Title: Pure (Book 1, Pure Series)
Author: Catherine Mesick
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult Paranormal
Book Blurb:
Sixteen-year-old Katie Wickliff lives quietly in the small town of Elspeth's Grove, unaware of the troubled past that forced her grandmother to flee Russia with her when Katie was only a child. When people in the town begin to disappear, and Katie's own home is attacked by a terrifying creature, Katie and her grandmother return to Russia to find answers.
Pursuing them is the handsome William – who just might be a vampire. Katie discovers that William is indeed partially a vampire, but he is also one of the Sidh, an ancient clan whose members are gifted with great power – a clan to which Katie's long-deceased mother also belonged.
Soon, Katie discovers that her mother's seemingly natural death was actually murder, and she is forced to confront the question she wants to face the least: Is William her otherworldly protector, or is he the dark creature who killed her mother eleven years ago?
My Review:
Katie’s your typical teenage girl living in a small town. She lives with her grandmother (both parents died) whom Katie refers to as GM, has her circle of friends who she confides in and lives a pretty mundane life. That is, until people start disappearing and she starts seeing things in the mirror.
What’s happening to me, she asks herself. Am I going crazy? But when she starts to investigate the disappearance of her classmates, she steps into a world filled with vampires, demons and all things supernatural. Is she the Little Sun from the Russian bedtime story from long ago? And who is this mysterious William?
In a nutshell, this is a retelling of Buffy the Vampire Slayer but with a Russian vibe. I loved the mythology the author injected into the story while still staying true to the lore of slayers. The supernatural scenes were captivating and I found myself nudging Katie along to find out the truth. The plot unfolds at a good pace and there were some terrific surprises I didn’t see coming. I loved the character William.
One thing I had an issue with was the whole GM nickname thing. It didn’t flow when I read it and many times, it took me out of the story. Now, I’m sure this is common slang for teenagers nowadays so I guess I'm showing my age. LOL!
If you’re a fan of paranormal romance and looking for a different spin on it, this is the book for you. I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to dive into the rest of the series.
Favorite Character: Katie. I love how real she is. Everything she goes through, from discovering who she is to dealing with her best friend ignoring her, comes across as real. She’s your everyday teenager who’s curious about things her GM keeps from her. When sparks fly between her and William, her reactions resonate with the reader and I yearn to experience first love again. A great role model, too.
My Rating: 5 stars
Buy it now:
Author Biography:
Catherine Mesick is the author of the Pure series of YA Paranormal novels. She is a graduate of Pace University and Susquehanna University. She lives in Maryland. Book 1, Pure Book 2, Firebird Book 3, Dangerous Creatures Book 4, Ghost Girl, available now!
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Reviewed by: Mrs. N