Fallon’s debut novel, first published on the HarperCollins online writing community inkpop.com and then selected for print, is a better-than-average offering that occasionally betrays its amateur roots with some uneven pacing. The setup is familiar and briskly handled: 17-year-old Megan Rosenberg has moved to Kinsale, Ireland, with her father after several unsettled years following the death of Megan’s mother. Megan fits right in with the popular crowd at her new school, but a broodingly handsome boy, Adam DeRís, keeps staring at her, and Megan stares right back, despite her friends’ warnings. Several chapters of teenage day-in-the-life narration ensue before Fallon suddenly dumps mysterious marks, elemental forces, and the Celtic goddess Danu into the mix, and the story takes off in a paranormal direction that the first third of the book has only hinted at. The intense, immediate romance between Megan and Adam remains the focus and the main draw. It’s an engaging story, heavy on the “snogging” and light on the mystical perils, from an author likely to improve with time. Ages 13–up. (Oct.)
First-time novelist Fallon has blended a unique tale of magic, folklore, friendship, and sweet romance into a tantalizing mystery with a modicum of danger.” — Booklist
“With its page-turning pacing, tension is high and readers will want to read future episodes.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
“An engaging story.” — Publishers Weekly
“Combine prophecy, amulets, and a secret society and you have the makings of a fine paranormal romance.” — School Library Journal
First-time novelist Fallon has blended a unique tale of magic, folklore, friendship, and sweet romance into a tantalizing mystery with a modicum of danger.
With its page-turning pacing, tension is high and readers will want to read future episodes.
Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
First-time novelist Fallon has blended a unique tale of magic, folklore, friendship, and sweet romance into a tantalizing mystery with a modicum of danger.
This obsessive,Twilight -like romance and teen debut, first discovered on inkpop.com, misses the benefit of thorough editing in a rush to be published.
After years of moving since her mother died, Megan finally feels at home in her father's most recent relocation, this time to Ireland. Despite rumors that his family may be witches, she's instantly attracted to Adam DeRís. Megan soon discovers in a nonstop information dump (which leaves little room for authentic Irish dialogue or interesting action) that she, along with Adam and his two siblings, is Marked as one of the vessels of the four elements (earth, wind, fire and air). If she can invoke her powers, then she and the DeRíses can perform an alignment on the Summer Solstice and turn the world's chaos into harmony. But Megan is also the Carrier of the Mark and therefore responsible for producing children that will continue the Marked lineage. Because "physical union" between two Marked is forbidden, Megan must decide if she should accept her fate and forsake Adam's love or repress her Marked powers and let the world fall to ruin. Complicating the decision are the Knox, who want to seize the elemental powers and instate a fifth element, and possible corruption of a secret Order with ties to Trinity College in Dublin. Perhaps the planned sequel will be less complicated.
Misses the mark.(Paranormal romance. 13 & up)
When 17-year-old Megan and her father move to Ireland, Megan finds herself drawn to the mysterious Adam DeRís. Narrator Nicola Barber captures Megan’s curiosity and awe as she realizes that she and Adam share powers that have passed through generations from the time of the Druids. Barber moves fluidly between American and Irish accents, creating voices for each character and adding both mood and interest with her animated reading. This story is more romance than fantasy, and Barber’s strong characterizations help listeners remain engaged and suspend disbelief as the plot becomes complicated. Listeners will root for Megan as she grows into her power. A.F. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine
DECEMBER 2011 - AudioFile
When 17-year-old Megan and her father move to Ireland, Megan finds herself drawn to the mysterious Adam DeRís. Narrator Nicola Barber captures Megan’s curiosity and awe as she realizes that she and Adam share powers that have passed through generations from the time of the Druids. Barber moves fluidly between American and Irish accents, creating voices for each character and adding both mood and interest with her animated reading. This story is more romance than fantasy, and Barber’s strong characterizations help listeners remain engaged and suspend disbelief as the plot becomes complicated. Listeners will root for Megan as she grows into her power. A.F. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine
DECEMBER 2011 - AudioFile
