Thursday, July 31, 2014

Chameleon's Spell - Review





Author: Roni O'Connell
Publication Date: May 28, 2014
Publisher: Roni )'Connell
Genre:  Fantasy/Paranormal YA
Age Recommendation: 15 (mature due to sexual undertones) and up
Rating: 4 stars

Book Description:

She'd known it was coming-it had to be dealt with, sooner or later. The effect Chameleon blood produced on the majority of humans was akin to taking aphrodisiacs or psychedelic drugs, and all but the strongest minds succumbed. Juliet Marchant has a secret-one that makes her hide from the world, until the day her friend, a shifter wolf, is slaughtered on her land. If Juliet is to fulfill her destiny, she must take her place in the world, unlock her Immortal powers, and face her dangerous attraction to the human leader of Spectral Command.

 My Review:

Not quite 18 years old, Juliet has spent her short lifetime growing up too fast.  She has hidden her self away from the world after torturous bullying and from guilt created through both her knowledge of what her Immortal abilities involve and her lack of knowledge in how to control them.  She dreams of a 'normal' life, a life with a person who can see her for who she truly is, with friends who accept her and are there to support her.

Chameleon's Spell begins right off.  The reader is immediately immersed into Juliet's world and while at first I was taken aback by this, I found that it was truly the only way to begin.  Roni O'Connell lets this action packed tale unfold gently, which may seem a bit contradictory, but absolutely works for this story.  Would I have enjoyed more back story?  Sure, but then where would the story have gone? I guess what I am trying to say to readers is don't give up to soon.  I know I found myself confused by the beginning , but Roni allows for a smooth build up and then she stuns the readers with facts and discoveries.  There are things that will become clear fairly quickly and things that you find you have been pondering for chapters only to be given AH-HA moments through out the book.

I loved how independent and strong Juliet is.  Don't get me wrong, she is not unafraid, she is not a take charge fighter, but she will do what is necessary.  She is compassionate, loyal (to a fault), caring, and in her own way pretty bad-ass.  She is definitely a girl who can be looked up to.  Her interaction with Royce gave me pause a time or two, but considering her life I can see how hard it is for her to....well, I guess I can't really say with out spoilers, lol.  She and Daniel have some pretty amazing moments, I would love to have seen more of them, to have more of their story.  I was sad to find that at times that part of the tale seemed rushed and I wanted it to be so much more.  Perhaps a novella from Daniel's POV is in order *grins*.

Roni has written a book that not only gives us a great fantasy to read, but also a chance to look deep within ourselves and see how we as people, as a society, treat others.  Yes Juliet is half-immortal with supernatural abilities, but is the way that she is treated because of how she 'looks' any different than the way bullies treat others?  Is the discrimination of Immortals that different than the discrimination we see everyday against different races and cultures in our society?  I love when a book gives us something more, when we can look into the words on the page and see lessons unfold before us.

There is a lot that goes on in Chameleon's Spell and I would love in the future to see back story on The Spectral Wars, on her mother.  I'd like to learn more about Simon and Matilda, perhaps a glossary of all the Immortal beings, and of course the POV from Daniel.  There are so may places that Roni O'Connell can go with this book, it is a fantastic foundation for what I hope will be a series!





July 21stFangirlish.com  – Review
  
July 24thGuest Review - Deb – Review
July 25thIn To My Fantasy World – Review
July 26thAll About Book Divas  – Review
July 27thKarin Baker   – Review/GP
July 28thCabin Goddess – Review/GP/Recipe
July 29thBookish Tiffany  – Review
July 30th –   Guest Review - Destiny – Review
July 31stReads All The Books   – Review
July 31stForbidden Reviews  – Review
August 1stThe Reader and the Chef  – Review
August 1stLike A Bump on A Blog – Review

Roni O’Connell lives with her husband and two dogs high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. She finds inspiration in the forest, wildlife, and lakes around her home.
A former English teacher, Roni enjoys the company of young adults, their spirited opinions, great enthusiasm, and outrageous humor. When Roni isn't writing novels, you can find her hiking in the forest or contemplating the wonders of nature.
Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook 
Hosted by:

1 comment:

  1. Thank you, Malissa! You totes rock these reviews. Much love. xx

    A

    ReplyDelete