Spectral by Shannon DuffyMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source: Received electronic copy as part of this blog tour
Genre: Paranormal YA (witches)
Age recommendation: 16 and older
Book Description from Goodreads: Convinced she’s a part of the witness protection program, sixteen-year-old Jewel Rose is shuffled around the globe with her family like a pack of traveling gypsies. After arriving at lucky home twenty-seven, she stumbles upon a mysterious boy with magical powers claiming to be her guardian . . . and warning of imminent danger. Despite the obvious sparks between them, Jewel discovers a relationship is forbidden, and the more she learns about dark, brooding Roman, she begins to question who she can even believe—the family who raised her, or the supposed sworn protector who claims they’ve been lying to her all along.
As she struggles to uncover who her family has really been running from, she is forced to hide her birthmark that reveals who she is. With new realities surfacing, unexplained powers appearing, and two tempting boys vying for her heart, Jewel battles to learn who she can trust in an ever growing sea of lies, hoping she’ll make it through her seventeenth birthday alive
My thoughts: Jewel and her family are in hiding. She has believed that they are running because her father is part of the witness protection program. Every couple of months, they relocate to a different city. She never is able to put down roots, make good friends, or become comfortable with her surroundings. She wishes more than anything to be a normal girl, able to participate in normal teenage activities.
Her family makes a move to a new location just before her seventeenth birthday. She finally makes a friend and has a couple of love interests when her life implodes. She finds that her family has been protecting her all of these years. There are many who would like her dead, she is a witch who has the potential of being the most powerful witch. To others she is a tool to increase their own power and influence. Some covens want her and others want to destroy her.
Can she live until her birthday? Who can she trust? These are the questions that she must learn the answers too.
This story is quick to catch your attention. Jewel really is a likable character. She cares deeply and is not fully able to comprehend the predicament that she finds herself in. She is genuinely confused, she is loyal, and she is kind.
There were a few moments in the middle where the story seemed to lag a bit for me. I also had a hard time with her feeling betrayed and quickly jumping to another guy. I guess it could be realistic. I just felt uncomfortable with that part of the story.
The story is well written, I found a few grammatical errors that were not seriously problematic.
This is a story with action, love triangle, friendship, revenge, jealousy. It's brimming with activities to pull the reader in. I must say that the butterfly metamorphosis is one of my favorite aspects of the story.
Shannon Duffy writes young adult and middle grade fiction. She grew up on the beautiful east coast of Canada and now lives in Ontario, Canada. She is the mom of one boy, Gabriel, her angel. She loves writing, reading, working out, soccer, and the sport of champions-shopping. She is the author of the young adult paranormal romance, SPECTRAL. Her upcoming middle grade fantasy novel, GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA is scheduled for a January 2013 release.
Where can you find Shannon?
Blog
Spectral on Goodreads
The book is only $2.99 on Amazon kindle!
Other links to purchase:
Nook - $4.95
Google- $3.79
Smashwords - $4.99
PDF - $4.95
Lisa, thanks for the review!
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