White Raven (Raven #1) by J.L. Weil (2015)
-NetGalley Review-
YA Fiction | Paranormal Romance
Blurb:
“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.”
–Goodreads
Publication Date: March 27, 2015
pooled ink Review:
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy to review!
Well hot diggity, what a quick read that was! A romance definitely but dang. I blew through this book in mere hours, which was a pleasant surprise considering I didn’t look up much about this book before taking the leap. Is this book Tolkien or Shakespeare? No, but it never claimed to be and that doesn’t mean it wasn’t captivating in its own way.
First thoughts: Daaaaang, this girl has got attitude for days. And oh ho ho I was right! From start to finish Piper is armed and trigger-happy with her quips and bullets of sarcasm. No one is exempt from her rebellious tongue. Also, I feel like she used every idiom in America. She had those whipping out of her mouth or thoughts every other minute.
Zane is your typical dark, mysterious, secretive, dangerous, six-foot extremely handsome forbidden fruit that most romances love to cast in their tales…and yeah, I admit I wasn’t complaining too hard about it either. But Piper’s pathetic drooling over Zane was embarrassing and boy did her blushing cheeks know it. I was 100% not a fan of those truly desperate and pathetic moments of pure ogling. To be fair I suppose it wasn’t all her fault (hint hint: literal soul mates) and she at least completely agreed with me that she needed to gain better control over herself, but otherwise I was definitely hardcore judging her haha
Something about the beginning of this book made me think a bit of Nicholas Sparks’ book The Last Song. You know, with an angsty, rebellious teenage girl and her little brother being sent from the big city to the quaint town on the coast and ugh her life just sucks but wait is that a super totally omg hot guy? But yeah…other than that…Oh! Also it made me think a tiny bit of Twilight as well with the whole forbidden love and brooding hot guy and drooling girl thing. But hey, if the formula still works then keep writing it, right?
I wasn’t sure if I’d like this book or not but I decided to give it a try. As I began reading it I still wasn’t sure if I was really going to like it or not…and yet here we are a few hours later with me sitting in a comfy chair completely absorbed by the story I just binge-read and wishing I had the sequel.
The paranormal aspects of the story were interesting but rather underdeveloped. I’m still a bit on the fence about it all but it seems like I’ll know more (both about the reapers and how I feel about them) if/when I continue following Piper’s story. – Side note: When they mention the weird eye-darkening thing I sort of just pictured the weird eye thing that happens to the vampires in Vampire Diaries. – But yeah, this book is definitely a romance and as the love-hate tension between Piper and Zane took the front seat of this book the whole paranormal world sort of just became an interesting stage to set their love upon. I’m definitely interested in learning more about it.
In a moment of blunt honesty I’ll say that this book isn’t Divergent or anything so politically complex in its ambitions (and please tell me Zane and Piper will be together and not die. Please). But who cares? If you’re looking for a delicious paranormal romance to dissolve into then this book would be a good choice.
White Raven unravels and twists a world full of Death and romance as Piper discovers the secrets her mother died trying to bury. A hierarchy is being challenged, forbidden love tears at young hearts, and powers are suddenly awakening in full force. Dripping with sarcasm, burning with passion, and tense with an oncoming battle White Raven invites you innocently upon its shores just to trap you inside its pages holding you yearning for the conclusion.
Cheers.
Purchase here: White Raven
Meet J.L. Weil!
Award-winning and Bestselling author J.L. Weil 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.
Most of her books are for ages 16+. They usually have what she considers the good stuff – sexual content (oh yeah) and swearing. You have been warned 😉
An admitted addict to Love Pink clothes, raspberry mochas from Starbucks, (yum!) and Jensen Ackles (double yum!). She loves gushing about books and Supernatural with her readers.
-Goodreads
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