Devoted

January 1, 2012

Gr 9 Up-This sequel to Elixir (S & S, 2010) finds Clea Raymond back at home pining for her immortal soul mate, Sage, and she sets out to find him. However, there are forces working against her; two ancient organizations, Cursed Vengeance and the Saviors, want to kill Sage for the Elixir of Life, a substance he holds in his body that makes him immortal. A third group, an ancient immortal family, wants to sever the eternal bond between Clea and Sage. However, the youngest member of the family is secretly working to help Clea, sending her to Cursed Vengeance to get support in her mission, which could in turn save the world from the Saviors' evil plan. Clea gets answers from Cursed Vengeance but has to strike a deal that could hurt some of the people closest to her as well as herself. Her reunion with Sage reaches a violent climax and the resolution is satisfying while also leaving room for a third title. Readers do not need to be familiar with the first book to understand this one. The sense of adventure and urgency are compelling, which makes the two-dimensional characterization and stilted dialogue easier to forgive. Teens looking for a tough but romantic female lead will not be disappointed.-Lynn Rashid, Marriotts Ridge High School, Marriottsville, MD

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