IN THE SHADOWS by Kiersten White and Jim Di Bartolo

From the remarkable imagination of acclaimed artist Jim Di Bartolo and the exquisite pen of bestselling author Kiersten White comes a spellbinding story of love, mystery, and dark conspiracy, told in an alternating narrative of words and pictures. 

Cora and Minnie are sisters living in a small, stifling town where strange and mysterious things occur. Their mother runs the local boarding house. Their father is gone. The woman up the hill may or may not be a witch. 

Thomas and Charles are brothers who’ve been exiled to the boarding house so Thomas can tame his ways and Charles can fight an illness that is killing him with increasing speed. Their family history is one of sorrow and guilt. They think they can escape from it . . . but they can’t.


This book was part prose and part graphic novel and kept me reading and reading. And trying to figure out how the pictures fit in with the story. Two short-ish stories in one, who can resist?

The book is about five teens who meet under unusual circumstances and soon find themselves in trouble. There is action and danger and evil and, to balance it all, romance.

The graphics tell another side story possibly involving one of the characters or a parent of on of the characters. The ending of the pictures gives an ah-ha moment to the story and is a good twist.

I don't remember any swearing. I think there is one kiss. Overall, a clean read that is intriguing because of the interaction of the graphic novel.

Endlessly by Kiersten White

Evie's paranormal past keeps coming back to haunt her. A new director at the International Paranormal Containment Agency wants to drag her back to headquarters. The Dark Faerie Queen is torturing humans in her poisonous realm. And supernatural creatures keep insisting that Evie is the only one who can save them from a mysterious, perilous fate.

The clock is ticking on the entire paranormal world. And its fate rests solely in Evie's hands.

So much for normal.

First line:
"So here's the thing about dragons: I know absolutely nothing whatsoever about them."

I bleeping loved this book. I enjoyed the sassiness, sarcasm and bravery of Evie.
I also enjoyed the clean read of the series. No swearing, innuendos, violence, crassness or potty humor.
Evie wants to be a normal teen girl. But the paranormal and human world are in danger. Evie pretends it doesn't affect her. As long as Lend, her boyfriend, is by her side, nothing affects her. So what happens when Lend is cursed? Evie must find a cure and to do that she has to set a few things straight in the cosmic world.
Some of Evie's chooses from the other two books are back as consequences. You can't upset the balance of the world without feeling/seeing/hearing the consequences. Evie mourns her choices and goes ahead with her plans and tries to make good decisions.
There are a few twists in this book! Enemies are allies, allies seem to have deserted the fight and the love comes from a different direction.
Good, clean, quick read! 


Rating: PG 13
S: No
L: No
V: No

Liked:
Evie
Reth
Jack
Lend falling asleep every time Evie came in the room

Disliked:
Everything hinges on Evie

4 1/2 STARS

Supernaturally by Kiersten White

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.
But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.
So much for normal. 

Good, clean, paranormal read. Thank you, Ms. White for something new and different and clean.
Love: Evie thought normal included a locker! I enjoyed how she handled her assignments and helped the paranormals; new character, Jack.
Didn't love: Evie lying; Boyfriend turning PMS-y; that I have to wait for another book!


Rated: PG
V: No
L: Bleeping no
S: No


25% test (p. 84):
"But the fence would still be there, and I cold always find my way back over. Right?"
"Two conditions," I said, practically feeling her relief and excitement seeping through the connection. "One: I am not Level Seven or anything in any system. I am not IPCA. If I don't like a mission, I don't do it. It's totally my call."
"Done. And the second?"
"I want my credit card back." Clearly the unknown I was about to venture into would require a new wardrobe.
"Very well. As long as you reserve it for emergencies."
"Seriously, Raquel, when did you get so funny?"
She paused. "Evie, I'm--I'm very pleased you'll be helping us again."
"I missed you, too." I meant to be lighthearted, but was surprised by an uncomfortable itch in my throat and pricking in my eyes. Good heavens, I was not about to cry on a call with Raquel. After all, my seventeenth birthday was coming up, I was living on my own, independent, strong. I was doing this because I wanted to --not because I missed her. That would be stupid.
After a very suspicious throat clearing, Raquel's voice resumed its brisk, business tone. "Excellent. I'll send jack for you tonight around eight."
"Whoa, tonight? So soon?"
"I wasn't joking when I said we needed help. Lately, it seems as though everything that can go wrong does. And..."