The Dark World by Cara Lynn Shultz
Release Date - May 27, 2014
Publisher Website - Harlequin TeenPublisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 384 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received in exchange for an honest review**
Here is the Goodreads synopsis
Paige Kelly is used to weird--in fact, she probably corners the market on weird, considering that her best friend, Dottie, has been dead since the 1950s. But when a fire demon attacks Paige in detention, she has to admit that things have gotten out of her league. Luckily, the cute new boy in school, Logan Bradley, is a practiced demon slayer-and he isn't fazed by Paige's propensity to chat with the dead. Suddenly, Paige is smack in the middle of a centuries-old battle between warlocks and demons, learning to fight with a magic sword so that she can defend herself. And if she makes one wrong move, she'll be pulled into the Dark World, an alternate version of our world that's overrun by demons-and she might never make it home.Success of novels like The Dark World depend highly on their world building. A well constructed world is just as integral as compelling characters to the cohesiveness of a paranormal novel. The Dark World has an absorbing world, delightful characters and is laced with a sense of fun and action.
The world Cara Lynn Shultz has created may not be overly complex but it is one that you become fully immersed in. Easily imagined due to the author's vivid descriptions, it allows for a fully realized back drop for her characters to inhabit. It's introduction is such that it allows for more expansion and reveals in further installments of the series.
Paige's immersion into this world known as the 'dark world', is done brilliantly. Already partially familiar with it due to her connection with Dottie (and other spirits) makes the transition feel smooth. Too often there is a lack of reaction from the main character upon discovery of a hidden world. This novel avoids that because this world is already part of Paige's life when we meet her. She just doesn't know how far it reaches. It makes her easy acceptance feel more authentic. Add to this a lack of 'instant abilities' and a focus instead on the need for training to use weapons and you have a grounded take on this genre.
The relationships in this novel are all delightfully developed. Paige's friendship with Dottie, in particular, was sweet and it made me ache for Dottie to be alive. Logan and Paige's relationship develops at a realistic pace. It may have been because that the characters themselves felt developed and engaging. They were all charming in their own way, and you immediately embraced them. While the love story felt cliche, it was saved by the natural progression and the characters themselves.
Humour is such a strong element to this story. I wasn't expecting for it to make me laugh as much as it did. From Paige's one liners, to Dottie's adorable cluelessness there are plenty charmingly funny moments. Part of the connection with Paige is her status as the 'class crazy' at her school, and that she takes it in stride. She even jokes about it, and it only serves to make you warm up to her more. This novel would not have that character connection without it's humour. Fans who like their paranormal on the lighter side will adore this aspect of the novel.
A fun, humourous novel that is infused with a large dose of action and excitement. A read that may feel familiar, but one that has a few twists that make it completely it's own.
