Book Review: Awake at Dawn

Title: Awake at Dawn by C.C. Hunter

Release Date: Oct. 11, 2011
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Pages: 400 pages
Genre: Paranormal
Source: Publisher

Goodreads Summary: Now that she’s settled in at Shadow Falls Camp, Kylie Galen’s determined to discover the extent of her supernatural abilities. But with a ghost insisting someone Kylie loves is about die, a rogue vampire on a murdering rampage, and her sixth sense telling her someone is watching her, Kylie’s quest for answers is quickly put on hold.

To make matters worse, just when she’s about to give her heart to Derek, a half-fairy, he starts pulling away. When Lucas, a werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past, returns, Kylie’s feels more conflicted than ever. Her weekend with her mom should have been the just the break Kylie needs, but it turns out to be her breaking point. Someone from the dark side of the supernatural world has plans for Kylie--and it'll take all her resources to get back to Shadow Falls alive...

There are many YA books out there about boarding schools for paranormals but this Shadow Falls series is my favorite. Not only are these books very character driven (which I love) but the plot is solid as well.

Awake at Dawn is the perfect follow-up to Born at Midnight. The book picks up shortly after where Born at Midnight ended with Kylie at Shadow Falls Camp trying to figure out what kind of paranormal she is and working through the other drama that surrounds her life.

This book is all about relationships: Kylie’s relationships with her parents, with her friends Della, Miranda and Holiday and of course, with the two love interest, Derek and Lucas. Kylie is such a likable character. Her issues are legitimate and I never felt that she was being whiny or that the angst was overdone. While I don’t usually like love triangles, Ms. Hunter does this one well and even I could not choose between the boys, they are just so great. It also helps that the romance was not the book’s main plot which centers firmly on Kylie finding out who and what she really is. While the relationships and characters are awesome, I love the paranormal aspects of the book as well.

If you like paranormal YA fiction, you will love this series, it’s just so good. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series, Taken at Dusk, which comes out in April 2012.

Content: Kissing, sexual situations and violence. There are some steamy scenes in this book that may be more appropriate for more mature teens.  

My Rating: Really Good!

Book Review: Born at Midnight

Title: Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter
Release Date: March 29, 2011
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Pages: 416 pages
Genre: Paranormal
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Purchased

Goodreads Summary: One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.” Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world. Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason. As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart. Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…

Born at Midnight is a fun paranormal read about a girl who is going through a lot externally with family and friends and internally with herself. Kylie is still hurting from being dumped by her boyfriend and her parents are getting a divorce. Kylie had started seeing a therapist because she was having horrible night terrors and occasionally seeing a soldier appear and stare at her, but no one else can see this man. At the advice of Kylie’s therapist, her mom sends her to a summer camp for troubled teens so Kylie feels dumped by her parents as well.

Shadow Falls Camp is a haven for paranormal teens and even though C.C. Hunter does not go into the mythology of the different paranormals in a ton of detail, it’s enough to answer your basic questions. There is a love triangle (maybe even a bit of a square if you throw in the ex) but it was not the book’s main focus, which is great. The story is about Kylie coming to terms with what she may be and her relationships with family and friends.

Born at Midnight is the beginning of a really good new paranormal series. There is so much more story with these great characters and plot and I am excited about the next book, Awake at Dawn.

Content: Profanity, sexual situations, kissing, underage drinking and violence. Recommended for older teens.