The Mephisto Covenant

August 8, 2011
First-time author Faegen spins a familiar story of good versus evil and the mortal girl caught in the middle in this mishmash of mythologies and paranormal romance tropes. When Sasha Annenkova’s mother is deported to Russia, Sasha is sent to Colorado to live with her uncle Tim and his abusive family. There, she runs into the Ravens, a cult dedicated to destroying her, and Ajax, an immortal demon-spawn working to thwart their plans. As an Anabo, a pure soul who can redeem Ajax with the power of her love, Sasha can tip the balance between the factions. While Eryx, the Ravens’ master, works to overthrow Heaven and Hell, only Ajax and his brothers can keep Sasha alive while she masters new powers and chooses her role in the fight. Pacing problems derail this effort from the start, resulting in awkward infodumps that aren’t aided by stilted dialogue. Sasha’s instant, doe-eyed acceptance of major supernatural revelations is only slightly less ridiculous than the speed with which Ajax (immortal, gorgeous, yet weirdly insecure) falls for her. Ages 14–up. (Sept.)■

February 1, 2012

Gr 9 Up-When 17-year-old Sasha Annenkova tries to find answers to questions about her father's murder by cult worshippers, she doesn't realize that her investigation will almost get her killed. Rescued by uber-handsome Jax, a son of Hell, she learns that she is Anabo, a pure soul with a free pass to Heaven. Not only is she destined to be with Jax, but she's also on the hit list of Eryx, Lucifer's nemesis, and his soulless minions. When Sasha's mother is deported back to Russia, the teen moves in with vengeful relatives. Events at her new school turn sinister when a history teacher and Sasha's brutal cousin try to recruit souls for Eryx. If he finds out that Sasha is Anabo, he will kill her. Meanwhile, Jax needs Sasha to love him if he has a chance at Heaven, but she would have to become immortal to be with him. Unfortunately, an intriguing and romantic premise does not save this novel from its lackluster and contrived plot. The instant, unbelievable connection between Jax and Sasha; the bogus reason for the mother's deportation; and the inevitable discovery of Sasha's father's murderer are all too convenient. The characters also spend so much time describing the mythology that there isn't much self-discovery or buildup. A few steamy scenes (including one overt sex scene) and the damsel-in-distress romance will engage some readers, but this won't be the series that everyone talks about.-Kimberly Garnick Giarratano, Northampton Community College, Hawley, PA

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