S. H. Everly

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK

Katrina is upset about moving back to Santa Cruz where she absolutely her aunt lived when she was young, mainly because she has to leave behind her best friend Brandon. But as she starts her life again in the new place, Katrina meets new friends, including people that knew her mother. As her adventures continue, Katrina learns things about her parents and herself that will change her life.

I usually don't read YA Fantasy stories but I did enjoy this coming of age story. Everly does a really nice job creating characters and a storyline that draws readers into the story. For me it was kind of slow for the first part of the book, but it does get better. There are many twists and turns to the story that will have you guessing throughout. There is a small element of faith throughout the story as well as lots of fantasy going on throughout the story. All in all this is a good read, a good coming of age fantasy that any teen girl would love to read. But really, anyone will enjoy this read, especially if you enjoy a good clean fantasy. This one is getting Four Stars from me. I encourage you to check out Iridescent by S. H. Everly.… (meer)

Refreshing as a splash of water, this read carries wholesome values while spinning an intriguing tale of magic, mystery, romance, family and friends.

Katrina is about to embark on her senior year. She's happy living in Chicago and spending most of her time with her marine biologist aunt in the aquarium along with her best friend, Brandon. When her aunt suddenly moves them to Santa Cruz, Katrina is devastated...and she wonders if she'll ever see Brandon again. But she doesn't have long to ponder on the issue as new friends and tons of secrets come in. Add strange occurrences, the mystery of her parents' deaths, and a strange map left behind by her mother, and Katrina's life is about to become anything but normal.

This is such a fun read. Katrina is a girl with energy and heart, who tries her best to deal with each situation no matter how difficult they are. Secrets abound just as she's trying to reorganize her life, and it's clear that danger lurks not far away. The family and friendship side is inspirational, even when doubts settle in. Some things are easy to guess; others are hard to see coming. In any case, it's a fun mix of fantasy, faith, and coming of age.

It's a quick read despite its longer length, and the tale does keep the reader in the pages. There are several unexpected plot turns, more than a few interesting characters, and even the romance isn't easy but allows a nice sense of tension...if it is the true romance, that is. This is the beginning of a series and it lays the foundation for the upcoming books well.

While the pacing in this one stays quick the whole way through, there were moments it seemed to suddenly surge forward before breaking again. I found myself a bit confused more than once and felt like things jumped forward without explanation, leaving a few logic holes. But it still wasn't enough to kill the rest of the read. Fans of magic, faith, and mystery are sure to enjoy this one.… (meer)