Book Review: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie’s always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is mermaid, 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 still. Normal.
Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the centre of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures. 
So much for normal.

“Wait – did you – You just yawned!” The Vampire’s arms, raised over his head in the classic Dracula pose, dropped to his sides. He pulled his exaggerated white fangs back behind his lips. “What, imminent death isn’t exciting enough for you?”

Before I had even read the first few pages of Paranormalcy by Kiersten White I had really high expectations after seeing words like hilarious, original, awesome from other reviewers that I trust. So I was hugely taken aback when I first started reading Paranormalcy and I wasn’t sure that I liked it. I was worried that Evie would be a tad annoying with her exuberance for all things pink and sparkly, including her very pink Taser that she lovingly refers to as ‘Tasey’! However, that was only a momentary worry, after a few more pages I really liked Evie and after a few chapters I loved her. She is wonderfully sweet and even innocent in a world where her daily routine involves capturing the odd vampire and hanging out with werewolves and other supernatural beings. Usually paranormal books can be quite dark and paranormalcy was refreshingly light but still really gripping.

Paranormalcy was one of the best written books I’ve read in a while, the prose really flowed effortlessly, while the pace was perfect and it made for great reading. When I started this book I really couldn’t put it down, Kiersten White has managed to come up with an original story and more unique characters in what has become a rather clichéd (but still good) genre of YA.

There really are a lot of plus points for this book including a love triangle with a difference. I absolutely loved Lend, although he may not have the best name (however well chosen it might be) he was certainly a memorable character and one of my favourites so far in the paranormal romance genre. Of course the love triangle wouldn’t be complete without Reth the rather high maintenance heart stoppingly good looking faerie who is out to steal Evie’s heart, but maybe not just in the literal sense.

If you haven’t read this one yet then I definitely recommend it, Kiersten White has really managed to blend the right amount of light hearted characterisation, a love triangle with a difference and one of the best plots I’ve read in the paranormal genre in a while. Highly recommended.

I can’t wait to read the next one in the series!! Kiersten White has moved to the top of my must read writers’ list.

 10/10

Genre – YA, paranormal

Published by HaperCollins Childrens (Jan 2011)

Paperback – 335 pages (£6.99)

The next in the series Supernaturally – Will be released in Paperback in the UK - Jan 2012