Countdown by Michelle Rowen
Summary: Living on the streets after her whole family is killed by a house robber, Kira uses her wits to survive. But when she wakes up in a strange place with a stranger named Rogan chained to a wall and finds out she is a contestant in an underground, televised game, the rules of life have changed and she and Rogan must get through six levels to win or die trying. Told her companion Rogan is a mass murderer and given difficult and violent tasks to complete, Kira must separate the lies from the truth in order to save both their lives. Seeking to beat the game and find a way to shut it down for the future, Kira and Rogan bond over their circumstances, quickly learning they are the only people they can trust.
Number of Pages: 336
Age Range: 15-17
Review: If The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and The Running Man by Stephen King had a love child, Countdown by Michelle Rowen would be it. But it’s a bit of a which came first situation, because Michelle Rowen’s first draft of Countdown was actually an adult book published under the pen name Michelle Maddox the same year the first book of The Hunger Games came out, 2008.
I enjoyed it as a fast-paced, action-packed read, although it contained more violence than I am used to. But I loved that Rowen was able to hook me with her ideas of a dystopia world thrown into disarray after a particularly virulent plague takes out much of the population. Something about the plague alters human DNA, and as a result some people are born with telekinetic and PSi powers. Technology has evolved, but as an underground enterprise that only the rich can afford. There are lots of plot twists to Rowen’s story, not all of which I saw coming.
It totally worked as a teen fiction novel, and is sure to interest reluctant readers.
Memorable Quotes:
“My breath hitched. could I fight him to escape from this place? If I had to? ‘I don’t belong here.’
‘None of us belong here, Kira,’ he said wearily. ‘Sometimes we need to do the best with what we’re given.'” – Conversation between Kira and Jonathan from Countdown by Michelle Rowen
“‘So you’re going to follow him and then what?’
‘And then I’m going to kill him.’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘But then again, I am a sick murdering bastard, right?’
‘So it’s that simple for you?’
His fists clenched at his sides.
‘You’re acting as if I have a choice.’
‘There’s always a choice.’ – Conversation between Kira and Rogan from Countdown by Michelle Rowen
“My jaw clenched. ‘I don’t think you’re anything like that.’
‘How can you say that after what I just told you?’
I exhaled. ‘What you told me? That you were a self-involved stoner rich kid who was bored and helped create a dumb game that other self-involved people thought was cool? That might make you an asshole, but it doesn’t make you a monster.'” – Conversation between Kira and Rogan from Countdown by Michelle Rowen
“Another blindfold. More darkness.
You’d think I’d be used to it by now, but, unfortunately phobias don’t work that way. You don’t simply get used to what you fear. It gets worse and worse and harder to deal with every single time. Even if you tell yourself it’s irrational to be afraid.” – Kira from Countdown by Michelle Rowen
Countdown by Michelle Rowen is published by Harlequin Teen, (2013).
The Rule of Three by Eric Walters
Summary: Adam’s small town life in Eden Mills, Ontario is turned upside down when the world suddenly finds itself without electricity thanks to a rampant computer virus. Plunged from the twenty-first century back into the nineteenth century, life quickly becomes about physical survival, providing for his family’s basic human needs as his father is stranded in Chicago. With the help of his mother, the police captain, and his mysterious former federal agent neighbour Herb, Adam plays an important role in the reorganization of society, dealing with new concerns and dangers that their situation brings.
Number of Pages: 405
Age Range: 13-15
Review: As the world descends into primal motivations, Adam is a sixteen year-old who takes on a new leadership role and responsibilities when he refuses to give up his values and consider the survival needs of the community he lives in. Under the guidance of his neighbour Herb, a man who has intimate knowledge of the dissolution of society, Adam proposes the villagers of Eden Mills stick together and pool their resources to save everyone and plan for a future without electricity through farming.
Author Eric Walters ponders the question, What if the world were suddenly without electricity? and weaves a thoughtful tale about what such a world would be like. Interspersed with intense action and a touch of romance, Walters crafts a community that strives to keep their moral centre in spite of the breakdown of society as they know it. I appreciated the conversations between Herb and Adam as they discussed the philosophical repercussions of their decisions in a world suddenly focused solely on physical survival.
I hope this is the start of a series, because I want to know what happened to Adam’s dad and I wish there was a better reason for the attack of the new military on communities just trying to survive. Walters highlights the struggle for power in a new world order, and it isn’t quite clear by the end who will be victorious. Will anyone figure out how to fix the computers and get the world’s infrastructure back up and running? But if they do, have things changed too much for society to recover? Walters has given me a lot to think about, and reading his book has given me insight into how society works and is maintained.
Memorable Quotes:
“‘Don’t be so surprised. Situational ethics can take root in a very short time.’
He could see from my expression that I had no idea what he was talking about.
‘It’s simple. The way people act, what they believe is wrong or unethical, changes because of the situation. None of those men woke up today thinking they’d try to steal a beat-up old car from a kid and an old man. Things change, especially when a mob mentality sets in,’ Herb said.
‘Six of them hardly makes a mob.’
‘It’s not the numbers but the attitude. The situation set the stage for their action, provided the fuel, but the big guy was going to be the one to ignite them. Always take on the big dog when you’re attacked by a pack.’
‘They were people, not a pack of dogs.’
He smiled. ‘Of course, but I’ve learned the two have some things in common.'” – Conversation between Herb and Adam from The Rule of Three by Eric Walters, pages 39-40
“I knew I should get to sleep, but I couldn’t. After checking on the kids I’d made a conscious decision to sleep on the couch instead of my bed, so I could be downstairs – between them and anybody trying to come into the house. Usually the couch was comfortable and I’d fall asleep watching TV. Maybe I couldn’t sleep because there was no TV. More likely it had something to do with the fact that I had one eye and both ears open and had a gun tucked under my pillow. Then, when I did close my eyes, I couldn’t escape the images I’d seen. How was any of this possible? How could things get so bad, so fast? Had it really only been last Wednesday that I was in school, typing Todd’s essay in the computer lab?'” – Adam from The Rule of Three by Eric Walters, page 149
“‘I just don’t feel comfortable around him,’ I admitted. ‘It’s like since this has gone on he’s changed.’
‘Crisis doesn’t change people; it reveals them,’ Herb said.” – Conversation between Adam and Herb from The Rule of Three by Eric Walters, page 325
“‘Actually it’s about more than just our survival,’ Herb said. ‘This is about the very survival of a way of life, of the ideals that we believe in. The people we’re fighting are destroyers, tearing down any attempts for civilization to ever re-establish itself. What we’re doing to day isn’t just about us – it’s about so much more. Right is on our side.'” – Herb from The Rule of Three by Eric Walters, page 380
The Rule of Three by Eric Walters is published by Razorbill, (2014).
Between Heaven and Earth by Eric Walters
Summary: After the death of his grandfather, David McLean, DJ’s task is to take his ashes up to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, a place he never got to go to during his life despite flying many missions over Africa. A natural athlete and leader as the oldest of the seven cousins, DJ has no trouble understanding why his grandfather chose him for the job, expecting his trek to be more like a walk in the park as opposed to a real challenge. Along the way, DJ discovers his own strength will only take him so far though, and learning to take things slowly and rely on others just might get him further than he would if he were alone.
Number of Pages: 245
Age Range: 13-14
Review: Another strong edition to Seven the Series, Eric Walters’ Between Heaven and Earth explores DJ’s story, the oldest grandson of the late David McLean. As his grandfather’s namesake and role model to his twin brother and five younger cousins, there’s a lot of pressure on DJ to do the right thing and live up to the expectations placed upon him. He’s given an important task of taking his grandfather’s ashes to Africa, up Mount Kilimanjaro.
DJ is used to being considered the strong and responsible one, especially since the death of his father, but when he travels to Tanzania in Africa and tries to climb a mountain, he realises it might not be as easy as he thinks. What follows is an adventurous read involving stolen bags, helping a girl named Sarah prove her worth as the first girl porter up the mountain, and life lessons in relying on others for strength when you need it the most.
Once again, I love getting to know the character of David McLean through the stories of his grandsons. He always seems to know just what each of his grandsons need to become better men. In DJ’s case, it’s providing one last bonding experience to help him deal with his grandfather’s death.
I wanted to know more about the death of DJ’s dad, and of course what happens next, but Walters answered my questions about the nature of DJ’s and Sarah’s potential relationship. The Seven Sequels are due to come out on October 1st this year, and I can’t wait.
Memorable Quotes:
“‘I’ve always thought that the problems of the world were caused because we failed to understand one simple fact: we are all part of the same family. There are not different races of people but one race – the human race. If we were able to trace our lives back through the generations, we’d find the links that connect us all. There are people who speak about the Garden of Eden as if it was a fact, and others who see the theory of evolution as more than a theory. In some ways they’re both correct. However, we all share the same beginnings. We started with one mother and father – one Adam and Eve – even if through evolution.'” – David McLean from Between Heaven and Earth by Eric Walters, page 24
“‘Yes, it is,’ he agreed. ‘He was a man of such strength and determination that it would seem that he could accomplish any goal. But that mountain… it has its way, and for some people it is harder. That is how it was for him.'” – Elijah Senior from Between Heaven and Earth by Eric Walters, page 56
“‘No need to be sorry. It is sad, but many Tanzanians do not seem to know either. In 1961 we gained our independence from England. Our first president, Mr. Julious Nyerere, ordered that a delegation being wood to the top of the mountain to light a pyre. He said, ‘We will light a candle on top of Mount Kilimanjaro which will shine beyond our borders, giving hope where there is despair, love where there is hate, and dignity where before there was only humiliation.'” – Elijah Senior from Between Heaven and Earth by Eric Walters, page 58
“‘Good. It is one thing that they stole your possessions. It would be a far worse thing if they were to steal your compassion.'” – Old Man on the street in Africa from Between Heaven and Earth by Eric Walters, page 73
“‘There is a saying – if you wish to travel fast, travel alone, if you wish to travel far, travel together. You are part of a group of climbers, supported by partners and led by a guide. Travel with them. That’s important for the climb and in life. Don’t leave people behind – not your mother, not your brother, not your cousins – on your life journey.
As you trek up the mountain, I want you to stop along the way, enjoy each step, each moment. Breathe in the air, savor the view, live in the moment. Move slowly, enjoy. Remember not to wish away the minute or the days between now and the goal you are seeking. When you look up, you’ll see climbers farther along the journey. When you look back you’ll see those behind you. Don’t pity those below or envy those above. Life is a journey and not a destination; each must take it at his own pace.'” – David McLean from Between Heaven and Earth by Eric Walters, pages 123-124
“I couldn’t believe how focused I was on how my various body parts were functioning. Never had eating, sleeping, eliminating wastes and inventorying my body parts taken up so much of my attention. Normally anybody this concerned should consult a doctor – a psychiatrist, probably – but of course this situation was far from normal.” – DJ from Between Heaven and Earth by Eric Walters, page 174
“‘Don’t be sorry. Go through the tired. Go through the pain. Believe you can do it. Try and you can’t fail. You’re as good as Grandfather. I believe in you. KUTGW bro. Grandfather’s waiting at the top. KIT.'” – Steve from Between Heaven and Earth by Eric Walters, page 211
”You’ve been carrying a lot of weight around on those shoulders,’ she said. ‘It’s a sign of strength to know when you need help. We’re all here to help each other.’
I brushed away a tear. ‘I don’t know what to say.’
‘You don’t have to say anything. We’re a team, remember? Just climb. All the way to the top.’
‘All the way to the top,’ I said.” – Conversation between Doris and DJ from Between Heaven and Earth by Eric Walters, page 226
“”I hope you have learned the joy of taking life as it comes, living in the moment, not thinking through to the end, but relishing the process and perhaps going polepole – going slowly along the path you travel.'” – David McLean from Between Heaven and Earth by Eric Walters, page 242
“‘A fool believes he knows what life is about. A wiser man understands he knows little. The wisest man not only understands his limitations, but accepts and embraces that lack of understanding. Slowly, over the years, I came to appreciate that what I knew would never be as great as what I didn’t know. The only thing I have come to know with certainty is that all of us are simply trying to get along the best that we can, sharing in our struggles, trying for our dreams, living with our failures and celebrating our successes. I’ve had my share of both.'” – David McLean from Between Heaven and Earth by Eric Walters, pages 242-242
Between Heaven and Earth by Eric Walters is published by Orca Book Publishers, (2012).
I Know It’s Over by C.K. Kelly Martin
Summary: After a mild flirtation with a girl named Dani mostly so he fits in with his crowd of friends, Nick finds himself attracted to Sasha, a friend of a friend. Sasha is the kind of girl who has dreams for the future and refuses to put up with sexist crap that Nick’s friends dish out, so developing a relationship with her takes time as Nick has to prove he is different from the others. Their physical relationship moves slowly at first and bumpily, with everyone advising protection and caution, but accidents happen and Sasha ends up pregnant. Suddenly there are decisions to be made and Nick is struggling to deal with the fallout of being a bystander in one of the most important choices of his life.
Number of Pages: 244
Age Range: 15-17
Review: Reading C.K. Kelly Martin’s books is a pleasure of mine. They’re full of teenage angst, driven by hormones, and generally about teens faced with the consequences of poor decisions. Martin writes a great teenage voice, and there is the element of not being able to look away from the drama that unfolds in her stories.
It’s easy to read this book and say, “Oh, if only they had taken the Plan B pill!” Nick and Sasha were both pretty responsible teens, but this was their ultimate downfall. I was very surprised when Sasha did not see that through, although it was necessary for Martin’s story. It was a terrible lesson for them to have to learn, and I was sorry it contributed to their break up.
Despite being about an unplanned teen pregnancy, I consider it to be a recreational read. Martin’s use of a male protagonist allowed her to tackle this topic from a fresh perspective and I enjoyed reading about Nick’s reaction to a decision that was largely out of his control but greatly affected his life. I also liked that it wasn’t just about Nick and Sasha, it was also about their parents and their friends. Nathan was my favourite character with his struggle to love and be loved as a gay teen in a small town.
When it came to Sasha’s parents though, I was a bit confused. They seemed to have such a tight leash on her, trying to prevent her from even being in any situations that would get her into trouble. This suggests to me they realise teens often make bad decisions, but when Sasha’s father finds out she’s been having sex and she’s pregnant, he’s shocked. What were they protecting her from, if not that? Also, there was no discussion of adoption at all, which I thought was a bit of an oversight.
But that’s the thing about pleasure reads, you don’t like them because they are going to change your life, you like them because you just can’t put them down.
Memorable Quotes:
“Sometimes I can sit there and listen sympathetically to Mom’s complaints. I understand that it sucks and that it helps to have someone else say it out loud for you, but then again, how many times can I say it? The drill gets a bit much, especially when nothing ever changes and whatever I say doesn’t make the slightest bit of difference.” – Nick from I Know It’s Over by C.K. Kelly Martin
“He sounded scared. I would be too. This was no small thing he was confessing.
‘It’s as weird as you let it be.’ I wasn’t used to being on this side of the conversation with Nathan, and I didn’t want to let him down. ‘He doesn’t know anything for sure, right? You didn’t say anything to him?’
‘No, but he’s right. I’m attracted to him.’
‘It doesn’t matter,’ I insisted. ‘He doesn’t know for sure.’
‘But it’s not just him. It’s everyone. It’s…can I ever like anybody and show it or…’ Nathan’s voice hollowed into nothing, then began again, so soft that I had to strain to hear. ‘ Do I have to be this neutral, sexless thing all my life?’
Silence stretched out uncomfortably between us. I hadn’t thought about it like that, the way other people’s restrictions could limit you.” – Conversation between Nick and Nathan from I Know It’s Over by C.K. Kelly Martin
“For sure. There probably wouldn’t be time for CSI over the phone, but there’d definitely be time for her. I didn’t think I could go a week without spending time alone with Sasha. You spend months barely acknowledging someone’s existence and then BOOM, you’re emotionally addicted to her. Science would probably blame it on chemicals, genetics, or something equally logical, but it didn’t feel like anything logical.” – Nick from I Know It’s Over by C.K. Kelly Martin
“So it looks like I’m in. Parental visits to the Jasinski house. Babysitting maybe. It’s the only think to do. And Sasha might not have the baby anyway. I crouch in front of the monitor and read her e-mail a second time. Her mom thinks it’d be better if she didn’t have it. I’d feel the same way if I were her mother. She wants Sasha to have the perfect future and this isn’t it. I’m the wrong guy and this is the wrong time. This isn’t anything like her life is supposed to turn out. She’s supposed to go to university, do Europe, and then start this incredible career. Abortion is so obviously the right thing to do that I feel like crying. This kid never had a chance from the start. They suction it out or something, right? I know it’s not a real baby, but it’s something and it’s not its fault. But that’s not the worst part about this. I don’t want that to happen to Sasha. Nobody should ever have to do that, but I can’t stand to think about it happening to her.” – Nick from I Know It’s Over by C.K. Kelly Martin
“‘You take care. Call me anytime.’ I’m not ready for the conversation to be over. I haven’t asked if she’s going to be awake or even if she’s scared, but I hang up. It’s the story of us, I guess. I was never ready for anything.” – Nick from I Know It’s Over by C.K. Kelly Martin
I Know It’s Over by C.K. Kelly Martin is published by Random House Children’s Books, (2008).
The Alphabet Stones by Ursula Pflug
Summary: Living on a commune with her older sister Alana and her best friend Ethan, Jody encounters a particularly difficult summer during her fourteen year when everything seems to change, thrusting her into a new life she wasn’t anticipating. Looking back years later, the story of that summer and the years following come flowing out of her, and Jody is able to examine the details of what was really going on, turning over the events in her mind. Resolution comes when Jody encounters people from her past, but the truth of her heritage might mean she is caught between two worlds forever.
Number of Pages: 223
Age Range: 17-18
Review: Though Jody is a grown-up when she tells the story of the summer of her fourteen year, in many ways she is still that fourteen year-old, in love with the guy who loves her sister, trying to live without the presence of her mother, and struggling to determine what is real and what is not.
There were things that confused me about Pflug’s story. Why did Snake want Jody to be unable to go to the fairy world? I don’t understand why Pflug develops the whole storyline of two half siblings being able to connect in their otherness, only to have the one sibling be able to go to the fairy world and the other sibling be stuck on earth. Who is there for Jody to connect with, if she is indeed the product of her mother’s affair with a mystical man?
I wasn’t truly sure if Jody and her mother were connected to the spirit world or dealing with mental illness. Did Jody’s mother disappear into the fairy world, or did she just go live on another commune? Was Jody’s older brother the victim of SIDS and buried by their mother or was he taken by his father to live in the fairy world? I thought Sam’s view of the situation was enlightening, and I included it in my Memorable Quotes.
Ultimately I wanted a happy ending for Jody. Perhaps it’s naïve and I know life doesn’t work always work out that way, but I hated how her half-blood status meant she caught between the fairy world and the human world, not really at home in either place. Ethan, the man she has feelings for, continues to see her more as a little sister and has yearnings of his own which take him away at his slightest inclination. By the end of the book, Jody has no real home, and while I thought a relationship might develop between her and Randy, it didn’t. Is she doomed to be alone? Does she want to be alone or is there just no way for her to overcome her upbringing to form a satisfying relationship?
That said, it’s a beautiful book. Pflug’s writing is poetic and mystical, and I enjoyed the philosophical musings that her story brings about. Jody’s story is like a Grimm brothers’ fairy tale, and I like that it’s a bit of a crossover between a teen and adult book. I think it can be enjoyed by both.
Memorable Quotes:
“It was as if the land took un-grown parts of Alana and me inside herself, the parts severed and cauterized by our mother’s absence, until we were old enough to begin the long trek of healing. If a starfish can grow a new limb, why can’t a human being? Do we have so few skills, compared to a little sea creature?” – Jody from The Alphabet Stones by Ursula Pflug, page 17
“It’s been said before, and it’s still true: teenagers are morons. Truth is, adults are too. Hardly any of the, get any wiser; they just learn to hide their fuckwittedness or to work around it. That is what mainly passes for wisdom in our world. The truer kind is a little rarer.” – Jody from The Alphabet Stones by Ursula Pflug, page 26
“One day I kept going farther into the woods beyond unused pastures. I rested in the arms of ancient maples, and paused to watch a coyote mother and her pups stray out of the cedar swamp. My head swelled up with the strangeness of it: the magic. In the clearings I talked to milkweeds; it felt normal and sane, and I only worried a little that I was losing my mind. One step further and it would be gone, all of what civilized me: my manners, my toilet training, my ability to use cutlery and to do up my buttons and tie shoes. Whatever it all is. We think we’ll come aparts if we leave it behind, even for one short soul-kissed moment, but what I found was the opposite, that I came together.” – Jody from The Alphabet Stones by Ursula Pflug, page 48
“‘When you were a kid would you have believe the world we’re living in now? Would you have believed your life?’ I asked.
‘I didn’t believe it then. It’s been a long time since the world’s been believable.’ Randy got up from his red stool to turn on the coffee machine, his movement stirring the dust motes dancing in the shafts of sunlight.” – Conversation between Jody and Randy from The Alphabet Stones by Ursula Pflug, page 99
“Sam’s mouth twisted. ‘To tell me my daughter wasn’t mine – you know, I could actually accept that, Jody. Marriage can be difficult. People make terrible mistakes, unable to discern the other’s needs because their own unmet needs loom so large. But against all odds the marriage can survive, the partners manage to grow a little. It wasn’t a weakness for us to stay together. It wasn’t a weakness for me to accept you as my own, to raise you as my own. Although some would say it was. But Lucie Jardinière, colluding with your mother in her fairy story. To this day I don’t know whether your mother was deceitful or just delusional.” – Sam from The Alphabet Stones by Ursula Pflug, page 191
“When Alana and Paul visited in Vancouver, we didn’t talk about the missing. I sat and looked at my sister’s beautiful young husband and wondered what he would make of being a father. I knew my sister loved him, and that they would have beautiful children, and that, while they might be poor, they would have the land. The land was its own kind of wealth, even when it didn’t bring in a cent.
More than I could say for myself.
It is only the land and the children that matter.” – Jody from The Alphabet Stones by Ursula Pflug, page 204
The Alphabet Stones by Ursula Pflug is published by Blue Denim Press, (2013).
(Buy this book: Amazon
| Canadian Booksellers)
Hexed by Michelle Krys
Summary: A cheerleader at a Fairfield High in a position of popularity, Indigo’s life takes a turn when someone steals an important book from her mother’s occult store, ‘The Black Cat.’ Turns out the recessive genes for being a witch run in Indigo’s family, but until her 200th full moon, Indigo won’t know if she has inherited the powers herself. The stolen book is The Witch Hunter’s Bible, and if it falls into the wrong hands many witches will die. Thrust into the action of a war between witches and sorcerers with a high personal cost, Indigo finds herself under the tutelage of Bishop, an eighteen year-old Warlock who is determined to help her develop her powers. As the secret magical world starts to unfurl for Indigo, she realises all is not as it seems and forms a plan to reclaim the book.
Number of Pages: 369
Age Range: 15-17
Review: The first book in a new series, Hexed by Michelle Krys develops a strong main character in Indigo. I loved her feisty spirit, her sense of independence, and her spunky voice as she navigates the magical world after being convinced her occult-believing mother was crazy. Indigo adjusts remarkably well to her new life, shedding her cheerleader persona and friends without much difficulty as she realises they weren’t genuine anyway. And, in truth, her best friend having sex with her boyfriend aided the transition a great deal.
Instead, Indigo finds a true friend in Paige who is loyal to her from the start. Bishop enters the scene as a mentor with a past and replacement love interest, although Devon really isn’t hard to beat in the romance department. They are both also great characters, and it looks like Krys has set up the second book to be about Paige after she is kidnapped because of her association with Indigo.
The world of witches and sorcerers is complicated, but I liked how Krys had several twists and turns in plot that she handled without making me feel overwhelmed as a reader. There is an over-arching story going on with the battle between the Family and the Priory, and my interest is piqued enough that I want to read where things go. I wish it had been a little lighter on the romance and attraction part because at times I felt Indigo was easily distracted by Bishop’s smell, tattoos, and overall handsomeness, and she was smarter than that, but I still thought she had chops.
Hexed is an action-packed read and I am looking forward to Krys’ sequel.
Memorable Quotes:
“‘Jerk? I know. So listen, you have to take me somewhere private if I’m going to tell you anything.’
‘Absolutely not.’ Sorry, buddy, but I’ve seen that episode of Oprah. ‘Never let them take you to a second location.’ is, like, Rule #1 of foiling predators.” – Conversation between Bishop and Indigo from Hexed by Michelle Krys, pages 97-98
“They speak to each other in the way that only longtime friends do, and I have to wonder how long they’ve been doing this – conspiring to get me well. Something sparks inside me. I hadn’t thought it was possible, but a tiny hole has chipped away at the ice block, and sliver of light streams inside.” – Indigo from Hexed by Michelle Krys, page 220
“Once it’s up, I’m happy to discover it’s easy to move the desk where I want it simply by willing it there with my eyes. It takes everything in me not to grin like an idiot as I float the desk over the wood floor, over the bearskin rug, and drop it inches from Bishop’s bare feet, so that he has to jump back lest his toes be squashed.
I did it. My heart swells up like I didn’t think was possible anymore. ‘Oh my God,’ I say. ‘I’m a freaking witch.'” – Indigo from Hexed by Michelle Krys, page 262
“I must say, it’s hard to find a rhythm when you’re worried about a sorcerer killing you at any moment, but I try, because the whole point is that I appear to be casual, that I don’t look like I’m trying to lure the Priory out so we can reclaim the Bible and kill them.” – Indigo from Hexed by Michelle Krys, page 315
Hexed by Michelle Krys is published by Delacorte Press, (2014).
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