Gena Showalter - Intertwined 02

From School Library JournalGr 9 Up–Aden Stone's story begins just where it left off in Intertwined (Harlequin Teen, 2009). Aden has become the new ruler of the vampires, and he's not quite sure he's up to the task. But first and foremost, he has to find the location of the witches' meeting in order to break the death curse on him and his friends. Then he can deal with the challenges that come with being a king. He also has to mind the three souls still living inside his head, one of which has predicted his imminent death, while trying to be a normal teen. Meanwhile, his friend Mary Ann Gray has troubles of her own. While she's learned that she mutes the abilities of others, she also discovers that it may not be her only gift. As supernatural creatures begin acting stranger and stranger around her, she starts to wonder what she really is. At times the plot becomes a bit convoluted because of the many subplots. Each character seems to have specific abilities tailor-made to help them out of perilous situations. Regardless, the story remains action-packed and hard to put down. Despite the characters' supernatural abilities, teens will find themselves identifying with one or more of them as they all struggle with bravery, relationships, self-esteem, and a sense of belonging.–Kimberly Castle, Medina County District Library, OHα(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. From BooklistSixteen-year-old Aden, last seen in Intertwined (2009), finds himself in Crossroads, Oklahoma, where he feels he is off to a promising start even though, we’re informed, this particular slice of Oklahoma is home to legions of mythical creatures. Aden navigates the dangerous world of high school while trying to keep his own inner demons (literally—a crew of immortals use his body to further their own goals) at bay. This effort from Showalter (author of the Lords of Darkness series) is pretty messy, confusing, and derivative, but teen readers will probably devour it; it’s so over-the-top that it might be fun. Grades 8-10. --Connie Fletcher