Untold

August 1, 2013
Middle-book syndrome strikes hard in this nouveau-gothic paranormal sequel. Intrepid girl reporter Kami Glass and her allies expect power-hungry sorcerer Rob Lynburn to take revenge after his murderous schemes are thwarted. When a brilliantly creepy Halloween attack is followed by demands for a midwinter human sacrifice, they are left with only weeks to muster their defenses. It's a promising setup, but the story provides only perfunctory glimpses of intensive historical research, martial arts practice and magical training, devoting chapters instead to relationship angst: friendships tested by unrequited crushes and families riven by lies and divided loyalties. Kami in particular anguishes over both her romantic triangle with the near-identical Lynburn cousins and the magical link with her that both covet. Shifting viewpoints start plot threads that simply disappear, and while the snarky banter is as witty as ever, it sits oddly amid all the interpersonal melodrama and looming danger. The (mostly offstage) villains finally return in a bloody confrontation, with disastrous results only surpassed by the macabre slaughter the supposed good guys inflict on their own side. Everything leads to a gruesome cliffhanger contrived to leave readers desperate for the final volume. A hot mess of a book but weirdly compelling; buy where the first has eager fans. (Fantasy. 12 & up)

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January 1, 2014
Kami ([cf2]Unspoken[cf1]) and her allies race to identify malevolent magic-user Rob Lynburn's faction of corrupt sorcerers. Meanwhile, Rob's nephew Jared is furious with Kami for breaking their psychic bond, and her confusing attraction to his less-troubled cousin Ash only widens the rift between them. This sequel is darker than its predecessor, with higher stakes and more suspense.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

September 1, 2013
In Unspoken (rev. 9/12), Kami Glass faced down malevolent magic-user Rob Lynburn and broke her lifelong telepathic bond with his nephew Jared. Kami's investigative journalism skills again prove invaluable as she and her allies (including the few members of the magical Lynburn family Kami trusts, albeit reluctantly) race to identify the rest of Rob's faction of corrupt sorcerers and stop them before they attempt to gain more power through horrifying means. Meanwhile, Jared is furious with Kami for breaking their psychic bond, and her confusing attraction to his less-troubled cousin Ash only widens the rift between them. Although the first installment's witty banter is also present here, this sequel is darker, with higher stakes and more suspense. Brennan continues to explore the complexities of Kami and Jared's turbulent relationship; even without the telepathic connection, the two struggle to reconcile their longing for closeness and the need for privacy and independence. Heroine Kami's competence and outspokenness -- she's also not afraid to make difficult choices -- and a whopping dose of girl detective-style sleuthing make this series a refreshing take on the paranormal romance genre. katie bircher

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)