Genre: Publication.Date January 15th 2013 (paperback edition) Pages: 229 Published By: Spencer Hill Press Website Kelly Hashway Touch Of Death on Goodreads My review copy: Review copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Where to get:
Jodi Marshall isn't sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she's in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she's being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.
After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he's not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she's part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendants of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins.
Jodi's deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn't difficult enough, Jodi discovers she's the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can't figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct.
(Goodreads)
Seriously? I'd hit a deer, wrecked my car, had my school nurse die moments after I was in her office, and had been stalked by a creepy guy, and she was asking about Matt?
I turned and ran out the back door. I had to get out of there fast or I wouldn't be able to make myself leave. If Mom had seen me or called my name, that would've been it for me. I would've lost my nerve and given into staying. That would've been selfish and stupid.
"I saw Medusa. The real Medusa. Or her spirit, I think. She spoke to me." Victoria's grip was like a vice. "She told me not to be afraid of her. That I was one of her children."
As we walked through the cemetery, I searched for the servant's grave. It was the only one that was freshly dug, so it was easy to spot. I was happy to see the servant back where he belonged. I didn't like the idea of Ophi using dead bodies as servants.
Walking into this one I really had no idea what to expect. I had read the description a long time ago and knew that it had caught me so when I was finally able to get it in my hands I started it. Now there is this little part of me that is in serious disbelief that there was any wait at all. Touch of Death really wasn't like anything I had picked up before but I had worried it would be with the little surge there was of death touch novels going around. With it's storyline drawing from Medusa and Greek mythology I found myself completely entranced.
If you want the basic rundown, the book is about Medusa's descendants. What Hashway did with it though was completely unique to anything I have read before. She has developed this extraordinary world that involves the 13th sign: Ophiuchus. Despite my primary worry that there would be no initial background expansion I was captivated almost immediately. Thing is there is background stories and a far more in depth look at the world that you are introduced to than expected in a first book. Beyond that there is a perfect pacing that didn't leave room for boredom because the things that needed to be revealed were all done with perfect timing.
Want a strong protagonist? You will find that in Jodi right from the start. She is a sweet girl that cares about how other people feel, what they feel but she also has her own brain and she uses it. Given multiple opportunities to just conform and believe what she was being told, I was impressed that she continued to think for herself and ask questions. She even held up an emotional composure when her world was basically ripped from her and she was placed on a metaphorical pedestal. With great morals and more strength added to her by the end, I can't even imagine where she will go next week.
The big question in this one was Alex. I was really undecided for a long time what his intentions were and I just wanted to like him right from the start. Biggest problem was the potential stalking and then the shifty attitude but my heart wanted to love him right from the start. The circumstance in which he showed up in Jodi's life and the change that it caused though disturbing to start actually were a blessing in disguise. These little things all caused the attraction between these two to be low key and develop into something perfectly. Romance may not have been the main focus and that was okay because what there was, was almost perfect.
The twists, turns and surprises come from start to finish and will without a doubt keep you captivated. There is no doubt in my mind that this was the start of something great. Hashway is undeniably talented and it shows in every sentence of this read. Touch of Death was an astounding debut that left me wanting more. Pick this one up without hesitation if you like Medusa and a fast paced read!
No comments:
Post a Comment