Paranormalcy

A very distinctive, concise voice, beautifully developed and invigorating characters, and a brilliant plot pull together to make Paranormalcy a very stunning debut. The fluid voice comes off from the first page, slipping the reader into Evie's mindset instantly and smoothly. Intrigue begins just as swiftly and is maintained throughout, helping to keep the reader both involved and amazed at White's natural writing talent.

Evie is a character most anyone will be able to relate to and appreciate. She has a well defined history which is revealed throughout the book, garnering sympathy and understanding. As the plot moves and her view on things begins to change, Evie's character grows tremendously. The manner she handles things is incredibly true to her age, despite the childhood she's had. Her general view of the world shifts according to the events surrounding her, showing maturity but White does a phenomenal job continuing to keep Evie as a teenager- she is still flawed, has her moments of weakness and fear, and doesn't immediately see and put everything together. She is perceptive but not in a way unbefitting of her age and the times when she shifts into simply being a teenager provide a flowing comedic relief.

Even more notable, White blends the world of a teenage girl with working for a major organization. Even within the Center, Evie behaves like a teen and has her own shining personality. Her substitution of bleep for swear words, her love of pink, and her obsession with a teenage drama show keep the voice strong. As events progress and her circumstances change, this real/fiction, teen/adult blend becomes even more prominent and played out magnificently.

Lend is absolutely adorable and as idiosyncratic as Evie. The two contrast each other fantastically and the way he falls into the story progresses smoothly. His character and history are revealed as effortlessly as Evie's, sometimes the two coming out concomitantly. He is bashful and awkward, also holding a perfect blend of supernatural and realistic teenager. His responses and motivations are clear to see despite the story being told in Evie's perspective. The two understand each other in a soft manner, both being similar yet completely different.

The entire world has been weaved together in new, innovative, and surprising ways. New takes on commonly used supernatural creatures and even some additions of not often seen ones help bring out the brilliance and refreshing nature of this book. The creation of an entirely new kind of creature helps spark it to life even more, making many aspects of this book stand out as highly original.

The writing is incredibly strong and well defined. Evie comes to life in a brilliant way and her snark and sass fly from the pages. She is intelligent and witty, both of which are pulled off without a hitch. The banter and dialogue is also well written, as is the narration. White easily writes a young adult voice, making it highly realistic but still pitching it in a way any age group will be able to understand and appreciate. Everything is streamlined, maintaining a rich voice without being overbearing. The descriptions are vivid and the reader is able to imagine the events and settings as they crop up.

The plot is brilliant, filled with unpredictable twists and turns. It will pull the reader in from the start and keep them engaged and involved with each page. Small things come back later to mean something and huge things end up having a simple yet unforeseeable explanation. Minor characters become something extraordinary and the way the reader will view not only these characters but the world in general shifts along with Evie's take on them. The primarily mystery driving this plot is wrapped up by the end, leaving the reader in a comfortable closing spot while still hinting at what could come and leaving innumerable doors open for the next installment.

The thought and effort White poured into the entire first book is very clear and her mind just might be a little bit of a weapon of mass destruction. White has a very promising and fantastic future as a writer and many great things can be expected from her both with the future of this series and her clear, inherent ability to write young adult. I firmly believe her skills can transfer to other characters and even other genres, both of which will come across as fluidly as in this book.

Overall, this is a masterfully executed debut with a stunning plot that is unlike many other supernatural books. A perfect blend of romance and teenage emotions mix with the pressing events and unknowns that come up throughout to pack a powerful punch. This book is highly memorable and extremely well written, with the exceedingly distinctive voice being one of its most prominent features. White did not simply try to write a teenager- she nailed it. Evie is a lively, original character with some fantastic eccentricities the reader will find endearing and humorous.

A wide range of characters- both revamped and newly original- and some inventive and imaginative settings and events combine to make this book a well deserved five star read. The reader will crave more of these loveable, developed characters and their minds will spur numerous questions about what lies ahead for Evie but this specific plot is predominantly wrapped up, everything tying together beautifully at the end. This is honestly one of the most original, beautifully executed books from the YA supernatural genre I've come across in awhile.

This book was brilliant. It was refreshing and unique. Evie was a character that felt real and was relatable. She was the typical teenage girl in so many ways, but was in a very unique situation. Living at the IPCA and working for them kept her from being a teenager in every sense of it. She still had crushes, but was only able to crush on boys on TV because she never got to see any herself. When a very different kind of boy shows up it only makes sense she'd find him quite interesting.
This is one of those books that the characters were truly brilliant. You could really get a feel for them and understand their thoughts, feelings and even actions. I wasn't really ever annoyed at Evie despite her being a boy crazy teenage girl who loved pink sparkly things. Seems like she would have been annoying at some point but I not once got annoyed with her. Okay, I take that back. I think I'd wished that she'd found a way to listen to Reth and get more information from him. But really, I can't say enough about the characters in this book.

Sometimes the hype about a book can leave a person unsatisfied. Their expectations are just too high. I have to say that this book lived up to every expectation and I'm very excited to read more of this series and anything Kiersten White ever writes.

As a teen working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie spends her days catching and tagging all sorts of paranormal baddies. Never questioning her duties, Evie goes along with the agency's activities until the arrival of a completely new paranormal changes her world. Calling into question everything she thought she knew, Lend, the hot new paranormal, challenges Evie to reconsider her actions. He also comes with devastating news: Someone has been systematically murdering paranormals, and Evie and her friends could be next.

I loved, loved, loved this book. Loved it. Why? In large part because of Evie. She's such a super sweet character and so well developed. I could easily see myself hanging out with her. She's hilarious (really, I was laughing so hard throughout this book), but she's also sensitive. The story is told in the first person with Evie narrating, so we get to know her really well. She's light and bubbly, but she also has depth. She's been raised in a pretty cold environment without ever really having anyone to love her for herself.

At first blush she may seem a little too stereotypical teenager with her love of shopping, teen drama television shows, and pink fashion (all things I think are actually kind of fun). Going deeper, though, you really get a sense of her separation from all these normal teenage things and so her interest in them seems less superficial and more sad. She seems to try so hard to create normality and love around her because the reality of her life lacks all of that. My heart breaks for her, especially as she uncovers the secrets and prophesies throughout the book.

Evie isn't the only thing I loved about this book. I mentioned the humor, but I really need to reiterate this. I was so darn happy reading this book. I kept smiling and giggling and smirking. I dare anyone to read the first page and not, at the very least, crack a smile. Go on, I'm serious. I dare you. the store even gives you a preview.

Ok, did you read it? Well, did you smile? I read that first page in the library, closed the book, and walked straight to the checkout line. I knew I was going to love the book based on that first page alone, and I was right. Kiersten White's writing style is so fluid and fun, but she also really knows how to keep suspense high. There was this one scene (don't worry I'm not going to give anything away) where Evie encountered the big bad of the story and I was all prepared to start screaming myself. It was tense! But also so much fun! I don't know how White manages to combine the two, but as a reader I am so glad she did.

But those aren't the only reasons I loved this book. Yeah, there's more. There's all those other characters. Evie is great, but so is pretty much everyone else. Evie's best friend (a mermaid!) is so sweet and such a fun character. She speaks through a voice translating computer, all monotone and with any curses bleeped over. She was hilarious. I was so glad Evie had a friend like her. Then there's Lend. He's a good guy and his paranormal ability is really very cool. I hope we get to see it used more in the sequel. That's all I'm going to say about him. Don't want to spoil anything for you. And the big bad? Jeez, I can't say anything about that one without giving stuff away, so I'll just say that I LOVE what White did with this character.

And I'm still not finished explaining all the reasons I loved this book. I'm a, how should I say this, I'm a "throw it all in the pot" kind of girl. When I eat rice, for example, I don't want just plain rice. I want my rice to have a ton of stuff in it. Cranberries, mushrooms, onions, chicken, whatever. Throw it all in and I'm happy.

I'm finding I also like my books like that. Not with food (then I'm just super hungry every time I read), but with paranormals. I love that publishers are printing so many different paranormal stories: we've got werewolves, vampires, mermaids, fairies, and so on. It's great. Only thing is, they're each neatly sectioned off into their own little books. Kiersten White took all those major players, threw them together, and even added a bunch more of her own. I loved it! Even better, it all worked. It didn't feel jumbled or awkward at all.

I especially liked how White made her fairies. They were mysterious and dangerous, seriously dangerous. I liked that so much more than the delicate sparkly fairies of a lot of other series. How am I supposed to swoon over a fairy guy if he resembles body glitter? I love glitter. Don't get me wrong, I'm actually kind of obsessed with glitter and anything sparkly (put it on a pretty cover and I could stare at it all day stroking the cover with a dazed expression mumbling "Pretty...." Think a sparkle zombie).

But on a hot guy? I may be kind of old school here, but I want my men to be described with words like "rugged" not "disco ball." Likewise, if you'd use a word to describe a ballerina, then I don't want that word used to describe the guy I'm supposed to find attractive. Reth, the second love interest and a fairy, might have been gorgeous (and I'm so not complaining about that), but he was in no way, shape, or form delicate. Um, can you tell I liked this character? I hope and suspect we'll see a lot more of him in the second book (Sorry Team Lend girls, I loved Lend, but I've got a thing for the bad boys).

Finally, the last thing I loved about this book is the mystery. We're fed little bits and pieces as the story progresses. A hint here, a cryptic statement there. I know Reth was bad news for Evie and she was right to try to avoid him, but I really just wanted her to tase him until he spilled the beans...in clear and complete sentences! He was such a tease with all of his little sly statements. Jerk! (I loved him.) Eventually most of these tid bits add up to an interesting conclusion that I really wasn't expecting at all. Actually, there were a number of curve balls thrown here that I didn't see coming. I can't wait to see how this is developed in the sequel.

I still have a ton of questions I'm hoping will be answered in the sequel (Supernaturally, coming out much too far away in September 2011), but this first book did wrap things up well. I hate it when I'm left hanging right in the middle of a storyline with zero answers. Paranormalcy didn't do that. We get closure in a lot of areas, but significant parts of the storyline are still left open. Fans of Lee Nichols' Deception will love Paranormalcy (and if Paranormalcy sounds good to you, then be sure to check out Deception if you haven't already read it!)

Loved the book! It had the right amount of romance and suspense and I couldn't wait to hind out what happens next so I downloaded the other 2 books! I definitely prefer this book to anyone that likes reading!

I love this book! The characters are well drawn and developed, the premise is intriguing an Kiersten White injects humor and heart into the mix of paranormal with a dash of romance. Do yourself a favor and read this book!

Absolutely stunning! Evie's voice is unique, snappy and sticks with you long after you put the books down. Sharp and sassy she's like the best friend you never had. A girl who's only known the safe comfort of her controlled life in the top-secret international facility spending her days doing home school with her tutor, training with a werewolf, and tracking down paranormal creatures for processing. Her best friend is a mermaid and she's obsessed with a drama about "real" life. Even being spoiled in the center Evie wants normal. It isn't until a boy even more abnormal than she arrives at the facility with unknown intentions does Evie begin to question her life at the facility. Supernatural people are dying across the world and Evie finds herself in the center of the madness as the possible subject of a faery prophesy. Follow along with Evie as she struggles to find the truth of her existance and the answer between the strange teenage boy and the faery who thinks he owns her heart. A must-read novel for anyone who enjoys paranormal novels. Don't be scared by the pink, this is a smart novel that will leave you wanting more without the annoyance of a cliff-hanger.

A Paranormal ride worth taking...
White has created an original world with a story full of characters that jump off the pages and delight your senses. Between the quiet romance and heart stopping action this book will be on your favorites list for years to come. White will definitely be one of those authors you need to watch in the future!

Keep in mind that this is a fast paced fantasy read. 5* of 5*

Wow 2 words: Freakin Amazing (well one out of two isn't actually a word but who cares). Ms. White can you please tell me your secret to making an amazing plot combine with great characters and lots of fun. Let me tell you I never thought a bunch of different supernatural creatures could fit into a novel until I read Paranormalcy , which by the way I totally recommend. I will admit I was very hesitant to start to this book for some odd reason. I guess everyone has been saying so much good things about it and I was afraid that I wouldn't feel the same way, but I totally regret waiting cause it's an awesome book.

Evie is your typical girl, well not really. She 16, can see through paranormal glamors, lives inside the Paranormal Agency, has a best friend who is a mermaid and has a faerie trying to steal her heart. Add 2 hot looking guys, a few good plot twists and an end that will have you craving for more and you've got Paranormalcy.

I loved how unique Evie was. She wasn't afraid to wear different fashions and be outgoing with people she meets. Even though she is in a tough situation she does her best to stick through it till the end which makes her a strong female lead. Evie is the type of girl who loves pink and watching her favorite teen drama show known as Easton Heights. She is the girly girl, which usually isn't my cup of teen but somehow I enjoyed her being that way. I also enjoyed seeing her out in the open, in the real world, and how excited she got about the littlest of things. An example of this is a locker (read and you'll understand).

My favorite character was Reth. I was so excited whenever he appeared. He so sexy, dangerous, controlling and unaware of human interaction. I won't say much about him since that would spoil the plot, but I'm excited to see him in the next book.

Lend is another male lead who swoon's Evie's heart. I love the name, lol. It's so original and different.

I'm at a cross as to whether I'm Team Reth or Team Lend. I'm kind of a bit of both.

The only thing that bother me in the novel was that some of the dialogue was a bit unrealistic. But other then that, it was all good.

I'm super excited for Supernaturally, which is book 2 of this series. I have a lot of questions and I can't wait to find out the answers in the next book. If your looking for a good supernatural read then I definitely pick Paranormalcy.

This book was really great. It had all you could ask for in a paranormal book. A new boy in town with a unique power, a heroine with a taser and eyes that see the real you, a creepy ex that just won't leave you alone and an agency to keep everyone in line! I loved it! Even though this book has all the same characters like werewolves, vampires, faeries and so on, it is told in a completely new way. Evie is pretty funny a lot of the time as well. I can't wait to read the next installment!

This book far bypassed my expectations and I cannot wait until the next one!!! Even my daughter read it quickly and was impressed with the action and characters that the author created.

We both cannot wait until another comes out...hopefully there will be a sequel to this book.

It is very easy to get involved with the characters and the situations they find themselves in, so if you want a fun, fast paced read that will keep you hooked til the end...grab this book!!!

Ivy Hawthorn ([...])

Paranormalcy was fresh! And I know people have said that before but this book was CLEVER! It will be like nothing you've read before and I've even read the beginning twice when it was out on HarperTeen because I loved it so much! Lend is unique and you'll fall in love with him in so many different ways and on so many different levels! Evie is awesome! That's probably the best way to describe her! She's funny too, which makes for an entertaining read. You'll want to BE her when you've finished this book! Kiersten White has her own twist to pop culture vampires and old faerie lore and every other imaginable paranormal creature! You're going to love it!

I have wanted to read Paranormalcy for a while. The book first came out in 2010, and I think I've wanted to get my hands on it ever since. Well, I finally did!

White creates a pretty impressive underground world that involves trolls, faeries, werewolves, vampires, and so much more! It reminds me of the military that got involved in supernatural affairs on Buffy, except with less kevlar and more sass. I don't mean just a little sass either, but instead a whole lot of sass.

The main character, Evie, is a sixteen year old operative in a paranormal agency. With a little help from her pink sparkly tazer she is able to bag and tag all things supernatural. She is absolutely one of my favorite characters! She is full of curiosity, spunk, and of course sassiness. Oh, and she absolutely loves the color pink, so naturally she is pretty amazing!

In addition to the awesome character White created, I also love the world that she created. I loved the idea of a secret agency battling the things that go bump in the night! However, don't think that this book is all work and no play though, because there is some romance involved. The way it all unfolds is super sweet and the flirty dialogue is fantastic!

I am so glad that I finally picked up Paranormalcy, and I highly suggest it for people who love shows like Buffy or even Marvel: Agents of Shield and Men in Black. Seriously, it is that good!

“You're under arrest under statue three point seven of the International Paranormal Containment Agreement, Vampire Protocol. You are required to report to the nearest processing facility in Bucharest. If you fail to report within the next twelve hours, you will be . . . terminated. If you attack any humans, you will be terminated. If you attempt to remove the tracking device, you will be terminated. We look forward to working with you.”
There are to things I love the most about Paranormalcy. First is the witty humor and banter the characters have. Secondly, this Young Adult title does not occur in school. I know that these paranormal YA books take place at the age when the characters are in school. But that usually means silly angst school stuff. Angst stuff that's basically annoying tropes at this point that I'd prefer authors would forget about and come up with new ideas.

Most importantly Paranormalcy does not have love triangles. The male lead actually has a personality and White fully fleshes him out. He's not some broody male with a ton of secrets! Thank goodness. Because I love Lend, he is a real dreamboat. He's caring, polite, smart, and basically not another male jerk. He fit Evie well and I loved them as a budding couple.

Speaking of Evie, I adore her. Despite being orphaned and abandoned she wasn't some brooding, depressing creature. She's fun and perky! Besides she wears hot pink boots and zebra print dresses, that's my kind of style! How could I not love her. She sees the bright side of things. When she might be wrong she goes out and seeks information. She can change her mind and opinion. The friendships she has are important to her.

Paranormalcy isn't just a light fun read, beloved characters die and it deals with a fae stalker of scary proportions. The mystery of what Evie is was fun, and I'm very curious to find out what it will mean for future books. Overall I feel bad that I waited this long to finally read this series! It was excellent and I think if you liked Lish McBride's Necromancer books you'll enjoy this one. Humor!

Sexual Content: Some make out scenes and sexual humor. Pretty clean.

4/5- Great! Really enjoyed it.

Originally reviewed at Book Whispers.

Okay, okay. I know how everyone has already read this book and thought it was amazing. While I don't completely disagree, I felt a little differently after finishing the book. Evie is a common name to begin with, though I applaud the author on trying to give her a unique name. That's hard these days. Anyway, I couldn't help but feel like Evie was much older than sixteen. Sure, she liked to watch high school movies and stuff, but let me tell you, she did not sound sixteen. She was complex, and she was definitely not in her age range. She sounded more like twenty. At first, that's exactly what I thought. I loved it at first. There was this kick-ass, paranormal girl with her tasey, on a mission. And...then I was dissappointed. I thought this was going to be an enjoyable read, but it left me empty when I finished. Lend, which is a weird name, let me say, annoyed the heck out of me. Sure, he was nice and all, but his character seemed unrealistic. He was a water boy, and I honestly couldn't tell what the author was trying to do by making him turn Asian or Black...it didn't make any sense. Just keep him the way he is! Sure, personality matters more than looks, but it was weird the way he changed into Evie at first, and then all of these random people, which didn't fit his persona at all. I mean, honestly. And Evie was honestly making me extremely annoyed halfway into the book. With her childish remarks, and complaining persona, I wasn't sure if I was going to get through the book. Reth was probably the only, ONLY thing that kept me interested. His dark, sinister and loving nature pulled me in. I think the author gave more depth to his character, personally, then Evie's or Lend's. I really wish the author would have built his and Evie's relationship, because it was so much more mature. With Lend, she was this fanatic teenager, not at all how she was portrayed at first. And with Reth, it was like she was actually herself. It was like the reader had two sides to Evie. One with the fierceness, boldness, and maturity. And there was this other side...immature, annoying, and pleading. I honestly wish the author would have drawn more into Evie's TEENAGER character, instead of making her sound like an adult. That confused me more than anything. And the relationship between Reth and Evie was not nearly outlined enough. Maybe the readers would have understood why she was attracted to Lend in the first place, if maybe Reth had a background to draw on. Reth was much of a more deep character than Lend in my mind. Halfway through this book, I felt the urge not to finish. I didn't feel the real passion and intensity between Lend and Evie, and I felt like their relationship was rather fake. I think the beginning was okay, but after reading awhile, I realized that this book wasn't worth buying. This book dissappointed me, because I had high hopes for it. I have read many paranormal romances, but I've got to say, this is definitely on the bottom of my list. The saying "Don't judge a book by it's cover", is right, but not in the right way. I didn't judge this book by it's cover, but it still let me down. The cover makes Evie look mature and deep, but in the book, it's the complete opposite. I would definitely save your money and skip this one.

This review may contain accidental spoilers.

Story: This novel was about a young girl named Evie, who works for IPCA. She is in charge of getting paranormals to bring back to IPCA. Evie considers herself to not be paranormal, even though she can see through the glamours of all paranormals... even shapeshifters.

In the beginning of the book, there is a break in. Evie captures the person and is told not to see him at all. We find that the person who broke in can mysteriously change form. Of course, Evie, since she is quite curious, decides that she needs to keep visiting him and get some answers. Evie and Lend (which we find his name is) hang out more and more and end up falling for each other.

While this is going on, there have been mass killings of paranormals. The only problem: there have been no evidence as to what could of caused it. No fingerprints or marks on the bodies whatsoever.

Evie's old boyfriend, Reth, who happens to be a faerie, keeps coming back and telling her that she is going to want it. We later find that he is talking about souls.

Towards the end of the book, after all the mass killings, IPCA goes into lockdown mode. While under lockdown mode, IPCA is broken into and Evie finds the mass murderer.

During the second break in, Evie lets Lend out of his prison cell. Evie and Lend escape to Lend's house.
While Evie is at Lend's house, she has many dreams of the mass murderer. She finds that her name is Vivian, and they are just like each other.

*I won't give away any more because I don't want to give away the ending!*

Characters: I absolutely adored Evie. She is one of the funniest characters ever. I really liked how she liked to rebel against the rules. She was told not to travel without permission with faeries, and she does anyway. She was also told not to see the prisoner, but instead she ends up being more than friends with him.

Lend was also a great character. He was very mysterious, and I like that in a good character. He didn't like to give away anything about himself. We didn't know much about him until the end. I found that most of my questions were answered.

Vivian was a great "villain." She tryed to persuade Evie that they were meant to be friends, when all along the prophecy didn't say anything like that.

I didn't like Reth for most of the book, until the ending. I noticed that he was really on Evie's side all along. He was trying to help her, when Evie thought that he was trying to hurt her.

All in All: I really liked this book. The characters were probably my favorite part! This was definitely an easy read. I can't wait to read the next book in this series, Supernaturally. Endlessly, the third book in this series, comes out later this month.
I would definitely recommend this book for someone who enjoys funny characters and paranormal novels.

I didn't really like this book at the beginning. It seemed like another adolescent fluffy paranormal piece, but the farther the story went on, the darker and more convoluted it became. Thus, I was hooked: a story with meat--and one that could keep readers going through several more books.

Evie's life is not normal, even for a paranormal book! She works for (lives at and is chaperoned by) the International Paranormal Containment Agency, an agency that tracks and monitors the world's magical creatures. Evie is far from normal herself. She has the unique ability to see past 'glamours' to the truth about paranormal creatures. This makes her dangerous to some, so she needs protection. And, it's also her job. She goes out to locate and bring back these dangerous creatures.

This is first in a series that I will definitely keep reading. One of my favorite characters was the evil fairy, and Evie's ex-boyfriend. This back story would be fascinating. I liked him way better than the current boyfriend, who was boring a little suspicious. Evie does act in very immature and irritating way for some of the book, but she is 16, so her actions and dialogue are credible. I also loved that Evie can't figure out what is going on with who or what she is. Perhaps the prophecy in the book is about her? I can't wait to find out!

PARANORMALCY is a wonderfully light and entertaining read. Evie is stuck in the world of paranormal while working of the IPCA. Well, she's pretty much grown up there since they found her when she was eight. All she wanted was to go to a real school and have legitimate friends that aren't mermaids that she has to communicate with over a video screen--not that she has a problem with that because Lish is absolutely awesome--but she can never have that. She is the only human who can see paranormals for what they really are, not what their glamors make them out to be, thus making her one of the most unknown and powerful paranormals of all.

The IPCA's mission is to find and tag paranormals, not allowing them to hurt humans any further. When a paranormal that they have never come across before breaks into the IPCA in search of answers, Evie's world will forever be turned upside down. This paranormal is named Lend, and Lend truly isn't one of the bad guys.

I loved Evie. She just wanted to find the normal in the paranormal. She freaked out when she saw a locker, she wanted to have her first kiss, she wanted to have a typical teenage life like the one on her favorite television series. And, to add to that, she was insanely hilarious and entertaining with one of the most out-there fashion senses. Zebra wrap around dress with pink knee high boots, anyone? No, that's okay, Evie has that covered.

The other characters in this book were very entertaining as well. The supporting characters were surprisingly strong and, believe it or not, there are two men in this one without being a love triangle. Reth is the creepy ex-boyfriend that she never kissed that happens to be a faerie and Lend is the prisoner that she can't help but be drawn to because he is an anomaly just like her. While I fell in love with Lend and his attitude, I had trouble with Reth's characterization. For someone that's supposed to be a "good guy," he is incredibly unlikable and he seems too evil to be on the good side, thus I wasn't too fond of his character. Lend is easily likable and full of secrets because nobody can see him for what he truly is. Well, nobody besides Evie.

This read is truly entertaining. While Evie slowly discovers her true identity, meaning in life, and the secrets of the IPCA, you'll easily become engrossed in her story. However, I feel as if some of the plot twists weren't executed to their fullest extent. Some specific parts of the text were lacking on detail, which is upsetting for a story so rich with detail and visual images. This novel is getting 4 stars. I am looking forward to further immersing myself in the world that White created, though it is not a series that I expect to fully knock me off my heels.

Evie has lived in a government facility from the age of 8, because Evie is different. That's right folks, the government is aware of all of the things that go bump in the night, unbeknowst to us common folks. How does Evie play a role? She has the ability to see vampires, werewolves, mermaids, hags, and more in their true form even if they mask it. She's become invaluable to the system and she's completely content with this. It isn't until Lend, a shape-shifting teenage, comes along and makes her question her life. And with him comes trouble. Paranormals across the globe are dying and disappearing. And Evie could be the heart of it all.

Sounds interesting, right? I agree. The story and idea have an original flair to them that instantly drew me in. It was so unique and fun-a teenage girl as a government agent who takes down vampires, I'm in. It was when I started reading it that I had a problem.

Firstly, there is absolutely no depth. The plot has so much potential and the author flat lined everything. I anticipated not just the next scenario, but the next line. There was no suspense, though the book claims action and twists- it was all very flat.

Second, characters. Along with a depthless plot, we had superficial characters. Our main character was the epitome of this. The most interesting part of her was love of the color pink and prada and her oh-so-hard-to-predict-crush on Lend. (Whoops, spoiler.) Great aspects of any character, if they have a personality to begin with.

Great idea and direction, she simply didn't follow through.

Immediately this book grabbed me and pulled me in. I admit, I was a little confused at first, only because I didn't realize what the book was about. I just thought it was about ghosts, haha. But this one surprised me and I thoroughly enjoyed the first book of this amazing trilogy.

This book was different than most books that I have read. It was a light read, with a little comedy and some less then serious points with a good mix of serious takes. The beginning of the book is what really grabbed me, it started out with humor, which, let's be honest, not a whole lot of books start off like that. To me this was a bit of Buffy, with the whole bag and tag aspect of it with the paranormals. (Which, don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with that.)

The characters were diverse. You had humans, faeries, werewolves, vampires and just about all different types of paranormals. I have always favored anything to do with faeries and the like, so this was just a plus for me.

Evie was young, so she had a nice teenage feel to her as well as some mature tendencies. You could relate to her in some ways and you could follow her as she made some self discoveries about herself and about the IPCA. I also enjoyed her budding relationship with Lend and her friendships she had with Lish and later, Arianna.

I was slightly disappointed that some things were left a mystery about her, so maybe something will develop in the next book, Supernaturally. I would highly recommend this first book to teens ages 13 and older.

Within 24 hours, I was able to finish reading this great young adult fiction book and I was impressed. It's fast, it's funny, it's edgy, it's a whole lot of bleep. It's like I was reading Kiersten's blog instead of actually reading a book and that makes it unique and exciting. I only have good words for this book and I can't wait for so much more!

Evelyn, fondly called Evie, lived and worked for the International Paranormal Containment Agency (IPCA). She had been there since she was 8 years old and had always wanted to live a normal life, like going to school, watching boys from the sidelines, staying late at night watching movies and TV. She also had a bestfriend who was actually a mermaid named Lish.

What's great & different about Evie is she can see through supernatural glamours (or mask) used by paranormals (read: vampires, werewolves, gnomes, fairies, etc). One day she captured a bleeping shapeshifting young man named Lend. This shapeshifter soon triggered up conceivable outcomes in Evie's existence, notwithstanding her watchman Raquel's overwhelming protests. I enjoyed reading Paranormalcy. Right from the start, I knew this might be a fun bleep read. Kiersten White is a flawless writer, he work is breathtaking, stuffed with snickers and wheezes in pair. The characters are genially adorable and overall developed.

I liked the main character Evie - the lady obsessed with pink and with a fixation on all things "normal, something she never had the chance to experience. I'm not at all surprised that Lend felt like a magnet to Evie, because he is someone who Evie did not ever had the pleasure to be with. Overall, White's debut novel is a light read, super fun and engaging. I am now ready to read the second book, Supernaturally.

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: With a snarky, almost Buffy-esque heroine and fantastic supporting cast, Paranormalcy begins a fun series where our heroine slowly unravels the truth about herself and the paranormal world.

Opening Sentence: "Wait--did you--You just yawned!"

The Review:

From the first page, where Evie's taking on a wanna-be Dracula and snarking about it, our heroine had me hooked. White's narrative voice made this paranormal fun and funny, which is a totally different feel from other YAs. She reminded me of Nas in Immortal Beloved, ignorant about how the world really works, but White manages to convince the reader that our main character isn't stupid for not knowing. She's lived a very sheltered life, even if she does Tasey all things paranormal. Evie is innocent, but like any good heroine, she doesn't stay that way.

She goes out to find the truth about who she is and what the faerie prophecy is all about. I can tell you that the mystery is perfect for this story. Though the who-dun-it is a bit obvious, I was still totally satisfied with the climax. How is Evie human if she has paranormal abilities? If she is other, should that change the way she looks at paranormals? If I tell you any more than that you'll be able to unravel the whole book. It's not a deep story line, it's just plain fun! You have every paranormal character--vampires, faeries, mermaids -- all fitting perfectly into one world without a hitch. Seriously good world building here. The pacing is perfect, as a reader you're never bored, and it's a really fast read.

Evie is half Valley Girl, half Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and 100% relatable. She's got a Taser called Tasey and has a shop-til-you-drop mentality that should have annoyed me. I don't usually get along with Valley Girls of any kind, but especially not the ones who've got their heads so deep in the sales rack they can't see what's really going on in the world. Somehow Evie managed to draw even me in -- I say somehow, but it was probably all her snarkiness -- and it isn't long before you get to see another more mature side of her as she begins to explore the real world. Evie's worked for the International Paranormal Containment Agency forever, even though she longs for a normal teenage life. Her ability to see through paranormal's glamour, no matter how strong, makes her a valuable asset to the Agency. We get to see her learn to be a normal teenager in Paranormalcy, and that's probably what surprised me most -- how normal the characters are surrounded by all things paranormal.

Lend is exactly the kind of guy mother's want their daughters to date -- with just a touch of bad boy. And, minus the shape-changing bit. Dependable and noble -- just protective enough to be sweet, but not smothering. He's a partner to Evie. It's great to see their attraction grow through witty banter and small moments. It's not a insta-love, but a bond that the reader can see get stronger with every encounter. I've heard some complaints about a love triangle, but honestly I didn't see it. Just because the heroine has two guy friends doesn't mean there's a love triangle. Unless Reth, her faerie ex-boyfriend, seriously changes in the sequel, I can't see him becoming a viable love interest for Evie.

I think the emphasis of this review is FUN. Fun premise, fun characters and conversations, fun to read. I laughed out loud more than once and flew through reading this novel because I didn't want to put it down. For YA paranormal fans who've noticed the genre getting a bit dark, this novel is for you.

FTC Advisory: HarperCollins provided me with a copy of Paranormalcy. No goody bags, sponsorships, "material connections," or bribes were exchanged for my review.

I finally got a chance to read Paranormalcy, I had been dying to read it for a while since I started hearing such great things about it. Paranormalcy did not disappoint it was like the movies X-Men and Hellboy wrapped up in a pink bedazzled package.

I do have to be honest and say that it did take me a little bit to get into, but once I did I was in for a fun ride. I wasn't so sure at the beginning that I was going to like Evie because she seemed very girly and loved everything pink but once her character developed a little more and I got to know what she was all about I totally understood her and sympathize with her. She had never experience the normal teenage life so I knew that if I were in her shoes I would have felt the same way and I ended up loving her. She was fun, sarcastic, but very brave and fierce. She wasn't afraid to stand up for those she loved and make sacrifices to protect them but also at the same time she was very much like a typical teenager so it made the character a lot more believable and likable. Loved her!

Evie has this really sweet love interest in the story his name is Lend and even though he was a bit hard for me to picture because he is the color of water but solid. He was such a good guy and sweet that you can't help but fall for him, his voice and character was all it took for me. Now Lend is not the only guy in this one there's also a faery and I love faeries but this one was a bit different just like with all the other paranormals in the story Kiersten created her own mythology and made them all quite different from other books, I loved that! The story in Paranormalcy takes you through some twists that I personally never saw coming and it builds up a bit of tension towards the end that leaves you yearning for the second book.

Paranormalcy was a lot of fun to read, it was a very solid debut novel and also very clean that I would definitely recommend to anyone from middle grade to adults like me that love an entertaining lighthearted read filled with awesome beasties.

Evie was a foster child until the IPCA (International Paranormal Containment Agency) took her in at a very young age. Living in the Center is the only life she's ever really known. She is able to see through glamours, but other than that she had always considered herself a "normal" girl. Evie discovers that there are some secrets that the IPCA has been keeping from her and the whole idea that she is normal is turned upside down.

One of the things that I enjoyed about this book is the huge variety of Paranormal types. There are fairies, water elementals, hags, vampires, mermaids, werewolves, etc. It isn't just about one type. This book truly is YA. It's one of the few books that are considered YA that appeal specifically to that age group and is totally and completely appropriate for people of that age. The romance in this book isn't hot and steamy, it's typical teenage stuff. This did kind of make it difficult for me to relate to since I am older but I think that it's great for younger people.

One thing that I really liked about Evie was her sarcasm and wit. She was always saying something funny. She's also always ready to fight, she isn't scared and weak. This book isn't as dark and heavy as most paranormal books. It's really cute. The things that Evie really wants and gets excited about are things such as getting a license or having a locker at school. It would totally make her life if she would just get to experience prom. So if you are looking for something a bit lighter, you may want to consider this one. I really did enjoy reading this book, I just couldn't relate that well. I would really like to read the next book in this series but it won't kill me if I don't.

I was so surprised by how delightful this YA paranormal novel is! The story moves very quickly, with an involved world-building that takes a rather different view on paranormals. All kinds of paranormals exist, and I love how Evie strips away the glamor from them - within the logic of the story, and with reader's expectations of vampires, werewolves and fairies. Evie is such a bright personality and she really carries this story very well. I was impressed by how involving a narrator she is. The story also took several unexpected twists and turns, and there were many times I though I had figured something out, when I was shocked by how wrong I was. The novel is full of the unexpected.

The romance between Evie and Lend was very well drawn and not the insta-kind which I was so happy to read. Evie and Lend seem to fit together so well - and it felt like a very believable romance. The other side of the novel - the commentary on what it's like to be a teenager was very interesting as well, and added a lot of depth to the story. Evie never led a normal life, and the way she saw school and having a driver's license added a fun dimension to her character. I also have to commend the building of the faerie world - it is so complex and the faerie nature is so well built into the narrative. The suspicion that hangs over them drives the drama of in the story. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.

Evie lives a charmed life (complete with personal suit-like room and an expense account) working for International Paranormal Containment Agency (IPCA). Having the ability to see through glamours has made her their main operative, and though she has this one power Evie has always considered herself normal. But when a paranormal water-elemental boy breaks in, her life gets turned around in more ways than one. Paranormals are being killed off, and a faerie ex it's trying to steal her soul! As Evie discovers the real purpose of IPCA, finds love, deals with loss and discovers the terrible truth of what she is, her world turns out more paranormal than she thought possible.

At first I couldn't decide if I found Evie cute or downright annoying, with all the extra sugary attitude and constant teenage complaints and pink stuffs everywhere. But somewhere along the way I either blocked it all that out, or it was being given in more controlled doses so that I didn't mind. Still, I like strong female heroines who can get over themselves and deal...and Evie just wasn't it. She sure does have an interesting life though!

I liked how she slowly realized that her life had been a life of confinement and control, and the conflicting emotions towards Raquel whom she saw as a mother-like figure. That made Evie seem more real, that is if you ignored her clothes and shoe choices for paranormal hunting.

The romantic relationship I liked very much; it was realistic teenage romance. I found Lend very endearing and sweet, if a bit weird with the whole water invisibility thing going on. I like how he and Evie took their time getting to know each other and hang out, and not simply jump each other like on so many other books I've read.

The end was a bit weird with the whole releasing souls through a gate she just opened in the sky. But overall I found the book quite enjoyable and funny.

After reading the summary foreshadowing a faerie prophecy about death and destruction, you would think this would be a dark and twisted, serious read. But that is so far from the truth! Paranormalcy had its moments of darkness, but its an overall light and fun read.

At first all of Evie's references to pink and glitter had me inwardly groaning - I was picturing another Zoey Redbird bullpoopie situation. Fortunately Evie's naiveté and obsession with the colour pink makes her endearingly charming. Her love of normal teenager things, like owning a locker and going to prom, adds to her charm and I couldn't help but get caught up in her excitement for what I take for granted.

The plot moves along nicely and we soon learn that there is more to the organization IPCA, for whom Evie has worked for since she was 8, then we originally thought. As Evie starts to realize that her nobel intentions may have been met with not-so-nobel ends, she starts to question both everything she knows about the paranormal and herself.

Evie is a wonderful protagonist. She's insecure enough to be relatable, without being weak. When she begins to question her beliefs and the ethics of how paranormals are treated, I can see her inner struggle, which only adds to my ability to relate to her. She is fun, and opinionated and while she fears the repercussions of telling the truth, she is brave enough to face the consequences. She's not perfect, but the choices she inevitably makes are the choices you want her to make.

Her relationship with Lend is adorable. Unlike most YA romances out there, it was not love-at-first-sight, and we get to watch the relationship grow from one of convenience to one hinting at love. It was refreshing to watch Evie realize her feelings for Lend might be deeper then just friendship, and the following insecurities about whether her feelings were reciprocated. I loved watching them go from the barest of touches, to the innocence of just holding hands, to their first kiss(es). Again, it was adorable and completely believable; it was exactly how I picture a relationship should develop when its both your first real relationship and you're only sixteen.

The only (not-so) negative thing I have to say is that I felt some of the supporting characters were slightly underdeveloped. I didn't feel the motherly bond between Evie and Raquel (that Evie sometimes mentions) and while I know Lish is Evie's best friend (because I am told so), we don't see Lish in the friendship role very often and so it was hard to see her that way. Reth was an interesting character, and I would have liked a little more history on him, but I'm glad that he was presented as an obstacle to overcome versus an object of Evie's affection, thus creating a love triangle. I hope to see more of him in the future, if only to get some questions answered.

I'm seriously kicking myself for waiting so long to pick up PARANORMALCY. The voice is epic; like the author crawled inside my head and kidnapped my seventeen-year-old self and put it on the page. It rings true and normal to Evie, not over the top at all in any way (like intelligence or snark or whatever). It just fits to a T. Love it.

Evie is the kind of chick that we need more of in the YA world. She can hold her own in a nominally normal way (she doesn't have super human strength and actually depends a lot on a taser, a pink one at that) and she calls it like she sees it. When Reth goes all super creeper she lays the smack down on him as best she can. She's not all like "OMG he's sooooo hot. Isn't it romantic when he watches me sleep without me knowing and kidnaps me to places unknown?" He's a creep, she calls it and she does her best to stay away from him. I felt bad for her when the shoe dropped because her world as she knew it came crumbling down in so many ways. The pseudo-family she built up for herself, gone. The only home she ever really knew, gone. All she ever wanted to do was be normal and she tried despite it all but in the end it never worked.

Lend is a great character. Totally the kind of guy I can get behind and root for. No stalker tendencies for him. He just is. Like Evie, he just wants to be normal. He wants to be with someone for whom he doesn't have to pretend around. Someone that can see him. Enter Evie and her x-ray eyes and bam! We have a couple. Through Lend Evie can be the semi-normal chick she so strived for and Lend can just be himself. They really do compliment each other.

I'm not the biggest fan of The Chosen One syndrome because it stands out so much but when its done well, I'll take it. Evie's story is done well. She's an odd ball, a non-entity entity that no one can explain and the story takes a while to build up to it but once it gets there, when everything unravels it seems to fit. I'm not left going WTF? but yes, I believe that. So Evie gets a pass for being the super awesome prophecy child.

The whole world White built is like that, believable. A pseudo-government agency that monitors paranormal life all over the world? Sounds like The X-Files with Sam and Dean heading up the presidency. I believed it. With Evie underground we were behind the curtain, seeing things that no other non-paranormal would get to see. Step out from that and Evie gets to see the life that the rest of us are privy too. She comes behind our curtain. But the shades don't stay drawn for long. Eventually the curtain just gets ripped right down.

The ending offers resolution for this particular story but it leaves things open for the coming books. At least it wasn't done cheaply. Yeah, I want to know more about Evie's weaknesses because those, her real ones, don't come out until the end. It made her even more relatable and I want to see more of that. Not to mention what happened with the faeries and the people she knew at the Center. But the immediate arc is resolved and while it left me wanting more, I didn't feel deprived or gypped out of a good ending. I got it and I loved it.

PARANORMALCY is a great book for anyone looking to get away from your standard YA paranormal fare as of late. With a snarky, sharp voice and a heroine to stand next to and fight the battle with, it's an excellent fresh breath in an otherwise smog-ridden landscape. I can't wait to read SUPERNATURALLY.

Paranormalcy follows the saucy Evie. She's just your average teenager who loves watching sappy high school dramas and of course has boy trouble, except for the fact that she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency. Along with her trusty pink and rhinestoned taser, Evie helps to keep paranormal creatures out of human's way. She longs to be a normal teenage girl who goes to high school and has a locker... but things start to change as her faerie ex-boyfriend begins popping up in her life and a new shape shifter in town warns of paranormals being murdered all across the world. It seems the fate of the world may just be weighing on Evie's little sassy shoulders.

This book got me from page one. It was a quick and fun read that had me literally laughing out loud. There are some pretty serious parts in Paranormalcy, but Evie's cute personality shines through the hard parts.

I think Evie really made the story for me. Not only is she obsessed with trashy TV, shopping for outlandish clothes and boys, but she finds things like having a locker at school to be fantastically awesome, because she's never had one. She's also got a mouth on her and I know that after reading this story, Evie and I would be best friends in real life.

I always like reading new ideas in the paranormal genre. I feel like we're constantly seeing sparkly, sweet vampires and werewolves who learn to control their turning. In this story, Evie can see through the vampire's glamour's and sees their old, wizened bodies through their sparkly exterior. It was fun to see a new take on paranormals!

Overall, the story had great pacing, maybe a few slow spots in the middle where the story was building, but I really enjoyed reading Paranormalcy. I'll probably pick up book two on a lazy Sunday when I'm looking for something to brighten my day. In a genre where dark and deep seem to be the norm, it was refreshing to read a paranormal romance that stayed with the themes, but had a lighthearted flare.

8 out of 10

Happy Reading :)

3.5 stars.

Paranormalcy is such a fun, humorous novel that sometimes you forget that the main character, Evie, is facing the life-or-death dangers of werewolves, vamps, and other supernatural beasties on a daily basis. With a tongue-in-cheek narration that is sure to make you laugh out loud on numerous occasions, two supernatural hotties vying for Evie's affections, and a mysterious entity going around and killing supernaturals, this book has all the ingredients for a breezy, escapist read.

Evie is no ordinary teenager. Not only does she work for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, bagging and tagging wayward vamps, hags, and other malevolent creatures for a living, but she can also do something that no one else can: see through glamours. However, as if that weren't enough, now Evie's having cryptic nightmares, her ex-boyfriend--a beautiful, enchanting, and dangerous fairy named Reth--is harassing her, and a shapeshifter who is gorgeous no matter what form he takes just broke into the IPCA. And it looks like Evie's got her work cut out for her when supernatural being start dying left, right and center.

This book turned out to be just what I needed after the rather darker The Mortal Instruments series. While I do love my serious reads, there's something to be said about tackling this genre with a lighthearted outlook, something that Kiersten White manages with flying colors. Evie is a lot different than the heroine I would expect to lead a series like this: she's tough, sure, but she also is the girliest girl I've ever read about! I mean, she has a pink-rhinestone-covered taser that she nicknamed Tasey. And she thinks that pink looks good on everything. And while that kind of annoyed me for a bit (I'm not a fan of girly girls, I guess), her chipper attitude and wry-yet-spot-on sense of humor more than made up for her questionable footwear choices (hot-pink-accented stiletto boots? How can you run in those?). Evie has a hilarious sense of humor, as evidenced by the very first page of the book which shows her encounter with a vampire, whom she mocks for essentially trying too hard. That scene sold me.

I really liked the idea of an international supernatural police, so to speak, and I liked that it was modern--it wasn't some secret order of elite warriors that have been around since the dawn of mankind or whatever.

The two main guys in Evie's life were so different and yet completely amazing that I oscillated between the two of them, uncertain which one I wanted Evie to choose (even though it's plain from the start which one she will pick). Reth, her ex-boyfriend, is a fairy who comes back into her life unbidden and tries to hurt her--or so she thinks. While his motivations were murky throughout this book, it was clear, at least in my mind, that Reth still cared for Evie. I think what I liked best about Reth was that even though he was this ageless, immortal creature, he still allowed Evie to worm her way into his heart. Lend is another matter altogether. I can't really say much about him without giving the plot away, but I will say that Kiersten White's interpretation of a shapeshifter is really different than my other (limited) encounters with them in fiction, and Lend really is a one-of-a-kind character.

The plot, while interesting, seemed like it was lacking any major "turning point." I also felt like the ending was a bit anticlimactic. Despite this, I really enjoyed Evie's narration and humor, and the twist at the end is worth waiting for, and sets up a path to the sequel quite nicely. If you're looking for a breath of fresh air in the YA supernatural genre, this is the book for you.