Review: let's go kick some demon a$$!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 1, 2013
****I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects my rating and review.****At the age of sixteen, Jade Hall is offered an education along with a job as a demon slayer by a mysterious organization called the CGE (Consortium of Genetic Engineering). She's had a rough life being shipped from foster home to foster home after losing her family to tragedy, and so without any real stability in her life it's difficult for her to trust anyone.  It was refreshing to see a character in a YA novel who has been in the foster care system--young adults reading this book who live in foster homes or group homes can relate to Jade's background.I found myself drawn to Jade right away--there are so many positive qualities about her such as her sense of humor, courage, and strength. Jade is determined to hunt down and kill the demon who killed her family, but she isn't reckless about it either. She knows it's important to learn how to hunt and kill before she starts her search for revenge. I'm all about demons--they scare the hell out of me, and there were plenty of tense, scary moments!I loved the relationship between Jade and Linc and the way it developed over time. The dynamic between them was different and unique. Their banter was so clever, made me laugh, and just fit situations so perfectly! I found myself chuckling loudly more than once. They're easygoing together, and best of all, they're equals; Jade isn't a girl who needs a guy to save her--she's tough all on her own.Felecia is the kind of character I love to hate. Felecia acts like she's tough and is a bully, but when it really comes down to it, she's a coward. Like a lot of other girls Jade has encountered in the various foster homes she lived in, Felecia does her best to provoke and bully Jade out of jealousy. There really was no other reason for Felecia to have such a vendetta against her, and this actually is a realistic situation among teenage girls unfortunately.The young adults chosen by the CGE all have a rare genetic anomaly that the CGE wants to study, but can the organization be trusted? Are their intentions pure, or is there something more sinister going on? I went back and forth with this--I couldn't decide if they want to help Jade and the others, or if they just want to use them to further their own agenda, whatever that may be. I tend to distrust large organizations that make a high profit, and it just seemed to me something insidious going on. Isn't there usually some sort of underlying evil in every organization in fiction? This could turn out to be the exception or maybe not.I absolutely loved this book! It was so awesome in every way! There isn't anything about this book that I didn't like. I was captivated, enthralled, and I want more of this story and the characters.