Author: K.R. Conway
Publisher: Conway, 398 Pages (October 11th, 2013)
From: the Author
Format: eARC
Add to: Goodreads
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Synopsis: Luckless Eila is unknowingly the last of her kind: Rare. Gifted. Breakable. Stunning Raef is her kind's historic enemy: Soulless. Lethal. Lost. A legendary death 160 years before would set their lives to collide, forcing a beautiful killer to become a savior, a simple wallflower to become a warrior, and ruthless destiny to become a death sentence.
SUMMARY:
Eila Walker knows luck is not a friend, so she is downright shocked to inherit a million-dollar Cape Cod home. And yeah, her new town isn't perfect: the cheerleaders are heinous clones, the local undertow can kill ya, and her Great Grams was supposedly fried by lightning in the harbor square. Still, Eila is hopeful her luckless days are in the past . . . until history decides to repeat itself.
When drool-worthy Raef O’Reilly becomes her friendly, yet weirdly protective shadow, Eila thinks life is pretty darn perfect – until she is hauled beneath the waves by an unnatural undertow. Revealing coal-black eyes and iron-like strength as he rescues her, Raef can no longer hide what he is . . . or what she can do. Eila, last of her kind, can supposedly channel the power of human souls, while Raef is more adept at stealing them. Even worse, the legend about her ancestor isn't such a myth, since Eila’s grandmother was one kick-butt warrior until her lightning-like power backfired. A power that is written all over Eila's DNA.
Determined to stay one step ahead of a dangerous clan that is hunting her, Raef, along with three unlikely allies, will do all they can to protect her. But as hidden pieces of their brutal histories unravel, Eila begins to understand just what went down in the harbor square. She soon realizes that following in her grandmother’s fearless footsteps may be the only way to save those she loves . . . including Raef.
Review: 3.5 Stars - Undertow, the first title in the series with the same title by K.R. Conway is a unique and mysterious young adult title. With touches of a long ago past mixed in with the present, readers will learn that sometimes the past is a lot closer than you think.
Eila is the lead character of this title and she’s far from being on her own. She moves with Mae, her legal guardian across the country to a house that’s been in her family for year. Family she’s never known about and the history that comes with it. She’s taking a chance moving so far from all she knows to try to make a better life for her and Mae.
The house is located in Cape Cod. It’s a huge old house in a town where everyone knows everyone. Eila quickly makes friends and learns there’s more to her house, it’s history and herself then she ever thought possible. There are things out there that are more than human and it takes almost drowning in the ocean one night to learn just how different things really are. It’s one of those things that in the blink of an eye her whole life changes, however since it just did with a huge move it happens all over again for this character. I often wondered when she was going to get a break!
With all the news given about her ancestors Eila also learns that there’s evil and then there’s Evil and it’s up to her and her friends – MJ, Ana, Kian and her love interest Raef who all group together, making this one crazy version of the Scooby Gang if I’ve ever seen one - to fight and protect each other from the war that’s looming. That’s one thing that I loved about this one. This group is extremely diverse. There is good and evil, shape shifters and immortals to name a few. It’s not just this group that has such diversity it’s the whole story. There’s just so much and I was never overwhelmed in the slightest.
The only drawback for me was there was more than a couple of times that I felt the story jumped and I had missed something. During these times I was taken out of the story wondering how we ended up from A to F, skipping over those few, at least in my opinion important details. If something is confusing to me in a story more than once that it takes me out of the story then I have to question my star rating which is what happened here.
I’ve also found that when books work in flash backs to the long ago past and the present it can sometimes be a draw back in a story when it’s overly saturated, however I commend the author in how she handled this part as it all fit together well and made the story and characters that much more likable because I was able to see them more clearly. History was affecting them in the present which gave me a chance to see that these characters are smart because of the thought process that followed these revelations from the past.
The romance was sweet with a touch of steam but nothing too much that young adult readers should be concerned with. I liked that there’s a story/history with certain characters that was only partially addressed and I’m eager to see what happened the previous summer to find out how they ended up where they are now in this title and where we might find them in the continuation of this title in 2014.
All in all, I liked it! It wasn’t anything like I was expecting and I was pleasantly surprised with how unique the story and characters were. I recommend this to fans of YA and those who like the supernatural/paranormal. If those are things you like, give it a ready today! Enjoy!
About the Author:
I have been a journalist for 15 years and serve on the Board of Directors for the Cape Cod Writers Center. I also drive a 16-ton school bus because I am ENTIRELY NUTS.
In addition to working jobs that should come with a warning label , I hold a BA in Psychos (Forensic Psych), torment the tourists about Jaws, and occasionally jump from the Town Neck bridge in an attempt to reclaim my youth.
I live on Cape Cod with two smallish humans who apparently are my kids, my fishing- obsessed husband, two canines (adept at both flatulence and snoring), and a cage-defiant lovebird that sleeps in a miniature tent. Nope - that's not a type-o. The bird is quite the indoor camper.
Find K.R. Online:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
GIVEAWAY!!!
2 – Signed print copies of Undertow (US only)
1 – ebook of Undertow (INT)
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Many thanks!
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of this book before but I'm very interested now and really want a copy of my own!! :)
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