EARTHBOUND

A supernatural adventure blends a present-day manhunt with a 200-year-old romance.

At 18, Tavia realizes that after her miraculous escape from a plane crash that killed everyone onboard, including her parents, there is little chance of returning to normal, especially with the media overeager to capture her survival story. So after relocating to New Hampshire to escape the reporters and live with her aunt and uncle, Tavia is lying low. She spends most of her time shuttling among rehab, her therapist and the library—although at the library, she is more interested in Benson, a hot library clerk, than the best-sellers. As Tavia’s relationship with Benson heats up, she begins having visions of the distant past. Although she can’t quite place these visions, she is drawn to know more, especially about the mysterious character Quinn Avery, whom she can’t help falling for despite her love for Benson and the sense of foreboding that warns her to stay away. Pike builds a world that, once established, is captivating but that does not come clear until quite late, running the danger of alienating readers. Readers might also get tangled up in the text’s purple prose; while adding to the overall romance, it can be distracting.

A mostly promising start to a new series that offers history, romance and action to patient readers.