Review: Better than the first!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 4, 2013
Wow, Half Black Soul is just as good or even better than the first book! Alexa continues to be a kick ass heroine with a unique voice, but this time around she also shows some vulnerability. However, unlike the previous book, Half Black Soul alternates between Alexa and her sister, Nelly (and one Kayden chapter at the end). I loved getting to know Nelly better! It was also interesting to see what was happening at Two Rivers while Alexa was out on her own secret mission. I would say that overall this book has a much darker tone than the first. It also seemed more focused on characterization and world building than plot advancement, which suited me just fine! The plot does move forward, but a bit slower than I anticipated.Half Black Soul picks up immediately after Alexa drove out of Two Rivers (there is a "recap chapter" at the very beginning, which I have mixed feelings on). The Alexa we meet is not the same girl she was in Blood Warrior. For one, her "monster" seems to be taking more and more control of her actions and her emotions. In fact, Alexa feels nothing at the beginning of the book which is frightening and sad. She's still learning what she's capable of and it's not all good. She's having trouble handling it, at least until Kayden shows up. He grounds her in a way that only a Libra can do, and I really enjoyed their interactions.Meanwhile, Nelly is still at Two Rivers and has no idea why her sister just took off. As a Searcher, she's using her abilities to try to find clues to what Alexa is up to. I absolutely loved watching Nelly develop her powers. She's been avoiding doing so, since she doesn't want anyone to become suspicious about what she is, but at the moment she has no choice. Alexa was always viewed at the strong sister, but really, Nelly shows incredible strength in other ways. She knows that physically she is weak, since Alexa was always around to protect her. Now she knows that she'll need to be able to defend herself. However, her mental strength is what she excels at and she must use that to the best of her abilities. Nelly comes across a lot of pain and turmoil in her mental searches, and discovers stuff that she wished she hadn't.As for the plot, like I said before, it does move slower at the beginning. We learn a lot about the characters and the world that they live in, but at around 80% is where the action really picks up. Alexa and Kayden finally arrive at the prison where they believe Alexa's mother is being held. It's nearly a suicide mission, but Alexa is fiercely determined to find out one way or another if her mother is alive or not. Those final chapters are tense and gory, but I couldn't stop reading until I knew everyone was okay. Well, as okay as someone can be after killing numerous people and almost being killed themselves.Basically Half Black Soul is a great sequel! I do wish it had been longer, because that ending...OMG, what?! I did not see that coming, although it makes perfect sense and all of the clues are there, if you only you pay close enough attention. Alexa and Nelly have their work cut out for them in order to save supernatural kind from whatever it is that they need saving from. I cannot wait to see what happens next!