Static

Dark and gritty with adult themes.

Review by Shyla:

Right out the gate I realized that Static wasn't your average YA novel. The world Salem Vale lives in is gritty, dark and at times almost too real for a seventeen year old. With an ex groupie for a Mother, Goth Style, and balls the size of King Kong, Salem is a strange mixture of maturity, darkness, and vulnerability. Salem and her best friend Chloe have spent their entire summer following around their favorite band Malice, with all of their attempts to get backstage ending in failure. This is their last show in the area, so when Salem gets her hand on a backstage pass it seems like fate. Until a kiss from the dark and brooding lead singer Thane renders her unconscious.

Waking up in a dumpster without her cell phone or id is just the beginning of Salem's problem as her life begins to unravel. A near death experience lands her in a hospital, and her life begins to read like an eighties horror movie. Her eyes bleed black, leaking a tar like substance, she wakes up floating near the ceiling, and she has a hunger for something other than food.

At this point you'd be inclined to think Malice must have been vampires, but you would be wrong, which is a huge part of what makes Static so very brilliant! Malice is a den of demons better known as succubus , and now Salem has become one of them. Her journey to this knowledge is filled with various trials, and a mysterious boy named Trevor who seems to know everything. This dark desire filled world is captivating and the plot is constantly going in a new and unexpected direction! Tawny infuses drama with humor in a seamless manor that keeps the story fresh.

One minute you're laughing and the next you've been slipped into a moment that chills the blood in your veins. This creepy thriller is an echo of horror movies gone by. With its blend of romance, suspense, violence and macabre themes! This is one that teens and the older crowd alike can enjoy. But parents are forewarned there are a lot of adult themes in this one.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Awesome paranormal romance!

Static is an edgy YA paranormal book. I was pretty impressed actually - it was even better than I thought it would be. It's about a 17 year old girl named Salem who is determined to lose her virginity to the lead singer of a rock band. She basically seems obsessed with him. Little does she know, there is a very good reason for that. Thane, the lead singer of the band Malice, isn't what he seems. She finally gets a chance to meet him and next thing Salem knows, she wakes up in a dumpster somewhere. She can't remember what happened, but knows it was something awful.

This isn't your typical YA book. I'll admit, there is content in the book that some parents might not feel comfortable letting their teenagers read. The story is about so much more than just a teenage girl wanting to lose her virginity though. Not only that, but the book is so true to life of teenagers. Well, besides the supernatural part. Besides that part, this book is "real". It doesn't have sweet innocent teenagers who do nothing but hold hands on a date. Don't get me wrong, there isn't any sex scenes in this book - but the desire that all teenagers feel is there.

The first part of the book keeps you on the edge of your seat, dying to know what is happening to Salem and wondering what kind of supernatural creatures we are dealing with. Also, even though the book isn't a novella, it is still pretty fast paced. It's exciting all the way through. Not only did I really like the character of Salem, I also really liked Trevor. He was sweet, and there was a lot of sexual tension and swoonwothy moments - even though they were plotting to kill.

This book is really well written, and it's very unique and original. I have no idea if it is part of a series but I would like to read more about these characters. I'd recommend this for older, mature teens - and even adults who like paranormal romances.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great book!

Talk about some life changing music! I really loved this book. I think the plot line of this book really grips the reader. I am always amazed at the writer's out of the box imagination to create such a great and wonderful story!

Ok, first the plot line of this book is nothing like I've read before. I enjoyed being pulled in all kinds of directions but also diving into a book with a unique storyline. I love the thought of music becoming static. If what you hearing is not all that your hearing, but subliminal messages hidden within the music. The plot line never fell short. It caught the reader quickly from page one, never letting the reader go.

I loved how well Ms. Stokes brings the reader to a place in the book to connect with the characters. Ms. Stokes created likeable characters that anyone can connect to. You feel the characters angry and grief over what is taken from them unexpectedly. I enjoyed their harbored angry along with the plot to get back at them. It's like a lion hunting its prey. The characters completely engrossed to reader, that you are no longer yourself, but Trevor and Salem fighting for their lives.

The slight touch of love in this book gave a right combination of peace to it. The love that grew before the reader eyes set the tone for the book. That there is hope when you think you have nothing left. Ms. Stokes set the opportunity for love when there is fighting everywhere else. I really liked that it wasn't a insta-love but once that grew through survival.

Static, is a dark and thrilling book that I can read again. Filled with a revengeful plot and music that is not all what it is, Static is awesome! If you love a good paranormal book with a fresh twist read this book!

Refreshing and Unique Paranormal Story, it's One-of-a--Kind YA

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Static. It's a fast-paced story, with an incredibly unique paranormal aspect going on. I don't want to spoil you all by telling you what paranormal being Static involves, but it's definitely a rarity in YA, and Tawny even includes a mythical figure in it...again, I won't mention who, but I'll give you a hint...in most version of his myth, he's pretty tight with King Arthur. ;)

Salem was a fantastic main character, she was feisty, and had a personality that jumped right off of the page. I also totally sympathized with her obsession with Malice...I know I've been obsessed with a band or two, and I'm sure Salem and I aren't alone in that. I loved how even though she was changing, Salem didn't give up. She was scared, and she was confused, but once she had some guidance through Trevor, she knew what she was aiming for...although, she still had some moments where she freaked out, which I loved because it made her that much easier to relate to. Now, I've already mentioned Trevor, and you were probably like, "Trevor? Who's Trevor?" Well, Trevor is one of Malice's roadies, and he helps Salem through her transition...as he's been through it himself, he knows a little bit of what she's going through. :P

The plot of the book itself was awesome. I loved the whole music aspect, which was brief, but still stood out to me, and I especially loved the folklore that Tawny Stokes brought into the story as background to the type of paranormal being Malice was. The whole revenge aspect was also a win with me. I thought that the reason behind Trevor's desire for revenge was heartbreaking, and it fit incredibly well with the story, and I thought that Tawny did a great job exploring Trevor past, even though it was brief, I still felt like he was a well-developed character. The one aspect that I wasn't the biggest fan of was how the ending of the book progressed. There was a tonne of build up, but then when the big finale arrived, it was a bit rushed. I felt that it could have been played out for a little longer. Other than the ending being a bit rushed, I thought that it was fantastic. :)

Static is a story charged with live wire characters full of attitude. I'd recommend it to anyone who loves paranormal and is looking for something a little different, and also to anyone who loves characters with spunk. Plus, if you like a good revenge plot, you'll love this!

*This review was originally published on my blog, Burning.x.Impossibly.x.Bright.
*I was provided with a review copy of Static for an honest review and to participate in its Bewitching Book Tour.