Veiled Existence

October 1, 2017

Gr 9 Up-After the experience with the mystic underwater creature in the previous installment, Thunderstone, Jeni is determined to uncover the nature of her new abilities. Haunted by nightmares, she is desperate for normalcy; but everything changes when her boyfriend Ice goes missing, and she is forced to face new entities and a curse that could endanger her life. This novel blends elements of paranormal and urban fantasy. The unique world Pietron has created will take readers on an epic adventure with Irish and Celtic legends that enhance investment in the story. The relatable narrator will engage teens in this quick and easy read, and the twist-filled plot will keep them at the edge of their seats. The novel sets up a great turn of events for the next volume. Character development feels one-dimensional at times, especially since this is a second installment, but it won't detract from the story. The tale is plot-driven and has roller-coaster moments that will keep fans entertained. VERDICT A great addition to urban fantasy shelves, purchase where Holly Black's "Modern Faerie Tales" books are popular.-Ericka Greer, Ouachita Parish Public Library, Monroe, LA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2017
After Thunderstone (2013), Jeni and Ice find themselves up against hostile supernatural forces again, this time from Celtic legend.Jeni, a white teen, has tried to research her heritage and learn about her spiritual abilities, but her debilitating nightmares have caused her to put the project on hold. Jeni's strange experience with a rock near an old church sends up all kinds of red flags for her boyfriend, Ojibwe apprentice medicine man Ice, and his mentor, Nik. Then Ice vanishes just before he's supposed to join Jeni and her family on a riverboat cruise. With the help of her skeptic cousin Tyler and Dale, another spiritually gifted contact of Nik's (though of Irish rather than Native heritage), Jeni investigates the church and stone, stumbling right into the old Irish story Deirdre of the Sorrows. But physically rescuing Ice won't be enough to counteract the powerful geis that's been laid on him. There's plenty of Midwestern local flavor from the settings--including an encounter with real-life urban explorers--that give a realistic weight, especially needed as Jeni rapidly gains huge abilities in a hurry for the final showdown once her enemy's identified (after a predictable twist). Pietron takes care to correct some of the flaws of the earlier book, giving Ice a specific tribal affiliation, though the authenticity of the book's mythos is still suspect. Fast-paced and plot-focused. (Paranormal suspense. 12-adult)

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