Review: 3.5 stars
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 19, 2014
At A GlanceDark Whispers was a great sequel to Spirits Rising. I love Rachel's story and the paranormal aspect, but the short length of the novella did not help it.The GoodI was glad to see that Dark Whispers was better than Spirits Rising. This series does a great job of representing a unique outlook on spirits and the ones who can talk to them. I loved how this installment delved deeper into the world and character building as we learned about the "evil" organization out to bring down all the spirit callers and the important parts of Rachel's past.Rachel gets quite a few surprises in a small amount of time. She meets her real mom and learns that her past is riddled with secrets. Her friends and family are threatened, and she learns the lengths she will go to protect them. I see Rachel becoming stronger and more resilient in just this book and all I can say is it's about damn time. I like this more confident Rachel.All the side characters really contributed to the story. Each one had a unique personality that brought that special spark that makes you want to keep reading. The writing was well done and the ending doesn't wrap everything up, but leaves room for the story to grow.The BadSome parts lulled because of Rachel's kind of "obsession" with Jeremy. I didn't like that the story had such a focus on Rachel's feelings for Jeremy.With the short length of the story, I felt like some of the action and buildup was cut short. This book would have been better at novel length.The SnugglyJeremy has a girlfriend, so it was hard to watch Rachel pine after him. She is obviously in love with him but he is too dense to see it. But by the end, we do see hope for their future.No sex, so appropriate for a YA, NA, and adult audience.Final ThoughtsYou can read Dark Whispers and enjoy it without reading the first book, but I would suggest reading the whole series. It's a slower but exciting urban fantasy that will leave you wanting more. Recommended.Quotes"I'm not crazy," she said with a hint of a smile in her voice. "Not most of the time, in any case."The man laughed. "Spirits do not affect me.""They affect me," I shrieked, in a voice that I did not recognize. Power surged through my being and I stood, possessed with spirits who were completely out of my league. Memories of hunter and pretty, of anger, of disease, of revenge, overtook my senses and the protective spirit of the mother entered me. No one would hurt those I loved.