Publisher: Egmont USA
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
|
Goodreads description:
Every other day, Kali D'Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to public high school. She attends pep rallies. She's human.
And then every day in between . . .She's something else entirely.
Though she still looks like herself, every twenty-four hours predatory instincts take over and Kali becomes a feared demon-hunter with the undeniable urge to hunt, trap, and kill zombies, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures. Kali has no idea why she is the way she is, but she gives in to instinct anyway. Even though the government considers it environmental terrorism.
When Kali notices a mark on the lower back of a popular girl at school, she knows instantly that the girl is marked for death by one of these creatures. Kali has twenty-four hours to save her and, unfortunately, she'll have to do it as a human. With the help of a few new friends, Kali takes a risk that her human body might not survive. . .and learns the secrets of her mysterious condition in the process
My Thoughts...
This is the second book that I've read this year that featured a "part-demon, part-human" kick-butt female main character. The first one, Bite Me by Parker Blue, was such a fun, surprising read for me that I worried another book with a somewhat similar premise might not quite live up to my expectations. Um, I never should have doubted Ms. Barnes. This book was an immensely fun book to read. Once I got into it, I found that I honestly couldn't stop reading!
From the start, Every Other Day was a refreshing read with a unique spin on normal YA paranormal. First, we've got for our MC a kick-ass chick who is a demon-hunter...because she's also part demon. Where it gets twisted...well, the badies that Kali hunts? They're protected by the government! Ms. Barnes didn't just throw us a contemporary paranormal read in a world that doesn't surprise us. No. She has created an alternate history that leads to common knowledge of supernatural creatures. Out MC's father even lectures on them at the local university! I liked this twist on the usual "paranormal creatures are a major secret."
Kali was a character that I enjoyed getting to know immensely. She has distanced herself from the world because she'd different and can't really explain to anyone, her single father included, what happens to her every other day. Kali is a character that you have to let grow on your a bit beyond your initial meeting. When we first meet her, she's all predator. As she ventures into the realm of high school and *gasp* actually possibly having a friend in the quirky Syklar and (unexpectedly) the social "Queen Bee" Bethany, it's really interesting to see her struggle with the idea of having people in her life who are accepting of her and have her back. She's clearly used to being a lone wolf and has to work on her social skills quite a bit.
Speaking of these new friends, I loved them! Skylar and Bethany were fabulous side characters with important roles to play. Skylar, from the moment we meet her, is quirky and endearing. She's "a little psychic" and is always trying to convince Kali and her brothers that she really is! I loved how committed she was to making Kali her friend, no matter how much Kali didn't seem to want that friendship. Bethany was a really surprising character for me. I totally expected her to be a mean-girl b*tch, knocking down Kali and every turn. Not so! She was a lot more complex that I originally expected her to be and added a lot to the story.
While I liked this story a lot overall, there were a couple of things that bothered me a tad. First, Kali's seemingly symbiotic relationship with the chupacabra could use a bit more explaining. I didn't really understand how their connection was created and sustained. I'm hoping that this is fleshed out a tad more in future books in the series. Second, the ending flies at your. It's like something hits you in the face *BAM* and by the time you recover your wits it's over. There's a lot of build up and a moment of intense fighting...and then it's over. I felt like there could have been a bit more drama involved while Kali is captured. I mean, she's not even gone long enough for her Dad to realize that she's missing!
When all is said and done, this is a book that I would definitely recommend to my friends who enjoy paranormal reads with a strong female MC and lots of action. There are all sorts of paranormal creatures, zombies included, making this a read with a little something for everyone. Don't hesitate to pick this one up if you get the chance when it is release in December!
This is the second book that I've read this year that featured a "part-demon, part-human" kick-butt female main character. The first one, Bite Me by Parker Blue, was such a fun, surprising read for me that I worried another book with a somewhat similar premise might not quite live up to my expectations. Um, I never should have doubted Ms. Barnes. This book was an immensely fun book to read. Once I got into it, I found that I honestly couldn't stop reading!
From the start, Every Other Day was a refreshing read with a unique spin on normal YA paranormal. First, we've got for our MC a kick-ass chick who is a demon-hunter...because she's also part demon. Where it gets twisted...well, the badies that Kali hunts? They're protected by the government! Ms. Barnes didn't just throw us a contemporary paranormal read in a world that doesn't surprise us. No. She has created an alternate history that leads to common knowledge of supernatural creatures. Out MC's father even lectures on them at the local university! I liked this twist on the usual "paranormal creatures are a major secret."
Kali was a character that I enjoyed getting to know immensely. She has distanced herself from the world because she'd different and can't really explain to anyone, her single father included, what happens to her every other day. Kali is a character that you have to let grow on your a bit beyond your initial meeting. When we first meet her, she's all predator. As she ventures into the realm of high school and *gasp* actually possibly having a friend in the quirky Syklar and (unexpectedly) the social "Queen Bee" Bethany, it's really interesting to see her struggle with the idea of having people in her life who are accepting of her and have her back. She's clearly used to being a lone wolf and has to work on her social skills quite a bit.
Speaking of these new friends, I loved them! Skylar and Bethany were fabulous side characters with important roles to play. Skylar, from the moment we meet her, is quirky and endearing. She's "a little psychic" and is always trying to convince Kali and her brothers that she really is! I loved how committed she was to making Kali her friend, no matter how much Kali didn't seem to want that friendship. Bethany was a really surprising character for me. I totally expected her to be a mean-girl b*tch, knocking down Kali and every turn. Not so! She was a lot more complex that I originally expected her to be and added a lot to the story.
While I liked this story a lot overall, there were a couple of things that bothered me a tad. First, Kali's seemingly symbiotic relationship with the chupacabra could use a bit more explaining. I didn't really understand how their connection was created and sustained. I'm hoping that this is fleshed out a tad more in future books in the series. Second, the ending flies at your. It's like something hits you in the face *BAM* and by the time you recover your wits it's over. There's a lot of build up and a moment of intense fighting...and then it's over. I felt like there could have been a bit more drama involved while Kali is captured. I mean, she's not even gone long enough for her Dad to realize that she's missing!
When all is said and done, this is a book that I would definitely recommend to my friends who enjoy paranormal reads with a strong female MC and lots of action. There are all sorts of paranormal creatures, zombies included, making this a read with a little something for everyone. Don't hesitate to pick this one up if you get the chance when it is release in December!
