Book: Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

Book 1 of the Arcana Chronicles
Teenage Book
Supernatural Themes
Apocalyptic/ Disaster Setting

Overview:

Imagine you had a perfect life, except your mother thought you were going insane and sent you to be treated over your summer holidays. And when you come back to normal high school life, the nightmares that were haunting you return? This is the start of Poison Princess, the story of Evie.

Other than her supposed mental illness, her main concerns are fashion, her boyfriend and cars. But that all changes when her nightmares become real, and the earth is hit by the "Flash" - a bright light that vaporises the landscape.

Evie, her mother and several others, including school bad boy Jack,  survive by taking refuge underground, however this is just the beginning.

The story explores what Evie is to become and why she had the nightmares she had. Over the book it is revealed that the Tarot Arcana are real, and take human form, and the final battle will be between Evie and the other Arcana. Not all of the Arcana are her enemy, not all are her allies. And the only way to gain power is to kill other Arcana.

The only person who may have some answers is her Grandmother, who is in a home several hundred miles away. With allies and enemies they try to cross the country while avoiding post- Flash militia that have formed, and the potential danger of creatures called "Bag-men"- zombie like humans that are chronically thirsty, and human blood will do in a pinch.

Thoughts:

It is a different take on the supernatural by far. The Arcana are fascinating, and the characters are likeable. Evie, for all she seemed to be trying to maintain a superficial persona, could not keep it up, and does love her friends and family dearly.

This book shows how people may not be what they seem, and that they can change and evolve.

I read this book in about 3 days once I started. It is an easy read and an interesting story. I am keen to read the next installment just to see where it will take me.

Rating:
B+ - easy read, nice characters, interesting world.