Passionaries (The Blessed)
Gr 9 Up—This second installment in Hurley's supernatural Catholic-themed trilogy finds three teens who have been reincarnated as saints grieving separately over the loss of their surprisingly shared beloved, Sebastian. There's Cecilia, the gritty musician; Lucy, the socialite; and Agnes, the good girl. The teens are dealing with the fame and notoriety of possibly being reincarnated martyred saints, when they learn that someone has stolen Sebastian's heart with the intent of making it a religious relic. Both the girls and their nemesis, psychiatrist Dr. Frey, want the heart. Hurley's premise is interesting. Unfortunately, the world-building and background information doesn't quite gel. New readers will feel like they've tuned into a movie halfway through and may struggle to be invested. While the protagonists are distinct and capable of being formidable heroines, the heavy-handed messages of self-worth, belief, and faith sadly come off as cliché. "Ciphers" like Frey, people in powerful positions bent on manipulating the populace, are indistinguishable mustache-twirling baddies. Dialogue can waffle between trite or melodramatic, with an occasional swear word used. The emotional weight of the conclusion's stand-off is overshadowed by cartoonish, Matrix-like moves and gore. Loose threads and characters still in danger pave the way for book three. A strictly additional purchase where there are fans of Blessed (S & S, 2012).—Danielle Serra, Cliffside Park Public Library, NJ