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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was okay. Interesting concept, and I enjoyed the mingling of the different magical creatures, especially with the added ‘sub categories’ for each group. There seemed to be a lot of lacking information with the plot points and back stories, which, in fairness, could be remedied in later books, but as a first book, I would’ve liked to have seen a bit more elaboration on what was going on and why. Not a book I’m likely to recommend to anyone, but I am intrigued enough by the story that I may read the next book and change my opinion then.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is book one of the Paranormal Outcasts series and the main character is seventeen year old Riley, who has sneaked out to the fairground with her best friend Lily, to celebrate her birthday. But her night is ruined when a psycho attacks her friend and she tries to help her, after she freezes. All that brings is a knife to her stomach and another to her heart, leaving her life fading to black. This however, doesn’t lead her to the afterlife, but into some sort of strange cave with a group of strange voices discussing if she is the one, the thirteenth? It seems she is deemed a possible thirteenth Outcast, the key to solving a prophecy amongst the paranormal communities. She is now part of a witch’s curse with another twelve very different paranormals, known as the Outcasts, none accepted in their community. They all live in a building called the Loft and she only gets to know a few of them, as most are away, all over the world, helping paranormals to solve problems. There are a few who don’t leave the building much, and who keep away from her, either too shy or don’t like strangers.
The main ones she meets are Jasper, a vampire who seems to hate her guts for some reason and is not a blood consumer (Bloodsworn), but a magic consumer in order to stay alive, known as a Forsworn. His right hand person is Ari, a cheetah shifter, who helps train her with some of the basic weapons they have in the training area. She insists that jasper train her with whatever magic she must have, to have been chosen. Another she meets is Collette, a half fae, who seems to object to her position as the supposed key to solve the prophecy, when some like her have been around for years as an Outcast. The only really friendly one is called Sienna a witch, who she runs into coming down the hall. She seems to like spending a lot of time in the Loft’s pool, wherever that is, as no one seems too bothered to show her around. She tries to go home to her parents, only to find out a week has already gone by, not a day as she thought. The only problem is that the magical curse which meant they had to almost die, to become an Outcast, also ensures that anyone they love can’t see her and she just passes through her mum and dad, as if she is a ghost!
The Conclave, formed from the largest paranormal groups, the Northern Pack of shifters and the Deathless vampires, and long ago, also the Horde, the race of the undead, wants to meet Riley. The leader of the strongest group, the shifter pack, is Lukas a huge wolf shifter who wants proof of her status and magic as an Outcast, but really has an agenda of his own and knows a lot more about her link to the prophecy than anyone else! Normally a new Outcast would never be called in front of the Conclave, only meeting them when business requires it. Now Riley must learn to control this magic within her and help the other Outcasts to solve the prophecy before she ends up dead for real and forever. She could have been sunk under the new existence she has been forced into, and the expectations on her shoulders, but she has pushed through it all and gets stuck into undergoing training and learning all she can. She may not make the best decisions on some actions and pulls some of the others into trouble with her, whilst Jasper tries to make his own arrangements for a solution. Lukas wants her for her power and magic, which he believes will unlock even more power, which he wants for himself, but Riley isn’t willing to follow anyone else, other than her fellow Outcasts. Lots of action, some epic battles and also a touch of romance, all gives the book a great pace and lots to keep your interest as the storyline progresses. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, which I have ready and waiting. I received an ARC copy of this book from the author and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
The main ones she meets are Jasper, a vampire who seems to hate her guts for some reason and is not a blood consumer (Bloodsworn), but a magic consumer in order to stay alive, known as a Forsworn. His right hand person is Ari, a cheetah shifter, who helps train her with some of the basic weapons they have in the training area. She insists that jasper train her with whatever magic she must have, to have been chosen. Another she meets is Collette, a half fae, who seems to object to her position as the supposed key to solve the prophecy, when some like her have been around for years as an Outcast. The only really friendly one is called Sienna a witch, who she runs into coming down the hall. She seems to like spending a lot of time in the Loft’s pool, wherever that is, as no one seems too bothered to show her around. She tries to go home to her parents, only to find out a week has already gone by, not a day as she thought. The only problem is that the magical curse which meant they had to almost die, to become an Outcast, also ensures that anyone they love can’t see her and she just passes through her mum and dad, as if she is a ghost!
The Conclave, formed from the largest paranormal groups, the Northern Pack of shifters and the Deathless vampires, and long ago, also the Horde, the race of the undead, wants to meet Riley. The leader of the strongest group, the shifter pack, is Lukas a huge wolf shifter who wants proof of her status and magic as an Outcast, but really has an agenda of his own and knows a lot more about her link to the prophecy than anyone else! Normally a new Outcast would never be called in front of the Conclave, only meeting them when business requires it. Now Riley must learn to control this magic within her and help the other Outcasts to solve the prophecy before she ends up dead for real and forever. She could have been sunk under the new existence she has been forced into, and the expectations on her shoulders, but she has pushed through it all and gets stuck into undergoing training and learning all she can. She may not make the best decisions on some actions and pulls some of the others into trouble with her, whilst Jasper tries to make his own arrangements for a solution. Lukas wants her for her power and magic, which he believes will unlock even more power, which he wants for himself, but Riley isn’t willing to follow anyone else, other than her fellow Outcasts. Lots of action, some epic battles and also a touch of romance, all gives the book a great pace and lots to keep your interest as the storyline progresses. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, which I have ready and waiting. I received an ARC copy of this book from the author and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Major plot points still hadn't been explained halfway through the book, too many different characters without introduction or explaination
Riley just wanted to celebrate her birthday with her best friend. Instead, she ended up in a world she never knew existed. While some elements of the book are predictable (who wouldn't fall for a bad boy vampire?), there are still plenty of twists, especially that twist at the end!! Compelling characters that kept calling me back to read--I could barely put the book down until I'd finished it. Can't wait for the next one!
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was so fun! Yes, the book has a lot of tropes, but there wasn't a moment I wasn't thoroughly enjoying learning about the different types of magical creatures and cracking up at our characters.
Riley is a a normal teenage girl who nearly dies, unlocks her magical powers, and gets dropped into the Loft and is told she is now an Outcast, a group of paranormals who have been stuck waiting to fulfill a prophecy and getting pushed around by the other groups of paranormals. Go give it a read!
Riley is a a normal teenage girl who nearly dies, unlocks her magical powers, and gets dropped into the Loft and is told she is now an Outcast, a group of paranormals who have been stuck waiting to fulfill a prophecy and getting pushed around by the other groups of paranormals. Go give it a read!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Fire/Fire injury