Author: Karen Healey
Publication Date: April 1, 2010
Genre: YA Paranormal
Copy provided by: Traveling ARC Tours
Summary (via Goodreads):In less than a day I had been harassed, enchanted, shouted at, cried on, and clawed. I’d been cold, scared, dirty, exhausted, hungry, and miserable. And up until now, I’d been mildly impressed with my ability to cope.
At her boarding school in New Zealand, Ellie Spencer is like any ordinary teen: she hangs out with her best friend, Kevin; obsesses over her crush on a mysterious boy; and her biggest worry is her paper deadline. Then everything changes: In the foggy woods near the school, something ancient and deadly is waiting.
Karen Healey introduces a savvy and spirited heroine with a strong, fresh voice. Full of deliciously creepy details, this adventure is a deftly crafted story of Māori mythology, romance, betrayal, and war.
Why I read this: C'mon, look at that cover! It looks scary good! Also, it's a debut novel - BONUS! :)
Plot: Ellie bumps into her crush, a mysterious boy who is totally smoking hot, but an outcast at her school and sparks fly - but not the nice romantic kind. It wouldn't matter at all - she keeps forgetting about the encounter - but then her best guy friend Kevin becomes completely entranced by a beautiful college girl that shows up out of nowhere. Now, that may seem normal to you, but Kevin just admitted he pretty much is asexual, he feels nothing for either sex in the crush, sexual, or romantic sense. There's something strange about the girl and Ellie is determined to find out what it is. The only problem is, Ellie doesn't know how dangerous that can be.
This book is filled with Maori mythology, action driven plot-lines and a subtle romantic interest. I'm definitely looking forward to more from this author.
Characters:Ellie is a bit overweight, which is kind of nice to see now and then. Other than that, she's sort of anti-social and likes the sauce probably a little too much for someone her age. I found her a bit hard to like, but that is just me. On the other hand, the mysterious boy was so intriguing and I really really liked him, a lot. :-D
Relatability: It was hard to connect to the main character. For once, the other characters really outshone a main character, which was interesting. I liked learning about a new mythology and definitely hope there is more to come!
Cover Commentary: Love it. It's creepy yet lovely.
Rating: 4/5 Roses 
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