Published August 31, 2010
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: audiobook, borrowed from the library
Genre: YA paranormal
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
Rating: 3 STARS
(From Goodreads) 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.
I've had Paranormalcy on my TBR list for quite a long time. While perusing my library's audiobook selection one day, not really looking for anything in particular, I saw it there and immediately decided it was time to take it off the dusty bookshelf. You know that feeling you get when a book you've been waiting a long time to read finally gets read, and you're just not as in love with it as you thought you'd be? Yeah - that was me.
Evie is a 16-year-old teen soap watching, pink boot wearing officer for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, or IPCA. She has a particularly unique skill that helps them with their task of rounding up rogue paranormals and tagging them. But, when a new type of paranormal infiltrates IPCA, Evie starts to question everything she's been brought up to believe. And fall in love too.
I thought the overall concept was really cool. And, there were definitely parts of Paranormalcy that intrigued me. But, to be honest with you, I just could not connect with Evie at all. I don't really know why, either. I couldn't bring myself to care much about her. And, most of the time, I thought she was annoying and totally immature.
I mean, I get it. The girl is only 16 and has lived a sheltered life. But she carries around a pink, bedazzled taser and named it Tasey, for cripes sake. She throws tantrums when she doesn't get her own way. She makes decisions without consideration for others.
I really did like Lend, though. I enjoyed trying to figure out what sort of paranormal he was. I liked the paranormals that hung out with Lend and his dad too.
Perhaps my overarching problem with Paranormalcy is that it really seems like it's geared toward the lower end of the YA age scale. Evie is only 16, yet she acts like she's 13. Her internal monologue is all about whether Lend will hold her hand and, if he does, what does it mean? And, what are her favorite characters going to do on tonight's episode of Easton Heights? I love a good middle grade book from time to time. But, I wasn't expecting it with Paranormalcy, so it wasn't entirely welcome.
The ending, however, was pretty explosive. I really loved the showdown between Evie and her creepy ex Reth. Which, of course had to happen during the prom. How very Buffy. It was pretty cool, though, with some dark and foreboding parts that intrigued me.
I think that if you're into books that skew a little younger, Paranormalcy would be a good read for you. It's full of silly banter and cute boys and action and suspense. If not, you might want to keep looking.
Hmm I've had this on my list for while now. Glad to know it's a younger YA book. I'm thinking it's something my daughter might like.
ReplyDeleteAnother example of our good taste because I wasn't wowed by this one either. My main problem with the book was that everything that made the series interesting and unique was eliminated by the end of the book (setting, job, friends).
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