Review: Darkness Becomes Her (Gods & Monsters, #1) By: Kelly Keaton

Title: Darkness Becomes Her (Gods & Monsters, #1)
Author: Kelly Keaton
Publisher: Simon Pulse, 288 Pages (February 22nd 2011)
From: the Publisher & Author, Thank You!

Synopsis: Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.

Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.

She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.

Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

Review: 4.5 Stars - Author Kelly Keaton’s Darkness Becomes Her is exciting and captivating all rolled together making this another welcomed edition to the YA paranormal genre. Keaton’s writing and intriguing cast of characters were absorbing, leaving me much to love about this new series.

Ari is one tough cookie. She’s different, with her teal eyes and silver hair, but she doesn’t let that hold her back. She wants nothing more than to understand her past, who she is and where she came from. When she gets a message from her mother she’s on the fast track to some pretty crazy life changing events. To find the answers she’s so desperately in search of she has to travel into New 2. The rebuilt city that used to be New Orleans has changed in many ways and Ari is about to find out how deep those changes run and what New 2 and its residents mean to her in the past and her present.

A group of kids who befriend Ari are a cast of characters to say the least. The one that sticks out front and center to me is Violet. She’s a touch creepy, but mysterious and likeable all at the same time. And then there’s Sebastian. What can I say about the dark, - and yes, he’s also mysterious - guy who has no idea what’s in store for him when Ari enters his life. Without a doubt both characters – Ari and Sebastian – are high up on my list of favorites. The attraction of the two is pretty quick at the beginning, and while it might have been a touch too fast, it’s how it progresses throughout the book that makes them a couple I am looking forward to reading more.

There are many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. Some I had an idea of, but for the most part I was left surprised. Another part to the characters and the story that was surprising was the Greek mythology. The whole Gods and Monsters in the title comes blazing through creating the perfect “mash-up” for fans on the look out for something different in the paranormal YA genre.

With this being the first book I’ve read by Keaton it’ll be far from the last. I was intrigued, and highly entertained from beginning to end. Keaton’s has a wonderful imagination that comes out in the writing and her characters, making the pages come alive. I’m extremely looking forward to more from Keaton and I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in this series. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. Enjoy!

FTC Disclaimer: I did NOT pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this HONEST review.