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Starfall
Starfall by B.C. Charles is a gripping tale that opens with mysterious occurrences in the quiet town of Anne Falls, centering on Nathan Hawkins, a teenager juggling everyday struggles with the weight of supernatural secrets. The story weaves together local legends, paranormal investigations, and personal conflicts, exploring the fallout from a supposed extraterrestrial crash decades prior. Through Nathan’s encounters with cults, cryptic journals, and his latent pyrokinesis, the book delves into themes of identity, truth, and resilience.
I was immediately hooked by the atmospheric opening. The vivid description of a fireball crashing into Kingland Forest sets an eerie tone that persists throughout the book. Nathan’s first foray into the woods to investigate a cult gave me chills—Charles nailed the sense of danger and suspense. Yet, what I loved most was how grounded the story felt despite its supernatural elements. Nathan’s frustrations with school bullies and his strained relationship with his aunt added layers of relatability.
The writing style is straightforward yet evocative. Charles’s knack for painting tension-filled scenes shone brightest during Nathan’s confrontation with the cultists near Queen’s Lake. I found myself rooting for Nathan as he outwitted them while battling his own fears. However, I feel the dialogue among the secondary characters, like Mike and Angela, occasionally veered toward being more formal and in some instances slightly repetitive.
The ideas within the book, particularly the intersection of science, faith, and the paranormal were fascinating. I enjoyed how the AFUN archive files complemented the narrative, offering glimpses into a conspiracy bigger than Nathan. The concept of the “Daughters of Men” and their ties to Anne Falls’ history was compelling, though I wish the book had spent more time unraveling their motives. The inclusion of Nathan’s fire powers added a unique layer to the story, but it sometimes felt underutilized. I kept hoping for a deeper exploration of how his abilities connected to Starfall and his family’s mysterious past, however, this leaves an opportunity for future installations.
Starfall is a satisfying mix of coming-of-age drama and supernatural mystery. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves stories that blend small-town secrets with larger-than-life phenomena. Fans of shows like Stranger Things or books like The Outsiders with a paranormal twist will feel right at home here. The book’s heart and intrigue kept me turning pages late into the night.
Pages: 246 | ASIN : B0DLBQ1DMP
Kindreds
Kindreds is the impassioned story of a girl who has experienced tragedy. When trying to adapt and make something of herself, a boy from her past comes back into her life. Together they experience the magic of Carnival Nolianna.
Lilah lost her parents and her twin brother, Aiden, in an accident when she was younger. She lived with her Grandma Pea until recently, when she passed away. Lilah was placed in a home with only 22 months left until she aged out of the foster care system.
While staying with this family, she is introduced to Joey, who is being fostered next door. Joey was Aiden’s best friend growing up and recognized Lilah as soon as they were introduced. Being reconnected has brought up painful feelings from the past and has formed a deep bond between them. This emotional turmoil is explored in deep and meaningful ways throughout the story and I really enjoyed it because B.B. Russell uses it to establish characters, motivations and connections seamlessly. Lilah is introduced to many other kids in the system at her new school. Sebastian, one of Joey’s friends, quickly takes a liking to Lilah and is always trying to provoke her. The three of them form a friendship with both boys trying to get Lilah’s attention. Each of them is unique and intriguing and readers will enjoy seeing their characters evolve as the story progresses.
One night Lilah follows Joey to a hangout she wasn’t invited to. Sebastian notices her following and invites her to join them. Lilah then finds herself looking at a full-blown carnival. Carnival Nolianna only exists for a select number of nights out of the year and only those who are invited can come. This feels so magical and exotic and I was excited when I learned about the carnival. On the last night, ten selected participants will become members of the carnival “Nolies” and live there until a certain age. Each person chosen has a unique set of skills that will benefit the community and the person they are matched with. Joey has always wanted to join and is enjoying every moment spent in Nolianna. Lilah on the other hand is curious as to how everything works and doesn’t quite believe everything she is being told. This helps to ground the story. The dynamic between Lilah, Joey, and Sebastian shifts as she uncovers the truth behind Nolianna. This situation created a lot of intrigue and was one of the reasons I kept coming back to this book.
The writing style in this enchanting young adult romance novel is engaging and fluid throughout. The plot moves quickly, maybe because I was more than willing to follow the intriguing characters. The relationships between characters were interesting, especially the love triangle with the three main characters. The layering of storylines added surprising depth to the book.
B.B. Russell has written a heartfelt story in a creative world with compelling characters. I enjoyed this magical teen mystery story and I can’t wait for more stories in this world because I feel like there is so much more left to explore.
Pages: 319 | ASIN: B098FGHLRM
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