Review: Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton
From the book jacket:
Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.
Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.
She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very…different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.
Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.
I love me some southern gothic, and this book fits that to a T. Keaton richly describes the setting, and you can feel the dark, lush, humid and dilapidated city come to life. Ari’s a kick butt heroine – her current (and loving) foster parents are bail bondsmen who taught her how to fight and shoot guns (um, really?). But I like that. She’s smart, she’s been through some rough times with former foster parents, and she don’t take poo from anyone. In fact, she dropped the f-bomb so many times I thought she was Cee Lo Green.
The story is pretty fast paced and keeps you moving right along, with lots of action and interesting characters. Ari’s search for her past reveals that the women in her lineage are cursed to have a daughter, and die at twenty one. She must find out why and find a way to put an end to the curse. She follows a lead to New 2, which is actually New Orleans. The New Orleans in this book is not post-Katrina, but an alternate reality where two huge hurricaines destroyed the city. Written off as a total loss, a company named Novem bought up the property and began to rebuild, renaming it New 2.
She falls in with a band of misfit kids, – they all have unusual abilities, and for once she feels like she doesn’t stand out. She begins to fall for the brooding, handsome Sebastian – if it gives me those stomach butterflies, then it’s a good romance scene. Yep, give me a book with some good kissing anyday! I also liked Violet, the scary goth little girl with a pet alligator. I’m hoping she will be back in the next book.
The big “suprise” about what her curse is was pretty much telegraphed in the first chapter, but that did not stop me from enjoying the story. Kelly said there will be a sequel, so I’m hoping this gets spun out into a longer series!
I give this book 4 STACKS.
See you in the STACKS,
Nancy – Mardi Gras is coming up soon, so pass the King Cake and let’s party!
Loved this book! What I like most was the anger. I like how well is described her emotions. Nice review.
I LOVED the deeply dark gothic setting of New Orleans. Nancy, let’s talk because I need to know WHAT she was.
I’ve seen the book on a few blogs but yours is the first review that I’ve read. it sounds like a really interesting concept and Savannah’s comment adds to my interest. I’ve put this one on the wish list.
I got this as a Galley Grab and read some of it. I do want to finish it at some point! Love NoLA.
I LOVED Darkness Becomes Her BEST BOOK EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!! It’s especially a good book for me because I’m an advanced reader at age 11.
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I just finished the book is was searching fir a sequel but since the review is less than a year old I shouldn’t expect the sequel soon. Either way I loved it and certainly can’t wait for the next one!!! Wow, what a twist, Medusa!! Keep writing, Kelly, you’re uber talented!
absolutely loved the book. i couldnt put it down, read it in one day!
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[...] book is the sequel to Darkness Becomes Her (see my review here) and I’m so excited to read the next installment! Think dark, southern gothic, add an [...]