Review: Loved It!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 18, 2012
For the past sixteen years, Jewel Rose has spent her entire life running. Her parents have convinced her that she's a part of the witness protection program and that her safety is of the utmost importance. Yet Jewel can't deny that something about the entire situation feels wrong.Her parents have droned it into her that she needs to keep the crescent-shaped birthmark she bears hidden. They never answer her questions and most of the time they'll just ignore the situation at hand. Jewel is tired of running. She doesn't understand why it's a necessity and fervently wishes her parents would just lay everything on the table. Deep inside, she just wants them to be honest with her, once and for all.Arriving at their new location, Jewel promises she'll do as her parents have asked of her. She'll behave, even if the idea of doing so is appalling, at times. When an unexpected boy shows up at school, she begins to question whether she saw him in the first place. She soon knows he's real when he makes his appearance the next day.Drawn to Roman, Jewel begins to question everything she knows. His sudden appearance has thrown her for a loop and she begins to realize that it's not a coincidence. Roman is there for a reason, one he doesn't seem inclined to share with her, just yet. Despite this fact, everything inside of her clamors for her to trust him, even if he has a tendency to lie, here and there.Digging into the secrets of her past, Jewel soon uncovers a plot that's been underfoot ever since she was born. She is the supposed Spectral, a witch who will inherit the powers of her own coven and any others she comes across upon her seventeenth birthday. Unfortunately, there are those who wish to prevent that from happening and want to see her dead. Not to mention that there are quite a few covens competing against each other to make her theirs. Nevertheless, she's determined to get to the bottom of things in hopes of making sense of all the secrets that have been kept from her for so long.With Roman's help, she's able to understand what's driving those who seek to do her harm. When her friend's are inadvertently caught in the crossfire, Jewel has no other option but to protect herself from outside forces. As the battle rages on around her, Jewel knows she must comply and complete her quickening before anyone else is hurt. To do that, she must place her trust into the hands of a family she's never truly known. One who will do anything to protect her, at all costs.This was such a delightful read. I enjoyed every minute of it. Once you start reading, it's hard to stop. The pacing of the book was fast and very easy to get immersed in. Full of an intriguing cast of characters, it's quite lovely to envision the world Shannon has created. To see things through their eyes. I look forward to reading more of Shannon's work in the future.