Review: Nice mix of Superman and Twilight
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 26, 2011
Cross Superman with Twilight and you might get something like this book. With the same unpolished feel of the older comics, and the beautifully sensuous bodies of Twilight, it introduces a mix of "hidden races" to a modern-day high school in Salem, and adds that special something in the form of Aradia, a girl in search of identity.Unfortunately others are searching for Aradia's identity too, and the author cleverly leaves readers wondering just who the bad guys are as the story progresses. Aradia's powers are sometimes overly explained, sometimes oddly inconsistent--but then, what teen ever knows the true limits of her abilities? Amusing backstories lead to Aradia's presence at her new school, and now the "loser" is being stared at by winners and choosing her battles. Her parents are supportive, intelligent and wise, and have instilled good morals in their daughter. The result is a pleasing, if sometimes uneven tale, with nice plot, interesting characters, intriguing history, and some fascinating questions. There's more to come, but these Tales of Aradia start with a novel that feels satisfyingly complete, one battle finished convincingly, and more of them waiting in the eaves. A fun teen novel with a gruesome start but a nice sense of humor and nice low-key touch.Disclosure: I received a free ecopy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.