BOOK REVIEW

POISON PRINCESS #1 (ARCANA CHRONICLES) by Kresley Cole

YA Supernatural /Post-apocalyptic
#1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole introduces The Arcana Chronicles, post-apocalyptic tales filled with riveting action, the dark mysticism of Tarot cards, and breathtaking romance.

www.kresleycole.com/

BOOK BLURB

She could save the world—or destroy it. 

Sixteen year old Evangeline “Evie” Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they’re still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

But she can’t do either alone.

With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can’t totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

Who can Evie trust?
As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it’s not always clear who is on which side….

REVIEW
I own an e-book copy

Why was I even worried that I wouldn't like this book? Maybe because I've read the entire 'Immortals After Dark Series' by this very talented author and thought that there was absolutely no way on God's green earth Ms. Cole would pull this off... where I'm concerned that is. I enjoy reading YA, but most times it's let me down in the sense that although sixteen and seventeen year olds tend to be the age most preferred in this genre, for some reason they read as being much younger where dialogue is concerned. I know this because my son is seventeen and being around his friends quite a bit (boys and girls), I know they don't act or speak as if they're younger. Quite the opposite. Kresley Cole hit the nail on the head and got it right! Between 2011 and 2012 there have been exactly three YA books in different genres (fantasy adventure, supernatural and sci-fi/dystopian) although I enjoyed quite a few more, that simply blew me away. I am over the moon that Poison Princess has joined those three on my 'amazing/must read' shelf. Different? Yes. Original? Yes. Captivating? Yes. Intriguing? Yes. Oh, let me not play around. Poison Princess has a new fan. 

This story is told BF and AF (before and after the Flash - the apocalypse). Kresley Cole came up with this unique take on Tarot cards. She took trump cards called Major Arcana and designated a card and power to each of the twenty two kids/characters who appear in this series, although we only meet a handful in this book. Evangeline Greene is the MC. She comes from a privileged background, wants for nothing, is sixteen, has amazing friends including Mel, her best friend whom I adored, the all-star boyfriend, lives with her mom and has been forbidden to talk and even dare think about her grandmother - the Tarasova, Mistress of the Tarot is what she's known as. Evie was sent away because she was 'sick' the last quarter of her sophomore year to a clinic (mental institution - a Children's Learning Center for behavioural problems) in Atlanta. How is one forced NOT think about someone? Brainwashed much? And pray tell, what were her friends told? Oh, she'd been sent to deportment school. Easily acceptable. The time spent away helped Evie in the sense that medication can and does control most things, but once home on their sugarcane farm called Haven in Louisiana, the medication doesn't seem to be working and the voices and visions start once more. Her mother is always on her case, continuously asking if she's alright, has she thought of her gran and so on and so forth. Evie lies. She has to, because there is no way she wants to be packed off to the loony bin once more, much the same as her gran was sent away. 

New kids join their school and mostly thought of as no-good Cajuns who live on the wrong side of the tracks, drink, smoke, swear, steal and basically don't give a crap about anything. This came about because a bridge was built enabling them easy passage across. The main 'dude', Jackson, is all hunk material and although Evie's interest is piqued, he seems to irritate her no end. Of all things, she's saddled with Jack for a project. Jackson has his eye on Evie, but irritated with her demeanour as well, constantly tells her that all she does is look down her nose at him, all rich girly girl and snobbishness. She doesn't want to react this way for heaven's sake as she gets on with everyone and is usually the one who makes new kids feel welcome. He just freaking rubs her the wrong way. All this teenage angst will soon be forgotten, however, because on one particular evening... the sun shone? -flared, exploded and all hell broke loose, and most of humankind was wiped out. Of course, Evie along with her mother survived as they'd had a shelter, however, Mel, who'd left Evie's house just before the Flash hit, presumably didn't. Not much has been left behind. The devastation was horrific with Evie thinking that at one point she and her mother were the sole survivors... until the day Jackson rocks up at their house, much to her shocked horror. Where to from here? Destination - find and hope her gran is still alive. Evie needs answers and although her gran had told her quite a bit regarding all things Tarot, Evie was too young to comprehend that she wasn't kidding in the least. One thing she does remember is finding it strange that the one card she liked the most, is the one Arcana who is coming for her. 

In having to survive, they have to scavenge around for food, water, fuel, ransack bodies, anything to make it just one more day. On top of all of this, they have to contend with Bagmen, zombies who mostly hunt at night as the sun will burn them, crave water, can smell it from a distance but also have a penchant for blood. Armies who raid and destroy what hasn't already been torn apart to take whatever is necessary in order to maintain their own survival. The female race is all but extinct, so you can imagine what a male will obsess over and above food or water in order to obtain such a rarity after the Flash. Best I stop here as I really don't want to spoil it too much. I think I've said enough as is. Survival against all odds is their priority, but the 'game' is on and that too must be played in this now ravaged and desolate planet. Evie must accept her fate although this is something she is constantly struggling with. Another side to this story is told in first person POV by an Arcana, the Alchemist on the side of evil. Ultimately, this is the whole point. Who will win in the end? Good or evil. It's what I cannot wait to find out in the forthcoming installments, and I for one need to practice some patience. This book rocked and I was quite put out when I read the last page. I even tried to force my iPad in giving me just one more page - no such luck.  

Every single character in this book is amazing and believable whether good or bad. It's how well thought up and put together they are. Selena (the Archer), I'll say this: grrrrr. Finneas? Oh my word, I love this guy. He makes me laugh, is so freaking cocky and word-naughty that I can't help but adore him. Geez, I'm really trying not to say too much, but Evie as you've probably guessed hence the book's title, will become known as the Poison Princess and I have to say that when you read what her abilities are, I'm sure you will sit open-mouthed, they're that awesome. Love everything 'powers' and 'concept' this author has come up with. 

There is something Evie desperately wants, but this particular thing - in helping her, ultimately hurts her. What's to come out of this situation? I don't know, but I do hope that something can be done to resolve this issue as I for one want to see this work. I adore the way Jackson speaks and every time he speaks, I picture it all in my head - I can hear him. I think this series is going to top the charts, me. I love that at the end of all his sentences there is always a -,you and -,me. And then all the Cajun French words are just so like sexy, even when he's cross! French, Cajun French... hey it's French and isn't that the language of love? :) Jackson is the perfect teenage swoon worthy character every girl is going to fall in love with. Heck, I've said 'love' so many times, I'm starting to sound like a teenager once again. Oh, to be this age again....  I adore Evie, too. Goes without saying. She's just goodness and wholesomeness, which is about to change for necessity rather than want, although Jackson thinks she incapable of much most of the time. He ain't seen nothing yet! I am hooked on these characters and this book.

What you will get here is a little bit of everything, drama; jealousy; romance; struggles; doom and gloom; laughs - you name it, Ms. Cole provides it. This series, I believe, will only go one way and that is up.

Fabulosity!

And it starts with this:

"She's so lovely, so fragile. Those haunted eyes. Those rosebud lips...they'll scream so prettily." -Arthur (Prologue)

"Told you I was a magician." Then to Selena, he said, "Finn's my name. Getting you back to my pad's the plan. You just tell me when this stalemate gets old, because I can seriously change this channel." -Finneas to Selena

"Now, now, ladies, you two know the rules." Finn rose, holding up his hands like a referee. "No fights outside of a Jell-O Ring". -Finneas to both Evie and Selena

SANDRA'S RATING: 5 STARS