Review: Now Sawyer Bennett shows she can be queen of the paranormal genre too!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 21, 2013
After reading Sawyer Bennett's Off Series I was definitely excited by her choice to pursue writing for a young adult audience, particularly in the paranormal genre.Forever Young has an interesting premise; Charlie is an orphan, she is a good student but has no interests outside school other than fighting; and not pulling hair, but punching and kicking. She is chosen to enter Semper Terra to train as an Annihilator, a Daimon hunter.I felt that the initial chapters of the story are like a whirlwind and so much occurs the reader fails to get a true sense of Charlie's true character. Although Sawyer Bennett does rectify this later in the story most of Charlie's most open moments are not told in first person,'I opened up to him about all of my guilt and pain over my parent's murders. I told him things I had not even told my therapists.'Apart from creating the mythical land of Semper Terra, where my hair would never have to be dyed again and I could drink Ben's cocktails every day in Cafe Syreni, Sawyer Bennett has been able to maintain one of the strongest elements of her storytelling; her characterisation and the relationships they share.Obviously Charlie is at the centre; strong-willed, passionate and instinctive. No girl should be without a gay best friend so meet Justas, the non-stereotypical, fist-bumping, beer-drinking, football-watching demon hunter! They are joined by Emerson, the youngest of the initiates, quietly brave and loyal and an orphan like Charlie. The three are close, supporting each other and enjoying down-time together. Ben is the owner of Cafe Syreni, cocktail maker extraordinaire and a Light Daimon. He and Charlie have a truthful friendship; I think Ben may be one of my favourite characters and I would definitely love to see more of him later in the series.Of course there is Caiden. From the beginning there is chemistry between Charlie and Caiden but a BIG age gap and the instructor/student line, amongst other obstacles stop them from being together. They do share a friendship though, which is open and honest and I think Caiden is the missing piece Charlie needs to embrace who she really is. I enjoy the way in which Sawyer Bennett develops their relationship, in line with the plot, and though I am not sure Caiden has official 'book boyfrined' status yet I am sure it will not be long!I think Forever Young is a great book, with plenty of action to kep the reader interested. I will be waiting for book 2!I received this as a review copy, but this has had no influence on my opinion.