Audio/Book Review of Ignited (The Ignited Series Book 1) by Desni Dantone

Book Title: Ignited (Ignited Series Book 1)

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Pages: 344
Audio Run Time: 9 Hrs 15 Mins

Author: Desni Dantone

Date Published: 23 October 2013 (E-Book)

28 October 2013 (Audio Book)

Synopsis:

Seventeen year old Kris Young is on the run from a throng of superhuman golden-eyed freaks hell-bent on seeing her dead, and she doesn't know why. Good thing she has her guardian angel to protect her...sort of.

Kris is aided by Nathan, the mysterious man that ends up being anything but angelic when he rescues her for the fourth time in fourteen years. Even if the handsome hero illusion is shattered by his harsh treatment of her, he knows how to fight this strange enemy and is determined to keep her safe at all costs.
As the body count rises in their wake, Nathan introduces Kris to a world in which not everyone is human and the battle lines between good and evil are clearly drawn. Kris's piece in the puzzle is something neither is aware of and, as they uncover the truth, neither is prepared for what they find. Overcoming twists and revelations that shatter both of their lives, they discover that nothing is as it seems and nothing, least of all their hearts, are safe.

From debut author, Desni Dantone, Ignited is the first novel in a tale of first love, mystery and adventure that will introduce you to an exciting new world as Kris discovers how she fits in it.

Review:

Ignited by Desni Dantone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful YA paranormal romance. I really enjoyed it!

I was recommended this book by Audible due to my reading/listening history. The blurb sounded intriguing, so I listened to the audio sample. I decided that it would be something I would enjoy, and I was right.

The audiobook is narrated by Lisa Larsen. She did a wonderful job in reading this story. Her voice, I felt, suited the character of Kris and her interpretation of the story kept me hooked from beginning to end. Her reading pace was neither too fast, nor too slow, which allowed me to picture the scenes perfectly. I would definitely listen to other books narrated by her.

Kris Young is a great character. I liked her very much. She is a normal teen, going through the usual teenage problems, but with one difference. She has had to contend with a lot in her seventeen years - her parents' dying in an accident for one. She is very level-headed but, she can be a little stubborn and gung-ho at times, which I found a bit irritating. She joins forces with Nathan, her guardian angel, and realises that there is no such thing as "normal". Kris finds out something about herself that completely shocks and terrifies her. She is a pawn in a war that could change the balance of power between the Scotadi and Culla. These two groups have been at war for millennia.

I have read quite a few YA books over the last couple of years or so. This story is very similar to others I have read but, also completely original. This book has a unique take on good and evil that had me thinking about those concepts. There are shades of grey, rather than black and white in this story, so one never knows whose side to cheer for!

We are introduced to several different characters that come to life as the story unfolds. I really liked Nathan. He is a bit of an enigma at first, as he has always been in Kris's life but only on the periphery. He has saved her several times throughout her life, but as I got to know him better, I realised that he is a hero in more ways than one.
I also liked Callie Sanders, who has been her best friend since the sixth grade. She is fun to be with, changes her boyfriends (and her hair colours) often and loves shopping.
Alec Sierra is also a wonderful character. I liked him too, as he is a great guy. He has a wonderful sense of humour and has a warmth to him that instantly charmed me. However, he has a secret that, when it is revealed, completely threw me. I didn't see it coming and thus, my conundrum with the good and evil aspect of this book. This story is full of twists and turns, action and danger. It's exciting and enthralling. However, I am not overly fond of love triangles and this story has a definite love triangle thing going on. Both Nathan and Alec are completely opposite from each other, which is why I can understand Kris's dilemma. But, it made it extremely difficult for me to pick one to like more! It reminded me of the Edward/Jacob debates that ruled the social media sites for years, when those books first came out. However, I love a bad boy and Alec gets my vote, even if Kris disagrees with me. Or does she? Her confusion over her feelings for both of them made me empathize with her. I felt sad when I reached the end of the story, because I wanted to keep listening to it. It ends on a twist rather than a cliffhanger, so I am now looking forward to listening to the next book in the series, Sacrificed, as soon as possible.

Desni Dantone has written an exciting, pulse pounding debut novel. I loved her writing style, which is fast paced but, not rushed. Her characters and the scenes come alive through her descriptions and they are easy to picture in the mind's eye. The flow is wonderful and each scene runs seamlessly into the next. She has mixed ancient myths of Greek gods into a modern YA paranormal romance that will completely hook you in. This is one debut novelist to keep an eye on!

I highly recommend this book to readers aged thirteen up who love books like the Percy Jackson series, with Demi-gods and myths mixed in with a little romance.There is no explicit sexual content, apart from a few steamy kisses, so if you are looking for a little more heat, this book may not be for you. I also recommend this book to adults who love to read YA paranormal romances. - Lynn Worton

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