Monday, May 26, 2014

Review: The Dark World

Author Cara Lynn Shultz
Format e-ARC
Print Length 384 pages
Publisher Harlequin Teen
Published May 27, 2014

Paige Kelly is used to weird--in fact, she probably corners the market on weird, considering that her best friend, Dottie, has been dead since the 1950s. But when a fire demon attacks Paige in detention, she has to admit that things have gotten out of her league. Luckily, the cute new boy in school, Logan Bradley, is a practiced demon slayer-and he isn't fazed by Paige's propensity to chat with the dead. Suddenly, Paige is smack in the middle of a centuries-old battle between warlocks and demons, learning to fight with a magic sword so that she can defend herself. And if she makes one wrong move, she'll be pulled into the Dark World, an alternate version of our world that's overrun by demons-and she might never make it home.

My Opinion


My first thought was “I see dead people.” Here is a story about a gal- Paige, who saved a child’s life by paying for it with her own. They were able to revive her- her reward for saving the child’s life was to be able to communicate with dead people. The problem with that though is that no one else sees them- so she becomes ostracized and isolated. So much so that her parents switch schools that she is in, unfortunately a dead girl also goes to that school. The mean gal of the school Pepper catches Paige talking to the dead girl and Paige instantly becomes a weirdo and a freak. Yet more isolationism, except this time she has Dottie- the dead gal to keep her company. There is a boy at school that seems to like Paige, although Paige writes it off as wishful thinking. Dottie begs Paige to consider Logan, she wants her bestie to have a boyfriend.

Three new students show up to school, thank goodness Paige will no longer be the new kid. But there is something weird about these new kids- weirder than Paige. Every time one of them is around Paige she cannot see or talk to Dottie. Paige doesn’t know it yet but she is a Traveler- one who can travel between our world and the Dark World. The Dark World is an alternative world that spirits are trapped in if a demon caused their death. The Regent Queen of the Dark World sent her minions to capture Paige. Logan means to stop them.

Logan did not remind me of a lot of YA heroes. Logan is a sweet hero- he is not mean to Paige. He is not possessive of her. At times it was if she was an afterthought to him. This is not a bad thing per say although it did cause a few mixed singles to occur. Paige for her part dealt with the punches that were sent her way. She had a few what the heck moments but ultimately met the challenges.

So why the three stars? Well for starters her parents and Logan’s guardian. Umm…Paige’s dad especially is too much of a helicopter parent. I just wanted to shake him and say seriously buster back off. Then you have the extreme opposite with Logan’s guardian, Rego. What is his deal, yo? Seriously, I wanted to shake him and say this is your best friend’s son- STOP sending him into danger. Secondly, Aiden wasn’t baddie demon enough for me. I mean the Regent Queen wants Paige man up and get her. Finally, the ending what a cliffhanger.

With the cliffhanger of an ending, you cannot help but check to see when the second book will be published. So in the respect it is a fabulous ending. There are so many questions left open that you are mad though- what will happen to our favorite Demon Hunter and Traveler? Will they survive this next task?

My Rating 3 out of 5 stars


Favorite Quote Ladies and gentlemen, step right up to stare at Paige D. Kelly, the freak of the week.


Other People


Pepper- mean gal, hates Paige because she doesn’t care what others thinks
Dottie- Paige’s dead bestie
Aiden- demon who is trying to capture Paige
Travis- a jock at school that gets killed protecting Paige
Rego- Logan’s guardian

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