My ParaHangover

4.5 stars

I can tell you nothing about this book except that it is creep-tastic, grisly, and the perfect read for NOW!!! First off, it’s almost Halloween – time to get your scare on. Second, it’s a mystery – you don’t want to know anything!

On the whole as a genre I don’t read many mystery books. I get enough “mystery” out of my paranormal and urban fantasy stories. So I don’t go looking for these types of books.

But I noticed Shadowlands earlier this year, forgot about it, and then I had to have it when I read the synopsis again after noticing the second book, Hereafter, was coming out soon (it’s due out next Tuesday, October 1st). I barreled through Shadowlands, rarely putting it down, because I had to know if my hunches were correct and if the story was going to go the way I thought it would. Oh, and Kate Brian is a phenomenal writer, too!

Story / Tempo / World Building

Ms. Brian wastes absolutely no time getting the story off it’s feet. Immediately you’re swept away with Rory as she’s running for her life from a serial killer obsessed with her. In the beginning there’s a breather here and there for a bit of backstory about Rory and her sister Darcy’s life so far. But mainly this story just flies by with the mystery and a lot of action.

There is a bit of a love interest (or two?) but it isn’t a big factor in the story. Although… I am looking forward to the second book to see if anything happens between these boys and girls.

Characters

And when I say “boys and girls”, I mean there’s quite the group of teens that Rory and Darcy end up hanging out with on the island. An eclectic mix, their leader seems to be Tristan and Krista, the mayor’s son and daughter. There’s also Joaquin, the hot bartender/bad boy who, of course, Darcy has her eye on the first day.

Darcy, always the popular one in school, ends up being the odd one out on this island as all the teens seem to take an interest in Rory, especially Joaquin. This only adds to the tension between Darcy and Rory as Rory takes the blame for her entire family having up and run from their home and their lives.

I was talking with my one of my work-besties, Nicole, about this book just today (she’s the YA librarian). She gave me some great insight that I’m totally going to share but I do not claim to be all my thoughts (intellectual property, law, blah, blah…). We were discussing why she really didn’t get into the book as much as I did; she shouldered through it mostly due to the hype. Nicole was disappointed by the lack of character development in this book and I totally agree with her. But where character development may have been missing for characters other than Rory (because I think she was “fleshed out” plenty) this book was more focused on the mystery and non-stop action of Rory trying to out run her stalker/serial killer.

I personally think it’s an art, or personal preference on the writer’s part, on how they’re going to balance their character’s development with the overall movement of the plot.

I happen to like how Ms. Brian balances her world building / story with her characters for Shadowlands. I’ve also jumped on her fan-wagon for her sheer talent as a writer in being able to paint the vivid pictures of the story in my head. Who needs television with Ms. Brian around to write for us?

Wow, again I ask… is there a review in here somewhere? Or was this review so technical I just got lost on the way? This is exactly why I’m not paid for my reviews!!!

Review appears on