Cheree Smith

This was a fantastic book. Engaging story, right from the opening. Full on action and a brilliant lead character. So good to see a YA heroine who was strong and bad ass without turning into a sappy love stuck diva. Scar was awesome. The plot of the novel was excellent, especially for a paranormal school story. There wasn't a romantic sub plot, which made it even better, there was a potential love interest side but it didn't develop and over take the action side of the story. No insta-love. show more No sappiness. Can't wait for the next one in the series.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. show less

{my thoughts} – This book is a rather different take on the paranormal world of scary creatures. Scar is a teenage Dhampir. She is a mixed breed that is said to be an abomination of the creature world. There aren’t many Dhampirs alive that have not caused so much trouble they had to be put down.

One day Scar is with her friend Alex skipping school in modern day real world. And the next she is being held captive in a town called Haven that is created solely for the purpose of protecting show more and teaching those similar to her but not quite the same. Scar is a fighter and she gets into trouble, eventually she is accepted into the underground fight club at the school which gives her a more carefree way of channeling her anger.

This book is well written and it explores another side of the paranormal world that I haven’t run across often. It shows that not all vampires are created but that it is possible for some to be born and be known as a Dhampir or mixed breed. It helps to show you that even when you are dropped into a world that you know nothing about that it is possible to survive and make friends that will help to assist you on your journey. It also helps to show that just because your life has changed and been turned completely upside down it doesn’t mean that it is over. “Where there is a will, there is always a way.”

I really enjoyed reading this book and it was a nice beginning to the new year for me. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. show less

I felt so into the story, a different new world of danger at every turn. There's a lot of fight scenes in this book. A LOT. Personally, I didn't have a problem with that - I found it fast-paced and exciting, like watching an action movie. There's more action than substance, but as long as you're not expecting a deep, emotional story or a slushy romance, that's not a problem. Choose this book if you like vampires and you want entertainment. It's fast and frantic, with just a hint of a love show more interest and a lot of kick-ass moves.

Scarlet likes to fight, when her parents ban her from seeing her friend she sneaks out with her and ends up attacking her. Next thing she knows, she's in some school for supernaturals - witches, werewolves & vampires. Each race doesn't really get on with the other so there is some segregation - except when it comes to a fight club type scenario. They are randomly told where and when their fight will be and will be punished if they're late.

But Scarlet is a Dhampir (half human/half vampire) with no idea of who or what she is. Scar finds out that it's because Dhampir are notoriously unstable and despise by all, as abomination. Something that is of special concern to the staff when students begin to go missing. Scar is caught between learning to control her newly embraced abilities, attempting to fit in, and a search for answers that may very well lead to her own demise. show less