This book is just TOO GOOD! I've been wanting to give it 5 stars since 1/4 of the way through already, cause I knew it would be amazing. But I withheld my rating, as I didn't wanna jinx myself. I was hoping it would stay just as good, and it just kept on getting better. So 2/3 of the way through, I hit the 5 stars button. The verdict was really that simple!
I love urban paranormal fantasy. Highschool kids with special abilities, hiding in secret, while being stalked by the government / secret societies who wanted them for their power, what's not to love about this!?
It did start a little slow for the first couple dozen pages, and I did wonder where it was going. Russ was a kid who had sleeping disorders. He often takes late night walks, only to stumble upon some meteor shower. There, he becomes exposed to radiation and somehow becomes a superhuman. He didn't know about his powers at first, but there had been other kids who had also been exposed to it and are trying to seek him out and get him to join their group.
Mallory is awesome, but I'm still trying to figure her out. It's every guys dream to be approached by a pretty girl and then she asks Russ to join her secret group. When he was sick in bed one day, it was so sweet of her to crash into his house to check up on him. He woke up to her and everything. It's so easy to fall for a girl like that. But for most of the book, Russ had been trying to get with her, without much luck. I really wanted it to happen and I felt his frustration! Every time she plans something with him, there's always another member of the group tagging along, or something else happens and their supposed date is cut short. Just wish something would happen.
I love Russ' relationship with Nadia too. At first, she seemed really mysterious and we didn't know much about her. But after that encounter in the public when she was with her mother, they didn't really speak, however they shared some level of understanding and trust at that moment.
The thing about the Associates and how they control every sector in society, another book hinting the truth about the Illuminati. LOL. This stuff is very real and it's interesting how a lotta authors are putting it out there through their fictional works.
I simply love this series. I'm so glad I purchased it. I have no idea why it isn't popular or anything. Karen McQuestion deserves big time recognition! The theme, the story, the characters, just everything, they resonate with me so deeply. I just can't wait to get started on the 2nd book asap. And why are there only 3 books in the series? I don't want this story to end!
SPOILERS AHEAD!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!
More about Nadia. So she figured out she could astral project!? That was freaking awesome. She had been locked indoors by her controlling mother for so long, and hadn't seen the group for weeks, but she had been astral projecting to visit everybody regularly. Turns out Russ was the other person who she connected with intimately during her astral travels though. It was just sweet of Nadia to keep watch on Russ all the time. And she would often come into his room at night to chat with him. Who wouldn't want a special friend like that? :) Nadia was seriously growing on me, and I think Russ could end up with her. I don't know which girl I'm rooting for at this point. When they finally saw each other in person again, Russ and Nadia hugged. It was really cute!
So Russ initially had healing abilities, then he discovered he control manipulate electricity. Later he realised he could also do mind control, like Mallory could! It turns out he was the strongest, most powerful one of the group. The Associates gave him an incredible offer, that I admit, even I would struggle to reject! I wonder what's gonna happen in the next book.
I also wonder what secrets his sister, Carly, has been hiding. She knows too much and she probably did have powers in the past. We don't know that yet. And about Russ being a 2nd gen? Their parents might have had powers in the past too, or perhaps grandparents. Still so many mysteries.