Review: A solid start to a new YA paranormal series!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 10, 2013
Imagine that you are quietly going about your business, doing what you do and living your life, and then one day, a perky angel of Death shows up and announces you are not who you always thought you were. That you have a mission, a unique and special purpose, and that if you don't fulfill it, lives could be ruined forever.No pressure or anything, lol.That's what happens to Summer Davis. Her comfortable life - hanging with her friends, spending time with her boyfriend, and participating on the school dance squad - is turned upside down the moment she discovers she is a Cipher who is tasked with helping others make peace with their loved ones before they die. At first, she is incredulous and doesn't take it seriously, because who would, right? I mean, it's crazy! But when she meets her assignment, Ashlyn Moore, she can't ignore her calling anymore. She simply has to help.Cipher was a bit of a slow starter for me. I didn't immediately connect with Summer, but I stuck it out and was rewarded. The time spent building Summer's "before" life at the start of the book is necessary, to show the contrast between who she was and who she becomes. Once Summer and Ashlyn's friendship kicked off, it was pretty smooth sailing. I liked the new and improved, snarkier Summer a lot more than the Summer I met at the beginning of the book, and it was nice seeing her come into her own as a character.I loved mystery boy Troy. He's a charmer, that one, and just an all around good guy. I had such a great time trying to figure out the reason behind all his comings and goings. None of my crazy, crackpot theories were correct, but then, being right wasn't the point - guessing and having fun with it was. And if Troy was anything, he was fun. Seriously heart that boy.If the book is missing anything, it's a Big Bad. There's no real villain, no terrifying threat or monster to get the blood pumping or put readers on the edge of their seats (unless you count death itself). Rather, Cipher is a very people-centric book, focusing almost exclusively on the relationships between the characters. It works, and works well, but I would like to see higher stakes in future books. And I wouldn't complain if Summer and Troy had more sizzly moments (because I'm greedy like that).All in all, Cipher was an enjoyable read. It does what it is meant to do - introduces you to the characters and the world, and teases you with just enough information to peak your interest. I'm super-curious to see what happens in the next book, and I think you'll feel the same. So if you're a YA fan and are on the hunt for a new YA paranormal series, give this one a try.