Review: I've fallen under the spell of the Mys
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 21, 2013
Overall: ★★★★★ (4.5 Stars)I powered through this book. Seriously, could not get enough. It wasn't perfect, don't get me wrong, there were some plot holes, but it had all the right elements.A fresh, meaty, sink-your-teeth-in-and-hold-on-tight new adult fantasy series kicks off with King Hall…King Hall — where the Mysticals go to learn their craft, get their degrees, and transition into adulthood. And where four new Rulers will rise and meet their destinies.Lily Ruckler is adept at one thing: survival. Born a Mystical hybrid, her mere existence is forbidden, but her nightmare is only about to start. Fluke, happenstance, and a deep personal loss finds Lily deeply entrenched with those who would destroy her simply for existing — The Mystical Kings. Being named future Queen of the Shifters shoves Lily into the spotlight, making her one of the most visible Mysticals in the world. But with risk comes a certain solace — her burgeoning friendships with the other three Rulers: a wicked Vampire, a wild-child Mage, and a playboy Elemental. Backed by their faith and trust, Lily begins to relax into her new life.Then chaos erupts as the fragile peace between Commoners and Mysticals is broken, and suddenly Lily realises the greatest threat was never from within, and her fear takes on a new name: the Revolution.Originality: ★★★★★Shifters, Vampires, and Mages have been done. And done. And done again. To the point where my 62 year old mother bought me a t-shirt and messenger bag that had a Vampire, a Shifter, and a boring shell of a girl on it because she heard it was "cool". But Scarlett Dawn turns those boring plot lines on their head with the way she frames this academy and the many Mysticals that live there. I was so excited as I read, because I found a new set of characters to root for. And a ton of emotional drops that left me feeling all kinds of ways.And I needed something that made me feel that way.Character Development/Plot: ★★★★☆I love the character development. I love the way Dawn has each character grow and change as challenges get in their way. Lily is superbly written, has a great voice and agency. I can't wait to read more and more about her as I go through the series. And believe me, I am hanging on for the whole ride.There were some plot-holes, and I can't help but point them out. I felt like there should be a prequel to this book because at times, well, I felt lost. I know that she intentionally wrote it that way, but that being said, I just felt like enough wasn't explained up front and it could be confusing to younger New Adult readers who are not quite so patient.Appearance and Editing:★★★★★Cover is beautiful. Editing is professional.The Romance/The Sex: ★★★★☆Beautiful, and sad. I loved the chemistry between her and the two love interests. I won't spoil it for you, but I will tell you it is worth reading about.Veronica Hardy is a professional editor and author who enjoys writing reviews in her spare time, for fun. She is not compensated by authors, publishers or online retail markets for her opinions. If you are interested in a book review or editing services please email her at Veronica.R.Hardy@gmail.com.