Actual Rating 2.5

I've had this book for a while now on my kindle, I honestly have no idea when I got it, how I got it, or if anyone gave it to me. I decided to read it though because that is the goal of #beatthebacklist. Reading this book took a lot out of me. Honestly, while I did like the main character everyone around him annoyed me. This is honestly because of the whole 'Everyone knows vital information but are going to lie and not share until the last minute but you still need to trust me' trope that most YA authors seem to be using. I know why authors use it because it's the easiest way to keep readers in the dark and have a huge twist at the end. I will admit I liked the twist, but I saw it coming a mile away which made the secrets even more annoying.

I don't mind love triangles if done right then it can really boost the story, but what happens if I like neither of the female love interests? One of them had serious mood swings, it was like riding a weird roller coaster that you can see the tracks of. Her backstory is pretty sad, and I would have sympathized with her had Marks not tried so hard to make her just the complete opposite of the other love interest, who was just so needy and bland that I honestly cannot remember her name (Jessica, Rebecca something that ended in A?).

The plot was pretty interesting despite all these flaws though. Marks did her research on Demon and Angel lore which made some parts really interesting. The beginning of the book was really interesting and if she had expanded upon Aidan's homelessness, his loneliness and his need to protect his sister without those group of paranormal investigators I may have liked the book more. This is a trilogy but I am extremely hesitant to continue. I'll have to think about it more. ( )

Fails

The story itself seems promising, but the writing isn't up to it. As is common, drama takes precedence over plot about two thirds of the way into the book. ( )

The first couple of pages definitely had my interest. It was a good start that didn't follow through, unfortunately. I spent a good deal of the book not liking Ava or Rebecca. Even though the writing was good and the characters were believable, I didn't really get into the story. They set it up for a sequel and I have zero desire to read it. I don't care what happens to Ava or the rest of them. ( )

Actual Rating 2.5

I've had this book for a while now on my kindle, I honestly have no idea when I got it, how I got it, or if anyone gave it to me. I decided to read it though because that is the goal of #beatthebacklist. Reading this book took a lot out of me. Honestly, while I did like the main character everyone around him annoyed me. This is honestly because of the whole 'Everyone knows vital information but are going to lie and not share until the last minute but you still need to trust me' trope that most YA authors seem to be using. I know why authors use it because it's the easiest way to keep readers in the dark and have a huge twist at the end. I will admit I liked the twist, but I saw it coming a mile away which made the secrets even more annoying.

I don't mind love triangles if done right then it can really boost the story, but what happens if I like neither of the female love interests? One of them had serious mood swings, it was like riding a weird roller coaster that you can see the tracks of. Her backstory is pretty sad, and I would have sympathized with her had Marks not tried so hard to make her just the complete opposite of the other love interest, who was just so needy and bland that I honestly cannot remember her name (Jessica, Rebecca something that ended in A?).

The plot was pretty interesting despite all these flaws though. Marks did her research on Demon and Angel lore which made some parts really interesting. The beginning of the book was really interesting and if she had expanded upon Aidan's homelessness, his loneliness and his need to protect his sister without those group of paranormal investigators I may have liked the book more. This is a trilogy but I am extremely hesitant to continue. I'll have to think about it more. ( )

Aidan O'Linn's childhood was far from what anyone would call typical. And when a demon killed his mother and marked his sister, Ava, with Darkness before his own eyes, it hit new extremes. Now he must protect his sister from the demons, who return every three years to try to finish what they started. But Aidan isn't completely helpless in this endeavor. He has powers of his own, which allow him to see demons and try to fight them off before they can get to him. But lately he's experiencing changes to those powers, and it's clear things will only get more dangerous for him as a result. Aidan connects with Sid, the leader of a local paranormal investigation group, who has gathered a group of young people who also have powers, though each a bit different from Aidan's. Aidan is hopeful that Sid can help him to understand his powers and keep his sister safe, but first Aidan needs to figure out if he can trust Sid. And trust is something that doesn't come easy for Aidan at all. But should he have reason to trust Sid in the first place? And what about the others living in the house? With the demons coming for Ava again soon, Aidan doesn't have much time to figure everything out.

I found myself pleasantly surprised by this book. When I read the blurb, I was intrigued enough to pick it up, but I didn't expect to be drawn into this world as quickly as I was. The urban fantasy world (this is set in Los Angeles) that the author has created is very rich and dynamic, and the characters are well-developed, complex, and interesting. The plot has some unexpected twists, but it flows extremely well without a single scene appearing out of place. The way the author reveals the history is also quite fascinating, as it ties together comments that come up early in the book and follow the characters throughout.

This is the start of a series, and it's definitely a solid one. I have to say I am personally looking forward to picking up the next installment when it releases in February. ( )