Creek and its residents. Unfortunately, all small towns come with their own pros and cons. Everybody knowing everybody else can sometimes fall on both sides of that list and when you make a mistake, it can be hard to redeem yourself.

Allison Carver finds herself in just that situation. We met Allison at the end of Prince Charming, the second book in the series, at the precise moment that she was making that mistake. And the consequences of that mistake turn out to be more far reaching than she ever expected. Even though it happens a couple of hours away, the entire town finds out about it, as do her parents. After a few months of bullying and ridicule at school, Allison isolates herself from everyone, including her best friend. Trying to win back the trust of her parents, she starts counseling with their church Reverend. Through these sessions, we see a lot of personal growth from Allison. She is emerging from the scandal a little bit stronger than she was before.

Allison also gets a summer job waitressing at a lodge at the lake where everybody spends their summer. There she meets Evan, who is vacationing with his parents. There is an undeniable connection between the two of them, but getting to know Evan better, and spending time with him, goes against every rule her parents are trying to enforce these days. Evan has been dealing with his own issues too, and they understand each other in a way that nobody else does. The problem with small towns is that sneaking around, trying to do things without your parents finding out, can be nearly impossible.

Even though Allison has been a model teenager, and even though Evan seems to be a great kid, she has to convince her parents that they didn’t raise a delinquent and that they can trust her to make good decisions. As many people, both kids and adults, eventually learn (usually the hard way), once that trust is lost, it’s hard to get back. At the core, though, one lesson is the lesson that all parents need to learn to let kids make their own mistakes so they can learn from them….and that can be the hardest lesson of all sometimes.

I will miss visiting Honey Creek, with its small town people and small town ways – even the festivals that so many small towns are known for. It has been so nice to read a series so reminiscent of books that I read as a teenager, where sometimes the worst thing a teenager had to worry about was her reputation. It’s also nice to come across a series that focuses on small town worries versus savvy teenagers from the city. I look forward to seeing what Ms. Anderson gives us next.

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The Legend of Ghost Dog Island by Rita Monette

May 2, 2013 by 1 Comment

DOG
The Legend of Ghost Dog Island by Rita Monette
Publisher: Musa Publishing
Genre: Historical Suspense/Mystery, YA
Length: Full Length (207 pages)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Behind every legend lies the truth.

Moving is nothing new for ten-year-old Nikki Landry. Her fisherman father relocates their raggedy old houseboat several times a year in search of better crabbing spots. However, their latest move has brought her to a mysterious bayou where she feels something is watching her from a nearby island.

Nikki learns of a local legend about something sinister inhabiting those swamps, stealing the souls of dogs…which would explain the strange howling sounds. Papa reassures her there’s nothing on the island but gators and snakes. He would know. He’s spent his whole life trapping and fishing those bayous and swamps. But Nikki and her new friends uncover strange happenings from years ago that may have started the old legend, and town folks aren’t talking. Then her beloved beagle goes missing.

Join Nikki as she seeks to discover the real truth behind the legend of Ghost Dog Island…before it’s too late.

Ten-year-old Nikki Landry lives in the same home she was born in, but she has moved several times each and every year of her life. She lives with her mother, father, and younger brother on a houseboat, and her father relocates them frequently as he searches for the best crabbing spots. Nikki hates moving. She no sooner starts making friends when she is uprooted once again. The latest move to a really mysterious bayou takes her from her best friend, Lydia, and forces her to start over yet again in a new school. If that weren’t enough, Nikki thinks she is being watched by something on a nearby island.

Rita Monette has spun a wonderful mystery based on the life of the Cajun people in Louisiana during the mid-1950’s. The reader is immediately drawn into life along the Bayou. The characters are believable, and the hardships of life aboard an old houseboat, where the family is living in poverty and the father is doing his best to keep things together, is portrayed with sensitivity and compassion. Monette details clearly Nikki’s trials as she tries yet again to adjust to a new school, make friends, and avoid a bully. Nikki’s bond to her beagle, Snooper, is shown as a vital element in Nikki’s life, providing companionship and stability through all the family’s moves. So when Snooper goes missing and there is a legend of someone on the nearby island stealing dog’s souls, the reader is right there, following Nikki into danger as she hunts for Snooper and tries to solve the mystery of the island with the strange howling sounds.

I really enjoyed this book and I think Monette has done an excellent job of capturing a time and place now gone. The issue of language, for instance, is shown as Nikki wants to learn Cajun French after hearing her father and others speaking it. This novel is set during the time when it was illegal to speak French in public. The laws changed in 1961, but for Nikki, learning French was like a forbidden fruit.

Monette also describes in mouth-watering detail the food that was common for the Cajun community. She uses a number of words common to this part of Louisiana as well, and she provides a brief glossary at the beginning of the novel defining the terms. I found that this technique of using a glossary first, but then letting the words flow naturally in the novel, was most effective. Monette’s own drawings scattered throughout the novel are most effective in showing Nikki’s world. I really think that Monette’s readers will find it easy to learn about the Cajun people as they read a suspenseful story with plenty of action. The ending ties things up a bit too neatly, but it is satisfying to have everyone sorted satisfactorily.

I think that this novel would be a fun read for anyone from middle-school upwards. It is a very good story in its own right. In addition, I could really see this being used in a classroom with the possibilities for many teaching moments.

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Resolved by J. Lilley

April 30, 2013 by Leave a Comment

RESOLVED
Resolved: Shalean Moon Book 6 by J. Lilley
Publisher: Lycaon Press
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (95 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

When Shaleans fight Shaleans nothing is simple. With the help of true friends can good overcome evil?

To save Shalea, so much depends on so few people, that nothing is certain. It’s not even clear just which side some of them support, and the Sept is getting weaker.

Brios and his friends must save their world, but time is running out. To make things worse, the identities of some people might just result in no resolution at all.

Can everything become clear and good triumph over evil before the next Shalean Moon, or is Shalea as they know it over?

Rach is worried about her friends who have been missing for ten days. She is still discovering her own powers as a shape-shifter and she needs the help and support of her friends, but where are they? This is the sixth novel in the Shalean Moon series and it is filled with suspense as the history of several characters is revealed.

I enjoyed this book and I found it easier to get into it because I had read the fifth in the series, Threatened. J. Lilley writes compelling, fast moving novels which are fun to read. Her characters are very believable, and I especially enjoyed the dynamics between Rach and her father and their relationships, in turn, with Rach’s friends. Lilley handles the entire adolescent maturing process realistically. We see Brios, a teenage boy, needing the comfort of his father’s arms. We see Rach worrying about how her father will react to various revelations. There are other examples of how these families handle their difficulties in ways that show clearly the strengths that are found in ties of both family and friends.

I do wish that I had more background and more details about the nature of the Sept and shape-shifting in general. I do not know if this was covered in earlier novels in the series, but if so, then summaries at the start of new novels in the series would be helpful. I have really enjoyed the two Shalean Moon books that I have read, but they do not stand alone. The epilogue of book 5, for instance, was expanded to become the prologue of book 6. Writing a series can be a great deal more complex than writing an individual novel. On the plus side, the author already has their characters and setting in place. But on the minus side, readers don’t always read the novels in order from the beginning. Some authors solve this by having each story in the series complete and able to be read without any knowledge of the earlier books. That is not the case here. These novels seem to be so closely related as to make a single larger novel, a novel that I for one would happily read. For this reason, I would really prefer that each book gave a brief synopsis of what has gone before. I was able to sort out most of the details, but a synopsis would have made for a richer, more informed read.

Lilley has once again crafted an excellent fast-paced story with dynamic characters set in a small village in Scotland. I am eager to learn more about this world of Shalea and all the people within it. I have been drawn into this world and I was pleased to discover that I really do care what happens to it.

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Killing Caroline by Christina Dotson

April 30, 2013 by Leave a Comment

CAROLINE
Killing Caroline by Christina Dotson
Publisher: Etopia Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (304 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Orchid

Nothing can come between two sisters. Except murder…

Althea James is the girl everyone loves to ignore. Even her parents act like she doesn’t exist, especially after her perfect sister, Caroline, arrives home from college for summer break. But the sibling rivalry Althea shares with Caroline goes much deeper than competing for their parents’ affection. Caroline represents everything Althea isn’t and never will be. Until one tragic night that threatens to change her life forever.

Suddenly, Althea is forced into the blinding spotlight of fame, but for all the wrong reasons. Her sister is dead, her boyfriend is in jail, and her parents have reported her missing. Now, caught in the middle of the media storm, Althea is the girl no one can stop talking about. But is her newfound fame worth the secret she so desperately wants to keep?

Althea is the younger sister. The one who is different. Her parents want her to be more like her older sister, Caroline. Her peers at school tease her to the point of retaliation, causing her to be suspended. Her life goes further downhill when sister Caroline comes home from college and resumes her goal of making Althea’s life unbearable.

The only bright spot in her life is her boyfriend Jacob who sees a beauty in Althea that no one else does – not even Althea. The return of Caroline and the arrival of Jacob’s brother Davis sets her life spinning. Unable to please anyone and frustrated by her parents believing Caroline’s lies, the final straw comes when her sister taunts her about why Jacob is dating Althea. She snaps and hits out at Caroline who falls to the floor – dead.

Althea is a strong character, despite her conviction she’s not worth anything. Her problems are similar to those of most teenagers but enhanced by her own dark nature. Davis has a similar type of personality although he tends to come across as a bit psychopathic. All the main characters are well defined and the author had me wondering how Althea would cover her
part in her sister’s murder.

At this point I found the story became confusing. However, that could be due to the fact I’m not a teenager. I’m sure that age group would read this with a different outlook on the story than I did. Despite this, I believe Althea’s character was an accurate portrayal of teenage angst and Ms Dotson has told the story with definite insight into teenage life.

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Daughter of the Earth and Sky by Kaitlin Bevis

April 29, 2013 by Leave a Comment

SKY
Daughter of the Earth and Sky by Kaitlin Bevis
Daughters of Zeus Book 2
Publisher: Musa Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (267 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Some vows can never be broken.

Persephone thought she could go back to her normal life after returning from the Underworld. She was wrong.

The goddess Aphrodite is born among the waves with more charm than she can control. Zeus is stalking Persephone and her loved ones, and Thanatos is no longer content with Persephone’s silence.

He wants her soul.

Persephone can’t tell anyone about Thanatos’ betrayal, and it drives a wedge between her and Hades. Her mother is still keeping secrets, and Melissa’s jealousy of Aphrodite threatens to tear their friendship apart.

Alone, Persephone turns to a human boy for comfort. But will their relationship put him in danger?

Sacrifices must be made, and Persephone must choose between her human life and her responsibilities as a goddess. If she doesn’t, she could lose them both.

But will either life be worth choosing once Zeus is through with her?

Daughter of the Earth and Sky is absolutely captivating!

I jumped at the chance to read Daughter of the Earth and Sky, the second book in Ms. Bevis’ Daughters of Zeus series. I loved the first book, Persephone, and I couldn’t wait to read more about Persephone and her adventures. Ms. Bevis completely blew me away with this latest offering. This book picks up not long after the events in the first book ended, so anyone wanting to enjoy this story should read Persephone first in order have a complete understanding of Persephone’s situation.

When Persephone found out that she was a goddess, her world was turned upside down. Now that the initial shock has worn off, Persephone is discovering that her status as a goddess changes every facet of her life, particularly her relationships. Persephone’s journey is very touching and I felt every growing pain she endured as I read. My heart ached as she and her best friend Melissa fought. I wiped away tears and she struggled to trust her mother, and I felt Persephone’s frustration as she tried to make Hades see a secret she was unfortunately bound to keep. The emotional rollercoaster was exhausting at times, but I’m so glad I was able to take that journey with Persephone. She is certainly a stronger young woman at the end of this book, and even though the dynamics of her relationships have changed, the bonds between Persephone and her friends and family are stronger than ever.

Persephone suffers a great deal physically and emotionally in this book, and yet she remains one of the toughest young adult heroines I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. Even though Persephone hasn’t grown into her full powers, she is never content to sit on the sidelines. She does everything she can to fight against Thanatos and Zeus. Even though Persephone is a goddess, she is far from perfect. She makes good and bad choices, especially where Aphrodite and the human boy, Joel are concerned. Her mistakes serve to make her an even more relatable and well rounded character.

I must say that Hades makes an interesting hero. In other paranormal or fantasy books, I’ve run across heroes that are supposed to be “dark,” but more often than not these heroes are not very scary. However, Hades really does have a dark side that is truly frightening. When I stop and think about some of the things he’s done to punish people who have hurt Persephone, I am chilled to the core. As dark as Hades seems, he is not a bad person and he loves Persephone very much. I really enjoy watching them grow as a couple.

I thought I had things figured out as I approached the end of Daughter of the Earth and Sky. However, Ms. Bevis threw in a twist that completely floored me. I knew something wasn’t quite right concerning a certain character, but I was definitely not prepared for the way the story ended. The conclusion of Daughter of the Earth and Sky is a cliff hanger. As soon as I finished reading, I literally jumped up and ran to my computer so I could find out when the next book will be out. I can’t wait to find out what happens next!

Daughter of the Earth and Sky is one of the best books I’ve read. Long after I finished reading, I continued to think about Persephone and wonder what sorts of challenges she will face in the future. I highly recommend Daughter of the Earth and Sky to anyone looking for a young adult tale of love and friendship.

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Threatened by J. Lilley

April 29, 2013 by Leave a Comment

THREATENED
Threatened by J. Lilley
Shalean Moon Book 5
Publisher: Lycaon Press
Genre: Contemporary Paranormal, YA
Length: Short Story (84 pages)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 3.0 stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

As friends unite and enemies surge, can Shalea be saved?

Shalea is in danger. The friends need to unite to face the unknown forces threatening to destroy them all. As old secrets are unveiled, and new alliances formed, will it be enough to save their Sept. Or is all going to be lost under the Shalean Moon?

Rach’s dad is furious after receiving her text message saying that she has stopped off at her friend Leira’s home without asking, saying that she will spend the night with her friend and go to school from her friend’s house in the morning. There is even a voicemail from Leira’s dad saying that Rach is fine and not to worry, but Tony is worried.

This is the fifth in J. Lilly’s Shalean Moon series, and it was a bit difficult to get into because I had not read the first four books. It took awhile to find out that the Shalean were magical shape shifters and that there were Rogues who were trying to steal Rach, a half-blooded Shalean. That being said, Lilley does provide just enough information to get into the story even if the reader hasn’t read the previous books. Obviously, for those who have read the earlier novels this is not a problem.

The plot is fast moving and has a number of unexpected twists and turns. The characters are well described and engaging, and I found myself turning the pages quickly, reading the novel in one sitting. Telepathic communication, supernatural abilities, and shape-shifting are all part of the life in the Scottish village where this novel takes place. Lilley does a great job of explaining how characters act in both their animal and their human forms, and her descriptions of the actual shifting are quite believable.

I do think that it would have been helpful though to have a brief summary of what has gone before for those who haven’t read the first four books. I feel that such a summary would make the reading experience even richer. Also, this book ends with a real cliffhanger, as I expect the earlier books did also, so it appears as if these novels are really parts of a larger whole. This book was only 84 pages long, so combining the series into one or two longer works would be a definite possibility.

This novel was an enjoyable read, and I now have Resolved, Book 6 in the series, ready to go. Hopefully I will find time to go back and pick up the first four books as the series is definitely exciting.

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