Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Review: Reborn by C.C. Hunter


Reborn (Shadow Falls: After Dark #1) 
Reborn (Shadow Falls: After Dark #1) by C.C. Hunter
Return to the beloved world of Shadow Falls, a camp that teaches supernatural teens to harness their powers—and where a vampire named Della will discover who she’s meant to be.
For Della Tsang, Shadow Falls isn't just a camp: it's home. As a vampire who's never fit in with her human family, it's the one place she can truly be herself. But when a mysterious new guy arrives at camp, Della’s whole world is thrown into turmoil. Chase is a vampire with secrets, who knows more than he’s telling. But the more time she spends with him, the more she begins to trust this attractive stranger—and feel drawn to him. But romance is the last thing she wants—as she keeps telling Steve, the hunky shapeshifter who won’t stop trying to win her heart. And if Della isn't careful, he just might succeed.  When a new case puts everyone she cares about in danger, Della’s determined to do everything she can to save them . . . even if it means teaming up with Steve and Chase, who leave her more confused than ever. With their lives on the line, will Della and her friends survive—with their hearts intact?


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Publishes in US: May 20th 2014 by St. Martin's Griffin
Genre: YA Paranormal
Source: Netgalley
Series? Yes. Shadow Falls: After Dark #1
Eternal (Shadow Falls: After Dark, #2) Expected publication: October 28th 2014 by St. Martin's Griffin

Buy it: Amazon BN.com iBooks Kobo

Author stalk away: Website  twitter series

 
    Reborn was on my wishlist because I enjoyed the Shadow Falls series, and I so wanted to be in Della's head. I love C.C.'s writing so far, and from what I have seen from Della as Kylie's best friend, I love her humor, her loyalty and her badassness. 
    Things get going pretty quickly, giving Della a mystery to look into with her family history and maybe figuring out if there was another supernatural in the family. Her parents and sister are norms, and she has to hide who she truly is. They are disappointed in her and think that she is just a teen getting in trouble and suspect she's doing drugs. Having the weight of that on her shoulders is hard on her and wishes that they understood. But she has made Shadow Falls her home, and the teachers and other people there her family so that is adding some balance. 
    She chases after a new person who she thought was a rogue when she first gets back to campus, and when she finds out he's not, they have started out on the wrong foot. He is infuriating and cute, and gives her a hard time. But she is also trying to figure out things with Steve, who she has some history and also major chemistry going on with. So, thus begins what I feel like might be another series long love triangle, but as I am writing up to this point at 15% we'll see how things shake out. 
    Turns out that things between the trio only gets more complicated as the story goes on. It was a fun one to read, and in the end no matter where Della's heart it, some things form a bond and those can't be broken. I love the layers in this and how even the things that don't seem to be connected end up playing a part into the story. There are several plot lines--her friendship with Miranda and Kylie, her cousin Chan, her family at home, Burnette and FRU work, as well as the whole love scenario. 
    While I loved reading from Kylie's perspective, reading from Della's is a whole other story. She is strong, she is smart and sarcastic, she has a harder time opening up to others but underneath she has this insecurity and vulnerability that she masks to the outside world. It stems from not feeling accepted at home, as well as having issues with how others view the rogue and violent vampires and the fact that she is one so she is all wrapped up in that one. 
    While I loved the message that women are strong, and while it is nice to be protected, if they can handle things, they should be allowed to, I think that the conversation she ended up having with Burnett like three or four times got a little repetitive. Which maybe its just realistic because sometimes men are just that hard headed and need to hear something that much for it to sink in. There were a few other things that I felt were done more than necessary to get the point across, but it really didn't annoy me that much, just thought that it was worth mentioning. 
    It was so fun to follow Della through this one, and watch her grow. She found herself doing things or saying things that she never really thought she would, and it stretches her in a good way. It shows her fight and will to succeed and make something of herself. She also learns that others besides Kylie and Miranda admire her and care for her more than she may realize and that she may need to open her heart a little more to let more in. She also has to face the age old quandary of when to toe or step over the line, and when it is just pure disobedience and that some actions just prove that you are immature and not ready for more responsibility instead of proving that you are ready for more. 
    The ending wraps up those story line pretty well for these while opening another thread that leaves me so hungry for the next book. 
   

Bottom Line: Fast paced wild ride with strong and sarcastic Della, with layered plot, great romance as well as friendship.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Have you ever been a part of a real life love triangle? Or seen one played out?
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36 comments:

  1. I can't wait to read this book! I love books by C.C. Hunter!

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  2. This one sounds too familiar to something else, so maybe not for me

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  3. This seems like a fun paranormal read. I haven't read any of C.C. Hunter's books. Seems like I need to get on them! :)

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  4. This series sounds like fun. Spin-off series can be so nice because you get to visit a favourite world again!

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  5. It is a good start, but be warned you'll be spoiled about Kylie's ability in the first series its a big deal

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  6. It is neat to get world from different perspective

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  7. It is nice to get updates from beloved characters

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  8. Maybe not. What does it remind you of?

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  9. Me too! She is good with characters, the triangle and action

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  10. I'm glad you loved Reborn, Brandi. I haven't started the series yet but I won a copy of Reborn and now I'm really excited to meet the characters, but especially Della. :)

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  11. Oh, I'm glad this spin off is good! I haven't finished the Shadow Falls series yet, but I have enjoyed what I've read. And I remember the roommates. They eventually were great together. Hopefully I will get to it soon. Yes, been part of a love triangle. It's uncomfortable, especially when one is a best friend that you don't want to hurt and the other one is one you aren't sure you can trust. It was just like a book, lol.

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  12. It doesn't sound like this one is for me but I'm glad you enjoyed the spinoff. I HAVe been part of a love triangle but I hate reading about them anyway lol They usually drag on way too long for me.

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  13. LOL, yes sometimes men are hard-headed and you need to repeat before it finally clicks..glad you enjoyed this spinoff Brandi

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  14. Andrea @The Bookish BabeMay 21, 2014 at 12:01 AM

    I've always heard such good things about this series. I'm glad to see you really enjoyed Reborn!

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  15. Oh wow... great review Brandi. I think I need to give this series a crack. Love triangles don't really bother me, but I am certainly curious about the complications here.

    Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace

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  16. I"m so glad you had a great time with this one, I really enjoyed it and I'm curious to read more after such an end!

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  17. Great review! This definitely sounds like an interesting read, and I'm quite curious about the story line and the characters

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  18. Great review! I'm super happy to hear this one has a solid friendship as opposed to only romance because let's face it US GIRLS NEED OUT FRIENDS!

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  19. I hear ya, they usually do.
    Were you deciding between 2 guys?

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  20. Oh no, when best friends are involved that makes it even more rough

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  21. This is first in spin off and you can read without the other series, but if you read this first, it spoils Kylie's mystery in the first series.

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  22. I know. Open that next thread and leave me excited and wanting next

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  23. The triangle makes sense here, so i am okay with it

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  24. yes, yes, yes, we need our friends

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  25. kirstymariejonesstudioreadsMay 22, 2014 at 10:04 AM

    I haven't read the first series of it yet, though heard tons of good things. But, love the friendship, especially since her family and home life aren't all that great. As they say, you can choose your friends but not your family. But, sometimes friends are and can be family to you even if they're not blood, so I do hate that saying, haha. Kind of anxious about another love triangle though, so shame about that :(. Otherwise it sounds pretty good. :)

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  26. Love triangle was never an issue with me, well, not really. I still wanted to read and I liked both guys well enough. Some people are more picky about them.

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  27. I'm glad that you liked this! I have heard of Shadow Falls and it has been on my TBR list for while. I own it on my kindle, but I just haven't gotten around to it yet.

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  28. I didnt' read the first series but I wanted to. I am hoping to jump in and check out this series. It sounds great

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  29. I have heard a lot of great things about this series but I just never got around to it. Della sounds like a character I would really enjoy. Great review!

    Teresa @ Readers Live A Thousand Lives

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  30. I haven't read the first series but I've been seeing good things about this one so I might have to go back and read them one of these days!

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  31. I haven't read C.C. Hunter's series, but I've heard how great it is. And especially how everyone seems excited to read the spin off featuring Della. Glad you enjoyed her character and the story. Great review, Brandi :)

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