Different than I expected - more about the people than the cats - and not without flaws, but compulsively readable! I found myself standing in the kitchen at midnight reading it because I couldn't put it down. ( )

Reviewed by Breia "The Brain" Brickey for TeensReadToo.com

CURIOSITY KILLS, the first book in THE TURNING series, is an island in a sea of paranormal books. One that pulls you in from the beginning and holds tight throughout the story.

Mary is sixteen years old and not totally human, as you can probably figure out from the title. Mary is shifting into a cat.

First the purring starts, and later she sprouts orange fur on her legs. There are those who understand what she is going through, but who should she trust? The main person that Mary relies on is Nick, a hunky classmate who is more than he seems. Then there are others she meets in her neighborhood, as well as her adopted sister.

Changing into a cat is actually the least of her worries as she strives to navigate this new world that is as weird as it is exciting.

My daughter and I both read this one and we enjoyed it very much. We are definitely looking forward to the next in this series. I rate this book 4 Stars, mainly because it raises as many questions as it answers. Also, I truly wish that the book had been longer so that we could have had more time to get to know all of the characters.

Realistic characterization, an intriguing storyline, and dialogue that could be found in any group of teens, this book is definitely one to add to your shelves. ( )

excerpt from detailed review here:
http://angeltyuan.blogspot.com/2010/10/review-what-curiosity-kills-by-helen.html

With a surreal and overly passive narrator, this rather short beginning to The Turning series is saved by the monumentally more interesting, and diverse, side characters, as well as the pleasantly unexpected developments in its second half. The uniqueness of some of the characters makes up for the lack of character development, and the "weird" writing style can grow on you, but only in this limited 200-page dose. Not really worth the hardcover price, but do give it a chance, it's a nice surreal detour, and it's not that long. ( )

The Turning was a very quick read — at just over 200 pages I whipped through this bad boy like a cat slurps down a bowl of milk.

The simple, interesting plot does away with all the convoluted back-story that others in the paranormal genre seem to feel is necessary in abundance. Don’t get me wrong, I could have done with a bit more, but it likely wouldn’t have influenced how I ultimately felt about the book. Well, that is unless it was 100 pages worth of old world stuff droning on and on. That likely would have turned me off, but I digress. Interestingly enough, I suspect given where this story ended (and the final revelation as to where Mary stands in the hierarchy of shapeshifting) we’ll have the opportunity to delve a bit deeper into that history in the next book.

What did we have? We had a good group of central characters, some high school antics, realization of paranormal ability and an ascension to power. Seems super fun right? Right, it was!

As far as characters go there was an interesting mix. We have Mary, the main character, a timid girl who just wants to blend in. Her wise cracking sister Octavia, a super-student who is most often the center of attention. A set of twins with an eccentric mother who provide the sisters an excellent escape. And finally, Nick and Yoon the boys who know all about Mary’s abilities. It was through these characters that we got to experience Helen Ellis’ fabulous sense of humor. Her sarcastic wit comes through most notably through Octavia’s words and deeds. I had many laugh out loud moments at the hands of Octavia’s dialogue that definitely made the story all that more enjoyable.

So what about the paranormal elements? Oh, they were there for sure. But unlike some I’ve read within the genre it wasn’t heavy handed. In fact, I’d say the story was more about the idea of the turning than the actual act itself. Don’t get me wrong, we got the latter too but seeing it happen over and over again wasn’t the end all be all of what Ellis was trying to get across. I really appreciated that. I wanted to take the journey with Mary and I didn’t need the repetition of seeing her turn fifty times in two days to do it.

The Turning is an excellent foray into the paranormal genre for those who may be a bit wary of it. It’s also appropriate for your middle grader. It’s highly entertaining, with some good laughs to liven up the more serious moments. ( )

It's funny really. I had every reason to say no when I was approached to read The Turning: What Curiosity Killed. I nearly did. I am not even sure why I said yes exactly. Unlike so many bloggers out there, I am not smitten with young adult novels in general. Take Peanut Buster Parfaits. I like them, but only now and then. It's the same with Young Adult fiction. Then there is the little fact that people assume that because I go by the name Literary Feline that I love to read about cats. Sometimes I do. I tend to be picky in that regard though. Animal books and I don't always get along. I have a thing for shape shifters though and it isn't too often I come across a book about shape shifting cats. So, I was more than curious.

I set aside an afternoon to read this book as part of my recent Reading Day adventure, and it made for the perfect light reading, especially after a heavier book that left me feeling a little sad. Helen Ellis has a great sense of humor that shines through in her writing. I really liked the characters, Mary and her sister Octavia in particular.

Both Mary and Octavia were once foster children and have been adopted by a loving and well-to-do family. They attend an elite private school where there is the requisite bully (Ling Ling) and the handsome crush (Nick Martin). Life couldn't get any better for Mary. She has everything she could ever hope for. That is until she begins to notice little changes: a patch of orange fur here and a sudden and undeniable craving for milk, among them. Mary is scared and embarrassed at the changes coming over her. The turning throws her into an entirely new sub-world, one of a feud between cats, the Strays and the Domestics. Not only is Mary told she must choose sides, but she also faces the threat of losing the life she's come to love.

Events unfold quickly in The Turning: What Curiosity Kills. And while I think that the author could have developed certain aspects of the story more fully, I never felt it suffered because she did not. Besides, she has to save something for future books, right? Overall, this was a fun and entertaining read. Mary is a likable character, thoughtful and kindhearted. She has the usual insecurities of a girl her age, and is a character most readers will be able to relate to. Her adopted sister Octavia is probably my favorite character. She doesn't think twice about standing up to the biggest bully in the school, but she is deathly afraid of cats, which makes things even more interesting and tests the sisters' bond. Okay, and so my affection for Octavia might have a little something to do with her love for books too, the hours she spends at the library book sale. Just saying.

I do not often complain about an ending of a book, but I had a problem with the ending of this one. It had more to do with my own personal bias, however, than quality or fit. The ending made total sense in the scheme of things. It's just, well . . . I don't want to say. Spoilers, you know. While sometimes an ending can ruin a book for me, it did not in this case. Far from it. The book has so much going for it, and I really did enjoy reading it. I just wish I didn't have to wait so long for the second book in the series! ( )