Rating: PG
Genre: Fantasy
Score:
Page Count: 288
Stand Alone
Publisher: CreateSpace
Published: October 14th, 2014
Normal is so overrated. At least that's what seventeen-year-old Kate Triumph tells herself everyday. But the truth is she lives in constant fear that someone will discover how not normal she really is. With her startling speed and her unusual ability to heal, Kate believes she's something of a freak.
Then Andrew Shore arrives.
He claims he's her father, sticks around for a few days and leaves her a plane ticket. “Come to Mercer Island,” he says. “Give me a chance to get to know you.” Soon Kate is floundering in a world of new: new address, new car, new high school and, of course, new father. Not to mention Zack, her intriguing new neighbor, who makes her want to abandon her steadfast rule of never allowing anyone to get too close. But when she discovers someone is trying to kill her, life for Kate gets a bit more complicated. And a lot less normal.
Then Andrew Shore arrives.
He claims he's her father, sticks around for a few days and leaves her a plane ticket. “Come to Mercer Island,” he says. “Give me a chance to get to know you.” Soon Kate is floundering in a world of new: new address, new car, new high school and, of course, new father. Not to mention Zack, her intriguing new neighbor, who makes her want to abandon her steadfast rule of never allowing anyone to get too close. But when she discovers someone is trying to kill her, life for Kate gets a bit more complicated. And a lot less normal.
Review:
PROS:
1. First off, I would like to thank The Fantastic Flying Book Club for the digital review copy! I'm just going to jump straight into this book review because I'm seriously super excited to have been able to review it for you all. No more lollygagging! Here's the review:
2. I really loved Kate's character from the beginning. She was a strong and unique character who faced her fears and reality head on without making a sob-fest out of everything. She had no time for drama or the water-works even when the situation might have warranted a tear or two and I really loved that. It kept Kate's character from coming off as too juvenile and too sensitive, which more than likely would've gotten on my nerves after a while. Because she didn't let her emotions get to her, she was able to keep a clear head and didn't linger on past mistakes and regrets.
3. I also loved how the book's ending catches you a little by surprise. I was about halfway through the book and it felt like it would need at least another two hundred pages to flesh everything out and give a great ending versus the small 200+ pages that tells the entire story. I was pleasantly surprised by how well the book wrapped up even though the book is quite short. It was able to deliver an ending that I was very satisfied with, not leaving me with a HUGE cliffhanger but still leaving it open should the author decide to revisit the story of Kate Triumph in a sequel.
4. The book was funny, quirky exciting, action-packed and fast-paced laced with a little bit of romance and cool fighting and car-chasing scenes that kept me entertained until the very end. For this to be the first published work from the author, I can't wait to see what else the author has up her sleeve. Based on what I've gathered after reading Kate Triumph, I'd say Shari Arnold better give me another novel ASAP. She wrote a great cast of characters that had really great chemistry, wrote a strong female lead who didn't need fancy weapons to show her strength, and provided a short yet entertaining read that I'm so happy I was able to pick up.
You Can Purchase The Book Here:
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About The Author:
Shari Arnold grew up in California and Utah but now resides in Connecticut, with her husband and two kids, where she finds it difficult to trust a beach without waves. She writes Young Adult fiction because it's her favorite. And occasionally she takes photographs.
Author Links:
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I actually have this book even though I haven't read it yet. But I do like the sound of this one and how she is someone who is independent and just goes and faces everything life is giving her! She sounds just like my kind of character ;)
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