Book Review: White Raven

Genre: YA Fantasy

Synopsis (from Goodreads): DREADFUL LIES. UNEXPECTED LOVE. IMPOSSIBLE TRUTH. It only took one heartbeat to change my life—one chilling phone call in the middle of the night. And then, as if my life didn’t already suck, my dad sends my brother and me to some idyllic island for the summer to live with a grandma we never met. WTH. Naturally, I rebel. In the end, I find myself shipped off to Raven Hallow…and bored to tears. Until I get an eyeful of the mind-bendingly gorgeous Zane Hunter. The dark-hair cutie makes my pulse go bonkers, and I think, maybe this might not be so bad after all. Six feet of swoon inducing looks, with a hint of Celtic charm in his voice, he was the type of guy that left a string of broken hearts in his wake. And I had all the heartbreak I could handle. Yet, there is something uncanny, almost supernatural about Zane, and it’s not just his devastating smirk. No matter how much distance I put between us, Raven Hallow isn’t big enough, and the sparking tension between is undeniable. Of course, the one person I want to avoid becomes my salvation. My past comes back to terrorize me. Someone wants me dead, and the closer I get to the truth, the more I realize my whole life is a lie. I am no longer sure what is more frightening—the attempts on my life or the guy whose heart and soul are synchronized with mine

Plot (4 stars): So.... hmmm... where to start. I loved the cover of this book. So beautiful. As I began reading, I was pulled in immediately. Angsty teen forced to live with her long lost grandma after her mother was murdered. Weird paranormal activity going on in new town. It sounds like most YA paranormal romance. I'll admit, I'm a fan so I was excited. Heroine, Piper, meets the Hero, Zane, of the story and there's an instant attraction. Yes, all of this sounds familiar. But then, the reader finds out what's really going on and it's so original that I get super duper excited!! It's not vampires and werewolves like so many others! Don't get me wrong, I love a good vampire or werewolf story. It's just refreshing for someone to have an original paranormal creature.

Characters (3 stars): So, story sounds pretty awesome. I mean, super awesome. But, there were some cons to this story as well. The angsty teenage thing never. goes. away. She's like that through the entire story. She and Zane are so mean to each other. I would even say verbally abusive. It's rough. So many times I was thinking, "This would just be so much easier if you'd confide in someone else! ANYONE ELSE!!" However, the character in the book wouldn't listen to me. The story moved a bit slowly. I didn't say what the paranormal thing is because the author doesn't introduce the reader to it until half way through the book. That's when things pick up a bit.

Writing (3 stars): This book has so much potential and originality, but I had a hard time loving the main characters. Also, there were a lot of typos in it. I wanted to go through with a red pen. I was able to figure out what most of them were, but I had to stop a lot and read through a sentence to figure out what a word was supposed to be.

Let me add that even though I had a hard time with the characters, I may go on and read the other books. I haven't decided yet. I kind of want to know what happens next. Not sure though. It really was an intriguing story that kept me absorbed in the book.

Rating: *** Three Stars

USA TODAY Bestselling author J.L. Weil lives in Illinois where she writes Teen & New Adult Paranormal Romances about spunky, smart mouth girls who always wind up in dire situations. For every sassy girl, there is an equally mouthwatering, overprotective guy. Of course, there is lots of kissing. And stuff. An admitted addict to Love Pink clothes, raspberry mochas from Starbucks, and Jensen Ackles. She loves gushing about books and Supernatural with her readers. She is the author of the International Bestselling Raven & Divisa series. www.jlweil.com