As you read the reviews on Bookshop Talk, you'll notice that every review is positive. No, we're not a bunch of literary
pushovers who love everything we pick up; we just see no point in telling you about a book if we didn't like it.

January 29, 2012

PARANORMALCY and SUPERNATURALLY, by Kiersten White, 2010, 2011

Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie’s always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal. Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures. So much for normal. (Goodreads)


Review by Amy Finnegan — Writer, Reader, Bookshop Talk Host

On the cover of my copy of this book there's a blurb that says, “The most refreshing paranormal debut of the year.” Refreshing is exactly the word that best describes PARANORMALCY.

And the second best word? FUN!

In a literal sea of paranormal novels for young adults right now (yes, I do think someone could create a literal SEA with them), this particular story should definitely float to the top and be snatched up by over-swooned, vampire-weary readers.

Are there vampires in this book? Yes, a few, who are “bagged and tagged” by our spunky, clever heroine, Evie, who works for what is called the “International Paranormal Containment Agency.” Evie has the unique ability to see though a paranormal’s glamour, which has made her—from a very young age—highly valuable to the IPCA.

But when a mysterious paranormal, Lend, breaks into IPCA’s headquarters, Evie discovers that the agency may be more policy-driven than genuinely concerned for the welfare of both paranormals and humans.

And the biggest question of all: Which of these categories, exactly, does Evie herself fit into?

She’s about to find out with the help of her rhinestone studded pink taser—who she affectionately refers to as Tasey—and some butt-kicking, high-heeled boots.

It’s easy to compare PARANORMALCY to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But perhaps a more accurate description is Hello Kitty, with claws.

(That might be my best ever one line pitch! lol)

Book 2: SUPERNATURALLY



Reviewed by Emily (Ems)


I'm pretty sure that words can't begin to describe how much I love this series. From the second I picked up Paranormalcy, I was hooked. It's only been some serious budget issues that have prevented me from running downtown and buying my own copies. (which, rest assured, I WILL do as soon as the afore mentioned budget issues are resolved-I simply MUST own these books.) I suppose there's always the worry that the second book in a series will be the Empire Strikes Back of the bunch. No worries here. Supernaturally delivers another slam dunk for Kiersten White. (Also, I love Empire Strikes Back. Don't get me wrong there.) It's seriously awesome.


Evie is still supercool, still a girly tomboy (which my pal Yume said, so she gets credit for that), still carries Tasey around (though not as frequently as she did while working for IPCA), and she's still madly in love with Lend, who totally remains hot. Evie is the kind of girl that I'd hang out with in real life.

She finally gets some answers in this book, and while she may not like what she hears, at least she knows, right? The cool thing is what she does with those answers. Because really, it's not what I expected.

White is still rocking the plotlines, still poking fun of the paranormal formula (In Which Evie Gets A Locker!!!), and doing it brilliantly. Also, I think I've said brilliantly quite a lot. It's just the best word I can think of right now for this book. I love Kiersten White's writing style. Her wit literally leaps off the page at you. There were moments when I laughed out loud. I love that she substitutes 'bleep' for swear words. I love that she writes like normal people talk. Really, these are some of the best books I've ever read.

Plus: COVER LOVE. A lot of it. Seriously a lot of it. All of that combines to make me completely Incoherent!


Market: Young Adult
Language: None
Sensuality: Mild
Violence: Mild
Mature Themes: lying

Book formats:
SUPERNATURALLY Paperback

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

These books sound so terrific!!! Thanks for the reviews, ladies!