Monday, November 19, 2012

#Review : Cursed by @JLArmentrout #YA #Paranormal




YA Paranormal


Synopsis:

Dying sucks-- and high school senior Ember McWilliams knows firsthand. After a fatal car accident, her gifted little sister brought her back. Now anything Ember touches dies. And that, well, really blows.

Ember operates on a no-touch policy with all living things--including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse is a gift, she thinks he's a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she's more than interested. There's just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden's adopted father, a man she's sure has sinister reasons for collecting children whose abilities even weird her out. 

However, she's willing to do anything to hold her sister's hand again. And hell, she'd also like to be able to kiss Hayden. Who wouldn't? But when Ember learns the accident that turned her into a freak may not have been an accident at all, she's not sure who to trust. Someone wanted her dead, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she is to losing not only her heart, but her life. For real this time.






I’m a huge JLA fan, so I was thrilled to get my paws on this new stand alone novel. As always I was sucked into the story, loved the voice, couldn’t wait to found out what the heck & how the heck.

Then came a MAJOR issue for me. Believability. Big surprise, right?? Hey, it happens though. But this one still bugs the hell outta me an entire week after reading the book.

Em, the MC, was killed in a car accident & brought back to life by her gifted, younger sister, Olivia. That in turn makes Em gifted, but in the opposite way - the touch of her flesh kills. Period.

So what happened right after her sister brought her back? She was in the hospital - being touched by dozens of people / nurses / doctors etc. Her ‘kill with a touch’ power didn’t manifest itself until she arrived home and hugged a cat. Awfully convenient.

Too convenient. 

I mean seriously. There’s no explanation (that I could find after reading that section a few times) of WHY the powers didn’t kick in ‘til she got home. For me, this was an author easy-out. Required no extra muse inspiration. Just a quickie fix for the sake of moving the story forward.

I have to honestly say that if this weren’t a JLA book it doubtless would have received a 2 star rating. She’s got such a unique voice and a way with words that I DID enjoy this book overall. Would I recommend it? Sure. Especially if you’re already a JLA fan and aren’t bothered by believability / convenient issues like I am.

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