Review: 4.5 Stars for an Excellent Mature YA read!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 3, 2012
This book begins with our heroine, Leah, celebrating her 18th birthday at a club with her friends. Then, she wakes up vaguely remembering an explosion, not knowing where she is or how she got there. As she's running through the streets trying to find her way home, Leah discovers that she can move extremely quickly...and her throat is burning...and blood is all over her body.Finally finding her way back home, Leah's watches her parents cry and comfort each other in through the windows. Wanting to see them but knowing something isn't quite right, she keeps her distance. This is where she smells others "like her." Meeting the most beautiful man she has ever seen, a ferocious woman with formidable powers, and learning she has never been who she thought she was, Leah quickly acclimates to her new world and family.Although they do not call themselves vampires, these Immortals are rather similar - they drink blood to survive, have unique powers depending on the immoral, and are amazingly beautiful. They even form family units based on their creators. But that is where the similarities end.Since creation, these creature have warred with the Brotherhood, a group of devout humans bound to protect and serve human kind, eliminating the immortals whenever possible. V.V. Aku creates these antagonists in such a smart way. They are protecting who we, as readers, are. They aren't innately evil, torturing immortals and being inhumane, they are only trying to stop immortals from feeding and murdering humans. I was intrigued by the Brotherhood and sympathized with their cause.My only qualm was how quickly the relationship between Leah and Max moved forward. Leah hardly had one day to adjust to this new life before she had an incontrollable attraction and developing relationship with Max. Although I didn't always like Max, the reader can understand his need and desire to protect Leah from all harm, even if that requires him being overprotective and jerky.This was a lovely book! V.V. Aku is an incredibly talented writer, with a style that pulls the reader in from the first page and leaves you with an ending you'll never guess on the last. I truly enjoyed every moment of reading this book - so, go grabs you a copy! ;)