This moody series opener deftly runs on teen angst and hallucinogenic visuals.
In this YA debut, a depressed teen becomes the latest victim in a series of paranormal abductions.
Jason Kaiden, gymnast and honor student at Daleside’s Arden High, is miserable. He’s a “skeleton walking the halls,” barely speaking to his former best friend, Corey Jade, and feeling invisible to the girl of his dreams, Lauren. One day after leaving gymnastics early, he wanders toward the river between Daleside and Engleburry. He experiences a waking vision of a car crashing off the bridge above and into the river, followed by a pink scarf drifting on the water. At home, with his family away for the weekend, he reads online about a string of missing person cases in which power-drained electronics at the scenes in question have been baffling police. Later, researching hauntings, he stumbles on a case from Lake Mowcrie, just 20 minutes away. Though it happened in the 1960s, the circumstances bear a striking similarity to the vision he had earlier of the plummeting car. Then his computer shuts off. His dog, Caleb, barks at his bedroom door. In complete darkness, Jason sees by moonlight that “a figure is perched behind my bed, hunched over and looking down at me.” From here, Parker surrounds readers with an emotionally raw nightmare. Jason’s surreal captivity in a cavern by a hideous, ghostly girl named Kaily might constitute the whole plot of less ambitious novels. But Jason’s stint in the Rift is merely the starting point of further YA drama and paranormal action in this first installment of a series. The enigmatic Director Carlyle, whose shock troops rescue Jason, helps describe supernatural phenomena in saying, “Living thoughts, emotions, and energies...are quantifiable aspects of life itself. The world is nothing but a tide of emotions and living energies caught in a dynamic cycle of ebb and flow.” While Jason uses his newly acquired knack for glimpsing the future to impress Lauren, he still feels a deep connection to Kaily. The themes of loneliness, bullying, and suicide undergo satisfying examination, enhancing a dark, sleek narrative.
This moody series opener deftly runs on teen angst and hallucinogenic visuals.Pub Date: Jan. 11, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-5239-7804-5
Page Count: 278
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: Nov. 17, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2018
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Great for a middle- or high-school audience looking for some fun.
Comedy and suspense dominate this imaginative twist on the Dracula legend.
Harnissey, Dracula’s vampire nephew, and his companion, the ancient spider Morleaux, arrive at the old homestead for a visit when Dracula leaves for London. Harnissey, innocent, well-meaning and constantly bumbling, is attacked by the vampire sisters in residence, who intend to take over the castle while the Master is away. He and his intelligent spider sidekick eventually form an alliance with Dracula’s undead butler, a nicely drawn character always surrounded by a halo of buzzing flies, and a kingly, sinister cat, to do battle against a centuries-old vampire sorceress who’s arrived holding a grudge, along with her skeleton army. Bayne has a flair for droll comedy. His monstrous characters stand out clearly and distinctly as individuals, and the author’s clever focus on the other side of Bram Stoker’s novel helps fill out the story. The humorous undead protagonists, who are afraid of ghosts, add plenty of flavor to the story, as does the author’s incorporation of historical detail. The only flaw is Bayne’s tendency toward too-flippant dialogue, which is clearly designed to appeal to adolescents, but is inconsistent with the more sophisticated style used in the narration. Still, this is an entertaining romp that displays originality and inventiveness.
Great for a middle- or high-school audience looking for some fun. (Fiction. YA)Pub Date: Sept. 27, 2006
ISBN: 0-595-40242-9
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A fantasy romance novel that shows much promise as the kickoff to a series.
A princess must choose between her kingdom and her true love.
Princess Alera, heiress to the throne of Hytanica, has reached a crossroads in her life. She has agreed to marry to benefit her kingdom. But Alera is displeased with her father’s choice of suitor, the egocentric and arrogant Lord Steldor. Selected for his firm hand and military skill, Steldor can expect to wield much power over the inquisitive and spirited princess–Hytanic tradition favors the rule of males, so Alera must settle down and defer to her leading man. As preparations for marriage are made, the return of a long-lost child of Hytanica, Narian, from the rival Cokyri people sends shockwaves through the kingdom–and Alera’s heart. The Cokyri are renowned for their violent and bloodthirsty ways, and Narian is welcomed warily by the masses. Alera is quick to warm to him–he is mysterious and daring, fearless and capable. And Narian takes her seriously. Their clandestine relationship leads Alera to take dangerous risks, especially when the Cokyrians’ plans to reclaim Narian as their own come to light. The looming conflict jeopardizes their nascent love affair, as well as the whole of Hytanica. The princess finds herself not only pitted between two suitors but forced to decide between her royal obligations and her heart’s deepest desire. Debut novelist Kluver’s solid world-building skills flesh out this dynamic coming-of-age romance with strong detail and cultural development. Alera is fiery and likable and will find favor among young adult readers. Lively secondary characters, with the exception of a somewhat flat depiction of Steldor, and sharp dialogue, combined with richly imagined Hytanic legend and history, keep the pace of this epic moving until the last scene. However, the tale’s abrupt cliffhanger leaves both major story lines frustratingly stalled until the sequel.
A fantasy romance novel that shows much promise as the kickoff to a series.Pub Date: April 15, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-9802089-7-9
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Jan. 14, 2011
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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