Review: Strange but original
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 6, 2013
3.5 starsLevitating Las Vegas was such a strange and unpredictable book. It's the first paranormal and the first new adult novel I've read by Jennifer Echols. It's so different from the other books I've read by her and also from other paranormal and new adult novels out there. It's actually not the weirdest story I've ever read, but it's definitely up there.The main characters were 21-year-olds Holly and Elijah. What happened with them in the beginning was really bizarre that I couldn't tell at first if this book was a contemporary or paranormal or what. Thankfully it became clear afterwards. I liked Holly and Elijah for the most part. When their magic didn't get in the way of their emotions, they were interesting and funny and good together. But I have to admit I never entirely connected with them. The story focused a lot on their magical abilities and what was going on around them and to other characters like Kaylee. It made sense that would be the case since they still had a whole lot to learn and us readers needed to know more about the world in the story. However, when it came down to it, I mostly cared about what happened between Holly and Elijah than everything and everyone else.Speaking of the other characters, I got frustrated with a lot of them. Especially Holly's parents and everyone else involved with keeping the magical powers a secret. I totally understand why it was necessary to not tell Holly and Elijah the truth, considering what happened to most their age with magical abilities, but it led to MANY moments that made me want to shake and smack the characters. Probably the one character that never ever irritated me in the book and the one I loved the most was Shane. He was a badass! I got angry with the way Kaylee treated him though. I know it was suppose to be funny. I just wish by the end she would have gotten over it because he proved himself to be a great guy.Even though I got frustrated with the characters and wanted the book to focus more on certain aspects, I still found Levitating Las Vegas to be an engaging read. I had no idea what would happen at the end, and I really wanted to know! That being said, although this book is unique and original, I'm not sure it will be everyone's cup of tea.