Friday, September 2, 2016

Scintillate by Tracy Clark


Title: Scintillate (The Light Key Trilogy #1)
Author: Tracy Clark
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Length: 304 pages
Publisher: Entangled: Teen
Release Date: February 4, 2014
Source: NetGalley
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

A mighty flame follows a tiny spark.

Cora Sandoval’s mother disappeared when she was five and they were living in Ireland. Since then, her dad has been more than overprotective and Cora is beginning to chafe under his confines. But even more troubling is the colorful light she suddenly sees around people. Everyone, that is, except herself—instead, she glows a brilliant, sparkling silver.

As she realizes the danger associated with these strange auras, Cora is inexplicably drawn to Finn, a gorgeous Irish exchange student who makes her feel safe. Their attraction is instant, magnetic, and primal—but her father disapproves, and Finn’s mother orders him home to Ireland upon hearing he’s fallen in love. After a fight with her father, Cora flees to Ireland, both to follow Finn and to look for her missing mother.

There she meets another silver-haloed person and discovers the meaning of her newfound powers and their role in a conspiracy spanning centuries—one that could change mankind forever…and end her life.
 


*****

This book certainly started off with a bang. We dive right in to Cora's life as she fights to survive some mysterious illness. She starts seeing things and no one can really figure out what is wrong with her. This is a major changing point in her life, and it was a great way to start the book with a hook.

Cora is a really well-rounded character. She has her friends, that are amazing, but she isn't the most popular girl in school, she isn't the most unpopular either. Her life is incredibly ordinary up until this point - an overprotective father, a step-mother that loves her, and suddenly she sounds like any other teenager. But her illness changes her and suddenly everyone is spouting colors all around them.

Enter the meat of the story, and one of the points in a potential love triangle (I'm hoping not - I'm not a fan). Finn is one of the popular kids, but he seems to really like Cora - almost too much. He's a little bit of a stereotype at first, but once Cora heads to Ireland to find him, he becomes a whole other person. It was a great spin in the story and has tons of potential going forward for the best kind of drama - the kind that you have with yourself.

Lots of lore, especially Irish, but other cultures mixed in as well, all done very well. I loved how they all played off each other. Plenty of excitement and adrenaline with a dash of romance (maybe) for good measure. I really want to see what Cora's in for next, and where the lore is heading, this is not a book you can just walk away from without having the next.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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