The Book Junkie

This series is considered YA but it isn't in any way for the faint of heart. It is dark, often depressing, and quite violent but it is also almost impossible to put down. It has an element of fantasy to it in that the characters discover that they have "powers" but instead of glamorizing those powers, the author moves in a different direction. Mara, the main character, can hurt or kill people just by thinking about their death. Noah, her boyfriend, can heal. They are light and shadow. All of the main characters in the book have mental issues and much of the story once they realize their abilities, consists of them trying to survive being victims of experimentation and figure out how they became what they are.

Mara's character was unforgettable. She showed determination when most would have given up or given in. Is her story a happy one? Not really, but there was always that small sliver of hope that she would find what she was looking for and have her chance at a semi-normal future. The book is beautifully written and most of my questions from the second story were answered. There is quite a bit of blood and violence in this book as compared to the others and there were some parts that were downright depressing when you put yourself in the character's shoes. I sometimes wondered how a few of the characters would be able to live with themselves after some of the horrible things that took place. My only complaint was that Noah wasn't present until about the last third of the book and then it seemed a bit rushed. The quick, back and forth point of view once Mara and Noah were finally together wasn't a good choice in my opinion but it was a small detail as compared to the rest of the story, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

If you are looking for a light paranormal romance, this is not the book for you. However, if you don't mind a more complex but intriguing story line that has a dark edge to it, this is a great trilogy with a decent wrap up that won't leave you disappointed.