2.5 stars.

There was nothing really wrong with the story here... wait a minute, lemme back up here.

So, as I was reading this book, I saw first some formatting errors. There was a widow line, there was an ellipsis that looked like this:
stuff is being said..
. more stuff gets said
blah blah blah

Those things made the book look a little unprofessional. then I started noticing some grammatical errors. Mostly improper use a of commas and stuff like that. But these things kind of made me annoyed. So when I got to the point in the book where stuff just turned downright confusing and nonsensical, I was already somewhat annoyed.

Now, as I said, the story wasn't really bad... there was just this kind of sudden plot twist that was making NO sense. If I hadn't already been annoyed, I probably would've continued on. And I might one day pick up this book again and read it through. just not right now. You know what they say, so many books to read, only some much time in our lives.

Right now, I'm in my prime. My mind is sharp, my body needs more exercise then I give it, I'm just in school, don't really have a job. This is the point in my life, where I'll probably be getting the most reading done.

There are some books, like classics like Dracula, stuff like LoTR, Game of Thrones and such like, really THICK and DENSE books that I want to read someday. You know when I'm older and bored and boring. Books that I want to read in my lifetime, but not now, not while I'm in my reading prime. So, if I ever do pick this book up again, it will probably be in that era of my life.

I got to page 119 ( )

Intrinsical is the first book in the Yara Silva trilogy. I was initially drawn to this book by the striking cover and the intriguing premise. Intrinsical is a suspenseful and fast paced read and kept me up late reading. It is a scarier story than I had expected, and I realized it was not the best idea to read this late at night. There is a steady level of tension in the book and some unexpected twists to keep your interest. The writing flowed nicely with plenty of detail and vivid descriptions.

As the protagonist, Yara is a strong heroine. She starts out lacking confidence, but the character shows growth throughout the book as she learns to live with her paranormal gift. Yara’s relationship with Brent is believable and builds slowly. She and Cherie have a strong friendship and make a good team researching the Pendrell curse.

The ghost story was the most compelling for me due to the surprises and the intricate plot. There are high stakes involved and a scary villain to defeat that kept me turning the pages. This story should appeal to fans of ghost stories and romance, and one that came to mind while I was reading this was Shadowed Summer. In the sequel I would be interested to learn more about the origin of Yara’s Waker gift, and find out more about her grandmother.

Per Goodreads, the next book of the series is titled Indelible and should be published in September of this year. ( )

An original take on ghosts, the sweetest teen romance, a touch of mistery, believable characters that remain consistent throughout the book... really, what else do you need in a YA novel? ( )

I didn't know what to expect from Intrinsical. I just knew I wanted to read it and hoped that I would like it. While the beginning didn't grab me right away, I clearly remember the moment I became completely hooked. It was during the last two-thirds of the novel. It was filled with many surprises, and it was exactly what I was hoping for and more, exceeding any expectations I had! If I had to describe Intrinsical in one word it would definitely be impressive.

I admit Yara, the main character, had to grow on me just a bit. She had a temper, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but combined that with the fact that she would keep secrets about her abilities.....well, it did get a bit frustrating at times. And then she would sometimes go into dangerous situations without thinking things through. But you know what? Sometimes risks are necessary. It may have seemed stupid at first, but in the end, it was smart and really brave. If she didn't follow her instinct, she never would have been able to get out the situation she and Brent were stuck in. I'm proud of her for making her own decisions, and I ended up really liking her feisty character.

The relationship between Yara and Brent was one of the things I really loved about this book. Right away it was easy to see that they were interested in each other. It seemed like a typical romance was about to bloom between them, and I thought it was only a matter of time before they were kissing and became a couple. But I was wrong! They became friends first. They didn't jump into a romantic relationship because all that mattered to them was helping each other stay alive. That's what they focused on, and I loved that. There were also times where they became irritated and frustrated with each other like normal people. I'm so glad for that because it made their relationship seem more natural and believable.

As I mentioned, I really enjoyed the last two-thirds of the novel. I thought the paranormal aspects were very unique, and it was filled with some pretty heart-pounding moments, which really surprised me! At first I didn't like that important information wasn't revealed right away, but I really came to like how it was all done. When I finished I just knew it wouldn't have been nearly as interesting and exciting if the author decided to not reveal only bits and pieces throughout the story. Another thing I really liked about the last two-thirds of the novel were the secondary characters like Yara's friend Cherie and Brent's friend Steve. I thought they were just going to continue to stay in the background, but nope! They became very important to the story, and they were just as great as Yara and Brent. I hope to see more of them in the sequel!

With a unique ghost story and one of the few I can think of off the top of my head that has a romance that develops gradually and naturally, I have to say that Intrinsical is definitely one of the better young-adult paranormals I've read. It didn't end in a cliffhanger (in fact, I was completely satisfied with the ending), but it still left me wanting more and feeling very impressed. I so look forward to Indelible, the next book in 'The Yara Silva' trilogy, to find out what happens next with Yara and Brent and their friends! Be sure to check out these books! ( )

Book quote: I had the feeling that the past I was trying to put behind me wasn’t going to go quietly.

Books such as Instrinsical reinforce my love for paranormal stories because they strike a delicate balance between creeping me out and creating a suspended reality that I can easily come to believe. I definitely enjoyed this ghost story by Lani Woodland and the entire cast of characters she created were amazing! The writing was beautiful and the flow was flawless, especially the last two thirds of the book where I was so glued to the pages, I found myself reluctantly stumbling upon the final scenes.

About the book: Yara Silva has grown up believing that ghosts walk among us because her grandmother is an Acordera or Waker – someone who could communicate with ghosts. Yara has lived her entire life hoping that this ability would pass over her for fear of being called crazy, but all that changes when she and her best friend enroll in Pendrell Academy which has been known to have a paranormal history. Yara gets caught up in the fray when she saves Brent, a fellow classmate, from a ghost attack and suddenly becomes a target.

I enjoyed this book for many reasons, but the main one has to be Yara and Brent’s budding relationship. I loved how Woodland chose to slow the pace down for these two characters because in the end, their feelings for each other felt real and believable. I have to say that I predicted a couple of the twists, but the one that happened in the last third of the book, caught me so off guard that I gasped in pleasant disbelief! What a twist!

Also, I have to note the beautiful art cover! I loved how it ties in with one of the most important scenes in the book. That recurring scene was emotional for me because of my love for the ocean, lake, pool… anything related to water, and it reminds me of one of my biggest fears. ~shivers~

When I finished this book, I rated it 4 stars, but as I’ve had a couple of days to process the perfection of this story, I’ve bumped it to 4.5, so that’s what I’m going with. Overall, this book was everything I enjoy in a great ghost story, including a slow romance, emotionally ridden scenes, creepy backdrop and likeable characters. I will definitely be signing up for the rest of Yara Silva’s journey. Awesome read! Thank you Alexa for sharing your book with me. :D

Favorite Quote:
The subdued light and the flowered-perfumed air created a romantic setting as we walked the well-worn paths of Pendrell. Conversations unsaid and experiences shared followed us like shadows, but we didn’t speak. There was an undemanding easiness in our silence, but it also crackled with insistent possibilities. ( )