Postcard For Reader

Darkness Becomes Her

Darkness Becomes Her
Author: Kelly Keaton
Series: Gods & Monsters (#1)
Publisher: Simon Pulse
How Received: publisher ARC

Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.

Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.

She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very... different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.

Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.
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I'll be the first to admit that I sincerely doubted that Darkness Becomes Her was going to be any good. Even though the summary sounded cool, it reminded me of another half dozen books that had come out recently. But it was relatively short, and it was coming out soon, and it was by a debut YA author, so why not read it?

I should never have doubted it. Darkness Becomes Her is now one of my favorite paranormals - or does it fall under mythology? Alternate reality? It covers so many different genres, but it's absolutely amazing.

I liked it from the moment I started it. From page one, we have a genuinely kick ass heroine. Ari reminds me a bit of a young adult version of Kate Beckett from "Castle" - not the best history, but able to handle herself and everything around her, even if she does have a few moments where she gets down.

Ari reminds me of Kate Beckett (above) from ABC's "Castle"

Normally I spend a good portion of the post talking about my love of some of the characters, but I think that would need a full 'nuther post. I loved Josephine and her aura of HBIC (head bitch in charge); she was everything I expected her to be. The New 2's scraggly bunch of misfits - Crank, Dub, and Vi - were absolutely adorable. I have a particularly soft spot in my heart for Vi, mainly because she and I share a love of masks.

Sebastian. What can I say about Sebastian? Though I felt like the romantic part of this book was a little off - just because it happened so suddenly - I have to say, Sebastian is one helluva sexy character. He's funny and worrisome and sexy and absolutely real. Sure, he's got some - um - odd family history. But he's adorable. [SPOILER] And the only reason that his relationship with Ari was odd was because they had only known each other a little while before they started making out. Besides that, it was great - Ari was laughing at herself because of her feelings for him, and they weren't ZOMGattached to each other from the start. They were there for each other, because they had to be at first, and then because they wanted to be. [/SPOILER]

And the WORLD!
Oh, this wonderfully crafted WORLD!

I've been iffy on paranormal worlds lately; there are too many Twilight-esque books out right now. And I'm picky on fantasy and mythology to begin with; this does a great job at merging them, creating an alternate New Orleans that is absolutely brilliant and believable. I was able to picture all the places, all the creatures; it was wonderful.

And the plot? Bloody brilliant. A hint of romance here and there, a tinge of friendship, and overall excellence. It was creative and kept me guessing without giving too much away, and I didn't expect the (brilliant) end at ALL.

I'm ridiculously excited for the next book; can I have it NOW?

Overall Rating & Final Comments: 10/10. Brilliant world, brilliant characters, brilliant plot, brilliant book.
Challenges Used In: 2011 Debut Author Challenge

Darkness Becomes Her comes out TODAY! So scurry on over to your local bookstore and buy it.