S.A. Larsen, Award-winning author of middle grade & young adult fiction: Book Spotlight~Daemons in the Mist

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Book Spotlight~Daemons in the Mist

For today's Young Adult Teen Tuesday, I'm continuing with the theme of Daemons in the Mist by giving you a deeper look into the story of Patrick and Nualla.

Title: Daemons in the Mist
Author: Alicia Kat Dillman
Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy
Publisher: Korat Publishing
Release Date: June 2011
Pages: 490

I'd like to thank the author for providing me with an e-copy of this book for review.

Favorite Line/Passage: Patrick - Nualla was pacing back and forth still waving her hands frantically and talking into her cell in a language I couldn't understand. Though she was speaking quickly, the words flowed over her lips like a beautiful waterfall.

Nualla - The exception, it seemed, to California's bright and sunny weather. It's not the foggiest city in the world, but its damn close. People have written books based here, and songs and movies. Even Mark Twain is quoted as saying, "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.' Though if I hear one more tourist say it, I'm going to hit someone. (I could have shared a ton of different quotes from Nualla; I just wanted to show you her snarkiness. Awesome, huh?)

Description: Finally getting the girl of your dreams; what could possibly go wrong? Seventeen year old Patrick Connolly has been hopelessly infatuated with Nualla for years but he is all but invisible to her. Until, that is, he rescues her from a confrontation with her ex. Little does Patrick know he’s just set off a dangerous chain reaction that will thrust him into a world of life altering secrets and things that shouldn’t exist, because the fog and mist of San Francisco is concealing more than just buildings.

NIGHTSTAND WORTHY

My Splats: A ride of intrigue, hidden agendas, action, and a ting of romance.

The story opens with Nualla and Patrick attending the same high school but living in separate worlds. Of course, the blending of two worlds works to sprinkle the paranormal elements necessary to tell this tale. But this setting also presents the reader with a great parallel of the reality of being a young adult. There are always segregated groups in high school, groups that are seen and those that are not seen. And the perception of these groups is no different than it has been throughout the ages of organized public education.

Patrick’s eyes are opened by the sudden, although somewhat accidental, interest Nualla shows him. Unexpected attention leads to unexpected travels, which take on a life of their own…and consequences. When Nualla believes she and Patrick have violated a serious code of honor for her people, they are forced into abiding by the rules of this code. This is fine with them, because they genially have fallen for each other. But as you might have guessed, there’s more to that part of the story.

Dillman includes what some might call risky subjects in young adult literature, using the reality of teenagers partying, drinking, sexual tension, and references to having sex. With saying this, all is done in perfect taste and highlights more of the real experience of today’s teenage life. It shows that teens might not always use the best judgment with their decision making, but they can act responsibly in handling the consequences when given the opportunity.

Overall, Dillman’s writing is a hoot! She uses the snarkiest, quick-witted language, especially through Nualla’s dialog. This strong characteristic attracted me like bees to their honey. And it didn’t just attract me, but Dillman’s other characters too. It was obvious that this was one element of Nualla’s personality that Patrick enjoyed. But it also challenged him. Through this, Dillman showed the maturing growth of a teenage boy.

I look forward to reading more of Nualla and Patrick adventures and am excited to see where Dillman takes their story.

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Margo Berendsen

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