Fated

Gr 8 Up—Noël gives paranormal romance an innovative twist in this first book of a trilogy. Sixteen-year-old Daire is plagued with delusions. In a last ditch effort to keep her from being institutionalized, her mother sends her daughter to stay with the mysterious grandmother she has never met. Paloma is a healer in the small town of Enchantment, NM. She assures Daire that what she sees are not delusions, but visions that mark her as the latest in a long line of Seekers. Daire learns from Paloma that as a Seeker her job is to move back and forth from this world to the spirit world, helping souls who have been misled. Her grandmother trains her to hone her talents so she will be ready to fight the forces of evil that plan to steal every soul in town on the Day of the Dead. Noël keeps the plot moving along at a rapid clip, throwing in several spirit portals, potions, and visions. To keep the magical elements believable, she grounds the story in reality: high school shenanigans, small-town politics, and family conflicts. A recurring source of tension is whether or not Daire should allow herself to be attracted to handsome, kindly Dace, even though his twin brother, Cade, is evil incarnate. Daire is a compelling, believable character. Like most teens, she is conflicted about her future and romance. Other characters are more one-dimensional. Still, the story is so packed with action, suspense, and tender romance that character development probably will not be missed.—Jennifer Prince, Buncombe County Public Library, NC