Paranormalcy Review

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
4 Stars

Synopsis:

  Evie's always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours.

  But Evie's about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

  So much for normal...

Review:

  This was a quick, fun read.  White puts a new spin on most things paranormal and it was refreshing.  Vampires are not sexy (to Evie anyway, since she can see their decomposing bodies underneath their glamours), werewolves are just misunderstood, and faeries are never to be trusted.  And it's the responsibility of the IPCA to make sure none of these paranormals harm humans.  Evie's been working for the IPCA since she was 8 and she's lived in the Center since.  Everything she knows about the outside world, she learns from a teenage drama on TV.  Not too realistic, but she wants the life she sees on the small screen.

  One of my favorite parts is Alisha or Lish, Evie's best friend, that happens to be a mermaid.  A computer translates and speaks for her, so their conversations tend to be funny.  The computer does not allow swear words, so Lish's vocabulary is made up of a lot of 'bleeps.'  So instead of swearing herself, Evie also says bleep.

  There is somewhat of a love triangle.  Reth, Evie's faerie ex-boyfriend, and Lend the shape-shifting new guy.  Reth's involvement in the triangle is a little forced on his side, but for some weird reason I like him.  I must have a thing for faeries, I guess, which doesn't sound right I realize as I am typing this.  Anyway, their interactions always interesting and full of confusing dialogue (Reth) and action.

  I feel that while the story was never dull, it wraps up too quickly and too many things are left unanswered.  I know this is the first in a trilogy, but I felt like I needed more.  Overall, good story, good characters, a solid 4 stars.  I am looking forward to the second book, Supernaturally, coming out August 30, 2011.

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monica